Product Review/Supplement Review: First joint review! Quooz lul Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Essenial Oil Diffuser and Essential Oil Benefits
Using ultrasonic aromatherapy technology, Quooz essential oil diffusers enable you to experience the healing and rejuvenating powers of aromatic plant extracts.
Melt away stress, relax, and rejuvenate with the most advanced and effective method of diffusing tap water with a few drops of your choice of essential or fragrant oil.
Grey Lull
Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser,
High Capacity Diffuser with Auto Shut- Off
List Price: $99.99
Price: $59.95 & FREE Shipping
You Save: $40.04 (40%)
MELT AWAY STRESS, RELAX, and REJUVENATE with the most advanced and
effective method of diffusing tap water with a few drops of your choice of essential or fragrant oil, using ultrasonic aromatherapy technology
ULTRA HIGH CAPACITY- 200 ml- makes for longer diffusing time -Operates up to 8-10 hours
AUTO SHUT- OFF when water runs low- adds to safety, energy efficiency, and peace of mind- especially for use at night
SOOTHING LIGHT can be set to your preferred brightness, can be turned off entirely, or can be set to “breathing” mode- lighting up gradually and slowly fading down- assisting in meditation or therapeutic breathing
The ultimate home relaxation device- Brings the spa to you- GREAT GIFT IDEA
-quooz.com
What is an essential oil?
f you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils protect plants and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health care practices.
Supplement Review: Gecko Rockclimber
Ok so if you remember a few articles ago. I joked about Shark Cartilage and Deer Anter and I said wow this stuff is great! Are there any other animals we can grind up and ingest!
Well; it turns out there is! Gecko! Yes in Gecko Rockclimber they capture and kill the Geico Gecko and take his essence and you ingest it as the number one ingredient in the formula. That sounds disgusting but if it works; let’s do it!!
Something has me broken out in hives! I think it may be this! I am not sure and I am trying to track it down! This is held up until further notice!
Product Review: The magic of growing your own sprouts!
Sprouts can be very expensive at $3.50 for a small container which is less then the size of the container on the left. Here you grow your own and you get 4 large containers full every 5 days!
All I could find is a small container of alfalfa sprouts for 2.50 each and small container of broccoli sprouts for $4.99 each.
I purchased the salad blend from Amazon.com
It’s one pound of seeds and you only use 1 tbsp per container and you get four containers.
I just harvested these and started the next batch soaking, so I don’t run out of sprouts!
Pictured at the top is the finished product! My first haul of sprouts! 5 days old!
Ok it’s very simple to grow sprouts!
Step one: soak the seeds for 3-8 hours.
Step two: drain water. I put the seeds into their respective containers and sifted the water out and then tried to evenly spread the seeds around.
Step 3: rinse the seeds. I just added more cold water to the containers and again sifted the water out.
Step 4: stack containers with solid white container on the bottom make sure the seeds are evenly spread around
Step 5: be sure to water the seeds (2 cups of water) twice a day. 3 times a day if you are around. I only did it twice a day. Every time you water the sprouts take the bottom container just above the white container and rotate it to the top.
Also don’t forget to empty the water in the white container or you will have a giant (2 cups full) mess all over the place!
Step 6: harvest 3-5 days later and enjoy!
Remember sprouts do not need sunlight so put them in a dark corner in your kitchen or just leave them out of direct sunlight. The sunlight could cook them!
I was first scared when I looked in and they were white and brown, but after looking closely the tops of the sprouts still had their shell on top of it.
When the shell falls off they are nice and green!
See below for benefits of eating sprouts:
Sprouts truly are the best locally-grown food, yet not enough people eat or grow them. Considering there many health and environmental benefits, it’s time to consider adding sprouts to your diet. Here are 10 reasons to eat more sprouts:
1. Experts estimate that there can be up to 100 times more enzymes in sprouts than uncooked fruits and vegetables. Enzymes are special types of proteins that act as catalysts for all your body’s functions. Extracting more vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids from the foods you eat ensures that your body has the nutritional building blocks of life to ensure every process works more effectively.
2. The quality of the protein in the beans, nuts, seeds, or grains improves when it is sprouted. Proteins change during the soaking and sprouting process, improving its nutritional value. The amino acid lysine, for example, which is needed to prevent cold sores and to maintain a healthy immune system increases significantly during the sprouting process.
3. The fiber content of the beans, nuts, seeds, or grains increases substantially. Fiber is critical to weight loss. It not only binds to fats and toxins in our body to escort them out, it ensures that any fat our body breaks down is moved quickly out of the body before it can resorb through the walls of the intestines (which is the main place for nutrient absorption into the blood).
4. Vitamin content increases dramatically. This is especially true of vitamins A, B-complex, C, and E. The vitamin content of some seeds, grains, beans, or nuts increases by up to 20 times the original value within only a few days of sprouting. Research shows that during the sprouting process mung beansprouts (or just beansprouts, as they are often called) increase in vitamin B1 by up to 285 percent, vitamin B2 by up to 515 percent, and niacin by up to 256 percent.
5. Essential fatty acid content increases during the sprouting process. Most of us are deficient in these fat-burning essential fats because they are not common in our diet. Eating more sprouts is an excellent way to get more of these important nutrients.
6. During sprouting, minerals bind to protein in the seed, grain, nut, or bean, making them more useable in the body. This is true of alkaline minerals like calcium, magnesium, and others than help us to balance our body chemistry for weight loss and better health.
7. Sprouts are the ultimate locally-grown food. When you grow them yourself you are helping the environment and ensuring that you are not getting unwanted pesticides, food additives, and other harmful fat-bolstering chemicals that thwart your weight loss efforts.
8. The energy contained in the seed, grain, nut, or legume is ignited through soaking and sprouting.
9. Sprouts are alkalizing to your body. Many illnesses including cancer have been linked to excess acidity in the body.
10. Sprouts are inexpensive. People frequently use the cost of healthy foods as an excuse for not eating healthy. But, with sprouts being so cheap, there really is no excuse for not eating healthier.
**Update** September 19th 2015
I still have a ton of sprouts and my next batch will be done in a day or two! Ugh! I guess I can wait a day or 2 before restarting the grow cycle. Maybe because I also had a cheat day and didn’t eat my meals for the day so it put me back 4 meals of sprouts.
We will see with the next batch!
Product Review: Gym Gear – Hoka One One running shoes
TECHNOLOGY
Since 2010, HOKA ONE ONE® has been on a quest to bring ground breaking and elevated benefits to all runners. HOKA ONE ONE engineers unique performance midsole geometries that feature higher volume, softer density, and greater rebounding foam than standard running shoes.
50% MORE CUSHIONING
oversized midsole
Engineered midsole volume which is up to 2.5X the volume than standard running shoes, made with performance-specific cushioning material.
Benefit:
Excellent shock absorption and an inherently stable ride.
META-ROCKER
meta rocker
Meta-Rocker midsole geometry, specifically engineered with a low heel-toe differential and a sculpted outsole radius in the heel and toe, creates a unique fulcrum effect and encourages a guided foot gait cycle.
Benefit:
Supports a runners form, and encourages a continuous Positive Gait Speed roll from heel-strike to toe-off.
ACTIVE FOOT FRAME
meta rocker
Uniquely engineered Active Foot Frame midsole geometry allows the foot to sink deeply into the shoe’s midsole.
Benefit:
Designed to provide integrated stability which is adaptable to a wide range of feet and running styles.
TECHNOLOGY GLOSSARY
Ultra Size
Up to 35mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot.
Over Size
Up to 30mm in the heel and 24mm in the forefoot.
Early-Stage Meta-Rocker
Meta-Rocker midsole geometry-sculpting with the transition zone placed behind the metatarsal heads. Designed to encourage a smoother ride, and a faster transition to the forefoot.
Balanced Meta-Rocker
Meta-Rocker midsole geometry is designed to help increase the economy of running performance and an accurate foot roll through gate cycle. Late-Stage Meta-Rocker midsole geometry-sculpting with the transition zone placed in front of the metatarsal heads. Designed to create a more stable base of forefoot support.
Lite Ride
Proprietary EVA formulation that is 30% lighter than standard EVA–Lite Ride is the foundation for the signature HOKA cushioning experience.
RMAT®
A new material compound with rebound and durability. It offers phenomenal grip and exceptional rebound when used as an outsole.
Speed-Frame
Lightweight, 3-Layer welded support frame is designed to provide security between the foot and the upper on any terrain.
Water Drainage System
Unique midsole grooves shed water quickly to maintain a light and fast ride.
Race Lace System
Designed for fast, on-the-fly adjustment, the Race-Lace system provides a secure and lightweight alternative to regular laces, with the added benefit of decreased water retention.
-hokaoneone.com
These shoes are cool it’s really spongy like walking on air. They are helping to relieve my Plantar Faciitis along with the use of my orthotics.
Ok so I have been wearing these for almost a month and I wish the news was good! My feet hurt so bad! The plantar is not better and my left foot is now hurting down the outer edge. I went to get a foot massage and the therapist told me that I had knots on the midsole portion of my foot on the top of my foot. He recommended for my size that I should get a flat shoe with a soft sole. So I purchased a pair of Nike! These are my first Nikes in quite a few years! My feet are feeling a little better already and I have only been wearing them for an hour. Stay tuned for the Nike Review! These Hoka’s are going in the garbage!
Supplement Review: Robert Irvine’s Fit Crunch Releases – Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
FORTIFX CHEF ROBERT IRVINE FIT CRUNCH BARS – CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH
One of the best protein bars on the market, designed to be a perfect meal replacement or on-the-go protein source with unbeatable taste (or even a guilt-free dessert) comes out with their newest, highly-anticipated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavor! Currently, you won’t find them anywhere else.
NUTRITION FACTS:
Serving Size: One Bar (88g)
Calories: 380
Calories from Fat: 144
Total Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 20mg
Sodium: 320mg
Potassium: 100mg
Total Carbohydrates: 27g
Dietary Fiber: 2g
Sugars: 6g
Sugar Alcohols: 16g
Protein: 30g
INGREDIENTS:
Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Soy Protein Isolate, Maltitol, Vegetable Glycerin, Vegetable Oils (Palm, Palm Kernel), Sorbitol, Cocoa (processed with Alkali), Palm Oil, Gelatin, Corn Syrup, Sugar, and Water. Contains 2% or less of the following: Cocoa Butter, Rice Flour, Sunflower Oil, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Salt, Soybean Oil, Baking Soda, Maltodextrin, Sodium Caseinate, Propylene Glycol Monoesters, Tapioca Starch, Acetylated Monoglycerides, Mono- and Di-Glycerides, Sucarlose, Potassium Sorbate, Whey, Soybean Lecithin, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Palmitate, Natural Tocopherols, and Silicone Dioxide.
CONTAINS MILK AND SOY. MANUFACTURED IN A PLANT THAT PROCESSES MILK, SOY, WHEAT, TREE NUT, PEANUT, AND EGG PRODUCTS.
