I’ve created a new blog {yes, another one}! Join me in a quest to lose “The Last 30 Pounds” standing between me and my former, healthy weight. It’s part food journal, part exploration of weight-loss techniques, and all me.
For every comment left on 30lbs I will exercise at least 1 minute. I’d love your support, advice, etc. Maybe you’ll decide that you’d like to join me on the path to fitness.
Check it out when you get a chance!

This contest is now closed. Congrats to Lisa and Andrea!

ETA: "Open to Canadians only" means open to Canadian residents only. Also, all comments need to be left HERE on this post.

I live in the sunniest city in Canada. So during the summer I chose to use sunshine as our family’s source of Vitamin D. But now the seasons are changing. We seem to have skipped autumn altogether and jumped straight to winter {and we were forced to eat Robin’s minstrels*}. So I felt uncomfortable leaving Lucy without a supplement.

I purchased some Vit D drops at the store. But she hated them. She fought us the whole time we tried to deposit the dropper contents in her mouth. And I hated that they had a bunch of extra junk in them {like artificial flavoring}.

Then I saw Baby Ddrops on Twitter. I knew right away I wanted to do a review. Why?

Baby Ddrops are a daily, single drop dose with no flavors, preservatives, or colors.

They sent me a bottle (one tiny bottle contains 90 doses) to try. I’ve been using it for a while now and I’m very pleased. No more fighting Lucy to get her to swallow as much of her dose as possible. I just put a drop on my boob right before a feed. She has no clue she’s even getting anything.

Did I say “very pleased?” I meant very, very, very pleased. Really. I don’t know what else to say. These drops are super easy to give Lucy. And they don’t have questionable crap in them. You really can’t improve on that…well, unless they were free. And guess what, for two of my Canadian readers they will be!

That’s right folks! Baby Ddrops is going to give two lucky readers their own bottle of Baby Ddrops!

How can you win?

1st entry (mandatory for any others to count}: Visit the Baby Ddrops Facebook page and leave a comment HERE with something you learned about Baby Ddrops or Vitamin D. You must leave a way to contact you on all entries {either leave your e-mail or make sure you can be e-mailed through your blog}. If you leave no way to notify you, or if you do not respond to notification within 72 hours a new winner will be chosen.

2nd entry: Become a fan of Baby Ddrops on Facebook and leave a comment on this post saying that you did.

3rd entry: Follow @BabyDdrops on Twitter and leave a comment on this post saying that you did.

4th entry: Follow @DomesticDork on Twitter and leave a comment on this post saying that you did.

5th entry: Blog about the giveaway and leave a link to the post in a comment on this post.

6th entry: Follow me here on Domestic Dork and leave a comment saying that you did.

7th entry: Tweet about the giveaway and link to the tweet in a comment {you must leave a link to the specific tweet not your Twitter account!}. You may tweet once daily.

How will the winner be chosen?

Winner will be chosen via Random.org then notified and announced here on the blog.

When will the winner be chosen?

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Contest open to Canadian residents only.

Good luck!

*And there was much rejoicing! Yaaaaay!

It’s time for another round of Body After Baby on Mama Notes. Part of me is dreading it because I’ve put together a really challenging plan for myself. But part of me is looking forward to getting back in shape {I’ve been slacking for several weeks now}. Things are being done a little differently this time, so I’m *not* sharing my before pictures or stats yet. That will come later.

My plan includes an eight week Galloway walk/run conditioning program. If I do this program I can then begin marathon training and complete it in time for the Calgary Marathon next year. The conditioning program is actually a little below my level. But since I’ll be doing the 30 Day Shred again and playing Wii Fit I figured I’d better not push myself too hard on the running.

I’m also going to try doing something a little, well, off-the-wall. I’m going to be doing self hypnosis to supplement my exercising and eating healthy. I think it will make a bit of a difference. But if nothing else, it’s a chance to take 15-30 minutes for myself each day and really relax.

This week we’ve been challenged to drink water. We get 1 point for each glass of water we drink so I’m tracking my intake on my dry erase board. Points will help us at the end of the challenge when a winner is chosen. I guess if we reach our goals we’ll all be winners. But let’s be real…I want to win a prize too!

Wish me luck!

The 8 week “Fit By Labor Day” mini-challenge has ended. My weight change?

Zero.

I lost some pounds early on, but gained it all back in Ohio.

My eating habits changes?

Zero.

