When you want to lose weight and/or get fit, there are many ways to go about it. Believe it or not, you can do it without forking over thousands of dollars for equipment and memberships! I'm going to share with you my favorite FREE fitness apps and some very budget-friendly products I'm loving these days on my own weight loss journey!

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional - PLEASE discuss any diet or fitness plans with your doctor! Safety first guys!!. Also, this post contains some affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. 

First, watch my video for all the deets!! Then get the links and my personal weight loss and weight / fitness maintenance schedules below!

My Favorite FREE Apps for Fitness & Weight Loss:
i.e. the apps I'm currently using and loving!! Available for iPhone and Android!

• Fastic App: super easy way to manage your intermittent fasting, track water intake, & more!
• MyFitnessPal: great way to track calories in and out - has a HUGE database of food, drinks, and activities!
• MapMyWalk: tracks your walks/runs and calories burned, creates a map of your route, and notifies you after finishing each mile with your average time. 
• VeryFitPro: the app needed when using this awesome fitbit alternative smart watch. It tracks your steps,  your sleep, takes your heart rate. It has a sedentary alarm you can have it remind you at whatever intervals to get up and get moving (so motivating!!). You can connect to your phone to read emails and texts on your watch and get notified of phone call, and use it as a remote to have your phone take photos. Very cool!!! I'm LOVING this $20 watch (so cheap!!) and got one for my husband as well! This app and the other apps above all sync with Google Fit, so for example, your steps will sync from your watch to this app, to Google Fit, and on to MyFitnessPal. But that's cuz I'm android, there will be another roundabout way for iPhone users.

My Weight Loss Routine:

• 16/8 Intermittent Fasting (every day).
• consuming under 1200 calories per day (high protein, low carb), usually breaking the fast with BioTrust Metabogreens & Coffee blend, and an Orgain protein shake for a snack later in the day
• once a week "refeeding" day to boost the metabolism, hitting my regular caloric needs of 1800 calories.
• cardio 3-5 days a week, averaging minimum of 10k steps per day per week, with some minor to moderate weight training.
• weighing myself 2-3x a week with this Renpho smart scale, which has its own app that syncs with Google Fit.

My Weight Maintenance Routine:

• 12/12 - 16/8 Intermittent Fasting (every day).
• consuming my daily requirements of about 1800 calories.
• exercising 3-5 days a week, averaging minimum of 10k steps per day per week.
• weighing myself once a week with this Renpho smart scale, which has its own app that syncs with Google Fit.

Related Posts:

• Book review and my results after 1 month on "Always Eat After 7PM" diet
• Great Exercise Gear for Every Budget: from Kettlebells to Ellipticals

If you read my last blog post, I was knee deep in researching brands who offer an invisible clear aligner system for straightening your teeth at home. There are many out there, but ultimately I decided to go with Candid (who agreed to provide my treatment free in exchange for sharing my experience with you guys)!

**Several video updates below including 12/10/21 after finishing treatment!!!

Disclaimer: I'm not being paid but am being provided complimentary treatment by Candid in exchange for promotion. But don't worry, all thoughts and opinions are 100% unbiased! As always, I tell it like it is!! There are also affiliate links in this post, you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

I'll walk you through why I chose Candid, why I want to straighten my teeth at home, and the process of using their Starter Kit in my video below (or keep reading for everything in text & photos), but the video is more fun, I promise ;)

Why I chose Candid:

• They're thousands cheaper than Invisalign (who doesn't offer a virtual option), AND you can get $70 off your Starter Kit with code USJAPANFAM!
• I can do this from home, while minding 3 kids during a pandemic!
• They have really great reviews.
• They use only orthodontists (whereas some brands only use dentists, or a mixture of dentists and orthodontists).
• They have some Candid studios available if you want to get a free in-person assessment rather than do the DIY kit at home. ​
• They include teeth whitening, so after you get them straight you can get them nice and white, too!

Why I'm straightening my teeth:
My teeth are not currently a hot hot mess. I had braces when I was a teen, however I failed to continue wearing my retainer, and my teeth have been gradually moving since. My dentist recently confirmed it's normal with age for teeth to move gradually forward, and yes, my bottom teeth especially are getting crowded and bothering me. My mother's got so bad by around 60 that she had to have a tooth pulled and wore braces to straighten them out. Her dentist warned her that if she didn't, she'd start experiencing pretty major tooth damage and decay!! Knowing what happened to my mom, I was anxious to go ahead and get my teeth straightened out again, and keep them straight this time!!