-elitefts.com
Well; I wish the news was good. I wasn’t crazy about the new flavor. The Peanut Butter is my absolute favorite protein bar on the easily available market with Supreme Peanut Butter & Jelly second and Fit Crunch Cookies & Cream third followed by a few Quest Bars.
However; not everyone’s taste is the same. Quite possibly you (It hurst me to say this) hate Peanut Butter or are allergic and one of the others are your favorite. If that’s the case maybe this will be your favorite bar!
Try it for yourself! It’s out there! A delicious Large (biggest bar I have seen) baked protein bar is just waiting for you to snatch it up!
Sink your teeth in!
**Update** June 20th 2015
I found that they make minis at Walgreens.
Supplement Review: Monster Minis – baby monster!
Watch out Redbull! New Monster Minis are here! With only 70g of Caffeine per can they make a healthier alternative to the regular can. For us Monster junkies that can get enough it’s much better to have your Monster fix with a mini, then to have a full can.
Same great taste, smaller more manageable size and big lots has them for $9 a case.
Gym Gear: Monkii Bars ultra-portable workout device
Safety:
Warning.
monkii bars are not a toy and are not suitable for children of any age. Improper use can result is serious injury and/or death.
NO SHARP CORNERS
Sharp corners and rough edges can damage the Line. Never use a Support Structure that includes sharp corners and/or rough edges or allow the Line to come into contact with these features.
NO FRICTION OR HEAT
Friction and/or heat can cause the Line to become damaged and break. Never allow the Line near open flame. Never allow the Line to slide back-and-forth across a surface that generates friction.
NO HANGING ON 1 BAR
monkii bars are designed to be used as a system (2 independent Bars) at all times. Never support your entire bodyweight using only a single monkii bar.
NO INVERTED MOVEMENTS
Never become inverted (upside-down) while using monkii bars. Always remain in a position while using monkii bars that would allow you to catch a fall with your hands and legs.
Additional Warnings:
Support Structure must be sturdy and support bodyweight.
Never suspend self higher than 3 feet above ground.
Always check Line and Adjuster for damage prior to every use.
Maintenance.
The safety and integrity designed into monkii bars can only be maintained when monkii bars are regularly examined for damage and
repaired. It is the sole responsibility of the user to ensure that regular maintenance is performed. Worn or damaged
components shall be replaced by the user immediately or the user must stop using monkii bars until the repair is made.
Safety Check Steps:
1. Examine the full length of each line searching for any fraying or tears.
2. Examine the adjuster for any damage. Ensure that the pin (“tooth”) has not become loose. Ensure the knot and the permanent loop of Line connected to the adjuster is secure.
3. Examine the support structure that you have been using or are about to use and ensure that it is sturdy enough to support your bodyweight while performing exercises.
4. If you are using a monkii branch door attachment, examine the nylon webbing and stitches, to ensure there is no fraying or tearing.
If you have questions, concerns, or are unsure if your monkii bars are safe to use, please email safety@monkiibars.com.
Not all exercise is suitable for everyone. Before you begin this program you should have permission from your doctor to participate in vigorous exercise. The instructions and advice presented are in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. If done improperly any exercise has some risk of injury. If you feel discomfort or pain, do not continue. The creators, participants and distributors disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the exercise or advice herein and make no warranty express or implied regarding your individual results.
How to setup.
Step 1
Remove Plugs and Line from inside of the monkii bars. Toss out the Line to extend it and ensure there are no tangles.
Step 2
Attach Plug to the Line by inserting Line into the slits in the Plug. Use Plug as a weight to toss the Line of the Support Structure.
Step 3
Remove Plug from Line. Thread Line through monkii bars and bring the Loose End of Line to the Adjuster.
Step 4
Insert Line into the Adjuster, and make 2 wraps. Start near the Eye of the Adjuster and wrap down and away from the Eye, with each wrap beneath the previous one. Adjust to desired length. Pull both ends of Line tight.
Using the monkii branch. (optional accessory)
In honor of your service we are offering $50 off of Tactical Black monkii bars.
Step 2
Fold all loops of Line in half, keeping the Line tight. Repeat this step one more time.
Step 3
Insert Plug into one end of monkii bars. Insert folded end of Line into monkii bars—it should slide in easily.
Step 4
Push Line all the way into the monkii bar with the Adjuster going in last. Insert remaining Plug. Repeat these steps for second monkii bar. Boom!
Supplement Review: 2 new Redbull Flavors: Wild Cherry & Orange
RED BULL ORANGE EDITION. SAME WINGS, DIFFERENT TASTE.
Red Bull Orange Edition is a carbonated beverage that combines the boost of a Red Bull Energy Drink with the bold taste of orange – artificially flavored
WHEN TO DRINK
Red Bull is one of the best energy drinks to have by your side, and is appreciated throughout the world by top athletes and busy professionals to college students and travelers on long journeys. For those who have to stay on their game during intense meetings or creative brainstorming sessions, in action with teammates or competitors, or simply want to get the most out of life, a chilled can of Red Bull Orange Edition Gives You Wings .
WHAT’S INSIDE THE CAN
Caffeine was well known for its stimulating effects by ancient civilizations who consumed it from natural sources like tea, coffee, cacao beans & cola nuts.
Taurine is an amino acid, naturally occurring in the human body and present in commonly consumed foods. It is involved in a wide range of biological processes.
B-Group Vitamins are essential micronutrients that are required for maintaining normal body functions.
Aspartame, Sucralose & Acesulfame K are among the most-tested and most-used sugar substitutes worldwide.
Alpine Spring Water Naturally, water is a key ingredient of Red Bull.
WHAT YOU ADD TO YOUR BASKET
0 Calories, 0 Sugar – Red Bull Orange Edition pack of 24 cans, 12-Fluid Ounces per can.
*artificially flavored
From the manufacturer
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Extra punch after lunch
The world is spinning at great speed, so professional life is certainly a daily challenge. For all those who have to fully focus on their jobs, a chilled Red Bull gives additional support. Whether it’s during intense meetings, conference calls or creative brainstorming sessions, in your first job or as the chief executive.
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While doing sports
Whenever athletes are in need of wings they turn to Red Bull. The effects of Red Bull Energy Drink are recognized by sport enthusiasts and top athletes all over the world.
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For the epic win
Good skills and constant training are half the battle. If you want to keep the pace up with your teammates or competitors make sure you have a can of Red Bull at your side to take your game to a higher level.
energy drink;energy drinks;red bull;red bull
Final sprint before the exam?
Red Bull – Vitalizes Body and Mind. For university students all over the world the blue and silver can belongs to their lectures and study sessions as much as pencil and paper does.They appreciate the effects of Red Bull Energy Drink whilst a challenging day between auditorium and library or in leisure time with their fellow students and friends.
-Amazon.com
Redbull discontinued them! Ugh! They tasted good and were zero calories!
I am still a Monster fan all the way! However; these were good when you go to a place that doesn’t sell Monster.
But; alas they are gone! 😦
Supplement Review; West Coast Chill Energy Drink
West Coast Chill Pure Energy is The Healthier Alternative to Traditional Energy Drinks, which contains NO SUGAR, NO CAFFEINE, and NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS.
West Coast Chill’s expansion into multi-location retailers has been fueled by the changing landscape in the energy drink sector. Today, more than ever, there is greater awareness by the consumer regarding the high amounts of caffeine and sugar contained by the current market leading energy drinks. Local, State, & Federal governmental agencies are scrambling to pass legislation that can limit how these companies go about their business. In addition, new data shows that diet soda drinkers are also flocking away from soft drinks as they are turned off by the side effects of artificial sweeteners. These consumers are also looking for a healthy alternative beverage. West Coast Chill Pure Energy’s growth has been from these consumers. The ability to sell to both current energy drink consumers and attracting those whom have previously avoided energy drinks, has been a great asset to the brand.
West Coast Chill, Inc. has begun deliveries of West Coast Chill Pure Energy to the Albertsons supermarket chain. Albertsons, with 1,119 supermarkets located in 29 states under 12 different banners, strives to be known as the favorite neighborhood food and drug retailer in every market where they do business, with helpful associates, competitive prices and high quality, fresh products.
In the state of Ohio, West Coast Chill has begun delivering its Pure Energy drink to Walgreens. Walgreens is the largest drug retailing chain in the United States; operating 8,678 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The chain has adopted the slogan, At the Corner of Happy and Healthy, and much like West Coast Chill, is committed to providing its consumers with Healthier Alternatives. In Ohio, West Coast Chill Pure Energy is distributed by the Heidelberg Distributing Company. Serving 26,000 retailers, Heidelberg has been delivering the finest products in the world to retailers for more for over 75 years.
West Coast Chill is also honored to announce Johnny Bench as its latest spokesperson and corporate brand ambassador. Mr. Bench, a former Major League Baseball player, and considered to be the greatest catcher ever, played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, was a key member of two World Series championship teams.
Below is a quick snapshot of the type of multi-location retailers whom carry West Coast Chill.
Albertsons
West Coast Chill has begun national rollout for the Albertsons grocery chain. With over 600 stores from California to Florida, the organization has evolved from a corner store into a chain spanning several states, but its focus continues to be on the customer, and on becoming the favorite neighborhood food and drug retailer in every market where it does business.
Walgreens
West Coast Chill has begun delivering its Pure Energy drink to Walgreens. Walgreens is the largest drug retailing chain in the United States; operating 8,678 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
7-Eleven
West Coast Chill is placed in 7-Eleven’s throughout the country including California, Virginia, and Florida. Product is placed in refrigerated coolers, barrel coolers, end-aisle displays, and is paired with their ready-to-go sandwiches.
Discount Drug Mart
71-Store Chain based throughout all of Northeast Ohio. Discount Drug Mart opened its first doors in 1969 and acted as a full-scale Pharmacy and Grocery Store. West Coast Chill is multi-slotted in each store.
Mickey Mart
Mickey Mart convenient stores have been providing northern Ohio with a quick, clean, friendly place to stop for gas, groceries and convenience items for 25 years. Headquartered in Milan, Ohio, Mickey Mart is a locally owned and operated business with 30 locations, and growing!
Daves Markets
14-Store Big-Box Grocer servicing a unique ethnically diverse community through out parts of Northeast Ohio. West Coast Chill is multi-slotted in each store.
Heinens Fine Foods
18-Stores strategically based throughout Northeast Ohio. This Boutique Market is known as a Healthy Alternative to traditional Grocers. West Coast Chill is multi-slotted in each store.
Fishers Foods
9-Store Chain known for high-quality products, hometown friendly service and great prices. West Coast Chill is multi-slotted in each store.
Giant Eagle
300+ Store Chain. West Coast Chill initially launched into the Youngstown-Liverpool, Ohio area. West Coast Chill is multi-slotted in each store along with a “100-CS End Cap Footprint” in two out of the three Giant Eagle Stores. These footprints include the new West Coast Chill MX Bike Raffle program.
Apples Market
7-Store Chain based out of Lorain County in Ohio and is a neighborhood locally owned market since 1979. West Coast Chill is multi-slotted in each store along with a “100-CS “End Cap Footprint” in one of Apples 7-Stores. These footprints include the new West Coast Chill MX Bike Raffle program.
