Blog Forward 2014 Challenge #1 by ZonePerfect

I have taken the challenge from Zone Perfect and jumped in their 2014 Blog Forward Challenge! What does this mean? Every month or so we will receive a mission or challenge so to speak. Most will be about ways to improve our health through activity or nutrition. Zone Perfect fits into my personal goals for 2014 of getting stronger in preparation for surgery.

And we are off……

For this challenge, I have selected the following goals:

1. Increase physical activity by using our Gazelle at least five days a week. I am looking at knee replacement surgery this year and anything I can do to build up my strength and muscle tone will only help with my recovery.

2. Avoid snacking by planning my day so that I am not out on the run needing something to eat. Those stops for something to hold me over certainly add up in both calories and poor nutritional decisions. When I fail to plan, I make poor choices. I am countering this by keeping a supply of nuts, protein bars and dried fruit in my go bag.

3. Plan our meals to not only save money on groceries but to improve our nutritional intake each day. We recently purchased a side of beef and shop at the market for fresh produce. The savings have already been substantial at the grocery store.

How am I doing? So far I have been able to at least get to the basement at look at the Gazelle every day! Just teasing! I have been using it at least four times a week and will start to increase my time by 15 minutes a week.

The second goal has been a whole lot easier since I received my Zone Perfect Bars! I haven’t had one that I didn’t like or would not want again. That is something!

I received a box of assorted Zone Perfect Bars to help me with my challenge.  My family members have “helped” me test them out!

Included in our box was:

Dark Chocolate Almond ~ If you love dark chocolate, this is the one for you!
Double Dark Chocolate ~ REALLY chocolate – good thing I love dark chocolate
Dark Chocolate Strawberry ~ Meagan – “It smells like a strawberry, but it is crunchy like a cookie”
Dark Chocolate Caramel Pecan ~ Crunch cookie meets caramel, with a scent of pecans

Greek Yogurt Raspberry ~ Yogurt added a nice flavor level. Raspberry was quite strong
Greek Yogurt Chocolate ~ Smooth, thick yogurt was great. Chocolate was a bit overpowering
Greek Yogurt Vanilla Berry ~ Berry was dominate flavor, Vanilla could be smelled but not tasted
Strawberry Yogurt ~ Sweet and yummy

Chocolate Mint ~ Tastes like the ice cream but so much better for you
Cinnamon Roll ~ Flavor without the mess
Chocolate Coconut Crunch ~ Lots of coconut flavor in this one!

Chocolate Peanut Butter ~ Imagine crushed peanuts covered in chocolate!
Chocolate Almond Raisin ~ Just like the name – awesome
Fudge Graham ~ Tasted like a graham cracker.
Chocolate Caramel Cluster ~ This did not have a lot of flavor but smelled wonderful
Sweet & Salty Cashew Pretzel ~ more please! One of my favorites
Blueberry Pomegranate ~ Smells delicious – you can see the fruit chips. Gently sweet but a little dry.

Cranberry Almond ~ Perfect blend of sweet and crunch
Toasted Coconut – Thumbs up from my crew on these! Great taste of coconut and almonds. Date paste gives just enough to sweeten it up.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip ~ Can you say cookie time? LOL
Peanut Crunch ~ Trina ~ “The peanuts are visible and it smells like a handful of peanuts”

Can you tell my crew loved all the bars? I am thinking I will be hiding the next box that arrives at this address!

My goal is to be able to say YES to the following questions by the end of the year long challenge.  Why don’t you post your goals below and we can all support each other while working on them at home.

Did you set any goals for your health in 2014?
How are you doing on them?
Just remember that change does not happen overnight.
Keep on trying and you will get there!

For more information on these products, visit ZonePerfect online or connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Until next time…..