I still need to drink more water, and have a new weakness to overcome {Vanilla Cherry Dr. Pepper Slurpees…WHO has the will power to resist that?}!

My 5K progress?

Zero.

Well, not exactly zero. I can run longer than a mile now, but only about half a 5K.

Visible difference {sorry for the crappy “after” pictures}?

You be the judge:

But you know what? I’m still going. I’m doing the Wii Fit and I’ve got a new 5K picked out {I just need to register and begin training again}. And if I win the trip to SITScation {winner announced tomorrow!!!!} then I’m also going to do the 30 Day Shred again.

You only fail once you give up.

And just to reinforce that idea here are some of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs:

Get Up – Superchic[k]
I'm not afraid to fall.
It means I climbed up high.
To fall is not to fail.
You fail when you don't try.
Not afraid to fall,
I might just learn to fly and
I will spread these wings of mine.

If i get up I might fall back down again.
So let's get up, come on.
If I get up I might fall back down again.
We get up anyway.

We'll just jump and see, even if it's the 30th time.
We'll just jump and see if we can fly.
I'm not afraid to fall.
I've fallen many times.
They laughed when I fell down.
But I have dared to climb .
I'm not afraid to fall.
I know I'll fall again.
But I can win this in the end.

I’m going to share my ultimate travel tip with you. Trust me, you definitely want to follow this advice:

DO NOT BEGIN YOUR VACATION WITH A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL.

Yup, if there’s one piece of vacation guidance I could give that would definitely be it.

If you’ve been following me on Twitter you might have caught this tweet:

See, here’s the thing: apparently upon an airplane’s descent one’s blood pressure can do funky things. Sometimes those funky things can make you feel really, really crappy. And sometimes when you feel really, really crappy your breathing {and therefore oxygen intake} change just enough to make you weak, numb, and tingly. {And when I say “weak” I’m talkin’ about the uggghhh-I-can’t-stand-or-hardly-speak-somebody-please-help-me-kind-of-weak.} And if you wait it out everything clears up and you’ll be fine and dandy.

Now, generally, flight attendants don’t moonlight as doctors. So they don’t know this. They do know that if an otherwise healthy, young woman suddenly finds herself practically unable to move that it’s usually wise that the paramedics be called. And that’s cool. Except that once paramedics are involved the airline require a note from a doctor assuring the patient can safely fly.

And in our case that means missing our next flight, taking all our carry-on luggage and a baby with us in the ambulance, waiting about an hour in the ER so that a obnoxiously, rude doctor can charge us an extra fee for filling out a form for the airline telling them I can fly in 12 to 24 hours {just in case}. Then it means waiting around even longer while trying to contact the airline so we can fly the next day and find a hotel that isn’t completely full. After spending what seems like an eon playing phone tag we then get to take a taxi {not cheap} to the hotel {also not cheap} only to find out the lady who made the reservation for us sent us to the wrong place. So…we take another taxi {still not cheap} to the right hotel. And, since it’s after 10 and we haven’t eaten since breakfast we order a pizza…pizza which takes over an hour to get delivered {can you say “no tip!”}.

The bright side to all this was that we ended up getting to visit Adam’s folks the next day. They helped us navigate the Toronto airport and get things sorted out with Air Canada. The rest of the vacation went quite well. I’m perfectly healthy. And everything is back to normal…except I still have gunk on my skin from those medical stick-ums.

Lesson learned? Next time I feel crummy, DON’T HYPERVENTILATE. Also?

NEVER EVER SAY "What could possibly go wrong?" {not even as a joke}!

As you can probably tell, I’ve totally been procrastinating this post. I could give you some song and dance about being busy with the new site or getting ready to leave for Ohio on Sunday. But the truth is I just don’t want to fess up to my bad behavior this week. When I say “bad behavior” I mean total lack of healthy eating and exercise. And when I say “this week” I mean “for more than a week.” Also? I am the world’s worst vegetarian {pork ribs anyone?}.

I have no idea if I’m still on target with my 5K training because I haven’t run in over a week. Tonight, when Adam gets home, I will run. I will run a nice slow 4mph and I will see how long I can go without stopping. And when I say “stopping” I mean “keeling over and dying.” If I can keep going I will keep going, even if I get bored, even if it’s hard. {And I’ll update this post to let you all know how I did. -update: I did a craptastic job. Half a mile before I hit a wall, freaked out, and gave up. Booo!} And you know what else? I will run while I’m in Ohio. Rain, shine, heat, cold…I am going to run. I’m going to be the freakin’ United States Postal Service of running!