Friendship Food Stores
25-Store Chain based out of Northwest Ohio. Friendship is a gas and convenience store Chain operated since 1985. West Coast Chill is multi-slotted in each store
West Coast Chill, positioned as a Healthier Alternative brand, contains NO SUGAR, NO CAFFEINE, and NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS, and is quickly emerging as the market leader in a rapidly changing energy drink landscape.
-westcoastchill.com
First off if you read above it lists all the distributors and where you can get it. It looks to me like they are getting ready to go on Shark Tank lol!
Is it true can there really be a healthy energy drink?
Well, it looks like yes there is!
Sweetened with stevia it’s starting off good!
What about the taste? If you are looking for a monster energy drink replacement… Not going to happen! It tastes nothing like monster although the can looks very very similar!
Is it edible? Yes, you can tolerate it! Will it stop your monster urges? That’s yet to be seen! I bought 3 cans of West Coast Chill! After the first I am dying for a monster! But I don’t want to die so I am just saying no to monster right now.
Try one and tell me what you think! Is West Coast Chill here to stay? Or will it fade away in failure?
**Update** February 6th 2015
Had it again today, I really hate the taste but today I felt a super surge of energy and I don’t have a craving for monster. I just wished it tasted closer to monster.
Breaking News: Pure Food and Wine and One Lucky Duck workers unpaid for over a month and Owner is away!
Pure Food And Wine Employees Walk Out Over Unpaid Wages
(Rabi Abonour/Gothamist)
[UPDATE BELOW] Upscale raw vegan restaurant Pure Food And Wine is currently embroiled in a massive battle with its employees. According to several tipsters, the entire staff of the Gramercy restaurant has refused to work yesterday and today because they haven’t been paid in nearly a month. Currently, a group of about 10 employees, former employees and customers are picketing the eatery, with more expected to join as the day goes on.
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The scene around 3 p.m.
According to one former employee who would only speak on condition of anonymity, much of the staff hadn’t been paid since they were owed checks on December 28th. The back of house staff—which numbers close to 40—threatened to walk out if they weren’t paid by Monday; when the deadline passed, both back and front of house staff walked out and the restaurant closed for the day.
Troubles began in mid-December, when staffers received checks and then were told they wouldn’t be viable. Some staffers were paid through petty cash but others have yet to see wages from that pay period. “In October and November, we started getting lots of calls and people coming in because we hadn’t been paying our bills, even from months and months before,” revealed a former staffer who also wished to remain anonymous. “We hadn’t paid people who were supplying the produce.”
Restaurant ownership have yet to acknowledge the situation and have thus far not replied to requests for comment.
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(Rabi Abonour/Gothamist)
Update: A group of 15 people are currently outside the restaurant and employees have revealed this isn’t the first time payment has been an issue. Back in July, employees were also allegedly denied paychecks, though there was an open line of communication with management and many employees were paid cash under the table. “There hasn’t been any real communication [this time],” says Maiquen Saez, an eight-year server at the eatery. “It’s nothing malicious, we love the restaurant. It’s just sad.”
“We’re just kind of sitting idle,” explains Kevin Connery, a runner for the past 20 months. “[This last pay issue] was really stressful.”
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(Rabi Abonour/Gothamist)
Additional reporting by Rabi Abonour
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011315PFW2.jpeg
-thegothamist.com
I was handed out this today and one lucky duck was padlocked
**Update** July 19th 2017
The Vegan Fugitive, Done In By Domino’s Pizza, Takes A Plea
Kelly Phillips Erb, FORBES STAFF
May 11, 2017 10:07 PM 4,866
In this Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 photo, owner, founder and CEO [+]
Sometimes you just want pizza. That turned out to be the rather cheesy mistake made by vegan chef Sarma Melngailis and her now estranged husband, Anthony Strangis, when the pair were on the run last year from law enforcement. While holed up in a small town hotel in Tennessee, Melngailis and Strangis apparently got the munchies. The order led police straight to their hotel room – presumably in 30 minutes or less.
Days later, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson announced the arrests of Melngailis and Strangis on a 24-count indictment including charges of second-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal tax fraud, first-degree scheme to defraud, violation of labor law and related counts. This week, Melngailis accepted a plea deal in Brooklyn Supreme Court. She received a split six-month sentence and will serve four months in jail plus five years’ probation for grand larceny, criminal tax fraud, and a scheme to defraud. The defendants had faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
District Attorney Thompson said about the pair at the time, “These defendants are accused of repeatedly stealing from and lying to their loyal employees and to investors who poured money into their company. They allegedly gambled away the money or spent it lavishly while leaving everyone else in the lurch. They were finally caught and we intend to now hold them accountable for this outrageous thievery and fraud.”
The now 44 year old Melngailis had all of the ingredients to be a success. She was an Ivy League grad with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Economics from Wharton School. Her resume included stints at Bear Stearns and Bain Capital before she gave all of that up to attend New York’s French Culinary Institute.
In this Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 photo, owner, founder and CEO [+]
After graduation, Melngailis opened Pure Food and Wine in June 2004. Pure Food and Wine was New York City’s first upscale raw food restaurant making a number of “best of” lists, including Forbes magazine’s list of “All Star New York Eateries.” She added One Lucky Duck juice bar in 2010 and by 2012 had established a raw food production center and internet sales office in Brooklyn, New York.
Sometime in 2013, she introduced Strangis to the business. She called him “Mr. Fox” in front of the staff, a nod to the pseudonym he used to woo her on Twitter.
It was Strangis, authorities allege, who began spending Melngailis’ money. According to the indictment, from January 2014 to January 2015, Melngailis transferred over $1.6 million from business accounts to her personal bank account. Strangis allegedly spent nearly $1 million of these funds at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, over $200,000 at the Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in Connecticut, over $80,000 at specialty watch retailers, including Rolex and Beyer, over $70,000 at hotels in Europe and New York and over $10,000 on Uber car rides. According to authorities, Strangis also withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.
Predictably, Melngailis began to fall short of cash. She was unable to pay the restaurant’s 98 employees for nearly five months. During those months, Melngailis and Strangis provided excuses and promises – but no money. When paychecks bounced in January 2015, the staff finally refused to work anymore, and the business closed. Dictor, who represented many of those employees in a lawsuit against Melngailis (Coltelli et al v. Melngailis et al, 1:15-cv-00478-GBD), reportedly referred to her as “the vegan Bernie Madoff.”
When Melngailis decided to reboot the business, she asked for help, and her former patrons obliged. According to the Brooklyn DA’s office, four people paid Melngailis a total of $844,000 as an investment and she reopened her Brooklyn location.
In order to placate her investors, Melngailis told them that she was negotiating a sale of the business to a man named “Michael Caledonia.” According to the indictment, “Michael Caledonia” turned out to be Strangis in disguise.
Behind the scenes, authorities say that Melngailis transferred an additional $400,000 from the business account to her personal account. She reportedly withdrew over $100,000 in cash, transferred over $300,000 to Foxwoods on behalf of Strangis and charged nearly $25,000 in other casinos. The lack of funds in the business accounts resulted in more bounced paychecks – and another lawsuit (Schubmehl et al v. Melngailis et al, 1:15-cv-06432-VEC).
Eventually, the business shut down for good. And not only had Melngailis and her corporations not paid their employees, they had failed to pay the government: the State of New York claimed that Melngailis and her companies failed to turn over more than $400,000 in sales tax.
Melngailis and Strangis weren’t around to answer questions about what happened. By this time, Melngailis, labeled by the media as the “vegan fugitive” was hot footing it together with Strangis away from New York to Louisiana, Vegas, and eventually the cozy interior of a Fairfield Inn in rural Tennessee.
When the pair was caught, they planned to fight the charges. The pair also turned on each other with Melngailis initially claiming that Strangis was to blame for her behavior, with Vanity Fair reporting she intended to use a “gaslight defense.” However, things began to unravel in spring of this year. In March, Strangis pleaded guilty to four counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree. He was sentenced to one year in jail and five years of probation. He must also pay $840,000 in restitution to investors he was charged with swindling.
Prosecutors offered Melngailis a deal last December but she balked at the 1-3 year prison sentence. This month, however, she finally accepted a deal, pleading guilty to grand larceny, criminal tax fraud, and a scheme to defraud. She agreed to a four-month prison sentence plus five years of probation. After nearly two years on a Twitter hiatus, Melngailis recently reappeared on the site where she reportedly met Strangis, tweeting simply, “I don’t want to be silent anymore.”
As for that pizza order? Supposedly, it was Strangis who ordered the pizza – and a side of chicken wings – using his own name. Melngailis allegedly stuck to her roots by ordering vegan bowls from a local Chipotle.
-Forbes.com
This girl is the dumbest smart girl there is! Was the gambling really worth your life’s work? I’m telling you these restaurants were a gold mine! She was printing her own money! Every time I went there were lines out the door! The small seating at one lucky duck was full and people were in and out for takeout! The food was amazing! The food was gorgeous! It was delicious and extremely overpriced! It was also 100% raw vegan! The mint sundae was to die for! The avocado pudding still haunts my dreams! Luckily, I have a recipe! It’s also on this site!
And she threw it all away!
I’m so sad!
Supplement Review: Isagenix 30 day cleanse
I have seen and tried many fad diets, including: Cybergenics, weight-watchers, Jennie Craig, it works, ideal protein and a few others. None of them work! I go into this skeptical, however I looked at their products and they are all natural and use herbs, different juices and extracts to detox the body. Will it work? Stay tuned!
**Update** January 15, 2015
Day 1
4:30am took Ionic Supreme 1oz. Shot and it tasted like crap! Then drank a glass of green tea.
7:30 drank 1 protein shake 2 scoops chocolate also didn’t taste great
8:30 drank a glass of Green Tea.
So far hungry, but not too bad…
10:30 ate one fiber snack microscopic bar
12:30 drank second chocolate shake
4:00 ate second fiber snack bar
At 7pm I had a huge salad with 2 pieces of grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese, avocado, red pepper, truffle and balsamic glaze.
**Update** January 18th 2015
2 days I am down 6lbs and since I started a low carb diet before this I am down 18lbs in 2 weeks.
**Update** January 19th 2015
I just had my first vanilla shake and it sucks worse than the chocolate! They both taste like shit but chocolate is just a tad better. The fiber bars taste like any other one you get from the grocery store. The worst part is the shakes don’t mix very well they always clump even with a smart shake bottle! Furthermore; I put in more than the recommended water and it’s still as thick as clay!
**Update** January 20th 2015
Doing a cleanse day:
Not too happy with the Ionix supreme shot but it is growing on me…
Had that at 4:30am
Then had first 4oz cleanse for life (cfl) drink mixed with 8oz of water at 8:30am it wasn’t good but wasn’t bad. I had worse to drink!
9:30am Just had my first 2 Isagenix snack wafers and they taste exactly like a freeze dried version of the isalean shake. But it tastes better than the shake which isn’t saying much.
