This Mama Cooks! Reviews

Sensa Weight-Loss System update - month three and four

One step forward, two steps back – month three

After month three, I weighed myself and found that I had gained all five pounds that I had lost. Not good, but after analyzing my behavior, here’s why:

1. Not using the product consistently. December was filled with holiday parties and going out for dinner. I do have a problem not using Sensa when I go out. I get into this mind set that if I’ve ordered a dish, I might as well eat the whole thing, so why use my sprinkles?

Two words – doggie bag. I can still enjoy yummy meals out, but I don’t have to eat the whole thing. It’s easy to ask for a to go container and enjoy the rest of the meal the next day. Duh.

2. Not exercising. I haven’t been exercising at all since November. Taking a couple of months off must have slowed down my metabolism. It’s also tightened up all the muscles in my back and neck. Stretching with the Wii Fit and working out on the stationary bike has helped loosen me up. Not exercising and putting more weight on my body doesn’t feel good – especially true the older I get.

3. Overindulging. On the Sensa Weight-Loss they tell you not to go nuts and suddenly start eating ice cream and chocolate for every meal. You should eat normally and sensibly. Well, explain that to Santa because there seemed to be way too much cheese, chocolate and wine around my house last December. Thank goodness that the holidays are over and we can eat healthfully again.

4. Not listening to my body. There are times with Sensa that I feel totally full but keep eating because I’m tired or something is really delicious and I don’t want to miss out. I need to learn how to stop eating when your body signals "satiety" or "fullness" not when I get a tummy ache.

Healthy snacking with Special K Crackers

Did you know that 44% of women cite afternoons as the prime time for snacking? (The rest must be like me – any time is a good time for a snack!) So how do you satisfy that urge to munch without sacrificing your health and weight loss goals? Special K Crackers to the rescue!

"We know from talking with consumers that planning snacks is important to assist in their weight-management goals while they are at work or on the go," says Julie Salmen, R.D., Kellogg Company. "But with a crunchy snack like Special K Crackers, women now have a savory snack that provides eight grams of whole grain and one gram of fiber per 17 crackers to help them stay on track."

Special K Crackers come in two flavors, Italian Tomato & Herb and Multi-Grain. Both flavors pack a satisfying crunch, which is what 28 percent of women said they crave most in an afternoon snack. Both flavors come in eight ounce pantry packs and 90-calorie packs (six pouches per pack).

If you’re a Weight Watcher one serving (17 crackers) is 2 Weight Watchers POINTS.

My family’s review

The kids and I thought that the Italian Tomato & Herb and Multi-Grain Special K Crackers were delicious – and addictive! They were great as a stand alone snack or went very well with a bowl of chili or soup.

It would be hard to only eat 17, which is why I liked the prepackaged pouches. They make it less tempting to grab handfuls out of the box. Plus, the pouches are very convenient to pack in a lunch box, purse or brief case. (The kids were begging me to add one to their school lunches.) However, you pay more convenience – both financially and environmentally – so I’d be more inclined to get the full sized box. I’d have to force myself to count out 17 crackers then immediately put the box on a high shelf though. (Yes, they are that tasty.)

I loved that the Multi-Grain Special K Crackers were sweetened sugar and honey and were very wholesome – full of whole wheat flour, whole oat flour, rice flour and wheat germ. Way to go Kelloggs!

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the Tomato & Herb crackers, which were sweetened with corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. It’s a darn shame because they were YUMMY. Well, one out of two ain’t bad.

A healthier way to make life sweeter: Truvia

I’ll never forget the first time I tried stevia, a natural sweetener. My Juice Plus+ lady, who knows all about the “evils” of sugar and artificial sweeteners, pulled a packet out of her purse. She had me try it in my iced tea and I was impressed how sweet it tasted.

Soon I began to notice stevia along side sugar and other sweeteners in my supermarket and was wanting to try it again. So when Truvia™ asked me to review their product, I was happy to oblige.

The Truvia difference

Truvia is made from stevia, which is a plant (a member of the chrysanthemum family) that is native to northeastern Paraguay and has been used to sweeten foods and beverages for more than 200 years. The taste comes from a natural ingredient from the leaves called rebiana. Unlike other stevia based sweeteners, Truvia contains erythritol and natural flavors. Erythritol is a natural sweetener, produced by a natural process from a culture (like you would make yogurt), and is found in fruits like grapes and pears.

Erythritol is available in the U.S. from Cargill, who is also the producer of Truvia. Yes, Cargill and stevia are controversial – see the Eco-Chick blog for the down low on all the hoopla. In my opinion, a bit of a tempest in a teapot.

One packet of Truvia natural sweetener provides the same sweetness as two teaspoons of sugar and is a great alternative for people with diabetes. You can also cook with it. The Truvia website features many recipes using Truvia. There’s also a Sweetness Conversion Chart which helps you convert recipes that use white sugar.

Truvia can be found at most Whole Food Markets

My experience with Truvia

Truvia, I think I love you…

First, aesthetics are a big part of why I like Truvia. Most sugar substitute boxes are pretty darn ugly, so you end up hiding the packets in your sugar bowl. The Truvia box opens like a card file box, and is attractive enough to keep on your table. Love that!

I’ve been using Truvia in my green tea. It’s very sweet and a little goes a long way. For a regular coffee mug, you could get away with using half a packet.

I haven’t cooked anything with Truvia yet, but plan to use my last 24 packets (equal to one cup of sugar) in some blackberry cobbler this weekend. Can’t wait!