7 week fitness challenge results!!!

So today was the 7 week mark since I started my fitness challenge to lose the baby weight. I will admit, I was nervous to get started because I hadn't seriously worked out in well over a year, and although I didn't eat too bad, I never really paid attention to what exactly I ate and how much of it. I knew giving up sweets would be the biggest challenge for me because I have a huge sweet tooth!

I chose this program because I loved the fact that it was only 25 minutes a day, I knew this was something that I would be able to squeeze into my busy day, even with a newborn and toddler. I ended up falling in love with it!! It didn't take me long to start noticing some changes either, and not just losing weight, but also gaining energy…funny how that works, right? You workout hard and have more energy then before you started! The shakeology really helped to curb my cravings (especially for sweets) and gave me energy!!

So was I successful? Absolutely! Did I have challenges? Of course I did!! Did I give up all 'unhealthy' food? No, I allowed myself treats! What helped me was my accountability group. If I was thinking about what to snack on that afternoon I reached for an apple instead of a cookie because I knew I would have to confess to my group later that day. The motivation and support of my challenge group was really what helped me to stay on track!!

So I lost a total of 12 lbs, 9.5 inches (chest, waist, hips, thighs) and gained .5 inch on each arm!!!!

Now to decide which program to do next…oh wait, I already did! This is the program I'm starting on Jan 6, and I'll be doing a brand new challenge group again!!! I'm very excited…and yes, nervous again, it takes a lot of hard work and determination to stick to it, but so worth it in the end!!

Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Mousse

So this past week I've really been craving sweets. I think I'm going to blame it on the fact that I'm nursing a little guy that's growing waaaay too fast and has been eating every 2 hours for the past 5 days (even through the night!).

It could also have something to do with the fact that I've been doing a clean eating challenge for 5 weeks now and avoiding refined sugar as much as possible. Either way, I have been needing something sweet lately.

What I wanted to do was bake, but I've just been too busy…plus I'm not really sure what to make. I need to look through all my pins on my "Clean Eating" board, and that might take a while!

Anyways, to satisfy my sweet craving for the day, I made this healthy Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Mousse, and it's really good!!!

Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Mousse

1 banana
1 1/2 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp honey
2 tbsp peanut butter (I used all natural crunchy )
3 tbsp milk (I used regular almond milk).

Add all ingredients to blender for a few minutes, transfer to bowl once blended well. Cool in fridge for about half hour (if you can last that long). Enjoy!!

Snow Ice Cream (no sugar added)

For some reason this was the first winter I thought about the snow ice cream my mom used to make for us, probably because I have a toddler now and I thought she would really enjoy it. We didn’t have any money growing up, so snow ice cream was a great treat for us!

I wondered if snow ice cream was a real thing or something my mom had invented.  Where to go and see if a recipe exists? Pinterest of course! Sure enough, Pinterest has everything, including recipes for snow ice cream!

I looked at several and they either all used sweetened condensed milk or milk and sugar. I wanted to do mine without sugar, so here's my recipe:

¼ cup milk

¼ tsp vanilla

¼ cup maple syrup

Mix these together then go get about 5 cups of fresh snow and pour the liquid over the snow, mix well and voilà, snow ice cream! This makes about 2 cups of ice cream. You’ll want to be sure to eat it right away because it melts pretty quickly and doesn’t re-freeze well. Enjoy!!

It was a hit!!

Zander's Birth Story (Part 2)

If you missed part 1 of the birth story, find it here.

Arnold texted back that he got a hold of her (what a huge relief) and he was now on his way back!! He got back around 4:30 or so, put his swim shorts on and hopped in with me. What a relief!! Soon my midwife asked me to let her know once I felt like I needed to start pushing so she could call the backup midwife. It wasn't long until I told her she should probably call her. 

Around 5:20 or so, I started to push and shortly after that my waters broke. At this point the contractions didn't want to stop, there was barely any breathing room between them. I pushed quite a few more times and then finally my midwife told me that with one more big push his head would be out. Sure enough, with the next push his head was out and with the one following that he was out completely @ 5:44am! She whisked him up and put him straight on my chest.