Can’t wait to try the isa delight at 11:00am!
The rest of the schedule is below:
12:00pm – 2nd 4oz cfl
1:00pm – 1 isadelight
2:30pm – 2 isasnack wafers
4:00pm – 3rd 4 oz cfl
5:00pm – 1 isadelight
6:30pm – 2 isasnack wafers
7:30pm – last (4th) 4oz cfl
8:30pm – isadelight
9:30pm – 2 isasnack wafers
Bed!
Additional additives: I had 4 cups of green tea today and one tube of Isagenix electrolytes.
Ugh! Stay tuned for news!
The ISAdelight is surprisingly good and you can’t wait to eat it! It’s actually the first thing I like in this program! I want to try the ISAlean bar on Thursday! Just to see how it tastes!
Ok first cleanse day down and I decided to do 30 min of cardio at 2pm because I felt fine. Big mistake! I emptied my energy tank and felt like crap for the next couple hours. At 5pm I finally felt better! I am not hungry and I am feeling pretty good! I can’t wait for my next ISAdelight at 8:00pm and then I think that will be all. I think I am going to skip the optional 9:30pm wafers and get to bed early. I am down 20lbs in 2 weeks and 7-8lbs of that loss was in the last 5 days when I started Isagenix. I can’t wait to see what this 6th day did in the morning! Remember; I pre-started this diet with a low carb diet to get my body going firing up fat!
If you like my success and would like to try it for yourself check out my site below:
http://louisjbianco.isagenix.com
If you are serious about trying Isagenix do not just go buy away! Email me first so I can make sure you get the correct products for you to reach and bust through your goals!
Louisjbianco@gmail.com
**Update** January 21st 2015
2 more lbs down 22 total and feeling good this morning. It is freezing however ugh! Can’t wait for food tomorrow! Lol I was looking at food recipes on Pinterest last night. I can’t wait to eat that, and that, and that, and that lol
**Update** January 22nd 2015
2 day deep cleanse done down 3 more lbs for a total of 25lbs in 2 weeks. Mon is 3 weeks will I make 4 more lbs and reach my goal of 269? That leaves me 11lbs for the last week of the month to get to 258! And 40lbs in a month.
Today I will be hitting the gym for biceps and shoulders then 30 min elliptical and a second workout in my home gym for 10 min bike, 20 slamballs, 5 min bike, 20 slamballs, 5 min bike, 20 slamballs
As long as my post cleanse energy holds out!
Additional supplements I am taking (although I was told not to, but I never listen!) due to being poisoned by SARMS I am taking an aspirin per day to thin my blood. Then I am taking 2 cranberry pills twice a day for a cleanse and red yeast rice with CO- Q 10 to lower my cholesterol.
I am also taking additional fat burning supplements:
morning: 1 fish oil pill, 1 CLA, 1 cinnamon, 1 aspirin, 2 cranberry, 1 green coffee bean extract
Evening: 2 red yeast rice, 1 CO – Q 10, 2 cranberry, 2 isaflush
3-4 cups of oolong tea daily
Additionally: I eat a whole avocado for healthy fats at dinner and make sure my dinner is low carb.
Today I will be making an Avocado breakfast pizza for dinner! See the recipe posted on this site later tonight!
**Update** January 25th 2015
Weight loss has slowed to a crawl. I am down 26lbs. I think the fast slowed my progress instead of helping it. I am going to try to up my workouts today.
**Update** January 26th 2015
I hit a plateau I’m stuck at 273! Not good!
**Update** January 27th 2015
Stuck in a hotel due to winter blizzard.
I did two 30 min cardio sessions today to see if that will shake things up. Tomorrow I will do 30 min of cardio at the base gym and I will be going to NYSC to do 30 min of cardio plus Bi’s and shoulders. I will try to weigh in tomorrow, but it depends on where they have their scale and it will be off due to the fact I will be weighing in at 5:30pm and not the morning
**Update** February 3rd
I was plateaued stuck at 273. I cheated Super Bowl Sunday and yesterday I was super sick. Fever, chills, cold sweats and nausea. Today; I feel better but I am still resting. Yesterday was bad and all through the night!! I didn’t go to bed till after midnight and then woke up at 4 to go to work and I still felt like shit!
Anyway; back to Isagenix. When you buy 2 boxes of fiber bars you still do not have enough to complete the 3 day cleanse. So; I was in search of snacks that could assist my diet without breaking it. I was having trouble sticking to the diet, always feeling like I am starving. I am 273lbs currently and the diet is set at 1300 calories. I should be having 2000-2500 calories a day so 1300 is a really drastic reduction.
So the diet is: 2 shakes and 2 snack bars a day and a healthy dinner.
This is my solution:
A quest bar is 180-190 calories and 17g of fiber!
The complete cookies are 190-210 calories and 3g of fiber. The cookies are all natural no artificial sweeteners, no dairy, no cholesterol and have 8g of protein.
The Isagenix bars are 150 calories and micro sized! They will not keep a man my size full!
I am still using their meal replacement shakes and a scoop of my protein with 2 scoops biogro on workout days only!
A healthy dinner comprised of salad and grilled chicken.
Let’s see how it works this week!
No fat loss!
My new order came in as they don’t tell you there’s an autoship! However I saw it before it shipped and I was able to tailor it to what I wanted.
This time I got a box of soup instead of 2 shakes. I got cream of mushroom. It is basically a protein shake that has a savory cream of mushroom flavor. I admit I do like it! You can only have so many chocolate, vanilla and strawberry shakes without going insane!
I also got the whey crisps in sour cream and onion and bbq. They aren’t bad at all! The bag is much smaller then I anticipated and the crisps are also much thicker than I anticipated.
I also got the sleep and recovery spray, I used it last night and still awoke during the night a couple times, so not sure if that worked!
Lastly; I got the Isagenix Pro shakes this time. They come in individual packets. I will use them on gym days.
Nutrition: Exciting Exotic Fruits
There are a bunch of numerous exotic fruits that you can not get at your local grocery or produce store. For those you must visit an Asian market or another specialty market.
One great example is dragon fruit:
It comes in 2 varieties
White the most common and cheaper variety
And pink
It’s pure preference the taste is slightly different. Not enough to pay the extra dollar or more a pound! Stick with the white! That’s my opinion.
16 Amazing Benefits Of Dragon Fruit For Skin, Hair And Health
GARGI BHATTACHARJEE ON JULY 12, 2014
Dragon fruit is a fruit of the cactus plant that grows in the tropical and subtropical areas which includes Asia and Latin America. It has a yellow or red peel with green scales on it, which are spiny, inside a white, magenta or pink flesh and it has many tiny black seeds – the overall shapes resembles a dragon and hence the name Dragon fruit. Dragon fruit provides a number of essential nutrients and has some potential health benefits as well. The other name of Dragon fruit is Pitaya.
benefits of dragon fruit for skin
Dragon Fruit Benefits:
Health Benefits Of Dragon Fruits:
The two risk factors for heart diseases are having a high level of oxidative stress and stiff arteries. Consuming dragon fruit help us to improve these conditions.
1. Cholesterol:
Dragon Fruit is low in cholesterol content and has no unhealthy cholesterol fats that harm the human body.
2. Fats:
Dragon Fruit consists of a small amount of healthy monounsaturated fats because the fruit contains many seeds in its edible part. The seeds and the nuts in the dragon fruit contain fats and proteins.
3. Fiber:
Dragon fruit is also best known for its cleansing properties of the digestive system. The fibers in the fruit help to get better bowel movements. It is also a good solution for constipation.
4. Antioxidants:
Dragon fruit is a natural source of antioxidants. Antioxidants help out a person from any free radicals that cause cancer as well as unwanted health damages.
5. Arthritis:
Dragon fruit helps to decrease the irritation of joints, so it is called as an anti inflammatory fruit. The symptoms of arthritis are alleviated once the swelling of the joints are reduced.
6. Good for the Heart:
The greatest of dragon fruit advantages if for cardiovascular health. It decreases bad cholesterol levels from the body and then increases good cholesterol levels. This fruit is a good source of mono saturated fats which helps to keep our heart in good condition.
7. Regulates Diabetes:
Dragon fruit contains a high amount of fiber that helps a person stabilize his blood sugar levels. It also avoids sugar spikes that are often observed after eating high glycemic index foods. Therefore, it is good for a diabetic patient though you should consult your doctor before consumption.
8. Fights Aging:
This fruit is a rich source of antioxidants. It helps us to fight free radicals in our body. It also helps to slow down the aging process after the free radicals are reduced. Due to this, the skin looks young, flexible and tight.
9. Helps In Weight Management:
Dragon fruit is low in calories. It is also a rich source of fiber. Therefore, it helps us to feel full after a meal without adding extra pounds. It cleans and improves our metabolic system thereby helping us to maintain a healthy weight.H
10. Asthma:
Dragonfruits contain high amounts of Vitamin C which strengthens the immunity system against and helps fight against respiratory disorders like Asthma.
11. Gold Mine of Vitamins and Minerals:
Dragon fruit contains high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B1, B2, and B3. It is also rich in manyimportant minerals as iron, calcium, phosphorus. Apart from this, it contains a good proportion of protein, fiber and niacin and last but not the least, 80 percent water. Hence you can easily call it a ‘super fruit’ that helps in enhancing nutrition and corrects body ailments. Not only that, dragon fruit can be a vital ingredient in your daily beauty regime even. Dragon fruit seeds contain unsaturated fat and fights bad cholesterol.
12. Dragon Fruit Face Pack to Fight the Aging Process:
To prevent premature aging, you may apply a dragon fruit facial mask once in a week. To make this mask, take half of dragon fruit and make a smooth paste out of it. Mix one tablespoon of yogurt to it and apply entire face and neck. Wait for 20 minutes and rinse it off with lukewarm water. Owing to its antioxidant properties this facial mask effectively slows down aging progression of cells.
13. Dragon Fruit Face Pack to Treat Acne:
As dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C, it is really useful for treating acne. Take a quarter of dragon fruit. Make a smooth paste out of it. Apply it on affected area. Rinse off with lukewarm water once it gets dry. Apply this regularly, if possible twice a day for best result.
14. Dragon Fruit Face Pack to Soothe Sunburned Skin:
Take one tablespoon each of dragon fruit juice and cucumber juice. Add one tablespoon honey with it. Mix these well in a bowl and apply this pack on sunburned skin. Let this face pack stay at least for half an hour, so that it can cool your skin. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and continue with ice cold water. As dragon fruit is rich in vitamin B3, it soothes and moisturizes dry sunburned skin. So next time you suffer from sunburn, don’t forget to apply this pack. The dragon fruit juice also works as a wonderful sun shield. Before going out, soak some cotton ball into some dragon fruit juice. Apply it on face. Allow the skin to absorb the juice and wash your face with cold water. This will protect you from the harmful effects of UV rays.
15. Dragon Fruit Face Pack for Bright Glowing Skin:
Take a dragon fruit. Scoop out its flesh. Make a smooth paste of it. Apply it on face, neck, and on the rest of your body. Let it absorb in your body. Take a shower. Do it twice a week.