Using the Candid Starter Kit:

I ordered the Candid Starter Kit online and it arrived within a few days. The package is fun, very Apple-esque in a big pretty white box. They have very detailed instructions and video tutorials for how to take your EIGHT photos and FIVE dental impressions. I felt a bit of pressure to get these right, otherwise they'll get rejected and you'll have to start over. The reason is that they'll base everything off of these - your whole treatment plan and printing your aligners. They need to see every tooth, gum line, bite from different angles, ALL OF IT!

They send a "cheek stretcher" to help you get the photos of your teeth just right, and you simply use your phone camera with a flash, upload to their website, and boom. Done. Easy peasy, though kind of horrifying seeing your teeth like that. You have to keep the cheek stretcher til you finish treatment, I'm guessing you'll have to do finished photos with it, but if I'm being honest, we'll probably play some pretty funny games with them for some future videos!!

The impressions were harder to get done but I'm fairly confident, or hopeful??, that I got some good ones. The issue is that you have to mix in your hands 2 tubs of putty and once you start mixing you have only 60 seconds before they start hardening!! So, about 30 seconds of mixing, then the next 30 seconds rolling out to a 4" line (they give you a measuring tool), putting it into the impression mold, marking it with a tooth pick where your front teeth will go, getting it into your mouth and holding it in there for 3.5 minutes. 3 times for top, 2 times for bottom. Kinda fun, kinda gross, kinda nerve wracking!! But that's it - they give you a pre-labeled no-stamp-required box and you ship them back to Ohio!

Stay tuned to my blog / social / YouTube channel as I'll be posting updates regarding if my Starter Kit was accepted or I have to redo it, starting my aligners, how they feel, etc etc!! I'm eager to hear what the orthodontist I'm assigned has to say about my treatment - I've heard most do the 22 hours a day plan but some have a nighttime only plan, and treatment usually lasts 4-6 months or so. Eeeeek!!! Wish me luck, and throw any tips, comments, or questions below!!!

Learn more about Candid here and get $70 off your Starter Kit with code USJAPANFAM!

Update 1: March 16, 2021:
Unboxing my aligner kit, going over treatment plan, putting in first aligners, submitting first scan to my orthodontist!!

UPDATE 2: JUNE 16, 2021:
Halfway done with my treatment!! Come see how it's going, how to use "chewies", the on-the-go container for your aligners, and how the scan works!

UPDATE 3: August, 27, 2021:
Putting in my last set of aligners - 16 of 16!! 10 days left of my 5 month long treatment!!

UPDATE 4: December 10, 2021:

Whether fully remote or in-person, straightening your teeth with clear invisible aligners is easier than ever these days!! Treatment can take as little as 4 months, most accept HSA / FSA, and some insurance plans will even cover or reimburse you fees!

An initial impression and/or 3D images are taken and a professional comes up with your treatment plan. Typically each aligner set is worn for 2 weeks - you take it out only to eat or brush teeth, though some offer nighttime-only treatment plans. You'll be mailed a new set of aligners every couple of weeks, and gradually, your teeth will move into straight positioning! After treatment ends,  you'll need to use nighttime retainers to avoid teeth moving again.

I've seen some concerns about the safety of mail-order aligners, mostly in regard to the possibility of developing gum disease, cavities, or misaligned bite by going unmonitored by an in-person orthodontist. It doesn't seem these are likely, but can happen, so you'll want to be extra diligent about brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and getting regular in-person dental cleanings and exams, making sure they're aware that you are undergoing remote orthodontic treatment. Also, make sure that whatever company you go with, they're monitoring your bite's progression properly.

Below I'll outline the basic fees and what sets the most popular clear aligner companies apart below! Companies are listed in alphabetical order. Some of the biggest differences include whether they use dentists and/or orthodontists, what accessories they include, and whether they have in-person studios available.

​**Handy infographic comparison chart at bottom of post**

Disclaimer: This is just my personal research since I'm hoping to straighten my own teeth, and I wanted to share my findings with y'all! Prices and options may vary, contact companies directly to confirm. Affiliate links included below, you don't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. Since publishing, I decided to proceed with Candid, who will be providing me with their full system in exchange for promotion. Stay tuned to see how it goes!!