I remember I couldn't stop smiling and laughing, in almost a giggle like way. I was just so happy that he was here and that it went sooo fast! It amazed me how alert Zander was as well, just looking around and content. From the time I woke up with contractions to the time I was holding him was just over 4 hours! With Brielle from start to finish I was about 36 hours…yikes! After a few minutes Arnold got to cut the cord, which was also really special since he didn't get to do that with Brielle. 

After delivering the placenta, I got cleaned up while Arnold and Zander had some bonding time, and then they weighed and measured him. Our big boy was 9.8 lbs & 22 inches long!! I had totally thought he would be at least a pound less when I was holding him, he was so curled up that he didn't seem that big. 

This whole birth was just so amazing, from the care the midwifes gave right from the beginning, to the time we went home. I just loved having him at the centre with no doctors, no medical equipment and no one but me, Arnold and the 2 midwifes there, it was so peaceful and quiet!! We had a few hours of alone time in our nice, beautiful queen size bed while they made a scrumptious breakfast for us! It didn't take long for Zander to have his first feeding either, he latched on very well! 

Zander and I were both doing so well that we got to leave around 9am. Once we were in the car, Arnold confessed "now don't be mad at me, but I stopped to get a coffee on the way to the centre". I said "I already saw your cup there, good thing you didn't miss the birth because you had to have a coffee!". To his credit though, we both didn't think the birth would be nearly that quick!!

We stopped by to pick Brielle up on the way back home, her babysitter was shocked that we were on our way back home already…with a baby (they had just gotten up and had breakfast)!!

So Arnold's mom was due to arrive around noon, so we decided not to tell her that Zander had arrived, we wanted to surprise her! Arnold's brother and his family was driving her up from Calgary, so it was going to be a surprise for all of them. We had just talked to them the night before when nothing was happening yet, so they didn't suspect anything. I'll never forget the looks on their faces as they walked in and I was sitting on the couch with Zander sitting on my lap. My mother in law said she thought I was babysitting because he was so big!  

*On a side note, on the way to drop Brielle off, Arnold had been praying that she would pick up her phone if he tried to call one more time. She said that it was like in her dream someone was trying to get a hold of her and it woke her up, she looked at her phone and saw about 20 missed calls. Can you say that the power of prayer works and God woke her up? I have no doubt!!

Zander's Birth Story (part 1)

Zander was due on Sept 9th. It was now Sept 14th and he still wasn't here, around 10pm I started timing my Braxton Hicks contractions…only because my sister said she had been timing hers (she was due a few weeks behind me). Zander's grandma was due to arrive the next day, so we were just waiting for him to make his appearance already! Arnold and I were watching TV, and he didn't even realize I was timing them. They were about 5 minutes apart, lasting about 40 seconds…but not painful. After our show, I went to go have a bath, and they went away so I didn't think anything of it. Actually I had been having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions for the past few months and these didn't seem much different. 

40 Weeks!

We went to bed around 11:30 and at about 1:30am I woke up with more contractions. I went downstairs, walked around for a while, it didn't take long to realize that these were the real thing! They were starting to get painful, and they were now about 4-5 minutes apart, lasting around a minute. Around 2:30am, I woke Arnold up and said the 2 dreaded words a husband doesn't want to hear from his pregnant wife in the middle of the night, "It's time!".

He had that look in his eye like 'I just wanna go back to sleep, can you just hold off until morning?'. He only said "are you sure?" Of course I was sure, it's not like I wanted to be up at 2:30 in the morning if I wasn't sure! We got our stuff together and called the midwife. Thankfully she lives very close so she decided it was best to come check me to see if we should head to the birthing centre. She got here just before 3, checked me and I was about 3-4 cms dilated.  She decided it was best we go to the birthing centre right away. We told her we would meet her there, we just had to drop Brielle off on the way. 

She left and we tried to call our friend who had agreed to watch Brielle. No answer. We tried several more times and still no answer. Arnold tried her husband and he was working. Her husband tried several times and didn't get an answer either. Not sure what to do at this point we decided that we would keep trying to call her on the way to her house, hoping she would pick up. If she didn't pick up, hopefully she would answer the door in the middle of the night when she hears someone banging on it and her husband's not home. 