Dragon Fruit: Hair Benefits
16. Treat Coloured Hair:
Dragon fruit juice works really well on chemically treated hair and coloured hair. Apply some dragon fruit juice on your scalp. Wait 15-20 minutes. Wash your hair with shampoo.
How to Eat Dragon Fruit?
The best way of enjoying a dragon fruit, is cutting it into two halves and eating its creamy pulp by scooping it out with a spoon. Chilled dragon fruit juice is really tasty and refreshing. You may also use dragon fruit as an ingredient in your fruit salad. A delicious dragon fruit smoothie can be tried as a healthy treat in the evening instead of French fries or burgers. Here is one simple recipe, which you can try at home.
Dragon Fruit Smoothie Recipe:
Blend one cup dragon fruit pulp, one banana, one cup of coconut water and one teaspoon ginger paste all together in a mixer grinder. Pour the mixture into a tall glass. You may add a dash of lemon if you like. Sprinkle some cinnamon powder on it. If you don’t bother about any extra calories, you may even add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It tastes heavenly.
How to Choose Dragon Fruit?
Avoid buying over ripe dragon fruit. Over ripe dragon fruits have too many blotches on it. So you can easily identify whether the fruit is over ripe or not. You also should not buy those dragon fruits, if you find them in dry condition. Bright and even color dragon fruit is best to consume. You can also buy dragon fruit jam and make your tasty sandwiches with it.
After reading the various benefits of dragon fruit, I am sure you will not mind adding this wonder fruit in your diet. Do share your comments below.
Dragon Fruit Key Ingredients And Nutrition Facts:
Dragon fruit is a good source of nutrients which are very beneficial for our health. It contains high amount of Vitamin C as well as iron, calcium, Vitamin B, potassium, fiber, other vitamins and minerals.
Nutritive value per 100 g of Dragon
Principle
Nutritive value
Total Fat 0.61g
Protein 0.229g
Ashes 0.68g
Water 83.0 g
Potassium 436 mg
Calcium 8.8g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Dietary Fiber 0.9g
Calories 99
There are a bunch of other exotic fruits:
Star Fruit
Rambutan – similar to lichee
How about Goiaba I never even heard of that one!
Of course the popular Mangosteen
There are many different fruits with healing properties that are out there and you just need to explore!
Supplement Review: Quest Protein Chips
CHIPSAREN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BEChips have always been delicious. No argument there. But the carb-loaded snacks have always been reserved for cheat days or impulsive munching… until now.With 21 grams of high-quality protein per bag, Quest Protein Chips are the ONLY chips you can enjoy at the gym, on-the-go, or as an anytime snack completely guilt-free.In fact, guilt has nothing to do with it. Every bold, mouthwatering flavor has only 5g total carbs and zero junk ingredients, so eat the whole bag!
COMPARE TO OTHER PROTEIN SOURCES
A PERFECT
CRUNCH
Ingredients:
Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Dried Potatoes, Corn Starch, High Oleic Sunflower Oil. Contains less than 2% of the following: Sea Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavors.
Sea Salt:
Savor the guilt free crunch of fresh sea salt sprinkled over baked, protein-chip goodness with 21g of healthy protein and only 5g total carbs per bag.
BBQ:
Smokey, backyard-BBQ flavor on a baked, savory chip. Bite into bold, BBQ flavor with a whopping 21g healthy protein and only 5g total carbs per bag.
Cheddar Sour Cream:
Tangy cheddar cheese and cool sour cream blend together for a delightfully sharp flavor you’ll love!!
-questnutrition.com
These chips are amazing!! They have 21g of protein! That’s ridiculous! What’s more ridiculous is they taste nothing like a protein bar! No chalky aftertaste! Now don’t go expecting a greasy potato chip! Because you can’t have your cake and eat it too! But you can have a satisfying Carb-like snack on a low carb diet that’s power packed with protein and low carb! But tastes like its a guilty pleasure! The BBQ chips are amazing! With the cheddar 2nd and the sea salt 3rd. I am not a big fan of potato chips! I need to dip them! The flavored chips don’t need any dip! The sea salt I had with P28 protein peanut butter!
that was delicious and ultra power packed with protein!
Controversy: Police Cameras
Had the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner not been caught on film, calls to outfit New York Police Department officers with cameras might have quietly faded. Instead, a bystander captured Garner locked in a chokehold as he repeated: “I can’t breathe.”
Garner’s encounter with police – ruled a homicide by the New York city medical examiner – is not the only one that has resulted in visceral video. A driver captured a California highway patrol officer punching a woman repeatedly as she shielded her face with her arms. Two weeks after the video of Garner went viral, building residents filmed the NYPD dragging a Brooklyn grandmother out of her apartment in her underwear.
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On Monday, the public advocate of New York, Letitia James, called on the city’s police department, once again, to begin a pilot program using the cameras. “We need action today,” she told a news conference. The NYPD, America’s most influential police department, confirmed that it is reconsidering the potential of such cameras.
Even as departments face scrutiny because of citizens’ videos, they are being pressed to adopt the technology themselves. Attempts to hold police accountable with video are not new, and neither is law enforcement’s distaste for being filmed. But the long history of avoiding the lens is bumping up against technology, as strapping cameras to officers themselves is increasingly considered good policing practice.
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“We’re at the very beginning of something that could be very, very big,” said Sydney Siegmeth, spokesman for Taser International. The company produces the now-standard weapon that delivers a stunning electric shock, and recently waded into the body-worn camera market with the Axon. “I think more and more you’re going to see officers with technology on their body,” she said.
The company’s camera sales shot up by more than five times over the past year. Contracts increased to nearly 5,000 cameras and $11.3m in sales last quarter. More than 1,200 law enforcement officers now wear the cameras. The company regards all of the 18,000 police departments in the United States as a potential market for the technology – as well as private security guards, corrections officers, police forces outside the US and even municipal employees.
Civil libertarians have already signed off on police-worn camera programs, making it one of the few circumstances in which the organizations are calling for more, not less, surveillance.
“It serves more as a form of checks and balances against police power than it does for the government [control] over individuals,” said Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union.
“There needs to be very strong [privacy] protection, but at the same time we also see large numbers of very abusive Swat raids,” he said. “So it’s vital to have [cameras]”.
The most cited study of the effects of body-worn cameras on policing is Cambridge University’s examination of the police department in Rialto, California. After cameras were introduced in February 2012, officers’ use of force dropped 59%, and complaints against officers plummeted by 88%.
“When you know you’re being watched you behave a little better. That’s just human nature,” Rialto police chief Tony Farrar told the Guardian at the time. The Rialto Department has become the poster-child for early adoption, as metro agencies in San Diego, Los Angeles and Fort Worth begin pilot programs or deploy the technology.
This video was shot from a Rialto Police Department officer’s body-worn camera.
Nevertheless, reluctance remains.
“It would be a nightmare,” former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg told the press after a ruling on the city’s “stop-and-frisk” laws, almost exactly one year ago, in which judge Shira Scheindlin ordered that the department start a one-year pilot using the cameras in five precincts.
“We can’t have your cameraman follow you around and film things without people questioning whether they deliberately chose an angle, whether they got the whole picture in.”
Rialto police captain Randy De Anda said the NYPD sent two senior officials to his department in the last two weeks. Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise the officers went to California – New York police commissioner Bill Bratton’s last position was in Los Angeles, and he has voiced his support for the cameras in the past.
“They’re really seriously thinking about it,” said De Anda. A spokesperson for the NYPD said the department is “exploring and evaluating the technology”.
James said on Monday it would cost the NYPD about $5m to outfit 15% of the force’s 23,000 patrol officers. Her analysis didn’t address the cost of processing the vast amount of data the cameras generate. By contrast, she said, last year the department paid out $152m to settle complaints brought against it.
But lawsuits documenting officers’ distrust of cameras stretch back to 1977. At the time, a legal agreement required the NYPD to include a new passage in its patrol guide on citizens’ right to document public police activities. Just last weekend, the department issued a reminder to officers that citizens may legally film them.
In June, police in Suffolk County, New York, settled a lawsuit with the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) after an officer arrested a television news cameraman for filming.
“Go away,” the officer told the cameraman. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years: there’s nothing you can hold over my head,” he said, before arresting the cameraman. Taxpayers footed the $200,000 bill when the department lost in court.
This video of a Suffolk County, New York police officer was taken by a television news cameraman. The cameraman was arrested, and the National Press Photographers Association sued on his behalf.
“It’s hard for me to understand why, if officers are acting appropriately, they wouldn’t want a tape, an audio-visual recording of what they’re doing,” said Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the NPPA, which sued Suffolk County on the cameraman’s behalf.
“There are far too many officers that operate under the theory of: ‘Because I said so.’”
Law enforcement officials do not appear deterred by the long history of court losses.
An Illinois eavesdropping law, designed to protect people’s privacy, was used to prosecute a woman after she recorded officers trying to dissuade her from filing a sexual harassment complaint against a fellow officer. Charges were eventually dropped.
The law made audio recording an officer without their knowledge, even in public and on duty, a felony, punishable by 15 years in prison. The law was declared unconstitutional in 2012. In Massachusetts, an anti-wiretapping law bars the public from audio-recording an officer without their knowledge. It is also a felony.
This Boston Police Department training video obtained by MassLive.com shows how officers are trained to charge members of the public who surreptitiously make audio recordings of police.
Photography has also been maligned. One myth circulating in the law enforcement community is that photography is a “precursor behavior” for terrorism, even though security experts have called it “nonsense”.
Nevertheless, private security guards and other pseudo-law enforcement agencies can use such behavior to file “suspicious activity” reports that stay in federal databases as long as 30 years, and are accessible to local and state police.
Deploying police with body-worn cameras raises a host of legal questions. How long should law enforcement keep the videos? Will all videos or just evidentiary videos be kept? How much latitude should officers have when determining whether to activate the cameras? What happens when they disregard those policies? It’s unclear if the videos would be public record – De Anda says no, Osterreicher says yes. And what would it mean for so many law enforcement agencies to pay private companies, such as Taser, to handle evidence?
According to De Anda, officials who’ve come to see Rialto’s camera program are generally interested in using the technology, but are constrained by budgetary limitations. The two models made by Taser, one for the glasses and one for the chest, cost between $399 and $599 apiece, not including access to Evidence.com. Taser will also manage the data for departments, and claims it’s more cost effective than in-house solutions. That costs between $15 and $55 per month, per user.
“I haven’t heard anything negative other than it might not be cost effective,” said De Anda. “As time goes on as the technology progresses it’s going to be very, very affordable for law enforcement agencies”.
Rick Smith, CEO of Taser International, says the agencies make up the cash in reduced lawsuits and complaints. Not stopping there, Smith wants to make police reports themselves obsolete.
“Why would we have officers sit down and waste time writing about it?” said Smith. “Ten years from now every cop will wear a camera, which will mean a much more smooth and transparent relationship with the community, and every officer will be out doing police work instead of doing administrative work.”
The ACLU’s blessing of the technology is a caveated one, however.
