HealthyWiser pH Test Strips ~~~Review~~~

I never really considered testing my pH levels until I started hearing rumors about the growing popularity of the Alkaline Diet, made popular this year following claims from celebrities like Kelly Ripa and Elle Macpherson, proclaiming it's amazing life-changing results. Actually, before hearing about the Alkaline Diet, I honestly thought pH was only something tested in pool water!!

What is pH? Well, I could go into the long, drawn out, scientific explanation of pH that neither I nor many others completely understand, but I'll keep it basic in regard to what it relates to. pH (which stands for potential hydrogen) in the human body relates to the balance of acid/alkaline/oxygen in the blood. The bottom line, is that it's important to keep a healthy balance in order to maintain optimal health and reduce the risk of certain conditions like bone degeneration, arthritis, nerve conditions, etc. The ideal pH level for the human body is 7.0.

According to the instructions that accompanied my HealthyWiser pH strips, mornings are an ideal time to check pH balance. You can test using urine or saliva. Urine just seemed more of a "normal" way to test as far as I was concerned, so I took that route. My pH levels were ridiculously high, maxing out at the top of the scale. With that said, it encouraged me to look more into the Alkaline Diet, or other ways to create a healthy pH balance within my body, which, hopefully will result in feeling more healthy, less lethargic, and more productive.

I'm still in the exploration phase when it comes to learning about efforts I can make to create healthy pH levels, but I wouldn't be this far if not for the results provided by these strips. I'm very glad that I've received the opportunity to review these for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Full Time Energy Review

I don't know about men, but the older a woman gets, the more difficult it is to lose weight. The best advice I can give to women in their 30's or younger is to take care of your bodies NOW, because as you age, factors like hormones come into play and trust me... trying to lose it is no fun at all.  My weight has fluctuated from one extreme to the other for as long as I can remember.  However, since turning 20 the second time, I've had the most difficulty trying to lose weight. I have no problem gaining, and have reached the heaviest I've ever been, which includes the point where I was pregnant with twins who were delivered at 7.5 pounds each!

Over the past couple of years, I've approached dieting from numerous angles to no avail.  I am excited to start a new fitness journey soon, and plan on posting my progress in an effort to motivate myself and perhaps others.  Recently, however, I was offered the opportunity to try Full Time Energy Super Fruit and Berry Weight Loss Blend free of charge in exchange for my honest review. While I approach weight loss pills and supplements with caution, I figured I would give it a try.

Before I really get into the bulk of my review, I just want to take the opportunity to say that if you have any concerns or have any health issues, please contact your physician before using any weight loss supplements or energy boosters.  I say this from personal experience, as I ended up in the hospital in 2009, the day before Thanksgiving, with a heart attack that most likely resulted from the use of phentermine, a prescription strength weight-loss medication.  Furthermore, many weight loss supplements are designed to curb your appetite, and it's very easy to "forget" to eat.  If you want to lose weight the healthy way, it's important to maintain a healthy diet filled with plenty of protein and healthy fruits and vegetables.

As far as my opinion of Full Time Energy... it's ok.  I know, that's an incredibly bland description, but it's really all I've got.  I didn't lose weight, but I did have plenty of energy.  The product does contain a variety of supplements known to be beneficial for women of my age, such as:

Folate (as folic acid) - Some studies have indicated that folic acid may reduce the risk of high-blood pressure in aging women.  Other studies have indicated that folic acid may reduce the instance of hot flashes in menopausal women and may also reduce the risk of breast cancer as women age.

Vitamin B - Full Time Energy contains both B6 and B12, which are known to have a positive effect on mood, reducing anxiety and increasing energy.  It also includes Pantothenic Acid (aka Vitamin B5), s which breaks down fats and carbs and works to increase metabolism.

Garcinia Cambogia - An increasingly popular supplement often used in weight-loss efforts, garcinia cambogia is rumored to suppress appetites, boost metabolism and possibly decrease cholesterol.

The product also contains other supplements known to contribute to weight loss, including Green Coffee Bean Extract, Raspberry Keytone and Acai Berry, among others.

I liked that I don't have to pour this into a drink.  I normally don't like adding energy shots or flavors in general to water, and definitely don't like messing up my favorite drinks by mixing something else in (unless there's alcohol involved).  The taste reminded me of crushing a handful of Flinstone vitamins into a glass of raspberry lemonade... pleasantly unpleasant would be the way I would describe it. With Full Time Energy, all you need to do is throw down a capful or two in the morning and you're done for the day.  You can take another capful later in the day if you want, but should not exceed 3 in a 24-hour period.  For the first few weeks, the supplement will make you a bit jittery, therefore I wouldn't recommend taking it late in the day unless your goal is to stay up extra late.

The energy was fantastic.  I kicked ass on my "errand" and "housework" lists, dwindling them down to nearly nothing on some days, which hasn't happened in years.  Nevertheless, after almost a month of use, I didn't lose a single pound.  Furthermore, after a few weeks of use, my energy levels began to decrease once again.  Now granted, I was only taking one capful per day.  Should I choose to increase the amount of Full Time Energy to 2 capfuls, I'm quite sure I would find an increase in energy once again.  Nevertheless, due to my experience in 2009, I'm going to take this opportunity to back off instead of taking any additional risks.  However, for those who have maintained good health, exercise daily and maintain a good diet, this may be a fantastic supplement to assist in increasing metabolism and boosting energy.