Review: "Skinny" Wines

Whether it be celebrating your holiday of choice or just spending a relaxing evening, it's nice to be able to enjoy a glass of wine. But what will you give up to make up for the calories? The roasted potatoes? The scoop of ice cream?

I hate the concept of having to "give up" foods you love. My whole journey has been about balance, and a lifestyle change that restricted my choices too much wasn't going to work for me. If it means an extra long run or workout on a day I knew we were having a big meal, so be it. 

Well, alcohol companies are getting smart. People are getting healthier and reducing their consumption to avoid drinking their calories, so what  do you do? Make products with fewer calories! You've likely seen the commercials for the 64 calorie beer, but now the shelves are starting to stock low calorie wine! 

I've found two so far, Skinny Girl by Bethenny Frankel and Skinny Grape. Skinny Grape gives you marginally more wine for your 80 calories at 142ml (versus 125ml for Skinny Girl). It's not a massive reduction in calories compared to a standard wine, but you could save yourself about 100 cals per glass, depending on the size of the glass. 

Here are the labels and nutritional info:

And the wine is not bad! I've had more expensive, "fancier" wines that have tasted worse. Both offer a decent taste and are completely drinkable. 

On the Skinny Girl website they list a whole whack of additional varietals which I have yet to see in stores, but you better believe I will be hunting down that Prosecco for Christmas morning! 

As they say, drink responsibly. And enjoy!

Review: Swiss Natural Calcium Soft Chews

Three words. Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

Given my weight loss journey and my ongoing challenge resisting all things chocolate, let's just say my interest was peaked when I was asked to review Swiss Natural's Calcium Soft Chews in Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

But I was nervous. This lovely resealable bag of delectable little chocolate chews arrived and I thought to myself, "Okay, these must be really high in calories. How can I justify a whole Weight Watchers point just to get my daily calcium?"

They're 15 calories, folks. Just 15 calories. And they are delicious. Now, the old me may have devoured the entire bag in the pursuit of strong bones and teeth, but the new me is happy to enjoy one or two delectable morsels with my morning array of vitamins.

They are awesome.

Since the little miss was born I have noticed my nails are weaker than they were before, and that's truly not saying much. I have made a concerted effort to take a calcium supplement every day to help improve things, and it is making a difference.

The recommended dietary daily allowance for calcium is 1000mg for people 19-50 years of age. (And the maximum tolerable amount is 2500mg, which helps deter me from eating more than the suggested 1-2 chews per day.) The chews are 600mg each, with 400 IU of Vitamin D thrown in for good measure.

On a side note, did you know that taking 1000 IU of Vitamin D daily can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer? (Sorry, there's my day job poking in!)

Here's the skinny on calcium:

• Calcium is involved in regulating blood pressure as well as building strong bones and teeth.
• Calcium is essential for muscle contraction, heart and nerve function.
• 99% of the body's calcium is stored in the bones and teeth.
• Calcium helps to prevent osteoporosis. 

Right now I have no big, looming concern about osteoporosis, but one day I might. And I would WAY rather be relieved I'd taken calcium supplements for years and reduced my risk, than finding out at the age of 65 that there was something I could have done.

Swiss Natural is a 100% Canadian owned company, which is always cool. The calcium chews retail for between $9.99 and $11.99 for the 60 chew size. 

So, Dr. Gillian (I'm not a real doctor, but go with me) says: Take your calcium. Take your Vitamin D. And if you can take them both wrapped up in a delicious little chocolate treat, why the heck wouldn't you?!

Splash'N Boots: A Review & Giveaway!

You should all know by now that my kids watch TV. And it's usually Treehouse.

For those of you that don't know, Treehouse TV is the parent's saviour. It allows me to make a cup of tea, eat breakfast, and sometimes even cook an entire dinner in moderate peace. Shows ranging from 5 minutes to half an hour, with all the kids' favourites - Dora, Franklin, Thomas, In the Night Garden, Yo Gabba Gabba, the Backyardigans...and of course, Roll Play.