“The challenge of on-officer cameras is the tension between their potential to invade privacy and their strong benefit in promoting police accountability,” wrote Stanley in a 2013 ACLU white paper. “Overall, we think they can be a win-win – but only if they are deployed within a framework of strong policies to ensure they protect the public without becoming yet another system for routine surveillance of the public”.
-theguardian.com
Police cameras seem like a good idea to safeguard the public and the officers themselves (those innocent officers blamed of wrong doing) a lot of cases would be cut and dry in court. Oh you resisted arrest or you struck the officer etc… However; if you dig deeper there are many topics that you probably haven’t considered!
1. Eavesdropping: police do not need to wire tap your phones they just need to stand near you and anything you say can be held against you!
2. Search and seizure: when they come into your home everything is recorded! What if they kick in your door and you are naked just getting out of the shower! Oops sorry we meant to kick in 16b not 16d!
3. What about those head worn cameras? There’s a wire that a criminal can now grab and potentially choke out the officer. The same goes for close quarter room clearing oops you got snagged on something which diverted your attention and the officer was shot trying to untangle himself.
4. The cyber security aspect: can the cameras be hacked? Can the police be tracked? Who’s going to retain the footage? How much memory space is required to store alllllll that data and for how long will it be retained? Will it be uploaded to the cloud? Will it be hacked while being uploaded?
Do you want the enemies to see all of your belongings or your naked body? Once the footage is uploaded it is susceptible to breach. In transmission and in storage! Can it be digitally tampered with? Can someone alter the film (cut and splice)
“I went to the mall to get a goldfish because my daughter killed her fish. Along the way I saw a cop stop my friend on the side of the road and give him a ticket.”
Spliced: I went to the mall to kill a cop or I went to kill a cop on the side of the road.
Did you say that? No! But it’s on video of you saying it! Because of a hacker you get the death penalty or a life sentence!
Cyber surveillance is not the be all end all and it shouldn’t be! The whole idea behind police officers is integrity! We trust them with our lives and hold them to a higher standard! They uphold the law! If we erode that trust; what’s the sense of having them in the first place?
Look at red light tickets for example. They do not give you points, because they can’t tell who’s driving the car. Although; they have video it’s not conclusive. In other words the cameras have to be sharp and high definition. The more definition, the more memory. The more memory the more storage, the more storage the more money. The more money… The more places it has to come from. What does that equal? Higher taxes!
Who’s going to maintain the cameras, issue the cameras, repair and update the cameras, download the footage, process the footage, maintain the storage, decommission the cameras dispose of the footage after the allotted retainment period is over and sanitize the drives? Etc…
That’s not just for NYC that’s for every government agency and every police department in the country! What about Montana or Alaska where there’s like 100 people per 1000 miles how much crime could they actually have? Do they need to film sitting around all day? Your talking tons of resources nationwide wasted on not trusting our officers! When we could be spending it on other things like new cars, hiring more officers instead of cyber engineers, funding more training for officers, more stringent background checks on officers. Random drug tests etc… Funding has to come from somewhere! What will they take away in order to buy and maintain camera equipment!
Moral of the story: what sometimes seems like a good idea, can often be not what you wanted!
Restaurant Review: Blu Ale House – Riverdale, NJ
Blu Alehouse tastefully combines New American dining, and an upscale sports bar atmosphere into one. Conveniently located on the crossroads of Route 23 and I-287- Blu Alehouse is equipped with a full New American menu, over 35 beers on tap, and 20 big screen TV’s. Blu Alehouse is one of New Jersey’s premier destinations- a family restaurant by day, and an unforgettable nightlife experience after dark, featuring one of the biggest bars in the tri-state. Come and explore all that Blu has to offer you.
Blu Alehouse
Parking: Parking Lot, Free Valet (During dinner hours)
Indoor / Outdoor Dining, Private Space / Lounge Room, Entertainment, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant and Takeout
We are Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch and Dinner
Sunday – Wednesday: 11AM – 2AM
Thursday – Saturday: 11AM – 3AM
92 Route 23N Riverdale NJ, 07457
-blualehouse.com
This place is hot! The industrial sheik ceiling with a fake big ass fan, to the garage door front that opens up the bar to an open air lounge.
The food is great and creative also! Gourmet burgers that you can’t get anywhere else!
I got the Maine Burger with asparagus and baby lobster tail and had them put in the bison meat from the Colorado burger. It was delicious!
My father and sister got a new burger not on this menu, it’s was a Taylor ham egg and cheese on top of the burger, It looked great:
The next time I go I will probably get the south beach check it out!
They aren’t just burgers they do have sophisticated entrees and cool appetizers also
Check out the Blue Ale House in Riverdale NJ if you are close to the area, you will not be upset!
Restaurant Review: The Pavilion Market Cafe – Union Square NYC
Check it out! Guess who’s here! Dule Hill – Gus from Psych! I love that show!
Simon Oren (Marseille, Nice Matin) resurrected Union Square’s neoclassical colonnade as a café before summer hit in 2014. With 200 indoor and outdoor seats, heat lamps and lots of umbrellas, the lovely oasis stays open all day, every day, rain or shine, until October or so. Rattan furniture, verdant plants and flowers bring Paris to mind, but since it’s in the midst of the famed and busy Union Square Greenmarket on one side and a lively playground on the other, it’s classic New York City. The American-Mediterranean menu is uncomplicated, featuring an appealing line-up of raw bar items, salads, sandwiches, short rib ravioli, hanger steak and organic salmon pot au feu. There are market-day specials, ingredients straight from the farmers’ tables and an emphasis put on local sourcing of alcohol, too, from New York Distilling Company’s Dorothy Parker gin to Finger Lakes’ grüner veltliner from Dr. Konstantin Frank.
-nycgo.com
I had hummus for lunch and got to meet and shake hands with Dule Hill of Psych (recently cancelled) on USA (so much better and funnier than the mentalist!) anyway; the food wasn’t bad, the atmosphere was awesome! A great way to spend your lunch or evening on a warm or cool day! One thing I had a problem with was; I asked for raw vegetables to dip instead of the bread, and I didn’t mind paying extra. The waitress first said: no we can’t do that; then I asked another waiter and she came back and said: I asked the kitchen and they said they can only give you cucumber and it’s $3 extra. Really! WTF! Cucumber is the only vegetable in your entire kitchen? I find that hard to believe! You can’t chop up a couple peppers? A piece of celery and a carrot or something? It’s that hard to please your guests?
Anyway; if you want to go there for the atmosphere or a couple drinks, check it out! If you want to go for food: don’t expect to get it your way! Which is ridiculous considering the amount of competition just in Union Square alone! Not even the outlying areas of the square or the rest of the city!
Check it out! At least once! By the way that’s the first time in years I have been told no by any restaurant! Usually they say no substitutions and I say; look I didn’t say give it to me, make up a fair price and give me what I want and they say sure! This place well we only have cucumbers! (Which I hate lol)
Recipe: Protein Pizza from bodybuilding.com tweaked my way
Bodybuilding.com Protein Pizza
I have a long-standing affection for deep dish pizza. I went to school in Chicago, and my friends and I would often go out to eat at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, where deep dish is a way of life. If you’ve never had a deep dish pizza, let me describe it for you: It’s like a pizza in pie form. Consider it thin crust to the umpteenth level. It takes a regular pizza crust, converts it into a piecrust, and stuffs it to the brim with tomato sauce, specialty toppings, and cheese through and through. It’s delicious!
Whether it’s the memory of meeting friends for an after-school gabfest at the local pizza joint or ordering in as a family on Friday nights, a good slice of pie has a place in most people’s hearts. Too bad the same doesn’t hold true for their waistlines.
Regular deep dish isn’t the kind of thing you should eat regularly. That’s because between the high-carb crust and a barrage of full-fat meats and cheeses, you end up with a caloric bomb. What’s the solution? My protein-packed pizza recipe, of course!
Make this healthy version of deep dish pizza that delivers the same amazing taste but is actually packed with nutrition and protein POW!
PROTEIN-PACKED PIZZA
Ingredients For The Crust:
1/2 cup Pea Protein Powder (unflavored)
1/2 cup Liquid Egg Whites
1/8 cup Buckwheat Flour
1/2 cup Almond Milk
1 tbsp Coconut Flour
Directions For The Crust:
Blend all of the ingredients together until you get a thick batter. Using a spoon, spread the batter onto either one or two deep-dish pans. I used two small nonstick cheesecake pans, and they worked wonderfully.
Bake at 320 F (160 C) for about 15 minutes or until the crust has cooked through.
Ingredients For The Filling:
1 small chopped Onion
2 chopped Garlic Cloves
2 cans of Tomatoes
1/2 cup of Cheddar Cheese (or grated Mozzarella)
1 cup of Ground Beef (I used Grass-fed beef)
1 tbsp Rosemary
1 tbsp Thyme
Salt to taste
Assembly Directions:
Add toppings to the crust. I made mine by pan frying the onions and garlic until soft, letting the added beef simmer until cooked, throwing in the tomatoes and spices, and reducing for 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened).
-bodybuilding.com
Definitely not cheddar cheese on a pizza! Mozzarella all the way! Homemade if you can get it!
In NJ Corrados makes a great homemade Mozzarella that’s not too salty. With the salt in the Mozzarella you don’t need to add extra salt!
Make sure you use Italian spices such as rosemary, thyme, basil and oregano and of course plenty of garlic! You can also use grilled chicken to top it. If you use chicken or beef toppings, make sure you cook them at least 3/4 of the way first! Do not over cook the meat or it will be sure dry when you cook the pizza but also:
DO NOT PUT RAW MEAT ON THE PIZZA!!
According to this they want you to bake the crust then top, if I am reading it correctly… Idk if I like that or approve of a pizza being made like that! I have made many pizzas in my life! I like homemade pizza better than delivery. You know what to out on it and how you like it! You can always buy just the dough from a local pizzeria or from Trader Joes.
Do not buy Corrados dough as it truly sucks!
Back to the recipe: I don’t think I would like pea protein powder, I think if you have to use an alternative protein, I would use rice protein or something like it.
Product Review: Pro-Tech Athletics The Orb – Deep Tissue Massage Ball 5″ & 7″ Diameter *
5″ diameter high density ball provides aggressive deep tissue massage to:
IT Band, Hamstring, Quadriceps, Calf, plus more
7″ diameter high density ball provides moderate deep tissue massage to:
IT Band, Hamstring, Quadriceps, Back, plus more
The balls are super lightweight dense foam. They don’t require pumping up.
Because they are super lightweight and foam, I am not sure about durability. If you have a dog, keep it away or it will be in pieces!
I can’t wait to try them as they are much larger then a lacrosse ball and much different then a roller!
Pro-tec also offers a wide array of massage and physical therapy tools! Check them out for all your needs! Their prices are reasonably inexpensive also!
**Update** April 23rd 2014
I tried the Orbs today! The larger ball was awkward and I didn’t like it! The smaller ball however; felt awesome! I love it! It felt crazy good under my hamstring! I didn’t have much time, so stay tuned for more!