On the way (it's only about a 25 minute drive) my contractions kept increasing so Arnold decided it would be best to drop me off at the birthing centre first and then drop Brielle off and come back. During my contraptions I agreed with him, in between contractions I thought it would be fine if we both just went to drop her off. I'm glad he decided it would  be best to drop me off first. We got to the centre and our midwife wasn't there yet because we had told her we would be a bit longer since we had to drop Brielle off first. We only waited for a few minutes before she arrived but it felt like a few hours! She got there, her and I both went in and Arnold & Brielle were off. 

My midwife offered for me to get into the shower right away which I did while she filled the tub. Contractions were pretty painful and close together by now. I was just anxiously waiting to get into the tub by now and for Arnold to get back. Once again it only took a few minutes for the tub to get full enough for me to get in, but it felt like hours again! It felt nice to get in but I was hoping it would slow things down for a bit, at least till Arnold got back. I mentioned this to my midwife and she said not if this baby's ready to come. She did ask me a few times (as calmly as possible) if he was on his way back yet. I texted him at 4:10 to "come ASAP!" I was really starting to worry that I might have this baby without him….

7 Day Health Challenge - New Recipe Roundup!

Since I started my Facebook page, every month from the 1^st to the 7^th, I have some sort of a health or fitness challenge.

For Sept, the health challenge was to make one new, healthy recipe each day. I did this challenge because not only do I want people to start experimenting with making food healthier, but also because I had ‘pinned’ a lot of healthy recipes myself I had yet to try!

Day 1 - I made this Strawberry Refrigerator Jam: http://pinterest.com/pin/252694229065278986/.

I made this because I had heard good reviews and I also ran out of jam a while back and didn’t want to buy any before trying this first.

It truly was super easy; just add your ingredients to a blender, blend, put in jar and in the fridge overnight to thicken. Oh, I couldn’t find any rhubarb, so I just used 2 cups of strawberries. Results: YUM!! I don’t think I’ll be buying jam anytime soon, because this is so good, and I want to experiment with different fruit as well. My mouth is already watering, just thinking about it!!

Day 2 - I made this Skinny Shake: http://pinterest.com/pin/252694229064871298/

I made this because it was a hot day – and come on, it was a holiday long weekend, so nothing better than a nice cold treat! I was intrigued by the fact that it said it tastes like a Wendy’s Frosty.

This was another super easy recipe – just add all ingredients to a blend! Results: Good! It did not taste like a Wendy’s Frosty, and the texture wasn’t the same either. It was a little more slushy style than creamy frosty. Although it was nice and chocolaty and tasted good, I couldn’t help but feel it needed a bit of sweetness. I added a tablespoon of honey and blended again for a bit – even better! Even though it doesn’t taste like a Wendy’s Frosty to me, it was still delicious and a great summer time treat!! I will make this one again as well!

Day 3 – I made this Healthy Banana Cream Pie: http://pinterest.com/pin/252694229065124674/

I made this because my hubby has recently stopped eating most of my baked goods and desserts…I’m not really sure why, but he just doesn’t really eat them anymore. I have made mostly healthy versions of old favourites, or new healthy favourite baked goods. One of his favourite dessert recipes is his mom’s banana cream pie, it’s not healthy by any means, so I wanted to try a healthy version. I just used my regular blender because I don’t have the juicer he suggests, and boy, it took some hard work to get these bananas blended! At one point I thought I would burn out the blender, but I think it’s still fine. I did add about ¼ cup of almond milk to make the blending easier, like he suggested. Results: It was good, I just wouldn’t call it Banana Cream Pie, I would call it Banana Ice Cream Pie because you have to keep it in the freezer, and that’s not what I think of when I think of Banana Cream Pie. I was especially impressed by the almond crust – very good! I will make it again, especially when I have gluten/dairy free guests over!