AlignerCo

• Treatment Cost: $1,145 includes impression kit, aligners, and first set of post-treatment retainers. Alternatively: Affirm payment plan of $86/month for 12 months ($1,032) or Partial.ly $275 down and $95/month for 11 months ($1,320 total).
• Impression kit and treatment plan by dentist.
• $75 for impression kit only (if not ready to commit to treatment).
• Accepts HSA, FSA

Byte

• Start Up Cost: $95 remote impression kit, reviewed by an orthodontist who customizes your treatment plan (full refund if not a candidate).
• Treatment Cost: $1,895 (or payment plan $349 down and $83/month, 7.76 APR = $2,763 total)​
• Accept HSA, FSA, and CareCredit​
• $699 for Exclusive HyperByte (High Frequency Vibration / HFV) system that cuts treatment plan time in half.
• Choose all-day or night only treatment plan.
• Teeth whitening included.
• First set of post-treatment retainers included (ByteProtection plan for $649 - $779 provides retainers every 6 months for 5 years)​, otherwise $129 per set.
• $10 cash back with Rakuten

Candid

• Start Up Cost: $95 start up kit - you take photos and impressions and an orthodontist will contact you with treatment plan; full refund if not a candidate. (DEAL: $25 starter kit with code USJAPANFAM); OR get a free scan at a Candid Studio.
• Treatment Cost: $2,400 (DEAL: $300 off "buy it now" aligner kits)
• Payment plans as low as $399 down, $99/month for 24 months = total of $2,775.
• Accept HSA/FSA.
• $10 cash back with Rakuten (sign up here)
• Their doctors are all orthodontists - experts in clear aligner treatment, with an average of 20 years experience.

Invisalign

• No online / remote option! You'll see your Invisalign-trained orthodontist face to face every 6-8 weeks.

NewSmile

• Treatment Cost: $1,595 includes impress kit, treatment preview, aligners, retainers (worth $149), and whitening (worth $39). Refund if determined not a candidate. Holiday Sale: save $400. 
• $139 for impression kit and preview only.
• Daytime or nighttime-only plans.
• Accepts HSA, FSA

Smile Direct Club

• Start Up Cost: $65 for remote impression kit (or free 3D scan if you visit a "SmileShop"); reviewed by dentist or orthodontist; fully refundable if determined not a candidate.
• February Special: $29 Remote Impression Kit (free after rebate)
• Treatment Cost: $1,950 single pay or $250 deposit + $89/mo. for 24 months ($2386 total)
• A licensed dentist will assess your smile
• Return aligners within 30 days for a full refund.
• $99 for a set of upper/lower retainers after treatment is complete.
• 2 options: nighttime (10 hours / night) or 22 hour daytime wear.
• Accept HSA, FSA, and CareCredit
• Premium teeth whitening included
• DEAL: 15% off accessories (teeth whitener, TILE case so you don't lose retainers / aligners, UV cleaning machine, water flosser, toothpaste).

So what do you think!? Have you had braces or used a clear aligner system before? Do you want to?? Share your thoughts or experiences in a comment below!

Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

So if you're wondering how to clean your dishwasher, more specifically, looking into removing residue from hard water, this is the post for you! I too have that icky white film on dishes, glasses, and inside of my dishwasher! My husband even complained that the glasses SMELLED! WHAT!?

​I'm not quite up to the task of making a homemade dishwasher detergent, and read how damaging vinegar and other things can actually be for your dishwasher. But I wanted something environmentally friendly, a more natural dishwasher detergent. I checked the EWG Database, they have great guides and a huge database where they rate products' safety based on the chemicals they include (THE best to search for the best environmentally friendly cleaners).

Please note, this is NOT SPONSORED, I simply bought some products that scored REALLY well on the EWG database and seemed to have great reviews for getting rid of white film in dishwasher, and figured I'd share how they worked for me, in case they might work for you!

Supposedly Lemi Shine products use citric acid to break down hard water residue and whatever is contributing to your cloudy dishes. Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent is a great environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent (and according to GE, dish detergent packs do better than liquid, but be careful if you have little ones at home who may mistake them for candy), but the Lemishine Booster is what really really did the trick. It didn't get my glasses 100% crystal clear but got them to about a 90, and cleaned the dishwasher completely.

​Watch the video to see how they did (links under the video to purchase, if so inclined):

Do you have another technique for getting rid of white hard water residue? Are your glasses completely clear and spotless?? I'd LOVE to hear your tips, share in a comment below!!!!