Supplement Review: SunWarrior – Vegan and vegetarian friendly supplements *
Sun Warrior Classic Protein – Raw Vegan – Chocolate
Warrior Blend Chocolate
An Unparalleled Fusion of the Finest Raw Plant-Based Proteins
What makes WARRIOR BLEND so spectacular? Synergy!
Warrior Blend fuses and multiplies the power of several rich, raw protein sources into a smooth, great tasting, and revolutionary proprietary formula that is overwhelmingly superior to the individual components alone. This dynamic fusion, along with a cold extraction process, creates a unique, raw, plant-based protein with a complete amino acid profile exceptionally high in Arginine, Lysine, Leucine, and branched chain amino acids.
The next generation in raw, plant-based protein is here, breaking through the constraints of other protein powders. Warrior Blend is an easily digestible, nutrient filled superfood perfect for anyone who wants to amplify their health and fitness levels. Best of all, it tastes phenomenal!
Complete protein contains all essential amino acids*
Creates a feeling of satiety (fullness)*
Promotes muscle function*
Idea for healthy weight loss*
Easy to Digest*
Increases energy*
WARRIOR BLEND is a green product and is suitable for any diet or lifestyle (NOT JUST FOR VEGANS)! Our natural, raw process is free of solvents, GMOs, radiation, artificial colors, and preservatives.
The smell is horrendous!
The ingredients aren’t strange I wonder why it smells so bad! The taste wasn’t great but the aftertaste tastes like rice and isn’t bad. You don’t need a chaser after it. So far it’s the leading tasting vegan protein, which isn’t saying much, but as an alternative to whey it’s good.
Sun Warrior Warrior Blend Vanilla
Smells good and the taste wasn’t bad. Kind of like old dry rice. It’s a much different taste then Whey Protein and I have to get used to it. Will I use it in place of Whey? Hell no! I need to enjoy my post workout protein!
However; when people only use one food for extended periods they tend to build up immunities toward it and sometimes develop allergies toward it. I found that by eating so much peanut butter in my life, I now occasionally break out in hives. I don’t know how my body reacts toward Whey, sometimes I get gassy. By rotating my proteins lately from whey to natural whey to vegetable and back. I have felt much more healthy. I am also seeing muscle and strength gains. Fat loss however; is slowing.
Sun Warrior Classic Vanilla
Classic Protein Vanilla
A Great Tasting Smooth, Raw, Plant-Based Protein for an Unrivaled Fitness Lifestyle
The ultimate raw, plant-based superfood protein designed for fitness and health enthusiasts. Ideal for those who want to build muscle, lose fat and increase athletic performance.
Sunwarrior Classic Protein is 100% plant-based, alkaline-forming, and provides a complete, balanced array of essential amino acids*
Protein is essential for repairing tissue, burning fat, and building strong bodies*
Sunwarrior Classic Protein is hypoallergenic and suitable for anyone – young or old, male or female – not just vegan or vegetarian lifestyles*
Sunwarrior Classic Protein is gluten free, non-GMO, and FREE of chemicals, acids and solvents*
Sunwarrior uses an old-world, low temperature, enzymatic process that includes the whole grain of brown rice, including the germ, endosperm, and bran. This unique process captures a protein that’s silky smooth and mixes well. Most important, it tastes great!
Ingredients: Raw Whole Grain Brown Rice Protein, Rice Oligodextrin, Vanilla Extract, Stevia, Xanthan Gum, Ancient Sea Salt, Pectin
Suggested Use: Mix 1 scoop with 8-10 oz of water, almond milk, coconut milk, or your favorite beverage. Mixes well in shakes, smoothies and other beverages. Refrigerate prepared products and use the same day. Store package out of direct light and away from heat.
Full Description and Detailed Information
Always raw, vegan, and delicious
A great tasting plant-based protein with a silky smooth texture that blends easily without the chalky or grainy consistency found in other vegetable based protein powders
Created with a low temperature, natural enzyme process that uses neither chemicals nor acid hydrolysis
Free of gluten, solvents, GMOs, radiation, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, or artificial colors
Naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, and other essential nutrients such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorous, iron, and potassium
Easily digested by children, the elderly, and adults
Increases absorption and effectiveness of vitamins and minerals
One of the best protein powders available for any lifestyle, not just vegan or vegetarian
Complete Protein
Brown rice protein powder contains all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot synthesize but still needs in order to produce all the muscle tissue, enzymes, and hormones we require to survive. Rice protein, unlike other vegetable proteins, isn’t lacking in any of these key building blocks for protein with a balanced amino acid profile comparable with whey and much better than soy.
Hypoallergenic
Whey and soy both have problems with allergies and sensitivities. Whey is made from dairy byproducts and anyone with lactose sensitivities can have problems. Unfortunately, they aren’t alone. Many people who do not have any problems with dairy can still experience gas, bloating, and digestive issues. Soy contains phytoestrogens that mimic the human hormone and cause problems. Soy allergies are also very common.
Rice, on the other hand is extremely safe and mild on the digestive system and very hypoallergenic. Rice is the perfect source for protein that won’t upset stomachs, result in bloating, or cause dangerous allergic reactions.
Vegan
Rice protein is safe for vegans and vegetarians who want to avoid animal products like found in whey, casein, and egg proteins. But they aren’t the only ones to benefit. Rice protein isn’t just for vegans, but supplies ample protein and complete amino acids for anyone at any activity level or with any lifestyle.
Muscle Recovery
As a complete protein, Sunwarrior’s Classic Protein is ready to rebuild and repair muscle after workouts. Rice protein is a little slower to digest than whey, but that makes it a good pre-workout supplement and a good protein for endurance athletes.
Fat Burning
Protein creates a thermic effect, heating up the body and literally burning through more calories than other foods. This is because protein requires additional energy to digest, so you burn more for hours after eating it. Lean protein sources, like rice protein, make a healthy part of any weight loss plan.
The smell is also horrendous!
But surprisingly it tastes good! Would I use it as a whey alternative, yes.
Liquid Light:
A Powerful Raw Natural Detoxifying Electrolyte for Stamina and Well-Being
Liquid Light is what we like to call “Mineralized Solar Energy”, a raw, plant-based fulvic acid and liquid mineral complex created by nature. The minerals were captured by ancient plant life, free of modern pollution and contaminants, fulvic acid was produced by beneficial microbes, and the complex is extracted from an ancient, undisturbed plant deposit using pure cold water. This creates a liquid supplement that contains one of the most powerful nutrient transporters found in the natural world.
Liquid Light Provides:
Powerful polyelectrolytes produced by nature*
Over 72 trace minerals and elements complexed with Fulvic Acid*
Improved absorption and assimilation of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients*
I can’t say I wasn’t scared to try it, but it wasn’t that bad. I downed it and then drank some water.
Immune Shield
Immune Shield delivers micro ionic silver and 71 trace minerals into all fluids, tissues, and cells to assist the immune system in repelling and fighting foreign invasions*
Ionic sized silver is smaller and more absorbable than colloidal silver
Can be taken daily for immune support or every 20 to 30 minutes at the onset of any symptoms
Immune Shield with fulvic silver wasn't bad, I think I like this one a tad better taste wise.
**Update** April 27th 2014
Let me start my saying I absolutely hate green drinks! Except the wheatgrass shots at the gym. They aren’t bad. So; I grabbed a tube of the Sunwarrior Supergreens
With extreme hesitation! It made a full 12oz glass of supergreens that smelled like raw sewage (as all green drinks do!) BUT! surprisingly it was the best tasting green drink I ever had! I think it was due to the Barley, wheat, oat grass and yuca (not green and potato like root) in it.
First Lady Michelle Obama Proposes New Nutrition label to help America!
Whatever you have to say about President Obama, The one thing he unarguably did right; was marry Michelle Obama!
Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign promotes healthier living.
About:
Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Sure, this is an ambitious goal. But with your help, we can do it.
Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let’s Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping children become more physically active.
At the launch of the initiative, President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum creating the first-ever Task Force on Childhood Obesity to conduct a review of every single programs and policies relating to child nutrition and physical activity and develop a national action plan to maximize federal resources and set concrete benchmarks toward the First Lady’s national goal. The Task Force recommendations focus on the five pillars of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative:
Creating a healthy start for children
Empowering parents and caregivers
Providing healthy food in schools
Improving access to healthy, affordable foods
Increasing physical activity
Everyone has a role to play in reducing childhood obesity, including parents and caregivers, elected officials from all levels of government, schools, health care professionals, faith-based and community-based organizations, and private sector companies. Your involvement is key to ensuring a healthy future for our children.
Michelle’s new mission is to make nutrition labels easier to read for Americans.
This morning, First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg announced proposed changes to Nutrition Facts labels, the most notable of which include clearly listing the amount of added sugars and updating serving size requirements to be more in line with the amounts that people actually eat.
“Our guiding principle here is very simple: that you as a parent and a consumer should be able to walk into your local grocery store, pick up an item off the shelf, and be able to tell whether it’s good for your family,” the First Lady said in the announcement. “So this is a big deal, and it’s going to make a big difference for families all across this country.”
The changes are in line with the FLOTUS’ Let’s Move! initiative, but they’re also based around the latest scientific information about nutrition and its impact on conditions like obesity and heart disease. The recommendation to list added sugars, for example, comes as a result of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ determination that people in the U.S. are consuming too many calories from added sugars. Other proposed changes include:
Updated daily intake recommendations for nutrients like sodium, dietary fiber, and vitamin D
Mandatory listing of potassium and vitamin D content on nutrition labels (these were not required before but are now considered “nutrients of public health significance”). Listing calcium and iron content was required before and will still be required, while listing the content of vitamins A and C will now be optional (since research indicates the general population isn’t deficient in these nutrients).
Removal of the “Calories from Fat” item on nutritional labels. “Total Fat,” “Saturated Fat,” and “Trans Fat” declarations will still be required, but this change is being suggested because the latest research indicates that type of fat is more important than amount.
Changed serving size requirements to reflect what people actually eat (as noted above). This includes a requirement that packaged foods people usually consume in one sitting (like a bag of chips or a bottle of soda) be considered a single serving.
The addition of a “per package” column for nutrient information (this would appear alongside a “per serving” column) when foods come in large packages that might be consumed in one sitting (for example, a 24-ounce bottle of soda or a pint of ice cream).
A new design for the Nutrition Facts label that will make the most important information easier to see at a glance. Here’s a mockup of the new design:
These newly released details reveal what exactly the FDA proposed to the White House last month. If these suggested changes are accepted, they’ll be just the second time nutrition information labels have been significantly altered since 1993, when they first became mandatory. (In 2006, food manufacturers were required to list trans fat content.)
Of course, the changes won’t go into effect immediately—they’re just being proposed at this point. For the next step, the FDA is making them available for public comment for 90 days. In the meantime, this infographic gives some more info on the proposed serving size changes:
-womenshealthmag.com
Do I think this is a good idea? Yes! Do I agree with everything? No!