Day 4 – I made this Homemade Salsa: http://pinterest.com/pin/252694229064626288/

I made this because we go through a lot of salsa at our house…well, hubby does anyways! It gets expensive, especially the brand that he likes, so I’ve been wanting to make my own salsa for a long time.

This was another easy recipe, we both don’t like chunky salsa, so I just threw it all into my baby bullet (I love that thing!). This also saved me from having to finely dice these ingredients!! I did only use one jalapeno pepper (seeds removed) because I didn’t want it to be too spicy. Also, I only had regular tomatoes, not Roma tomatoes. Results: It tasted great!! Hubby really likes it too, the only issue, as you can see on the picture is that it did not really look like salsa. Where was the redness?? I’m sure if I would have used the Roma tomatoes, it would be much redder. I will make this again for sure – probably many times, but next time I’ll use Roma tomatoes!!

Day 5 – I made this Quinoa Porridge: http://myglutendairyfreelifewithkids.blogspot.ca/2013/09/porridge-i-fell-in-love-with-this.html

I made this because I have been cooking with quinoa quite a bit lately and have seen a few breakfast versions; I knew I had to try one. What a great way to start a morning with a great protein like quinoa!
I made it according to directions, but I haven’t boiled milk in so long that I forgot how easily it boils over…let’s just say you need to stay close by when this is simmering, I had mine on low with the lid open a bit and it still boiled over a few times! I will remember for next time!! Results: It was great! I really liked it and am glad that I’ll have some leftover for tomorrow’s breakfast as well. I will make it again for sure!!

Day 6 – I made this baked Zucchini & Carrots: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229064736619/

I made this because I’m always looking for new side dishes and different ways to cook veggies. I also added some sweet potato spears. On the recipe there are lots of different options for spices. I used salt, pepper, thyme & Cajun spices. Results: The flavor was good, but the veggies were soggy….it was a disappointment and I will likely not make this again, or maybe next time I’ll decrease the olive oil? Maybe that’ll make the difference?

Day 7 – I made this Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal: http://pinterest.com/pin/252694229064931382/

I made this because when hubby’s on day shift, he gets up around 5:30am and he really doesn’t have time to make anything for breakfast. We’re both big breakfast people, so skipping breakfast is not an option for either of us! I made the banana/peanut butter version first because he loves both of those a lot. Results: Awesome!! He’s actually asked me to make them for him all the time when he’s on day shift…YAY!! I did also make the almond/mango one the next time and that wasn’t our favourite, I think because the almond extract is quite strong! This is so healthy, easy and filling, so I would urge you all to try it for an easy, on the go breakfast! Skip the sugary cereals!!!

So in the end, I loved this challenge and I loved almost all the recipes I tried!! I think the Salsa and Refrigerator Oatmeal will be made many times in this house in the future…oh, and the jam too! Brielle and I both love the jam!!

Why not try some new, healthy recipes yourself? You might be surprised at how delicious some of these foods and recipes actually are J If you need some inspiration, check out my “Clean Eating” board on Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/1kat/clean-eating/ ), I have lots of healthy recipes there and always add new ones!!

*Any suggestions as to what the Oct 1-7 health challenge should be??

39 Week Pregnancy Update!!

So today I’m 39 weeks pregnant!! I honestly can’t believe how quickly this pregnancy has flown by, but I was talking to someone who said that Sept pregnancies usually fly by the fastest because summer is so busy, and you don’t want it to end. I totally agree!! 

So I figured I’d give a little update, and also compare to my last pregnancy, which was just over 2 years ago.

Photo taken by Melissa Griffin @ Touching Times Photography

My first 3 months were very much the same, about a week after I found out I was expecting the morning sickness started…well for me it was actually evening sickness….I know, a little strange but God knew what He was doing, since it was in the evening, I was still able to work during the day…I think during both pregnancies I only took about 2 days off due to morning sickness!!

I actually got really sick during both pregnancies, and if it wasn’t for Diclectin, I would have been hospitalized.

With my first pregnancy I weighed myself pretty well every week and measured my tummy….that did not happen this time at all! I basically only weighed myself at my prenatal appointments and didn’t measure my tummy until today, and it’s the exact same size! I was a little surprised, I don’t know if I was expecting it to be smaller or bigger, but I just didn’t think it would be the same.