I’m ready to climb back on the Body After Baby wagon. I’m sick of the way my eating and sedentary habits recently have affected my mood. Plus, as much as I love my, new slimming swimsuit*, I don’t want to need a “tummy tamer” panel on my swimwear thankyouverymuch.

I’ll return and report after out trip. And if I didn’t keep my word to run 3 times then I’ll do another giveaway or something. How’s that sound?

*By the way. I got that swimsuit for $10.50 CAD thanks to clearance and SCOP. Not bad, eh? Now I don’t have to keep wearing my maternity swimsuit.

You know how “they” say after giving birth a woman has no shame? Yeah…it’s true. I know because Samantha of Mama Notes is hosting a challenge within a challenge and asked for “before” pics. And I obliged. OK…so it’s not a bikini…but close enough! Eee gads! What was I thinking?!

About 3 years ago (shortly before getting married) I looked like this:

Wow. I’m not sure what is more amazing…how much I’ve changed in 3 years or that I posted it for the whole world to see. Truth is, my feelings about my body are mixed. On the one hand I love my body. I love her for all she has done for me (like incubating and birthing my Lovey-Girl!). I love her for her strength and beauty. On the other hand I can’t honestly say I wouldn’t prefer to look a little bit more like I did way back when. I looked good. I looked healthy. And the strangest thing is that though I may not look it I’m actually healthier now. I’m stronger, eat healthier, and have more endurance. I want my outward appearance to better reflect my inner health.

The mini challenge is 8 weeks long. And my goals for that time are to run my 5K race without having to stop and walk, to stop eating junk (including soda*), and to do my best to make my body even healthier. I won’t set a goal weight because I can’t know what weight my body is capable of being now that I’m nursing (hellooo bigger boobs)! Plus I’m trying not to focus on pounds so much as health (remember?). I am however willing to do before and after weigh-ins. My before weight (according to my lame-o scale which is probably way inaccurate) is 156 pounds. That’s quite a bit for my 5’2” frame.

I’m really glad this mini challenge popped up when it did. I already told you how poorly I did the week before last. Well…last week was better food-wise, but awful as far as exercising is concerned. I need this extra motivation to get back on track.

The Fit By Labor Day Challenge begins today! Wish me luck!

*With the exception of the occasional mojito.

1 Body After Baby mama + 2 holidays / 1 week x giving in to treats = 1 blah mama

It all started with Canada Day. Just days before I had commented to friends and family that since I had been eating such a healthy diet my cravings for junk, and even my taste for unhealthy food had changed enormously. But then I found myself indulging in all kinds of foods on Canada Day. It made me feel tired, and blah. So did I get back on the healthy eating bandwagon? No. I continued to eat blah foods and feel blah for some mysterious reason.

So….I’m considering doing a sugar free challenge (one week, one month?). I’ve been looking at the 30 Sugar Free Days website. But I don’t trust an eating plan that entirely cuts out the bottom of the food pyramid. So I’m still figuring out what I want to do and for how long.

But how’s my training going? Eh. Not bad. I’m one day behind (which isn’t a big deal at all) in the 5K training. But I haven’t been doing any weight training. The running workouts are soooo much longer than the 30 Day Shred workouts were that I haven’t really felt like there’s time for long strength training sessions in addition to that. So I’m considering doing this 10 minute routine a few times a week. I think I can handle 10 minutes at a time.

I guess I’m in fitness limbo right now. I really need to get back into my groove as far as eating goes because the junk has me feeling sluggish and befuddled which makes getting out of fitness limbo that much harder.

So, what have we learned?

DON’T EAT JUNK FOOD.

Visit the Body After Baby Challenge. And tell me how you feel when you eat poorly in the comments.

This past week was an exciting one! On Wednesday I did my very last 30 Day Shred workout! I’m very happy with 30DS. I am stronger, leaner, and my endurance and confidence have increased. But I’m also glad to be moving on. 30 days works well because it’s long enough to see results, but not so long that the boredom kills you.

I’m on to training for my first 5K. I’ve registered for the Calgary Women’s Run which is in August. I am not looking forward to running in August heat. But I am looking forward to doing my first race! I began training on Thursday with a nice long walk/run on our new-to-us treadmill. My exercise was cut short by a hungry baby but it was still long and hard! The training continued on Friday with a loooooooong walk through the nearby coulee. I always enjoy this particular trail. The views and wildlife sightings are fantastic (see the pair of deer?)! Plus it’s very hilly so it’s quite challenging.

