Getting my #MorningWin with Oikos and belVita

asouthernmother
April 29, 2014

I have partnered with belVita and Dannon to help promote the belVita and Dannon 
partnership. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, which 
includes writing about the promotion and product. However, my opinions are entirely my 
own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. 

When I was in high school and occasionally even as a college student, my grandmother would make breakfast every morning. It was generally something I could carry on my way to school or work. Wasn’t it great to be a kid?

Life as a single mom is hectic. On a good day, I remember to grab something while I am walking out the door, and usually I just skip breakfast altogether. I have a toddler to get ready for school every morning, and I tote around several bags for work. It is easy to forget breakfast, and this just reinforces my bad eating habits.

Reporter/Photojournalist essentials laptop bag, camera bag, and my purse.

Implementing a healthy breakfast routine was part of a series of lifestyle changes that I chose to make. I wanted a breakfast that tastes good, but also has a sufficient amount of protein and fiber. Crunchy belVita Breakfast Biscuits and Dannon® Oikos®* Greek Nonfat Yogurt made it easier for me to change my bad habits. On hectic mornings, I put the yogurt and biscuits in my bag to eat at work. 


Occasionally, I get to enjoy my breakfast lounging on the front porch.  

Crunchy belVita Breakfast Biscuits are available in five delicious flavors which are Blueberry, Golden Oat, Cinnamon Brown Sugar, Chocolate and Apple Cinnamon. The biscuits are a good source of energy to start your morning moving forward. 
One individual pack contains 4 biscuits:
  • 3 grams of dietary fiber
  • 19 grams of whole grain

Dannon® Oikos®* Greek Nonfat Yogurt is available in a large selection of flavors, and has nearly twice the protein as regular low fat yogurt. 
  • 12 grams of protein per 5.3 ounces. 
  • 80 to 130 calories per 5.3 ounces. 
You can pair the two with a serving of fresh fruit for an easy, delicious, and healthy breakfast. 

The Productivity Pro, Laura Stack has a few tips that will help you get organized and score a  #MorningWin. 

  • The secret to a smooth, sane morning is doing as much as you can the night before. Leave as little preparation as possible until the last minute – you’ll thank yourself in the morning. 
  • Spend twenty minutes at the end of each day planning your to-do list. When you download the next day’s activities beforehand, you can devote your morning to enjoyment rather than stress. 
  • Be sure to start your morning with a delicious, balanced breakfast. Together, the nutritious steady energy of belVita and 12 grams of protein in Dannon Oikos Greek nonfat yogurt along with a piece of fruit will help you get more out of your morning. 
For more information check out belVita and Oikos on social media. 
Do you have a morning breakfast routine? 
Do you have any tips to help others get a #MorningWin? 


New Year’s Resolutions: I Failed Miserably

asouthernmother
April 16, 2014

It is hard for me to admit that I failed miserably at anything, but I have failed at keeping my New Year’s Resolutions this year. I wrote a public letter to myself (found here), in hopes that it would improve my chances of keeping my Resolutions.

I think my failure was a direct result of several things, diet “burn out” from the last few years of heavy dieting and very strenuous exercise, and stress. Looking back, I don’t think I even needed to take part in strenuous exercise to help me lead a healthier lifestyle. I probably should have listened to my friends when they told me to take up yoga for beginners instead. It would’ve given me the same sort of benefits, whilst having a relaxed mind at the same time. If I did this, I probably would’ve been able to have kept my New Year’s Resolutions. I have had a few friends say that taking a relaxed view towards their resolutions have helped them, but they have used such support as THC to calm their minds when they feel overloaded. Knowing where to find legal THC products near you doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you want to make sure you are getting the best quality. It may be something I should check out too, heaven knows we all need to have some relaxation.

When on the hunt for some THC to relax however, it’s good to be really aware of what you are consuming. Since cannabis has a huge market now, it’s really easy to fall prey to scams and end up buying reggie weed instead of high quality cannabis. Although cannabis can be a great way to relax after a long day, it’s good to be mindful of what you put inside your body. Well, enough digression, let’s go back to what I actually wanted to talk about.

I did keep a few of my resolutions.

  • I did manage to find someone to edit my posts, one of the many advantages of having a Professor as a fiance.
  • I also turned off the television more, and that resulted in more “Mommy and Me” reading time for Gabe and I. I love that he chooses to read with me 30 minutes before bed instead of watching cartoons.

I realized that I really suck at a few things.