As far as my weight goes, I’m about 8 lbs lighter then I was with my first one…woo-hoo!! I feel it too, I’ve only had a few days where I’ve felt huge! To anyone who’s ever been pregnant, you know exactly what I’m talking about! 

Photo taken by Melissa Griffin @ Touching Times Photography

I also feel better, more energy, less cravings and just overall healthier. I attribute this to being more active, working out during my pregnancy and also making sure my nutrition was up to par! My biggest change during this pregnancy was that I’m taking a daily nutrition shake called Shakeology and it’s really help to curb my cravings and give me extra energy!!

Oh, another fun fact! With my first pregnancy at about 38-39 weeks, I got worried that at any moment my water would just break, and how horrifying that would be in public?! I basically only went out when I absolutely had to (my water ended up having to be broken during labour…12 days overdue, LOL!). This time I haven’t even thought about it and I’ve been out doing everything I normally would. I’ve started getting some stares from strangers, kind like you look like you might ‘pop’ at any moment. I don’t mind though, I feel good, so I’ll enjoy every little bit of these last few days of summer I can!!

Photo taken by Melissa Griffin @ Touching Times Photography

A look at Nutrition Shakes: Ingredients

When it comes to our health, so many people only focus on 2 parts of the nutrition label of the products they buy, calories and fat. PLEASE STOP DOING THIS!! This really doesn’t tell you much at all, you need to look at the vitamins & minerals you’re getting as well as what ingredients are in the product. All natural ingredients and high in calories? This is still a much better choice than low calories & fat with synthetic ingredients and lots of preservatives. You are very well doing your body much more harm than good.

Take for example JIF peanut butter vs. KREMA all natural peanut butter. The nutrition facts will be identical however the ingredients list will not, JIF will contain “sugar, salt, hydrogenated oil, peanut oils”, and the KREMA all natural peanut butter will just say “peanuts.” Even though your calories and fat will be the same, the nutrition you’re actually getting is totally different.

A few weeks ago I posted my chart of nutrition shakes; this was just comparing nutrition value. Today I’ve looked at a lot of the ingredients in these shakes to see what we’re actually drinking and what kind of ‘nutrition’ we’re actually getting.

Just a note, there are so many ingredients here amongst all these shakes, I just couldn’t look at all of them. If there’s a harmful ingredient that you see that I haven’t noted, please let me know and I’ll do an update!!

What shake are you drinking? Surprised by some of the ingredients?? I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

*harmful ingredients are listed in red

Shakeology-Chocolate: Whey Protein, Cacao, Pea protein, Maca root, Yacon root, Chia, Flax, Quinoa, Coconut flower nectar, Chlorella, Spirulina, Acerola cherry, Sacha inchi, Camu-Camu , Pomegranate , Astragalus root, Bilberry, Blueberry, Goji berry, Spinach, Acai, Pea fibre, MSM, Ashwagandha root, Codyceps, Enzyme blend (Protease, Amylase, Cellulase, Lipase, Papain, Lactase, Bromelain), Maitake mushroom, Reishi mushroom, Amaranth, Luo Han Guo, Himalayan salt, Lactobacillus sporogenes, Tulsi, Citrus bioflavonoids, Green tea, Grape seed, Rose hips, Schisandra, Cinnamon powder, Apple pectin, Barley grass, Ginkgo, Kamut grass, Moringa, Oat grass, Wheat grass. Other ingredients: Natural sweetener (non-GMO fructose, stevia), Natural chocolate flavour, Xanthan gum

GNC: Carb Blend (Carrageenan, Fructooligosaccharides, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Oat Bran, Resistant Starch), Milk Protein Concentrate, Non-fat dry milk, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Creamer (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Maltodextrin, Sodium Caseinate, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Dipotassium Phosphate), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Biotin, Folic Acid, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Chromium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ferric Orthophosphate, dl-alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Cupric Oxide, Vitamin A Acetate, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Dimagnesium Phosphate, Maltodextrin (glucose polymers), Potassium Iodide, Niacinamide, Calcium Carbonate, Cyanocobalamin), Salt, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose