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links - you won't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. However, this is not a sponsored post - I purchased both sets of brushes :)

Our kids' dentist recently recommended them to all upgrade to electric toothbrushes (see more tips for kids' teeth here), apparently they do a MUCH better job at cleaning teeth than traditional toothbrushes (Burst says they provide 91% better plaque removal!). Turns out, we ALL should be using them! There are several brands out there to choose from, so it can feel a bit overwhelming. One of my friends is a dental hygienist and rep for Burst, and I'd been seeing their targeted ads on Facebook (you know, the ones where they brush charcoal off of a cob of corn) and decided to bite the bullet and buy one for my husband's Christmas gift (one for myself too, of course)!

​Check out my unboxing video here:

Not only is my Rose Gold brush BEAUTIFUL, it does a great job and I'm truly loving it, as are my teeth!
Here are some key points:

• It helps you brush smarter - it has a 2 minute timer, with a quick pause every 30 seconds so you can switch zones (my 4 zones are top outside, top inside, bottom outside, bottom inside)
• Burst uses soft charcoal infused PBT nylon bristles designed to remove surface stains better. (And they are much softer than my old toothbrush, I was shocked!)
• It has 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute - super powerful without damaging gums.
• It has 3 modes: high, low, and pulsing (they call it whitening, sensitive, & massage).
• It holds a charge for FOUR WEEKS when brushing twice a day! 
• Comes with USB cable plus wall plug adapter, giving you lots of charging flexibility.
• You can subscribe so they'll send you a new brush head every 3 months ($6-7 per head)
• Lifetime warranty (as long as your subscription is active), otherwise 90 day money back guarantee.

SAVE MONEY!!

• Make sure you have Rakuten installed and you'll get 3% cash back!
• They have a DEALS page listing current deals!

BURST ORAL CARE PRODUCTS:

• Sonic Toothbrush in white, black, or rose gold
• Cordless Water Flosser in white, black, or rose gold
• Toothpaste with fluoride, without fluoride, or charcoal fluoride
• Coconut Whitening Strips
• Oral Probiotics
• Expanding Floss​

Brush their teeth and take them to the dentist. Simple enough, right? Wrong. There's SO much more to protecting your child's teeth and instilling proper oral hygiene, but it's not too tricky. Please note that I'm not a medical professional - I am happy to share what I've learned over the years and include a few of our favorite products, but please consult your child's doctor or dentist (if you're in the NoVa area and looking for a family dentist, be sure to check out dentists Herndon!)

Disclaimer: Affiliate links included below - we receive a small commission from sales made after clicking.

1. Electric Toothbrush
These do a MUCH better job than standard tooth brushes. Talk to your child's dentist about when to switch over to electric toothbrushes (typically this is after 3 years of age). Our dentist highly recommended Philips Sonicare Children's Electric Toothbrushes, one for each kid since their germs and strep bacteria etc can collect under the removable brush part, so he advised against letting kids share the electric base and simply swapping the heads). The kids' Philips Sonicare toothbrush comes in blue or pink with 8 decorative wraps to swap out. It also has a fun free interactive app that helps kids get motivated and enjoy brushing! It retails for $39.95 - 49.95 but we found it on sale for $29.95, so shop around especially at big sales times like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

For babies and toddlers who can't use electric toothbrushes yet, we love the MAM toothbrushes which include a protective shield! Toothpaste with fluoride is best, but not great if being swallowed. For younger toddlers, only use the amount of a grain of rice. Around age 3-6 you can increase to a pea-size amount (best not to swallow but fine if they do). Our kids love the ACT Bubble Gum!

Older kids, teens, and adults have more options for electric toothbrushes. Philips Sonicare is the name we hear most, and they have several varieties, but I personally just bought Burst for myself and my husband - it's getting great reviews from dentists and hygienists, and has a big sale through December 21:

2. Flossing
Did you realize your kids should be flossing!? I didn't, until my first child had a ton of cavities revealed at his first dental x-ray!! We immediately ran out and bought children's flossers which were a game changer - while they are wasteful and I do feel bad about that, they're super easy to use and our kids love them! I usually let them floss themselves and then I do it as well, especially between the back molars where the teeth are tight and it's harder for them to be sure they get down in between the teeth.

