#GIVEAWAY to any #SpartanRace: Get ready for Special Ops Spartan Race this February 15th at Raymond James Stadium

disclosure: I was given an entry for myself and for the giveaway from the Spartan Race. All opinions are my own.

You can register here: http://www.spartanrace.com/tampa-obstacle-racing-spartan-sprint-2014.html

I am so excited for racing season!!! I am finally feeling better (medical crap kicked my butt at the end of last year!) Bring it on! I cannot wait for February 15th!  I am running the Special Ops Spartan Race  at Raymond James Stadium. It's going to be amazing. I am not sure that I have what it takes, but I am ready to give it EVERYTHING I have! I am really fortunate that I have a friend who is willing to run with me. (I hope you are still up for it Roger!) I know that there are a lot of people from my box running, but I am not sure that they would stay with this old gal. I hope my friend will, but if I hold him back, I will send him off too. I seriously cannot wait for this one.

Black and White V.4 from SpartanRace on Vimeo.

I LOVE mud, and it has been almost a year since I have run in mud. That is a problem. The Reebok Spartan Race presents the Special Ops Spartan Race Tampa Sprint at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday February 15th. It will benefit the USSOCOM Care Coalition. The Spartan Race website says, "This Special Ops Spartan Sprint will be a mix of mud and gnarly outdoor obstacles combined with the challenge of the signature Spartan stadium obstacles all with maneuvers and strategy created by Special Ops Forces. Each finisher will receive a unique Special Ops Spartan Sprint Medal with bragging rights of accomplishing the most unique Spartan event." All I can say to that is HOLY COW! I am in, but I am not going to lie... I am a little afraid! And after watching the video above, my son that he is worried about me. Now I have all the reason in the world to do this race and finish! Join me! You can register here: http://www.spartanrace.com/tampa-obstacle-racing-spartan-sprint-2014.html

You can win an entry good for any US 2014 Spartan Race~ fill out the Rafflecopter Below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

From Fat Boy to Fit Man: A "One Step at a Time" Story of Success Book Review and Giveaway

photo from Eli's facebook page

I have been following Eli Sapharti on facebook since I started working out almost two years ago. Eli's story has been a huge motivator.  I remember when he made his first comment on my page, Mindy's Fitness Journey, I couldn't believe it. I was thrilled.  Here's a man who has done it, and he looks GREAT!!! And he was supporting me on my journey! 

photo from Eli's facebook page

After hearing that he wrote this book, I knew I had to have it. When I was asked to review it and give a copy away, I couldn't wait. I love the title of this book. From Fat Boy to Fit Man: A "One Step at a Time" Story of Success  This One Step at a Time is a program that will help you achieve a happy and healthy life. 


What stood out to me most was that losing weight is not something that you just say, "I want to lose weight," and POOF, you lose weight. We all know that. Well, Eli has a one step at a time approach. The first thing he gave up was soda. That was it. Only he meant absolutely NO SODA! No cheating... I love it.  He gave up things, but he did it in a manageable way. 

He is now sharing his secret with us! How did he lose 120 lbs? Read this book to find out.

Photo from Eli's facebook page

Eli's bio on his facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FatBoyFitMan
  says the following:


In 2008 I had ballooned to almost 300 lbs standing at 6' and my body fat percentage was well over 40%. My blood pressure was elevated, I felt tired all the time, if I walked a flight of steps I would lose my breath, my joints were hurting, and I was always getting some type of flu or cold. 

Around March of 2008, shortly before the end of an almost 18 year marriage, I had what many would call an epiphany. One day I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn't believe how unhealthy and just plain FAT I had allowed myself to get. At that moment I knew I had to do something to change this downward spiral. As I thought about past attempts to lose weight I realized that the "quick fixes" and fad diets I had tried, although successful short term, were not going to work if I wanted to make LIFE-LONG changes. That is when I decided to try a different approach and came up with my "One Step at a Time" principles and approach to weight loss. Small, consistent changes allowed me to achieve the body I have today. 180 POUNDS with 10% body fat. I am also an avid runner having finished FOUR Half Marathons with a personal record of 1:46. I have also run countless 5K and 10Kraces my last 10K in 46:43 and my last 5K in 22.01. Both being my personal best times. My drive and passion today is in helping inspire, motivate and teach others how to achieve fitness success too. I have had the privilege and honor of being able to spread my message to the masses. In 2012 I was featured in People Magazine, Inside Edition, Extra, AOL.com, The Huffington Post and the Emmy Award winning show, The Doctors. 