Met RX: METAMYOSYN® Protein Blend (Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Sodium Caseinate,L-Glutamine, Whey Protein Concentrate, Egg White), Maltodextrin, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Dicalcium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Magnesium Oxide, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Tricalcium Phosphate, dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Ferrous Fumarate, Niacinamide, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Palmitate, Calcium Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Chromium Picolinate, Biotin, Sodium Molybdate, Potassium Iodide, Phytonadione, Cholecalciferol, Cyanocobalamin), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Non-Dairy Creamer (Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin, Sodium Caseinate, Mono- & Di-glycerides, Natural Tocopherols, Silicon Dioxide, Tricalcium Phosphate), Calcium Lactate, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Salt, Acesulfame Potassium, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Soy Lecithin, Sucralose, Gelatin

MediFast: Soy protein isolate, fructose, dextrin, cocoa (processed with alkali), whey protein concentrate, modified food starch, chicory root extract (inulin), soy lecithin, salt, cellulose gum, natural and artificial flavor, acesulfame potassium, corn syrup, xanthan gum, carrageenan, caramel color. Vitamins and Minerals: Potassium chloride, calcium phosphate, magnesium oxide, ascorbic acid, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, vitamin E acetate, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, vitamin A palmitate, chromium chloride, folic acid, biotin, potassium iodide, sodium molybdate, sodium selenite, vitamin K1, vitamin D3, vitamin B12.

Oragain: Water, Orgain Organic Protein Blend (Organic Whey Protein Concentrate, Organic Grass Fed Milk Protein Concentrate), Orgain Organic Carbohydrate Blend (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Rice Syrup Solids), Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Cocoa, Organic Inulin, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Arabic Gum, Xanthan Gum, Organic Rice Bran Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Carrageenan Gum, Sea Salt, Organic Stevia. Orgain Vitamin Blend: Tocopherol Acetate, Sodium Ascorbate, Zinc Gluconate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Gluconate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Cholecacalciferol, Cyanocobalamin, Magnesium Sulfate. Orgain Organic Veggie Blend: (Organic Kale, Organic Beet, Organic Spinach, Organic Carrot, Organic Tomato) 50mg. Orgain Organic Fruit Blend: (Organic Blueberry, Organic Banana, Organic Acai, Organic Apple, Organic Raspberry) 50mg

Ultramet: Peptol EX (Proprietary Blend Consisting Of: Whey Protein Isolate, Calcium Caseinate, Milk Protein Isolate, Potassium Caseinate, Egg Albumin, Whey Protein Concentrate, Sodium Caseinate, L-Glutamine, Taurine, Calcium Alpha-Ketoglutarate), Maltodextrin, Low-fat Dutch Cocoa, Fructose, Natural And Artificial Flavoring, Vitamin-Mineral Blend Consisting Of: Dicalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Choline Bitartrate, Potassium Chloride, Vitamin E Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Ferrous Fumarate, Beta Carotene, Boron Proteinate, Biotin, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Gluconate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Calcium Pantothenate, Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Gluconate, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Chromium Polynicotinate, Selenium Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Cyanocobalamin), Canola Oil, Xanthan Gum, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Aspartame, Cellulose Gum, Citrimax™ (Garcinia Cambogia Extract), Medium Chain Triglycerides, Carrageenan, Bromelain, Borage Oil, Acesulfame Potassium, Mono-Glycerides, Di-Glycerides

Body By VI: Soy Protein Isolate, Digestive Resistant, Maltodextrin (from Fibersol™), Whey Protein Hydrolysate, Whey Protein Concentrate, DiCalcium Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Maltodextrin, Gum Arabic, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Caseinate, DiMagnesium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Soy Lecithin, Mono and Diglycerides, Patented Protease (from Aminogen™), DiPotassium Phosphate, Sucralose, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Acetate, Chromium Amino Acid Chelate, Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium Amino Acid Chelate, Biotin, Vitamin A Palimate, Niacinamide, Potassium Iodide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Pantothenate, Cyanocobalamin, Manganese Sulfate, Cholecalciferol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Phytomenadione and Folic Acid.