  • I don’t treat my body that way I should
  • I constantly criticize my body, and refer to myself as “fat”.

I procrastinate when it comes to my dieting and exercise routine. The worst advice you can give yourself is, “I’ll start my diet tomorrow, or I can squeeze in a few extra minutes of exercise tomorrow.” Why wait for tomorrow when you should start today? In reality, these shouldn’t be daily decisions, I should make long-term lifestyle choices.

My biggest vice is stress eating. It s a cycle of stress, comfort eating, guilt, and then stress eating again. It is a coping mechanism for me. It is a very unhealthy pattern, and I am working hard to control it. I have been reccommended weight lifting as a way of distracting myself from this cycle and will probably look at steelsupplements.com or similar for some more information. If it works for other people, it might work for me.

Last night, instead of reaching for a chocolate bar I had a bowl of sliced strawberries and raspberries.

This morning, I had a bowl of oatmeal made with skim milk and fruit.

Today’s lunch will be a mint chocolate Zone Perfect bar and a cup of greek yogurt.

Here are a few suggestions for making healthier eating choices:
Two of my favorite snack or meal replacement options are:



I am going to change my New Year’s Resolutions to Lifestyle Resolutions. I am going to make a promise to myself that I will make healthier lifestyle choices.

I have created a Pinterest board with lots of healthy eating ideas and recipes.

Visit Jessica Urgelles’ profile on Pinterest.

Zone Perfect bars are a great way to establish healthier eating habits by adding low calorie protein and fibers sources to your diet.

You can become A ZonePerfect® VIP & Save up to $10*
*$10 in savings relates to savings spread across a one year period and may vary.
Your first coupon will be emailed to you. Join Now

Don’t wait until New Year’s to make resolutions, you can make lifestyle resolutions anytime.

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? Did you keep them? If so, how did you keep yourself on track? If you didn’t, what was your biggest barrier to success. I would love to hear about changes that you have made or plan to make.

Disclaimer: I was selected to participate in the Blog Forward Challenge. I received complimentary product and ZonePerfect promotional items for my participation, but all opinions shared with readers are entirely my own.

Happy Wisdom-filled Wednesday,




2014 The Color Run: #Happiest5k Giveaway

asouthernmother
January 13, 2014

Walk, Run, or just there to have fun?  The Color Run 5k has it all.  

Objective:  Walk or Run 5 kilometers which is roughly 3 miles and have fun doing it.
                     You will want to wear white for the most colorful experience.  







Did you make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, get fit, or try something new?   
A 5k race is great introduction to running, and for most people you can train for a 5k in roughly 8 to 9 weeks.  But who said you HAVE to run it?  







Last year, The Color Run hosted over a 170 events in 30 countries.  






What’s new in 2014 for The Color Run?  Every race entrant gets a colorful “goodie” bag.  If you enter and participate in a 2014 The Color Run you will receive a designer t-shirt, a cool sweatband, a packet of color, a very happy temporary tattoo, a “brag” bracelet, and a colorful sling bag.   










Can’t wait to enter a The Color Run race? 
Do you want a race discount?  
The Color Run has offered my readers a $5 discount on a paid race entry.  Here are the details:


The 2014 The Color Run race calendar can be found here


Didn’t I say something about a giveaway?  

I have a pair of race registration entries to giveaway to a lucky reader.  You have to complete a few simple tasks to earn entries to the Rafflecopter giveaway, and you can earn up to 4 entries into the raffle.  Sorry folks, you can’t choose a race that has sold out.  






ON YOUR MARK
GET READY
GET SET
GO














Good luck! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are a few rules:
No purchase is necessary to win.
Giveaway is open to U.S. residents.
Entries open on January 12, 2014 at midnight EST and close on February 1, 2014 at midnight EST.
Winner will randomly be generated through Rafflecopter.
Winner will be contacted via email, and announced on the blog when entries are confirmed.  


The Happiest 5k just got happier.  Did you know that a portion of a race entries go to a charitable organization?  The Color Run has donated over $1 million dollars between 80+ local and national charities.  Your race entries aren’t tax deductible, but you know that you’re supporting a business which supports worthy non-profits.  The Color Run also has a global charity partner, Global Poverty Project.  Their mission is to help eradicate extreme global poverty.  








Find The Color Run on Social Media.

Follow The Color Run on Twitter here.  
You can like them on Facebook here.
You can follow them on Pinterest here
You can follow them on Instagram here







Happy Magical Monday,
XOXO
~Jess