3. Mouth Wash
We just moved out of the city where we had fluoridated water and hadn't been using mouth wash but now we don't have fluoride in our water and our kids' new dentist just recommended mouth wash, which our kids are LOVING! We got the ACT bubble gum flavor mouthwash, you squeeze the bottle and it fills up the right dosage in the top! We then pour it into washable/reusable plastic cups so our kids don't swap germs in the bottle. They have a few flavors to choose from, have fun trying them all!

4. Avoid Certain Foods & Drinks
Avoid the following (children and adults):

• sticky sugary foods (of course candy but also "healthier" ones like dried fruit and even gummy vitamins! but if you must with this stuff, have it with a meal and then brush / floss afterwards)
• hard candy (the sugar is in the mouth too long)
• gum (unless xylitol, which actually helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease)
• juice and any drinks with sugar, citrus ones being the worst for teeth
• soda (even "diet" sugar-free ones as the carbonation allows plaque to produce more enamel attacking acid)

5. Regular Checkups
Children and adults alike should be going in for twice a year dental checkups and cleanings. But when to start? Children should go in for their first checkup by age 2, or sooner if you like! That early on, it's more about getting the child comfortable. Most pediatric dentists will have you hold the little one in your lap, and make it really fun and relaxed. They'll likely want to take x-rays by age 6, to make sure all adult teeth are accounted for, teeth are lining up nicely, and there are no abnormalities to worry about. Later on they'll keep an eye out for soft spots and things that can be corrected before needing the dreaded filling, or worse! Here's my 7 year old son's panorama x-ray from his latest checkup, pretty cool right!? The checkups are so important for staying on top of your child's dental health - the dentist will make sure you're doing all of the above things and make recommendations based on what's going on with their teeth, and allow you to ask questions about any concerns you may have!

The weather is cooling down and you're still "safe at home", so it's time to make sure you're stocked up on ways to be warm and cozy, bonus if they spark a little joy at the same time, am I right!? Here are some items I'm loving this fall, and where you can grab your own!

**disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links, you don't pay more but we'll receive a commission from sales made after clicking**

Cozy Teddy Bear Hoodies & Cardigans

I recently bought the Dokotoo Women's Fuzzy Fleece Cardigan (below left) which is a #1 best seller on Amazon. It's 95% polyester 5% spandex and is about the softest most cuddliest thing I have ever worn. I'm obsessed with it. My kids are obsessed with it. I'm half ready to buy one in every color LOL! Sure I kinda look like I'm wearing a bathrobe but I just don't even care, it's that comfy and warm!!

Fleece Lined Leggings, Joggers & Sweats

If you're running around the house all day in jeans, good for you. But I can assure you, I am not. No way. Jeans and their potential muffin topping discomfort are only for public life. Around the house it's all about leggings and joggers for me!

I've been living in a pair of black sweat pants basically since the start of September when the weather started to chill, and I realized, I need some more color in my life. Just "invested" in the esstive ultra soft fleece joggers in Marled Smokey Blue (below left) and they're great!! Fitted bottom, super soft, great colors to choose from!! I also recently got the Diravo Fleece Lined Leggings in Royal Blue (pictured below second from left) and they are SO comfy, thick, and warm. I can't attest to whether or not they'll pill, but so far so good! 

Cozy Slippers & Socks

We've been living the NYC apartment life for many years, where you have no control over the heat and it's like 85*F in there in February! It was wonderful! But now we're in a house and pay for our heat. So... we need to dress warmer!! So I'm all about warm socks and grippy slippers now!! Got the (below left) Fralosha slipper sock and they're super soft!! Was on the fence about getting something with a firmer and more padded bottom, but decided to go for these which are more flexible like a sock so I can keep them on the sofa for lounging!

Tumblers, Mugs & Decor

"Fall Is My Second Favorite F word", I mean, come on, that sparks so much F'in joy in my life! ha!

Keep the Draft Out

You want to stay warm and also cut energy costs (and wastefulness) am I right? Don't forget to block drafts coming from doors and windows! We got this magnetic door draft blocker for our doors and it is doing a great job at keeping out the cold air and also the creepy crawlies (we had a bit of a gap between the door and frame!!