Isagenix: IsaPro Complex (whey protein concentrate (undenatured, New Zealand), calcium caseinate (undenatured, New Zealand), low heat non-fat dry milk), fructose, Sunflower oil powder, natural cocoa powder, soy lecithin, natural flavors, Olive oil powder, Flax seed (Linum usitatissimum), soluble fiber, Ionic Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), guar gum, xanthan gum, sodium chloride, magnesium oxide, tri-calcium phosphate, honey powder, magnesium citrate, potassium citrate, Lactobacillus acidophilus, copper amino acid chelate (Copper Chelazonme), Yucca root powder (Yucca schidigera), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Psyllium seed powder (Plantago psyllium), Cinnamon powder (Cinnamomum verum), silicon dioxide, biotin, lactase (from Aspergilus oryzae), vitamin E (d-alpha tocopheryl succinate), vitamin A (beta carotene), zinc oxide, mangasnese amino acid chelate, iodine amino acid chelate, niacinamide, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), chromium amino acid chelate, niacin, selenium amino acid chelate, molybdenum amino acid chelate, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), enzyme blend (bromelain (from Ananas comosus), lactase (from Aspergillus oryzae), lipase (from Rhizopus oryzae), cellulase (from Trichoderma longibrachiatum), protease (from Aspergillus oryzae), papain (from Carica papaya), alpha amylase (from Bacillus subtilis), acid stable protease (from Aspergilus niger)), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin), folate (folic acid).

Slim Fast-Chocolate Royale: WATER, SKIM MILK POWDER, SUGAR, FRUCTOSE, CALCIUM CASEINATE, CANOLA OIL, COCOA POWDER, CELLULOSE GEL, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOUR, SOY LECITHIN, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CARAGEENAN, DEXTROSE, MALTODEXTRIN, CITRIC ACID. VITAMINS AND MINERALS: DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM CITRATE, MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ASCORBATE (VITAMIN C), DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE (IRON), NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3), VITAMIN E ACETATE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, BIOTIN, ZINC OXIDE, COPPER SULFATE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, VITAMIN D3, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN, VITAMIN B12, FOLIC ACID, SODIUM MOLYBDATE, SODIUM SELENITE. MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, WHEAT AND SULPHITES.

Herbalife-Dutch Chocolate: Soy Protein Isolate, Fructose, Cocoa Powder (processed with Alkali), Cellulose Powder, Corn Bran, Guar Gum, Calcium Caseinate, Casein, Canola oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Rice fiber, Potassium Chloride, Natural and Artificial Vanilla flavour, Carrageenan, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Fructooligosaccharides, DL-Methionine, Magnesium oxide, Silicon dioxide, Soy Lecithin, Psyllium Husk Powder, Honey Powder, Ginger root powder, Proteases derived from Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae, Citrus pectin, Ascorbic acid, DL-Alpha Tocopheryl acetate, Licorice root powder, Gotu Kola powder, Dandelion root powder, Hawthorn berry powder, Biotin, Parsley herb powder, Papaya fruit powder, Ferrous fumarate, Niacinamide, Zinc oxide, Sodium selenite, Copper gluconate, Retinyl plamitate, D-Calcium pantothenate, Papain powder, Bromelain, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Cholecalciferol, Cyanocobalamin, Amino Acid Chelate, Chromium Aspartate, Sodium Molybdate and Chromium Nicotinate.