I was very sick on Saturday (I will spare you the details*) and that totally threw off my groove. It means I’m having to shift around some days in my training schedule. And I’m starting the strength training later than I wanted to by a few days. But such is life. I’ll still be on target for the overall training schedule. I’ve just had to switch my rest days for one week.

I also discovered this week that I’ve been eating healthy foods for so long now that I can’t handle junk the way I used to. Overly processed and super sugary foods just don’t agree with me anymore and I’ve lost the desire for {most of} them. Not even Oreo cookies appeal to me! I used to think that heating healthy would mean resisting temptation for the rest of my life. Boy, was I wrong! Given enough time a healthy diet turns previous temptations into disgusting prospects. That said, I don’t eat perfectly and I still like old fashioned goodies (like homemade cookies) on occasion.

This week my goal is simple, get back on track and keep the momentum going!

Be sure to check out the Body After Baby post on the host site (Mama Notes) for some tips on “accidental exercise.”

What kinds of things throw off your exercise routine? How do you deal with them?

*You can thank me later.

I started this challenge largely because I was unhappy with the way my body looked. But after really thinking about fat talk and body image I’ve tried to let go of that particular motivation and focus on health and the sense of accomplishment that comes from reaching one’s goals. So I’ve taken the scale out of the bathroom and stashed it in the storage closet. I’ve left myself an Operation Beautiful note. And I’ve already started feeling much better about myself.

Last week I set several goals:

• Continue 30DS
• Water, water, water!
• Make half a week’s meal plan.
• Make some long term fitness goals and plan for them.
• NO soda!

I’m happy to report that I have met those goals (and surpassed a few of them)! I have just a few days left of 30DS. Wednesday will be my last workout. I can’t believe I’ve stuck with it! I’ve never stuck with a fitness plan for this long! And this one is crazy hard at first! But Adam has provided a substantial bribe to do all 30 days, Jillian Michaels (the DVD host/trainer) is really motivating, and after completing NaNoWriMo and giving birth I more fully believe that I can do anything!

I did not give in and have any soda, even when my evil lovely husband tempted me with a mojito. And I did drink more water, but could probably stand to have a little more each day.

I not only finished half a week’s meal plan, I completed an entire week’s plan AND implemented it. I’ve gotten most of the meal ideas and recipes from Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point. Very yummy! Just to give you an idea of what my new, healthy meals look like here are a few examples:

• sweet potato and bean balls rolled in ground flax seed
• hummus wraps with veggie toppings
• whole, sprouted grain French toast with ground flax seed
• vegetarian burritos (yup, I’m recommitting myself to vegetarianism…er…vegetariseafoodism?)
• lots and lots of green smoothies!

And I’ve made my long term fitness goals and planned my training. One of my 101 in 1001 goals is to run a marathon. So that’s my focus. And how appropriate that today’s Body After Baby post at Mama Notes is about running? That’s got to be a sign or something.

I’ve selected which marathon I want to run (the Calgary marathon). And I have a 46+ week training plan in place which will take me from beginner runner to 5K, from 5K to 1/2 marathon, and then from 1/2 to full marathon! If I stick to the plan then in just under a year I’ll be running a 26.2 mile race. It’s said that anyone who is moderately fit can train to run a marathon. But rumour has it that only between 0.1% and 2% of people ever will do it. I am going to do it.

Saturday night I watched the documentary Spirit of the Marathon. It was incredibly inspirational. It gave an abbreviated history of the marathon and followed several different runners training for the Chicago Marathon from first timer to elite racers (i.e. people who actually have a chance to win). As boring as that description may make it sound it was truly fascinating. I think my favourite part was when they discussed the history of women running marathons. Women used to be barred from long distance races (supposedly, one belief was that our wombs would fall out *insert BIG eye roll here*). Katherine Switzer was the first women to run the almighty Boston Marathon (entered under the name K. V. Switzer) and she finished it (without her womb falling out, I might add) despite a race official’s attempt to physically remove her from the race.

Starting Thursday my training will include the six week 100 push ups/200 sit ups/200 squats program three times per week and a six week beginner 5k program four times per week. I’ll be doing both programs on one day per week so that I can also have a complete day of rest each week. While I’ve enjoyed the commitment of working out every day as demanded by the 30DS it’s not really what’s best for one’s body. Our bodies need a chance to rest and recover.