The other great thing about Treehouse TV is that they often have one of their shows on tour with Treehouse LIVE. We got to see Yo Gabba Gabba last year and it was awesome. Now we're always on the lookout for which shows are coming live to Vancouver.

Two members of the Treehouse family that I hadn't discovered yet were the children's performers, Splash'N Boots. (Splash is the guy, Boots is the girl, and I only WISH I was cool enough to rock the full-length Converse boots she wears.) They've recently landed a four year national contract on Treehouse TV for their music video "For the Love of Dance", so you can expect to see them in your living rooms soon.

Splash'N Boots are also about to embark on an 11-city tour with Treehouse LIVE entitled "Roll Play Live Animal Party" from October 12 -- November 13. I was disappointed to see the duo weren't making their way west of the Rockies, or actually even west of Saskatchewan, as this looks like a show my kids would absolutely love. You can see the whole tour schedule and buy tickets at www.rollplaylive.ca.

The tour is supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation as it promotes imaginative movement -- the whole audience will be up on their feet, and will record a song with the band that will be available for free download! And did I mention they will be painted in black light?!

Splash'N Boots just released their second full-length DVD, "Act 2," and I got the chance to check it out. It is awesome. I'm always on the lookout for kids' music and entertainers that don't make me feel like my eardrums are bleeding after the 83rd listening. The music of Splash'N Boots is catchy, musical, their voices sound like real human beings and they are FUN. The have music videos, do silly characters, and dance non-stop. The second I turned it on my kids were transfixed and they are already singing along after one a couple of times. I totally recommend it, and you can get your own copy at www.splashnboots.com.

Or...you could win it! To celebrate the tour and their new DVD, I get to give away some prizes! One lucky reader will win a copy of the Roll Play DVD and CD, and Splash'N Boots' new DVD, "ACT 2."

AND...I will also draw from the entries for tickets to the RollPlayLIVE show! The winner will have select from the following cities:

• Winnipeg - October 15
• Prince Albert - October 17
• Regina - October 19
• Saskatoon - October 20
• Kitchener - November 7
• Hamilton - November 8
• London - November 9
• Mississauga - November 10
• Toronto - November 13



Here’s how to enter to win:


Like Finding My Weigh on Facebook
Leave a comment on this post about your favourite kids' entertainment or Treehouse TV program (1 entry). Make sure to include your city if you want to be entered to win the RollPlayLIVE tickets.
Increase your chances! You can get an extra entry by posting the following on Twitter (1 entry): I just entered to win a @splashnboots & @RollPlayLive prize pack from @findingmyweigh! http://bit.ly/oskXHC

I will draw one winner at random from all entries received (both tweets and comments on this post) on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 9:00am.
Good luck!

Healthy Families BC & a Lululemon Giveaway!

It seems counter-intuitive. Summer should be an easy time to get out and get active, but without the routine of the school year (yes, even preschool) and scheduled activities, I've actually found it quite a challenge this year to figure out when to work out. Mr. Awesome's hectic travel schedule compounds the issue somewhat, so I'm grabbing opportunities when they come along.

If I just have the little miss it's a bit easier, as I can still go out with her in the stroller and get in a good power walk. The little man makes exercise a little more challenging. He refuses to ride a bike and a walk with him in tow isn't exactly strenuous.

Even though the summer weather is beautiful, I do find it easier to plan our activities during the school year. Maybe summer just has too much freedom - tentative plans to go swimming get put off til the next day because ALL the days are nice, and then end up not happening. The kids still get their running around time in the back yard, but we're not getting out and doing things as a family. Fall and winter bring swimming lessons, preschool and then SNOW!

Last New Year's Eve we went snowshoeing with the kids in backpacks. What a change from two years ago. Mr. Awesome has always been an active guy, but until I started my weight loss journey I wouldn't have classified us an active family. Now that I'm not carrying around that 70lbs and I have discovered my love of keeping active and working out, we do a lot more. I used to shy away from plans that might involve a lot of activity, as my back would get sore, my breath would get short and it just wasn't a good time.

