Products that Are Helping Me Get to My Goals

To start, I want to make it clear that I am talking about products today, but am not affiliated with any of them. I personally like hearing about what helps others and so I thought I’d talk a bit about what’s helping me.

• Marigold Protein Bars – I found out about Marigold Protein Bars several years ago and they are by far my favorite. I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners and even though I am OK with Stevia conceptually and my body tolerates it fine (it does not like most of them), I’d still prefer bars use other sweeteners since I don’t love the taste. Marigold used to use monkfruit and other fruit as sweeteners, so I’m a bit disappointed that most of their bars now include stevia. But in these days of supply shortages, I’m not going to be too hard on a manufacturer. The protein bars are still my favorite. They are a bit pricey at about $4 a bar, but way better than a fast food breakfast! At 20-24 grams of protein a bar, and I haven’t yet found one I didn’t like (I buy the Sampler packs), they will stay in my freezer. I have tried their protein coffee and it’s not my favorite, but others may find it to be helpful if they’re not breakfast people.

Kashi Go Crush Peanut Butter Crush – So, I fought with my nutritionist on this one, but she finally studied the ingredients and relented. Mostly I use this as a granola with yogurt and berries. It’s so good, with 10 grams of protein per serving. Once again, a carb with protein.

Green Giant Simply Steam Vegetables – I was bored with vegetables and frankly even the tiny bit of work to prepare them was seeming like an effort. I’m admittedly a lazy cook. My nutritionist suggested these and I was skeptical. They have been a lifesaver. I don’t usually like broccoli with cheese sauce, but that was one of the few in stock when I first tried them and it has become a favorite. The broccoli cooks to a perfect consistency for me. The cheese sauce is light, but adds something extra. Watch the calorie counts on these, because they do vary. The carrots, for example, are too high for some of my meals (if I eat the whole box, which I tend to do.) The veggie blends are great for variety. It’s so easy to pop these in a microwave for a meal.

Joseph’s Flax, Oat Bran, and Whole Wheat pitas – I struggle with bread. It makes like easy, but it often bores me (except when I eat out and will fight people for th bread basket.) One thing I like about these are they are not only delicious and on the soft side, but they also include 6 grams of protein. A carb that raises my protein intake is good in my book.

I promise I’m not living on carbs, but they are in each meal and once again my lazy cook side finds them difficult for no good reason, so finding some to jazz up a meal was important. I usually have sweet potatoes cooked and in the fridge and 1/2 fits any meal. I also love farmer market season – there is nothing better than fresh produce.

Anyway, there are some that are helping me – what products do you love. Slap a comment down there!

I’m still losing weight at a very slow pace. Slower than I ever have before. Getting the 3 meals and two snacks scheduled every day is still a battle, but one I will conquer. I admit I get discouraged, but I know my body is changing and that is my focus. A strong, healthy body.

I’ve got foot surgery for plantar fasciitis coming up that will slow things down even more (I’ll be limited to walking no more than 20 minutes each hour for six weeks), but as long as I can keep things trending downward it will be good. Once that surgery is done, plantar fasciitis should be out of my life and that opens up more possibilities for activity in the future.

This is the year of getting my body in better shape to prepare for future adventures. I’m currently learning all I can about Le Camino De Santiago. Some women in a Facebook group I am in are of the “just do it” mindset. It’s the kind of adventure I am looking for, so they have me wondering if I am brave enough to just get it done. I’m headed to Wales at the end of the year – maybe after that? I’ll already be on Europe. A 500 mile walk could be a great way to end the year and start another. But there’s snow and I’m a klutz, which is a problem when hiking in snow and ice. I know I don’t want to so it in the summer. I hate heat. But ice and snow?

And this is why I don’t travel more than I do. Indecisiveness. I’ll keep you posted as I figure things out.