So, this weeks mini goals include:

• start and stick to my training schedule
• water!!!
• continue to eat healthy foods
• register for my the Calgary Women's Run (5K) and/or the Bustin' Loose Race (10K)
  

I am so excited to start training. It is going to be hard. But in the last year I have discovered that I can do hard things. So, barring a late blizzard or serious injury I will run the Calgary Marathon, even if it takes me six hours to do it.

Would you ever run a marathon? Have you already? What hard things have you done? Brag away in the comments.

This post is brought to you by the helpful customer service representatives working for Compaq. Without them I’d be lying in the fetal position and crying over the black screen of doom that fell upon my lappy this morning. Now, for my weekly update on the Body After Baby Challenge:

Epic fail!

OK…maybe not an epic fail. But I do have to report some slipping up this week.

• I did not go for three walks. I went for two walks. And while I did go to the pool on Friday it was with Lucy so I didn’t actually do any swimming.
• I had soda! Oh no! I had soda a few times actually. Bear made mojitos (soooo good!) for the first time. After having a sip of his I had to have my own. And after giving in once to soda I gave in again. But I’m jumping back on the no-soda wagon. It’s better to fall and get back up than fall and stay down, right?
• I’m still not drinking enough water. And now that it’s getting hot (even though a week ago we had snow) I really need to make sure I keep myself hydrated. Being a nursing mom makes it extra important!
• I didn’t get any of my meal plan done.

But it’s not all bad news. I am seeing amazing results from the 30 Day Shred workout. My strength, endurance, and flexibility have all been vastly improved since I started. And I’m not having as much trouble with my knees and hip so I’m actually able to do all the moves (and even some of the advanced ones)! Plus I’ve lost several pounds. I’m about 10 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight, even with all the added muscle I’ve got now!

Last week was a busy week for me. I was doing a lot of work on my blog. But as much as I’d like to make excuses, I know I shouldn’t. I need to be committed enough to my health that even when I’m busy or feeling lazy or am tempted by minty-lime goodness I still reach my goals! So I’m recommitting myself this week and here’s what I plan to do:

• Continue 30DS (level 3 starts today!)
• Water, water, water!
• Make half a week’s meal plan.
• Make some long term fitness goals and plan for them.
• NO soda!

Before I run off I want to share this blog with you. It’s a food and fitness blog that I recently discovered and I looooove it! I am SO inspired by Caitlin (the author). And I’ve gotten some really yummy snack and meal ideas from browsing her archives! So be sure to give her blog a visit! You don’t want to miss it!

I've completed my third week of the Body After Baby Challenge. And I'm feeling pretty good about it. As long as I'm being frank I should tell you all that I was not a healthy weight when I got pregnant. Then I gained more weight than necessary over the course of my pregnancy. So when I tell you that it's important for me to be taking better care of my body, I really mean it. As of Sunday I'm about 10 pounds (or less*) over my pre-pregnancy weight. But, as nice as it is to be losing weight, it's not the only reason I'm feeling good about the challenge. Working out every day is giving me more energy, and more confidence. I'm nowhere near my goal size but I like my body again anyways because I'm taking care of it. Plus, you know, it is nice to look in the mirror and be able to see a difference!

Tuesday I did not work out because I was sick. Sad day. But I haven't missed any other days. I'm now on level 2 of the 30 Day Shred. But I'm having problems with it. It's a very high impact workout and is too tough on my knees and hips. So I have to substitute lower impact moves some times.

And I still can't manage to drink 3 liters of water per day. I think it's just more than my body needs. So from here on out I'm going to focus on having more water, but not push myself to drink a set amount.

I'm soda free and glad that I decided to give it up for at least 30 days.

I've found that with all the extra energy I have I get up and go for walks just because I want to (and not because I should). So, in addition to continuing to work out daily I'm going add go for a walk 3 times a week to my goals (weather permitting). I want to make sure walking becomes a habit. And I'm aiming to put together at least half a week's worth of a healthy meal plan.

That's all for now. I'm going to be putting up a post today or tomorrow that moms of little girls should be very excited about. I nearly peed my pants I was so excited. So stay tuned!

*It's hard to remember how much I weighed over a year ago.