Now it's a whole new world! (But hopefully this year the little man can manage on his own because he's nearing 40lbs and that is a lot of weight to carry through the snow, even for the great Mr. Awesome.) I hope to get a lot more snowshoeing in because that was a great workout.

Healthy Families BC, an initiative from the Province of British Columbia, recently launched a campaign to promote health and wellness in BC families.

Healthy Families is a readily accessible resource to help families eat healthy and live well. This online community which is hosted on the Healthy Families website, blog, Twitter (@healthyfamilybc) and Facebook Page helps BC citizens make informed and positive lifestyle choices.

Healthy Families BC offers everything from inspiring recipes and information on snacks for children to updates on local community based health programs.
GIVEAWAY!
To help raise awareness for this campaign and to encourage BC families to get active, Healthy Families BC has given me a $250 Lululemon gift card to give away one of my readers so they can get active in style!
Here’s how to enter to win:

Like Healthy Families BC on Facebook

Leave a comment on this post about how you and your family keep active during the school year. Lessons, sports teams, etc. (1 entry)

Post the following on Twitter (1 entry):

I entered to win a $250 Lululemon gift card from @HealthyFamilyBC & @findingmyweigh! http://bit.ly/nFzaHt

I will draw one winner at random from all entries received (both tweets and comments on this post) next Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 9:00am. The contest is open to all residents of BC.
Good luck, and get active!

Baby Gourmet - A Review of Some Pretty Awesome Baby Food

I recently had the opportunity to review Baby Gourmet baby food. The little miss is now 16 months old, but with the fact that she's still only got six teeth, purees are really where it's at! We always have a stock of jar baby food in the cupboard for those "just in case" days where we need something quick and easy, or our chosen dinner plan won't blend well for her.

The founders of Baby Gourmet are quoted as saying "Why feed it to your baby if you wouldn't eat it yourself?" I'm not typically one for dipping into my daughter's meals once they're all blended up, especially if it's the jar stuff, but let's call this my "Aha! moment." More like my DUH moment.

Baby Gourmet food is 100% organic, free of thickeners and fillers. It's a Canadian company, started by two busy moms. Every recipe originates in co-founder Jen Broe's home kitchen.

But that's all on the website. What isn't on the website is how our daughter gobbled it up like it was her last meal on earth. Every flavour, every meal. Flavours include Apple Sweet Potato Berry Swirl, Old Fashioned Apple Crisp, Juicy Pear and Garden Greens, our family favourite - Vanilla, Banana and Berry Risotto. Are you SURE this is baby food?

Even if she had a mouthful of chompers, purees will always be an option. I mean, I still like applesauce and I'm 35, right? And this packaging is certainly a lot more convenient than the heavy glass jar option. The package is BPA free. I wish it was recyclable at any facility, but at least the cap is. When we were in Mexico we were able to throw a couple of these in the diaper bag to take on the plane. Super convenient.

You're probably thinking that this organic manna from Heaven is only available at health food stores, Whole Foods, Choices Markets and the like. Nope. This awesome product is available at WALMART. Seriously. It's also available at www.babygourmet.com and they offer free shipping. I have yet to actually check out the pricing at Walmart, so I can't say whether it's cheaper than on the website. On the site a case of 12 (all the same flavour) sells for $33.99, or you can get a sample of three flavours, three pouches each (for a total of nine pouches if you're arithmetically challenged) for $19.99. Yes, it's a little more than some of the jarred food out there, but what organic food isn't?

This product is great. It's Canadian, it's organic and it's a company founded by moms. And the little miss LOVES it.  This was absolutely one of the easiest reviews I've ever written.

Now get down to Walmart and get some!

The Debfit Method - A Book Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review a new fitness and weight loss book, The Debfit Method© Weight Loss Secrets by Deb Leblanc. Given my new found love of fitness and my weight loss success, I was curious to see what it was all about.