Want to win a signed copy of Eli's book? Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Food Prep? Done with Diet-to-Go!

Food Prep??? No need with Diet-to-Go!!!!

If you have ever read my blog, you know that I struggle with preparing food and planning. I am a single mom with an active little boy, and I work full time. In order to do all the things that I have to do in my day to day life, I need to prep food for the week. Well, I am still struggling with that... That means that my planning meals is NOT happening. And we all know that when you have no plan, you are planning to fail.


This is why I jumped at the chance to review Diet-to-Go when I was asked. Diet-to-Go is a diet meal delivery. I was a little worried because I have the sense of adventure with food of a 5-year-old. I decided to grow up and try new things. And let me tell you that Diet-to-Go didn't disappoint!!!

This is how it came for me! Yum!

A few months ago, many of my fellow bloggers were posting pictures of these meals that were already ready and just needed to be heated up. I started to do some research and couldn't believe how great and perfect for me this seemed. I contacted Diet-to-Go and asked some questions and let them know that I was interested. Before they got back to me, I was offered the chance to review the food. This was great because I was already trying to figure out how to order some meals. I was thrilled when they arrived!

Diet-to-Go is the most inexpensive fresh diet delivery service on the market right now. They were rated by Epicurious #1! What is really nice is that there are 3 different menus of meals to choose from. They have low-fat, vegetarian, and low-carb. There are 20 different plans to choose from. 

"According to a University of Washington study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, high-quality, healthy foods cost on average $18.16 per 1,000 calories –just for the ingredients! That’s why eating healthy with Diet-to-Go is such a great value. With Diet-to-Go, you can get a delicious variety of fully prepared, healthy meals for just $17.02 per 1,000 calories. And, everything you need is included. No shopping, no complicated recipes, and no messy clean-up – It’s like having your own personal chef. Best of all, it may be less expensive than trying to do it on your own." When I read this about Diet-to-Go, I knew that I would rather not go to the trouble. How nice that it is done for me!

I love the fact that this is a diet meal delivery service. I swear that sometimes I think my grocery store wants to put out a missing persons report for me. I don't go in there enough, and when I do, it's to buy one of two things. The fact that this food is delivered to my door stops me from messing up my nutrition plan! It takes my mistakes, my lack of planning, my laziness and my being busy out of the equation.

Here is some very true and great info from Diet-to-Go:

Diet-to-Go is consistently ranked a top pick in taste tests and was recently ranked the top meal plan in a national blind taste test conducted by Epicurious.

It is not enough to be the best tasting. We believe the product must be priced to be accessible to customers who have grown accustom to cheap, processed, unhealthy foods. We have worked hard to control cost everywhere in our business other the food. This allows Diet-to-Go to deliver quality, delicious fully prepared and ready toeat meals, for as little as $6.81 per meal. This is the best price/quality value on the market, bar none.

Diet-to-Go is offering 20% off any meal plan to all of you with the coupon code "fitfluential."  This makes a great deal even better! Seriously, this stuff is DELISH! You must try!

Diet-to-Go sent me the low-fat plan. My favorite meals are pictured above. I loved my Thursday night dinner. It was blackened turkey loin with carrot chipotle puree. It was so good. It was like I was eating at a favorite restaurant! I don't cook, so you don't want to hear it tasted like a home-cooked meal :)  I also loved Wednesday's breakfast. The strawberry maple syrup made the pancakes! And I loved the french toast too. I think everything tasted great. I was impressed with the way the food held up in the microwave too. I made sure to heat up under the suggested time and add time slowly. I didn't have any problems! 

FitFluential LLC compensated me for this Campaign. All opinions are my own.