Born Tough Gym Bag Review

I spend a lot of time exercising and traveling - this is no secret. And so on a daily basis, I am typically packing and unpacking something. You'd find that I just keep my gym bags and small travel suitcase open and close to me so I can throw stuff in them and be on the go as needed. But to be honest, it would be nice to have something that can play multiple roles - something I can do a quick weekend trip with, pack up for the gym, or take to the office for the day with the plan to go to the gym at the end of the day.

Someone had asked me for recommendations for gym bags recently and it actually did get me thinking about what I would like in a gym bag. So when this one from Born Tough came through, it was perfect timing! What are my thoughts on this bag? Please take this with the caveat that we are currently on lock down for COVID-19 so I haven't had the chance to take it to an actual gym yet.

First off, this bag is a duffel bag and you can buy it on the site here.

Noom Review: So you’re looking to lose weight? Let’s talk about Noom!

Speaking of the holidays and overeating...

With food, when you force yourself to see who you really are, deception goes out of the window and you can focus on actions that help you make progress. Recording your meals forces you to count the good things and the bad things, and you’re faced with your honest reality. If that is the case, why not just take a notepad and write your daily meals, right?

RBXActive Digital Camo Leggings

To be honest, when it comes to fitness gear, I love trying out new things! I have had instances (especially with running shoes) where I thought my life was all good until I tried something amazing and realized I was not living...lol. So when I got these leggings from RBXActive to try on, I of course thought "Why not?". 

Having tried leggings from the $10 non-workout ones you get at department stores to the sleek yoga ones that I think are sometimes overprices for what you get, I have an open mind when it comes to fitness gear. Before I put these on, they felt like they would last (you know that sweat-wicking texture), and the package they sent me said they prevent chafing in runners (where the friction from your thighs rubbing together creates that uncomfortable feeling). So I tried them on for some yoga.

They were not tight and uncomfortable (yay!), they stayed on really well, and they meshed well with my movements. And you know in yoga, we move into all sorts of positions! I do have to say they did not make my butt look as great as my favorite pair of leggings, so there's that. But overall, I'm pretty impressed. However, I have not yet tried them out for running so I don't know about the chafing, but I'd say give them a go. You can get yours at department stores, sporting goods stores, or at rbxactive.com.

In fact, right now, they are selling these at a 25% discount if you use this code on rbxactive.com: "Active 25". So do it now!

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Influenster Refresh Voxbox

So last week I received a ton of items to test out from Influenster. Of course I was happy, but I was more excited to find out that some of the products were things I either wanted to try or already liked. But there were a few items I chose not to try, probably because I don't think I am in the best position to review them. Here is my review on each:

• Beanitos chips: This I liked. I got two flavors - the white bean with sea salt and the nacho cheese. Each bag contains about 210 calories, which is not bad for a bag of chips. From a health standpoint, I always say stay as natural as possible, so if it comes down to some nuts and a bag of chips, go for the nuts (even these chips). However, compared to other chips, they are made from beans, are gluten free, and contain less sodium. So that's definitely better than a regular bag. For more information about Beanitos, visit www.beanitos.com.
• CoverGirl UltraSmooth Foundation: I chose not to try this as I am not much of a foundation person.
• L'Occitane Shea Butter Light Comforting Cream: I'm always looking for good travel products so this was great for me. There is some shea butter in it and I really liked the texture on my face. I also read that L'Occitane has a fair-trade partnership with the women of Burkina Faso for the shea butter in the product. I support anyone that supports West Africa so I was sold. For more information about this product, check out L'Occitane.
• Orgain Certified Organic Nutritional Shakes: Sounds like it may be good. 25g of protein and 150 calories. I just never got the chance to pick mine up from the store (I had to take the coupon to the store to get it).
• Montagne Jeunesse Face Masques: Who doesn't like a good face mask. It didn't do anything special for my skin, but it felt good to have it on. It's quite cheap as well, so if you are looking for an alternative to the face mask you currently use, try it out.
• SkinnyGirl Tasty Nutrition Bars: One morning when I was rushing out and didn't get a chance to eat a good breakfast, this really came in handy. The bar was very very tasty. I got the banana oatmeal dark chocolate flavor. At 150 calories, this is a good snack for when you are on the go. SkinnyGirl also carries some great products. Check them out at SkinnyGirl.
• Listerine PocketPaks: What's funny about this product is that I already use it! I love my PocketPaks and buy them in bulk. They are like mints except they simply melt on your tongue. So if you are headed to that meeting or that date, and what something to freshen your breath really quickly, reach for these. Find out more about where to get them at Listerine.
• DenTek Flossers and Floss Picks: My brother actually introduced me to these some time ago. You can take the floss picks with you in your purse so that after dinner you can get some flossing done in the bathroom. They are easily disposable and a good substitute for traditional flossing. Find out more about all their products at DenTek.

I hope you found at least one thing you like and want to try out on this list. I had fun testing out the items :)

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Jawbone UP vs. Fitbit Flex

You have probably read my previous post on Fitbit products, including the Fitbit Flex. If you don't know what a Fitbit Flex is, it is a wristband-like device that helps track your activity throughout the day, mainly the steps you've walked. There are a few similar devices on the market, including the Nike Fuelband and the Jawbone UP. I have used the Fitbit Flex for a few months, but I hadn't had a chance to use the Jawbone UP, until now.

NutriCrystal Wireless Smart Food Scale Review

Okay, so I'm sure you've read the nutrition information of some food online, and have found it really difficult to translate the information to practical every day life. I mean, who the hell knows what 200g of chicken breast looks like, huh? But sometimes, especially if you are on a strict calorie program, it is easy to veer away from the right track because estimates can be grossly wrong. So of course, when I got the opportunity to review a food scale, I was pretty excited. 

Product Review: Total Nutrition by Immortal Herbs

Have you ever watched a Dr. Oz show and heard him talk about how you can get a "green high" from a concentrated vegetable shot? Yea, we are all skeptical until it happens. This is exactly what I felt when I took a shot of the Total Nutrition supplement by Immortal Herbs.

Silk Fruity and Creamy Soy Yogurt

I like Silk products in general. Their soy milk and almond milk are pivotal to my existence. You will probably see that I have reviewed a couple of soy products on here, and in general, I'm not a big fan of reviewing products I'm neutral on. So when I got the opportunity to receive and review this Silk Fruity and Creamy soy yogurt, I jumped at it.

Teas' Tea Teas

Tongue twister, huh? I'm a tea lover, and it is quite frustrating sometimes in the summer when I want to drink some iced tea, but everything is packed with sugar. Teas' tea sent me some samples of their iced teas to try, and to be honest, I was prepared for it to taste like everything else out there. 

Colgate Slimsoft Review

So I thought I'd take a little break from the fitness and nutrition posts, and chat about a product I received to review: a dental hygiene package. If you know me, you know I'm particular about my teeth so I'm probably the best person to talk about how I feel about this product.