When do we as Americans say this is a realistic health size? Americans supersize everything! Is that healthy? No!
We started out eating a scoop of ice cream… Then went to 2 scoops because it looked cooler on a cone. Now we are eating the entire pint! Some fat asses are eating it by the half gallon and it’s also not acceptable to call them fat asses anymore! It will hurt their feelings and it’s bullying! But it’s ok to eat a whole half gallon or more of ice cream in a sitting? That’s what these labels are leading to!
Pick a size! 4oz or 6oz then the entire container and put both counts side by side!
As for the added sugar… That’s what I want! Milk for example has 12g of carbs 11g of sugar. Does it come out of the cow that way or is some asshole standing there with a bowl of sugar saying Americans won’t like straight milk from the cow!
Obviously sugar in milk is naturally occurring, but you get the point better with that example.
Bolder calorie counts… Does that make a difference? Why not make it red or green, yellow, red… Who’s to say what too much is? Which goes back to the serving size…
You can’t win with serving size!
I say who eats less than a whole can of Campbell’s soup? I’m 6′ 245lbs my mother was 5′ 4″ well; she did! To me 1/2 a can is preposterous!
My serving size of meat is 8-10oz hers would be 4-6oz
Do you understand what I am saying? Pick a size for a certain size such as treadmills. Treadmills usually start at 175lb male. The old ones started at 150lb male.
Look at my grandfather from Italy he was short and skinny! 5’5″ 150ish if that!
The point is that yes new labels are needed, but just as new labels are needed a healthy standard is needed!
I think the app fooducate is on the right path, but again they have no standard scoring.
Above is an example of a good food!
Above is an example of a bad product!
Notice the bad tips! That’s helpful! Let America decide what they want from there!
The real problem is this:
Only 60% of Americans read the label in the first place! what about the other 40?
Who reads nutrition labels?
More than half do, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. About 61.5 percent reported using the nutrition facts panel when deciding to purchase food. Fewer people paid attention to the list of ingredients (51.6 percent), the serving size (47.2 percent), and health claims (43.8 percent).
The findings from Columbia University reported that women with some college education were more likely to use the nutrition labels. Those who used them reported fewer calories, fat, saturated fat, and sugar intake than participants who did not pay attention.
Researchers used information from a 2005-2006 survey in which 5,502 participants answered questions on food label use and completed two 24-hour recalls of what they ate. The study also found that participants with limited English language skills had reduced rates of label use, indicating that language could be a barrier.
Read the abstract
“If food labels are to have greater influence on public health, rates of use will likely need to be increased among US adults,” wrote the study authors.
Some suggestions for changing nutrition labels have been to have calories in bold type to or to issue more intuitive labeling using colors like red, yellow and green on food labels.
-CNN.com
I’ll bet you in certain instances that number is much lower!
How many Americans ask to see the label at a bar? How many calories is in that Long Island iced tea or strawberry daiquiri? Yeah right!!
How many Americans actually look at the facts when going to Burger King and McDonald’s? I’ll tell you! The occasional shopper! Not the people that frequent those places! Do you think that Mama June and the Boo boo clan pay any attention what so ever to the nutrition labels! Yeah right c’mon get real!
That’s the problem!
For those of us that do read it, yes added sugar is a God send! Thank you for that! The other proposed changes need to be rethought out!
This is exactly what they are talking about! I found this today at stop and shop
The bottle on the left says lite! By who’s standard? Watch this!
The bottle on the left still the lite! The bottle on the right is zeroed out! So which one is lite??
Exactly!!
Product Review: Mobility Tools – The M80 Roller – rolling in style!
Notice the cool M80 Camo roller on the right next to my Obnoxious Orange Everlast Roller. The M80 roller is longer and much less padded. When I initially grabbed the roller I could feel the overall thickness of the interior PVC core and feel the quality of the roller. Having a much larger upperbody than the average person, cracking of the core is always a concern with me! Once I felt the thickness of the core I was rest assured!
M80 Roller
Camo
$39.99
With the M80 Roller being the only one of its kind on the market we guarantee to give you the best rolling experience you’ve had. The M80′s firmness and patented grooves will find hidden muscle aches and pains you never even knew were there and leave you reinvigorated and feeling better than you have in years. Cut recovery time in half and perform at your potential. Did we also mention that the M80′s “Closed Cell Technology” prevents any moisture from absorbing, meaning your roller will be left germ free for years to come. At 15″ long and 5″ in diameter this sleek design makes it the perfect travel buddy.
Gone are the days of the foam roller, it’s time to revolutionize your recovery with the next big thing!
–m80roller.com
The second I put it under my back I noticed the lack of padding! My back immediately went Craaaaaaaaaaaack crack crackety crack crack! And it was immediately in-line.
Not sure if I like the lack of padding, however if you go back to the Everlast article; I stated that although there’s a ton of padding this solid core roller feels as if there’s nothing and you are rolling on a PVC pipe. So, is it truly different from the Everlast? Lets find out!
Lets take a closer look at the M80 Roller! Stay tuned!
Do you want to know something that’s really funny? Well, you are going to read it anyway! They are the exact same thing! PVC pipe wrapped in foam! Yet; they are worlds apart! The Everlast has a thicker diameter whereas the M80 rollers is thinner.
The Everlast is wrapped with thick almost original like foam roller foam of the old school soft-core foam rollers. Whereas the M80 Rollers foam is tight almost memory foam like. That gives each a different sensation. The Everlast I don’t feel it touching my spine when I roll over it, the M80 I can feel my spine.
The Everlast I get a deeper stretch in my back due to the increased diameter, but sometimes you want a thinner diameter.
The M80 because of the less foam you get more pressure.
The M80 is longer so it’s easier to transition positions instead of having to reset.
The M80 I like much better for rolling body parts (legs and lats) whereas I think I like the Everlast for rolling my back better. I don’t like either of them for my arms, that I use a lacrosse ball, I also use that for target spots in my back and legs. For my neck I like the M80 Roller better because the thinner core can get in deeper and I also like the ball for targeted neck work. From doing a lot of trapezius work, my neck tends to get still quite often is usually once every 4 days or so. Therefore; it’s important to stretch and work it!
Basically; what another practitioner said: it’s another tool in my mobility arsenal! I am glad I have an M80 Roller!
Stay tuned for updates!
**Update** March 3rd 2014
Revisiting the M80 Roller:
I received the Grid today and I have to tell you, I got more appreciation for the M80 Roller! Now having seen them all, the M80 Rollers PVC core is twice as thick as the competition and if you look carefully it’s fibrous too! Not just smooth. It’s by far the strongest made roller. I also like the coating!
However! The M80 Roller is not a beginner Roller! I suggest starting with the Grid, the when the muscles are desensitized move to the (Advanced) M80 Roller then once a week use the Deep penetration of the (Super Advanced) Rumble Roller and Beasties! It’s my finding that the Rumble Roller is too aggressive for daily use. My legs still hurt from my initial roll!
Start with the grid, let your back align and use the extra padding under your hips and let you hip flexors stretch and open up. Then move to the (Advanced) M80 Roller for daily maintenance.
Then; once a week go for extreme deep tissue with the (Super Advanced) Rumble Roller and Beasties.
That’s everything except Post Workout! Post Workout hit your legs and lats with the Cold Roller! For Cold Compression and Deep Tissue Massage.
There’s your recipe for a strong pain free (not when you are doing it! It sucks when rolling lol) healthy body!
Happy Halloweenie! Speaking of… Here’s some sexy costumes! with some commentary! :P
Start with the best! Scooby doo! Is that the love child of Scooby & Daphne?
For the inner fat kid! Bacon! and Who doesnt love Siracha
If that was the monster under my bed I would have begged my parents to send me to bed!
Seriously? its October! Shes gonna catch a cold!
Time for us Nerds!
For the D&D nerd
Video Game Nerd
Star Wars Nerd
Cosplay Nerd
I have an idea to end wars! Instead of making a horrible new marine hat, Make an army of these!
What man will shoot that with bullets?
Anyone like Mickey more?
If nascar pit crews looked like that I would watch a stupid car go in circles for hours!
Even Miley is down this year!
Most popular costumes 2013
Get your discount Thicke Costume here:
The worst part about this? how many Girls do you know with a body like this:
So… when you are out tonight you will probably run into this:
Happy Halloweenie!!
Controversy: Honey Boo Boo Watch and Sniff Grand Premiere
You’ve seen the sketti. You redneck-ognize their special brand of Southern cuisine. But you’ve never had a chance to smell the world Honey Boo Boo and her quirky clan inhabit – until now.
TLC has revealed that the July 17 season premiere episodes of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo will be a “Watch ‘n Sniff” event. They even got family matriarch – and onetime Baywatch impersonator – “Mama June” Shannon to explain how it works.
“Get your card. When you see the number on your TV, scratch the corresponding number, take big whiff and see what you smell,” she explains in her signature drawl.
“Watch ‘n Sniff” cards, featuring six potentially pungent scents, will be available first in PEOPLE’s July 15 issue, which hits newsstands July 5. Cards will also be available at select Time Warner Cable retail stores across the country, and handed out by street teams in major markets.
Anybody smell a hit?
-people.com
I got my foul and nasty watch and sniff card what about you? What is this world coming to? And why do you feed into it? Glutton for punishment I think!
Let’s see what are the signs the Apocalypse is coming?
School shootings… Check
Hurricane in NY… Check
Tsunami in Japan… Check
Tornados in CT… Check
Louisana Flooded… Check
Madagascar locust infestation… Check
Great Plain Blizzard… Check
Honey Boo Boo Number 1 rated TV Show… Check
The World is gonna end!
Supplement Review: Cellucor Stack – Super HD, CLK & T7- Fat Burning Stack of the Gods!
I have done this stack before, if you follow this blog, I lost 60lbs in 3 weeks off this stack!
Now that I am 84-85lbs down will this stack work again?
That’s what we are here to find out!
**Update**
I have been feeling better, my shoulder is feeling better, so my weights have increased and I am building muscle back, so my weightloss is at a standstill, but I am continuing to lean out.
**Update** July 6th 2013
Beginning of diet, halfway and last week
25lbs more to go! I added 30sec Burpee intervals to my workout before cardio…
**Update** January 13th 2014
Yesterday I successfully passed my Air Force PT Test and returned to deployable status! I a know eligible to reenlist! I owe most of my success to this stack! From the bottom of my heart, Thank you Cellucor and Hank Walshak for you caring and support! I owe you a lot!
And make sure you try this stack!! Check out the first annual louisjbianco.wordpress.com 2013 Supplement Awards this stack won stack of the year!
Will they successfully defend their title in 2014?
There’s a lot of competition hot on their tail: Shredz, BPI Sports and Cellucor’s new Premium line – Royal Sport! Who will claim the prize? Will old faithful prevail? Stay tuned! Only time and inches will prevail!
Don’t forget to check out the 2nd Annual Louisjbianco.wordpress.com supplement awards coming in December 2014
P.S. I will have to shorten that title! How about: the 2nd Annual LJB Supplement Awards coming in December 2014?
louisjbianco 