Supplements for Fall & Winter

As winter approaches, we get less time in the sun and need to be sure we don't become Vitamin D deficient. So, it's not just time for Pumpkin Spice everything but think also about your diet, and consider adding some extra sources of Vitamin D (but first, talk to your doctor regarding your health specifically, of course)! You might also want to talk to them about probiotics and other immune supporting supplements like these:

For Your Hot Showers

If you have colored hair, you may have been ordered to keep to cool showers, but in winter!? I mean, come on!! So, consider a coloring conditioner to keep it from fading, despite wonderfully hot showers! I've loved oVertone but am gonna give this one by Keracolor a try soon! Also, keep your skin moisturized (I know, hot showers are bad for this too)... be sure to moisturize all skin with a thick lotion or balm right after showering, while skin is still slightly moist. YoRo Naturals Organic Manuka Honey Skin Soothing Cream is an AMAZING one, all natural and safe for the whole family, even babies! And if you have eczema or stubborn dry flakey spots, it's a MUST HAVE!

In no way do I take this pandemic lightly. I pulled my kids out of school in NYC before schools officially closed, we locked down at home for weeks before starting to slowly venture out to open parks in masks. Heck, I'm even homeschooling them this year!! It's been a LONG six months and it's really not likely to end any time soon (quite the contrary, it'll probably get worse with the 2nd and 3rd waves before we get the vaccine). That said, we've learned alot about how to prevent transmission and it really is fairly simple:

• Wear masks.
• Social distance.
• Limit time together (especially indoors).
• Wash hands.

Can we accomplish all 4 of those while Trick or Treating this year? Abso-frickin-lutely!! But some adjustments will have to be made. You can't close off streets and have thousands of families congregate for block parties like we used to love doing in our previous home of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. But, kids should be able to have fun with some version of Trick or Treating, either at home or out and about, depending on your comfort level. Keep reading for some ways I think we can make trick or treating safe during the pandemic:

1. Everyone MUST Wear Masks
I'm talking kids trick or treating, parents escorting them, and people handing out candy. Nose and mouth need to be covered properly and masks shouldn't be touched or taken off until you're far from others and able to wash or sanitize your hands. Bringing a baby or toddler along who won't tolerate a mask? Consider putting them in a stroller with the rain cover on.
**Bonus - faces covered in masks = no face makeup this year! That stuff is so messy and gross anyway!!

2. Social Distance with Halloween Spirit
Have you seen this Ohio dad's idea of the Candy Chute (watch video below)!? BRILLIANT!!! We need more ideas like this!! You could also put a barrier or some sort of marker 6 feet from your door for trick or treaters to stop there. You can toss candy into their bags. You could leave a bowl out there for them to serve themselves (even better if you have a scooper so they're not putting hands into the bowl and touching all the candy, bonus if you also put a bottle of hand sanitizer next to the bowl). You could put markers and arrows along your walkway and driveaway to show them how to keep the line moving in a single direction and have kids waiting in line 6 feet apart (think caution tape, halloween luminaries, pumpkins, you name it). Of course, traditionally kids just all rush together in huge masses but I think they're getting used to lining up far apart at school, in the grocery store etc. This won't be anything new for them! But will definitely require chaperones to help them stay organized and safe.

3. Choose Your Group Wisely
The best idea would be to simply trick or treat with only the family you live with. Next best would be with a couple of friends from your child's school pod, since they're together all day anyway.

4. Quarantine the Candy
Most of us are totally over the whole sanitizing your groceries thing, am I right? I mean, to be honest, I never did that. But Halloween Candy? QUARANTINE THAT STUFF!! I'm serious. It could even kind of be fun, drawing out the Halloween Celebrations! They collect the candy, hopefully most being tossed in so they don't even touch it. Get home. Bag goes into a closet for 3 days. Boom. After quarantine you could have a little Halloween Candy Release Celebration! If you want to treat them with some candy on Halloween night or before quarantine ends, open it up for them and put it on a plate so there's no cross contamination. You never know who handled that candy before you. Ick. Not worth the risk IMO.

​My family actually gets visited by the Switch Witch (see last year's video below). Traditionally I let them pick out 10 pieces of candy to save as soon as we get home from Trick or Treating. The rest gets left out for the Switch Witch who comes at night and leaves a toy or some sort of prize in place of the candy. It's actually really fun!! Switch Witch can still be done this year (it's probably best if you start when they're young, i.e. 3 years old which is probably the first Halloween they might remember). My almost 8 year old still loves doing it!

