Eat. Think. Smile!

I read my e-mails... Even when I'm hiding under the covers, avoiding the scary reality that the Ranger is now deployed... So I do know that you've missed me around here. And, I soooo appreciate all of you that have peeked in on me, really I do! 

The truth is I'm doing okay. Actually, I'm a little better than okay. The Ranger has been in touch with us, plus I was selected for an amazing opportunity and promotion at work, and I'm still doing fabulously well on my CLEAN program. I'm down 96 pounds since beginning the program last June 1st - And, at one point I was down 112 pounds; however, New York, the cruise, the holidays, a trip home and our anniversary vacation all happened to derail me a little. However, the fantastic news is that I've been back on plan for a while now and I'm even more committed than ever to reaching my goal! 

Baking and cooking after work and on weekends has been replaced by trips to the gym. I've worked really hard all these years to avoid exercise so the fact that I'm working out six days a week and work out three hours every Thursday surprises no one more than it surprises me. The truth is that I've discovered two forms of exercise that I really look forward to... Spin and aqua aerobics! 

The Spin classes offered where I work are the best Spin classes I've ever taken; and since the Spin classes I take at the YMCA are not quite as challenging, (but I still go!) I feel like I am qualified to tell you that the Spin instructors at HbI flat out, ROCK! As far as aqua aerobics... Who knew I could do more in my pool than float? Not me! 

Of all the classes I've taken, Spin and aqua aerobics makes me feel most productive and successful, which is why I keep going. For the month of December at my gym, I ranked #12 in most calories burned for all members - and for January, I moved up to #7! 

So that's a little about what I've been up to instead of hanging out with you here. Now that we're all caught up, let me tell you about something else fun that happened this week...

Last week I received an e-mail from Coyne PR in New York inviting me to a local launch party for Eat. Think. Smile. The objective was to sample delicious snacks and provide feedback. Snacking, mingling, chatting about what I like and don't like... I was so there! And, when Coyne PR invited me to bring along some of my friends... Well, I took it upon myself to fill their room!

This is Dr. Amy Preston, PhD, RD, and she's a Nutrition Scientist! She told us all

about how the cocoa in all of the Eat. Think. Smile products is a proprietary blend

of natural cocoa and a premium variety known as cocoa Lavado - a washed cocoa

that is naturally higher in antioxidants because it goes through an all-natural

process: Fresh cocoa beans are removed from ripe pods, then washed

with water to remove the pulp and dried in the sun - Fascinating!     

You can read all about Eat. Think. Smile products here. And when you do, I

believe you'll understand pretty quickly why Eat. Think. Smile is now my

go-to sweets snack - Just like PopChips are my go-to choice for savory

or salty snacks. Both options are super-tasty and totally guilt-free!  

The girls at Coyne PR really knew how to throw a launch party! Not only were we

invited to sample every variety of Eat. Think. Smile products, they also served

a yummy assortment of fresh salads and sandwiches provided by Panera bread! 

The girls also didn't skimp on the goodie-bag they sent us home with either!

I've been passing Eat. Think. Smile around at work all week!   

Because when something that tastes this good is this good for you, you just have to share!

Sending out a big Thanks to Coyne PR for inviting me to participate in the

launch of Eat. Think. Smile in my area, and for all this great product too!