Advocare-Chocoalte: Whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, milk protein isolate, L-glutamine, L-lysine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, crystalline fructose, dicalcium phosphate, potassium citrate, potassium chloride, magnesium oxide, ascorbic acid, choline bitartrate, ferrous fumarate, inositol, vitamin E acetate, zinc oxide, niacinamide, vitamin A palmitate, copper gluconate, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, chromium citrate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, selenomethionine, thiamine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, phytonadione, cholecalciferol, sodium molybdate, potassium iodide (iodine), cyanocobalamin, maltodextrin, gum arabic, natural and artificial flavors, guar gum, beet root extract (for color), xanthan gum, medium-chain triglycerides, citric acid, malic acid, oat fiber, cellulose powder, citrus pectin, soy lecithin, sucralose, bromelain, papain

Melaleuca-Attain-Chocolate: Crystalline Fructose, High Oleic Sunflower oil, Corn syrup solids, Sodium Caseinate, Mono- and Diglycerides, Dipotassium phosphate, Calcium phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Tocopherols, Cocoa (processed with Alkali), Whey Protein isolate, Soy protein isolate, Calcium Caseinate, Whey protein concentrate, Maltodextrin Fiber, Inulin, Natural and artificial flavours, Barley fiber, Potato protein extract, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Oat bran, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium.

Usana: Protein Blend [Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Pea Protein Isolate, Rice Protein Concentrate], Fructose, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, Maltodextrin, Soy Fiber, Oat Fiber, Gum Arabic, Cane Fiber, Oligofructose, Potassium Phosphate, Prune Powder (Prune, Calcium Stearate), Tricalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Citrate, Sodium Caseinate (a milk derivative), Cellulose Gum, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Inulin, Soy Lecithin, Tocopherols (to protect flavor), Silicon Dioxide, Wheat Bran, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Zinc Gluconate, D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Niacinamide (Niacin), Potassium Iodide, Vitamin A Palmitate, Molybdenum Citrate, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D), Manganese Citrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Copper Gluconate, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Ferrous Fumarate, Thiamin Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1).

Monavie: Proprietary protein blend (whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, egg albumin, whey protein hydrosylate, calcium caseinate, milk protein isolate), polydextrose (dietary fiber), Palatinose™ (isomaltulose), sunflower oil creamer (high oleic sunflower oil, maltodextrin, sodium caseinate, mono-and diglycerides, dipotassium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, soy lecithin, sodium silicoaluminate, tocopherols), organic cane sugar, alkalized cocoa powder, natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, proprietary phytonutrient blend (AçaVie™ [acai and juçara freeze-dried powder, Enlivenox™ açai juice concentrate], beta-carotene with mixed carotenoids, cocoa powder with polyphenols, freeze-dried acerola, freeze-dried maqui, freeze-dried cupuaçu, camu camu powder, freeze-dried jabuticaba), cellulose gum, xanthan gum, magnesium oxide, salt, stevia (Reb-A), ascorbic acid, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, biotin, niacinamide, vitamin A palmitate, calcium pantothenate, zinc oxide, iron, cholecalciferol, manganese citrate, chromium polynicotinate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, cyanocobalamin, folic acid, sodium molybdate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite.

HARMFUL & QUESTIONABLE INGREDIENTS

Soy Protein Isolate: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/soy-health_b_1822466.html  
Carrageenan: http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/carrageenan-side-effects#axzz2cwsgfEmi
Sucralose: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/12/03/sucralose-dangers.aspx
Zinc Oxide-there are lots of side effects even when used as a topical agent and put on skin, yet it’s in most of these shakes! http://www.medicinenet.com/zinc_oxide-topical/article.htm
Canola Oil: http://www.naturalnews.com/031550_canola_oil_side_effects.html
Corn Syrup: http://drhyman.com/blog/2011/05/13/5-reasons-high-fructose-corn-syrup-will-kill-you/#close
Acesulfame potassium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acesulfame_potassium

Aspartame: http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html

Artificial Colours: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/03/13/real-food-tips-7-reasons-i-hate-artificial-food-dyes/  

Artificial Flavours: http://blogs.natureshappiness.com/side-effects-of-artificial-flavoring/

Maltodextrin: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/maltodextrin-side-effects.html

Sunflower Oil: http://b2bbusinessnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/uses-and-side-effects-of-sunflower-oil/

Partially Hydrogenated Oils: http://www.livestrong.com/article/31097-side-effects-hydrogenated-oils/

Mono & Diglycerides : http://www.livestrong.com/article/445850-what-is-bad-about-mono-diglycerides/