5. Avoid Large Groups
Depending on where you live, this may be tricky. It may mean trick or treating earlier than usual. It may mean not staying out as long as usual - just doing your block and calling it a day perhaps, rather than going out for 5 hours and collecting 2 pillow cases full. This year will not be like past years. Make sure your kids know that. It can still be fun, but it won't be the same and the rules aren't the same either. Try to stay 6 feet from other groups. If you start crossing paths with the same groups of kids switch it up and go to the other side of the street or try a different area. 

6. Trunk or Treat
If traditional trick or treating leaves you super nervous, organize something different, something you can have a bit more control of. For example, you could do a Trunk or Treat through your school's PTA. Cars have to sign up so it would be limited to only be one per every other parking spot. Kids don't go up to the car but rather stand 6 feet back and get candy tossed. You could have a little dance party too, kids stay by their own car with music blasting from one car. Or get a DJ for the middle of the parking lot. Sounds amazing to me!

So, there are just a few ideas I have. The thought of canceling Halloween and Trick or Treating altogether just really really bums me out. I really have no idea why people are even tossing around that idea, it seems there are plenty of ways to make it safe. If someone in your home is immunocompromised, you could even just do trick or treating at your own house, kids get dressed up and take turns trick or treating and handing out candy to each other. Why not!!

​If you have any thoughts on this or ideas for ways to make Halloween special and safe for the kids this year, please drop them in a comment!!

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed below are my own. This post also includes affiliate links - you don't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

If you're new here, you'll probably want to check out ​my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd blog posts about "Always Eat After 7 PM, The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight" by Joel Marion. This post serves as an update on how it's been going since I've been reading the book and implementing the 3-phase diet plan!

As anticipated, the skipping breakfast part was hardest for me, however it didn't take long before my body got the hang of it. Having a "huge" dinner and yummy protein-rich snack later in the evening seems to be doing the trick to tide me over through those 16-hours of fasting, during which I'm sleeping for most, so it's really not that bad. I actually skipped the after 7pm snack one night and noticed a BIG difference in my bedtime hunger, and even woke a few times in the night from hunger. So, that late night snack has really been doing wonders. I've pretty much been sticking to low fat cottage cheese with frozen blueberries - yum!! ​

​As Joel explains in the book, “Late-night eating also curbs calorie intake the next day. In a four-week study, dieters added a snack to their daily regimen 90 minutes after dinner every night, and check this out: late-night eaters ate an average of 397 fewer calories per day.” He also debunks the myth that late night eating just gets stored as fat, “Research shows that the average person’s metabolic rate is no different during sleep than during the day. In short, your metabolism doesn’t slow down at night. Nor does your body store fat at the end of the day. Whether it’s 8 am or 8 pm, you use food for energy the same way.” It's really cool to be on this new diet plan and despite late-night snacking, neigh, because of it, you still see the pounds coming off!

I wake up around 8am and start the day with one of the 3-minute fat-burning drinks recommended in the book. Super Greens (MetaboGreensTM) Drink (which was provided as part of this campaign) and black coffee were two recommendations in the book, but I ended kind of personalizing my morning routine. I blend together a scoop of MetaboGreens and a heaping tablespoon of instant coffee into 24 ounces of water and sip the whole morning til breaking the fast at lunch time. The first time I tried this concoction, I was less than impressed, but it really grew on me and now I love it! I actually just purchased another pack of MetaboGreens - I'm hooked!! 

Water is key, for anyone, whether on a diet or not. “Water helps digest your food, expel wastes, regulate your temperature, protect your tissues, cushion your joints, and protect your spinal column, among many other vital functions. It is through water that hormones flow to the proper organs, that nutrients reach all cells, and that toxins are diluted and removed from the body.” He recommends getting half your body weight (pounds) in water (ounces). So if you weigh 200 pounds you should be getting at least 100 ounces. I calculated I'm getting about 90 ounces of water throughout the day - in straight water as well as in my various blends with protein and metabogreens.

The "fast" continues until lunchtime at around 12. Then I usually have dinner around 5:30pm with my kids, and a snack after they go to bed at about 7:30pm.

I'm not going to lie, the 2-week acceleration phase is pretty brutal, not because I was starving the whole time but it was just a drastic change of eating habits and meal planning to wrap my head around, oh and alcohol is discouraged during this phase. But what is very encouraging is seeing the weight come off much quicker than with other diets I've done in the past! And, they give great sample meal plans and weekly schedules, it's really not a huge deal, and I could even use those meals for my whole family! They also have AMAZING delicious recipes in the back of the book, some are super low or no carb (for the acceleration phase), others utilize what they call "super carbs" like certain veggies and beans, and always lots of protein.