I am SO proud of myself this week. Last week my goal was to drink 3 liters of water daily and do 30 Day Shred daily. I still haven't managed to drink that much water per day (it's hard to make yourself drink when you aren't thirsty). But I have increased the amount of water I drink. But what I'm really proud of is that I did my workout every day this week. Even the days I was in Edmonton. It is NOT an easy workout. But I already have seen an increase in my stamina and energy levels. And in a few days I'll move on to the level 2 workout. I am determined to do it every day for the full 30 days. Even on days when I'm exhausted (like our first night back from our trip) I did it, even if I did it without using weights. Since it takes a little less than a month to make something a habit I'm hoping by the end of the shred I'll exercise without having to push myself to get started.

This week my goal is the same, drink 3 liters of water daily and continue doing the daily workout. I've also been challenged to give something, anything, up for 30 days. I'm going to give up soda. A part of my wants to say "sugar" but let's be realistic. I am not ready to give up sugar.

{Here's a post I wrote before we left for Edmonton. I planned ahead. Aren't I clever? So, while you're waiting to hear about our trip you can read this.}

You know what? Frozen yogurt actually CAN be as good as ice cream. I really like this stuff. In fact, it's got a better texture than the last few brands of real ice cream I've tried. And, well...dark chocolate. I mean, hello! Yummy!! And this, being frozen yogurt instead of frozen cream, is healthier than the regular stuff. It even has active probiotic cultures! I'm a fan!

Next time I might have to try the strawberry rhubarb flavor!

What are some "healthy hacks" you've found for some of your favorite foods?

So...seems like Monday is a popular day for memes, eh? Sorry for the overload. I'll keep this one short.

My goals from last Monday included dancing every day and doing crunches every day. I was also challenged to drink 3 liters of water daily and do one extra workout. So, how'd I do?

Well...I started the week strong. But by Friday (or was it Thursday?) I forgot to do my workouts. I got back in the game Sunday with the MS Walk (post to come!) and a session of 30 Day Shred (which kicked my butt)! I did increase my water intake, but never hit 3 liters in one day.

This week I'm aiming to hit the 3 liters of water daily and do 30 Day Shred daily.

You know you need to do something about your post-baby body when your belly looks worse five months postpartum than your friend's belly looks seven days postpartum. So...I'm doing something about it. I'm joining the Body After Baby challenge. It fits in with my 101 in 1001 goals, plus I like that I get to set new mini goals each week. That means I can change things up often enough that I (hopefully) won't lose interest. I'm getting in on the game a few weeks late. But imperfection is better than nothing.

Besides the aesthetic benefits, the extra energy, and so on that exercise will give me. I want to start setting a good example for Lucy now. I want her to grow up with a healthy, active mama. I want physical fitness to be so normal that she doesn't even think twice about it. I want it to be part of everyday life. And I want it to be that way before she needs the good example, so that by the time she does need that role model I will already have good habits.

My long term goal: stick with this for 6 months and make progress towards my 101 in 1001 goals.

My goals this week:

• dance for 10 minutes a day
• do 40 crunches (or similar) per day - I need to help those belly muscles heal after nine months of stretching!

sigh

BIG sigh

I'm going to the dentist in about a half hour.

Know why?

Because I have a cavity. And not it's not just any old cavity. As best as I can tell it is a massive hole which is going to cost an arm and a leg to be changed from "hole" to "whole." And dental is not covered by Alberta Health. However the insurance Adam is required to get while a student at Medicine Hat College does cover dental. Except that it does not cover me because we didn't want to pay the full year price for part year coverage and that was the only option available. We wanted to save our money and wait until we'd get the full year. Gee, that worked out well. *rolls eyes at own foolishness*

So, here I sit, trying to ignore the growing sense of dread and attempting to distract myself as the clock ticks down to my appointment time. Obviously, not working.

I have loved Starbucks frappuccino since I was a teen. It's just really, really yummy. It's also really, really bad for you (lots and lots of sugar).

Well, I've found an alternative that works for me! It's got NO added sugar (NONE!) but it still tastes sweet. It's got protein, vitamins and minerals, calcium, almost 50% less caffeine than regular coffee, and no preservatives (click the picture for nutritional details). It's the "Perfectly Protein Mocha Cappuccino" drink made by Bolthouse Farms. We sold Bolthouse products at the health food store I used to work at in Utah (their "Green Goodness" juice is pretty awesome). But now you can even find their products at Wal-Mart (which is where I picked up my bottle of cappuccino drink). The flavor isn't quite as good as a Starbucks frappuccino (almost, but not quite). However, like I said, it's less expensive and it's WAY better for you.