Leblanc is a Canadian author, and 20 year expert in the fitness and weight loss fields. There is a history of obesity in her family and she herself has struggled with weight issues over the years. Knowing that she's been through the journey and can identify with the challenges her readers may be facing makes the book really accessible. That and her frank, easy writing style make it feel more like you're getting advice from a friend that knows her stuff, as opposed to some distant doctor or muscle head that doesn't understand what you're going through.

A big component of The Debfit Method© is the 3-Day Cleanse, but given the fact that I'm still breastfeeding I wasn't able to try it. The cool thing about this particular cleanse is that it doesn't have you popping 40 capsules of supplements a day. In fact, it is basically supplement free. The one thing she does recommend is acidopholus, and has included acidopholus capsules in the cleanse "menu."

Leblanc does stipulate that the 3-Day Cleanse will work best if you can lock yourself away for the whole time, running all your errands, doing all your cleaning, etc before you start. Perhaps one day Mr. Awesome will take the kids away for a weekend and I will actually be able to try it. For now, and until the little man stops interrupting my bathroom visits, I'll have to wait to give it a try. I did read through the recipes and the plan, and not only does it look easy enough foodwise, but she also includes lots of time for naps! THAT is definitely enticing, so I may need to look at shipping off the family sooner than later...

A large portion of the book is 26 Trainer Tips, with everything from a "dry brushing" cellulite fix to strategies for managing cravings. They are all common sense concepts, some you will have heard before and some that might be new information, but put together it's a great list of tips aimed at making your fitness journey better and your body and mind healthier.

One of the things I like best about this book is her direct approach. She doesn't beat around the bush and basically tells her readers that it is going to be hard work. There is no magic pill, no quick fix to losing weight and getting fit. If you only answer "I think so" to the question of whether or not you're dedicated to losing weight, Leblanc goes so far as to suggest putting the book away for a while until you're ready to fully commit. I like this style, because as you know from my post about excuses, I'm tired of people complaining and making excuses for why they can't get fit. If you're going to do it, DO IT! There is no time like the present!

To learn more about Deb Leblanc, you can visit her website at www.debfit.com. You can order a copy of The Debfit Method© Weight Loss Secrets on Amazon.

Baby Jogger City Elite Stroller - An Unsolicited Review

I really, really like our stroller. I wasn't asked by anyone to do a review, but when I really like something I tell anyone and everyone I can.

Our stroller is the Baby Jogger City Elite. When I was expecting the little man, we went a little Craigslist crazy and bought as much stuff as we could on there. We really liked the Peg Perego strollers, and found a decent (we thought) one on Craigslist for a fairly good deal that came with the matching car seat and base.

What we didn't think about was any future babes that might come along. For such a planner this was very unlike me, but I was a little obsessed and have been known to make the constant occasional impulse purchase. When we were pregnant with the little miss, we realized that the stroller we had was not going to cut it with two kids. The little man was showing no signs of being done with the stroller so we needed to find a solution.

We started to investigate double strollers. Man, those things are WIDE. And now please allow me to go off on a brief rant... Why is it that stores that are designed specifically to cater to parents of young children (i.e. toy stores, kids clothing stores, etc) have the NARROWEST aisles on the planet? It is guaranteed that 95% of the people shopping in these stores will be wielding some sort of stroller, and at the best of times the space between racks is barely enough for one person to walk through. I cannot even imagine trying to get through one of those stores with a double-wide, and I'm not really okay with leaving my kiddies unprotected at the front of a store while I peruse the merchandise. While they try to increase sales by stuffing as much product into their stores as possible, they are in fact losing my business because I CAN'T GET AROUND THEIR STORE! Rant complete.

