Glunz de la Costa Sangria

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Normally I'm really skeptical when it comes to bottled beverages such as margaritas, mojitos and sangrias since you lose a lot of flavor and quality with these drinks if you don't use fresh fruits. Plus, it's not exactly rocket science to make them from scratch. I was recently given sample bottles of Glunz de la Costa red and white sangria and much to my surprise, I really liked both of them. They offer distinct fruit flavors of mandarin oranges, lemon zest and just the right amount of sweetness. I still prefer homemade sangria but if you don't want to go through the trouble of making you're own sangria, they are really good shortcut options. Pour into a glass, garnish with fresh fruit and soda and you're all set.

I've seen Glunz de la Costa Sangria at Whole Foods near the produce section but now Glunz bottles the sangria for them under a Whole Foods private label. A one liter bottle sells for around $10.

Electronic Food Scale

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This gadget will change your life! I originally bought it to weigh out ingredients for baking since I wanted to be precise with my measurements. It made a world of difference in how my pastries turned out. When you scoop out things like flour or brown sugar, it's hard to get the right density - light and airy or packed and full. The food scale eliminates the guess work and all you have to do is pour the ingredients into a container until you hit the right number. I conducted various experiments and discovered that the difference between weighing vs. using measuring cups can be as much as 30%! This can really throw off your recipe. I now look for cookbooks that list recipes in grams or ounces and convert cup measurements as well. The best part is you don't have to rinse your measuring cups between various tasks. This tool is a must have in the kitchen.

I also use the scale to weigh out proper portions of meat, fish, pasta, grains, cereals or whatever I feel like measuring to make sure I don't go overboard on the serving size. This has really helped in the weight loss department as you can keep your portion sizes in check. For example, the proper serving of peanut butter is 2 tablespoons which looks like a decent amount but if you weigh the 34 grams serving size, it's about 50% less. You think you're eating 200 calories but in fact, you're really getting a lot more than you bargained for.

There are different types of scales on the market but look for one that is easy to use and more importantly, easy to clean. Most of them measure in ounces and grams but check to see if the scale can do both, otherwise you'll spend uneccessary time converting. A high weight capacity is also really helpful in order to weigh heavier items like potatoes or squash or use larger bowls. I use an 11lb capacity OXO scale at home that I purchased for $50 and it works like charm.

As for a progress update, I've lost a total of 6 pounds since starting my new eating plan on Feb 15th. This morning, I felt a huge difference in my energy level as I jumped out of bed at 6:30, which is really early for me. Normally, I'm in a deep slumber until at least 8:30. I have also been hitting the gym five days a week and alternate between strength training, cardio and spinning classes. Classes work best for me as I'm challenged by the peer pressure and my competive nature maks me work harder. Spending an hour on the treadmill or Precor machine is pure torture for me and I give up well before I should.