They give you the first week to gradually quit the breakfast ritual, though I decided to start skipping that first meal cold turkey from day one. In the book they mention you don't have to skip breakfast during this week or at any point in the program, though results will be slower. I ended up losing 4 pounds during the first phase, which was exciting, but was excited to transition to phase 2 which is a tad more lenient by bringing your calorie intake up a bit and even allowing a cheat meal or day after eating clean for 6 days. This actually is beneficial and they go into great detail about how this works hormonally in the book, "Leptin levels decrease by about 50 percent after only one week of dieting. Fat loss slows down, and you feel bad psychologically. But because the relationship is linear, the opposite is also true: an increase in calorie intake results in an increase in leptin levels. And fortunately, it doesn’t take nearly as long for leptin to bump back up with a substantial increase in caloric intake—only about 12 to 24 hours. That’s right. It takes only one day of overfeeding or “cheat-ing” to bring levels back up to baseline." Can I get a hallelujah!? They figured out how to break the dieting plateau! On my cheat days, I enjoyed pizza and sushi. It really helps get you through the week of "dieting" knowing you had a day coming up that you were not allowed to eat normal again but were required to! HA!

In the next 2 weeks of the main phase, I lost another 2 pounds, which is pretty normal for myself on a diet, to lose about 1 pound a week. So after a month on the plan, I'm down 6 pounds and feel fantastic!! My energy is better than ever - I don't know if it's the intermittent fasting or simply the types of food I'm eating that help regulate energy and mood better but it's pretty amazing!!! I'm planning to stay at this phase until I've lost a total of 10 pounds, so probably 1 more month. Then I'll move to the lifestyle phase, to maintain this energy and weight for the long haul!

I definitely feel more energy being on this diet, and I am a lot more knowledgeable about how various foods interact with our bodies and minds. This book goes into such detail comparing various types of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates - not all carbs are bad, did you know!? “So, despite all the bad press over the years, certain carbohydrates play an important role in balancing your hormones and regulating your metabolic rate, while avoiding the dreaded weight loss plateaus that accompany conventional mainstream diets. Furthermore, when you eat these carbohydrates, you’ll feel much better than you would if you were following a traditional diet.”

I hope you were able to learn something through my adventure here. If interested, you can learn more about the book and how to purchase here. Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase.

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed above are my own.

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed below are my own.

If you missed my last blog post about why I'm reading ​"Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight" by Joel Marion, check it out here. Basically, I think it sounds like a fascinating and life changing diet that hopefully will help me get away from my 10 pound up and down yoyo lifestyle, and have more energy throughout the day! 

Based on surprising science, Always Eat After 7 PM debunks popular diet myths and offers an easy-to-follow diet that accelerates fat-burning and allows you to indulge in your most intense food cravings: Eating the majority of your calories at night. We’ve been traditionally taught to avoid carbs, have an early dinner, and never eat before bed. But the fact is, the latest scientific research shows us this earlier model is not the most ideal  “Late-night eating also curbs calorie intake the next day. In a four-week study, dieters added a snack to their daily regimen 90 minutes after dinner every night, and check this out: late-night eaters ate an average of 397 fewer calories per day.” By learning what foods help keep my weight in check, increase my energy and regulate my moods, I have high hopes for this book changing my life!

Here are some interesting questions and answers from Eat After 7 PM author, Joel Marion:

What inspired you to write the book?
After authoring 6 best selling books it was glaringly obvious there were 2 huge misconceptions about dieting that needed to be exposed. The first is that you can't eat late at night or before bed, which science now shows is NOT true. And second, you can't eat large portions that satisfy your natural instinct. This book solves both these problems by providing an evidence-based, enjoyable approach to dieting that can be used by any person to quickly achieve their weight loss goals.

How long did it take for you to develop the diet?
It actually took several years of researching for me to discover the real science of eating late night. After a few years of tweaking and refining, I finally came up with a rapid fat loss solution that overcomes all the pitfalls of traditional diets.

How difficult is the Always Eat After 7 PM plan to follow?
It's not. And that's exactly why I wrote the book. While any diet is never truly easy, it can be more enjoyable and much easier to adhere to when you understand how Always Eat After 7pm works because it caters to our bodies natural instincts.

Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase. Learn more about the book and how to purchase here.

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed above are my own.