Obviously I was not leaning towards a double-wide. Some inline double strollers are so long it's like wheeling three stacked shopping carts around. The one that did initially catch my eye was the Phil & Teds Sport. You see them EVERYWHERE in Vancouver, and they offer a jumpseat option that doesn't add too much size to the profile of the original stroller. It also had beefy inflatable wheels which is something we were looking for (because apparently I think I'm going to go for long sporty walks over bumpy terrain).

For us, the drawbacks with the Phil & Teds were a) once the jumpseat is in place, the child in the back effectively takes up all the basket storage as foot space, or steps on anything you might be carrying in there and b) at 6'5", Mr. Awesome kept banging his knees on the jumpseat. This was the deal breaker. Bye bye Phil. Check ya later Ted.

Here is what we were looking for in our dream stroller:

• some sort of jumpseat
• an adjustable handle so Mr. Awesome could push it without being hunched over
• easy set-up and collapse
• inflatable tires
• a seat that can recline to almost flat
• Something that didn't cost $700+

Really, our list wasn't unreasonable, but we were having trouble finding what we wanted. My friend Michelle was expecting and told me about the Baby Jogger. It was only just starting to sell in Canada, but the woman had done her research and discovered this somewhat hidden gem. It sounded good and they had just picked theirs up so we went over to check it out. SOLD! It had everything on our list and it even had things we didn't KNOW we wanted!

Here are my favourite things about our stroller:

• The jumpseat (pictured on the right, on a different stroller). It sits in front of the main seat and holds up to 33lbs. Once your baby is 6 months old, they then move up to the jump seat and the older child moves to the main seat. It clicks in to the "universal mounting bracket" that can also accommodate a car seat adapter bar, a snack tray, etc etc etc.
• The quick-fold action. You literally grab the fabric handle in the seat and the whole thing collapses and folds in half to a surprising small size.
• The inflatable tires. They are 12", beefy and release very easily. While we were in Hawaii we couldn't get through a smaller-than-average door on a train and Mr. Awesome just whipped off one of the wheels, drove through and popped it back on again. (He kind of looked like a superhero in that moment, but maybe that's just to me.)
• The giant canopy. This wasn't something I realized I needed, but it is fantastic. It's huge and requires no creative draping of receiving blankets to ensure your little darling is protected from the elements.
• The adjustable handle. There are so many positions on the handle that I swear this stroller can be pushed by anyone 4ft - 7ft tall. Andre the Giant could have pushed this thing comfortably.
• The details. There are peekaboo flaps and storage pockets that I am still discovering. They're everywhere!

The things I don't love (yes, there are a couple) are:

• The main storage compartment. The basket itself is a decent size, but it's kind of difficult to access. Not difficult enough to be a deal breaker, just kind of a pain sometimes.
• The drink holder that you can buy to clip on. There is one reason I haven't bought it. It's grey and blue. My stroller is black. All the City Elite strollers have black handles and no component of them is grey. So WHY did they design an add-on that doesn't "go?" Just a pet peeve.
• While writing this review, I checked on the Baby Jogger website for the jumpseat and couldn't find it. Maybe I wasn't looking in the right place, but did eventually find it on Amazon. I'm hoping it hasn't been discontinued - that would definitely fall under "don't love."
• That's it. Everything else is awesome.

As for price, it really depends on where you look. It's way cheaper in the US, but that's a fact of life for us Canadians most of the time. I just checked on Amazon and it ranges from $329 to around $400 ($450-500 in Canada). Where it gets a bit pricier is with the add-ons, but it's still way cheaper than some other options out there when you add it all together. The jump seat will run you around $80-90, the car seat adapter around $60-70, not to mention all the other goodies you could possibly want. We lucked out and found ours on www.leftoversstore.com for just over $300US and had it shipped to a friend's PO Box. My forward thinking, good friend Michelle, while pregnant with Baby #1, purchased the jumpseat with their second child in mind. They were kind enough (thank you, thank you, thank you) to loan us the jumpseat until they need it, but it is absolutely worth the price if you don't have a Michelle like I do.

There you go, that's my review. It's a great stroller and I recommend it whole-heartedly.