Balance Bar® Helps Americans Outlast Their New Year's Resolutions (Review and Giveaway)

"With data suggesting that nearly 80% of all new-year's resolutions are broken by the end of January each year¹, Balance Bar Company, maker of one of America's original nutrition energy bars, is helping consumers "Outlast" their new year's resolutions. Encouraging Americans to find better balance in 2013, Balance Bar has teamed with Amber Rosenberg , a certified life coach and Balance Bar's official Resolutions Guru, to share helpful tips and ideas for setting successful resolutions for 2013 at Balance.com.

"Each year I hear that people's top resolutions include losing weight, getting fit and finding more organization," said Amber Rosenberg . "These are great goals, but the key for lasting success is setting them the right way – with a balanced approach."

Several of Amber's tips are below and more can be found online at Balance.com.

1. Short-Term Focus  - Humans, by nature, have a short-term focus and work better with small steps. Many don't consider this when making resolutions. It takes too long to achieve a goal of losing 20 pounds or of fitting into your skinny jeans.  It's much more realistic, for example, to commit to replacing one can of soda in the afternoon with a much healthier alternative.  The afternoon crash is always a diet-killer, so be prepared with smart snacks like Balance Bar Mini Energy Bars – these 100-calorie treats are packed with good-for-you protein, 23 vitamins and minerals and come in a variety of delicious flavors so you won't feel deprived. The positive feedback from small, daily successes will create motivation and - eventually - lead to lasting, balanced change.
2. Be Patient with Yourself - On average, it takes 21 days to create a new habit.  When you first get started, it will take more time and energy to focus on your daily goal.  The trick is to notice when you didn't accomplish your daily goal - and to not beat yourself up about it. After about three solid weeks of working on your daily goals, they'll become second nature and part of your daily routine.
3. Enlist Your Support Network - Build the support and accountability you'll need to make your resolution a reality.  Talk with your partner or folks in your support network about your goals. Saying a resolution out-loud or even via social media creates outside accountability and increases your success rate by 80%.

"Our philosophy at Balance Bar has always been about helping to create balance and enjoying a healthy lifestyle," said Katia Facchetti , Chief Marketing Officer for Balance Bar Company. "Our products could be considered a secret weapon or personal life coach in every consumer's briefcase, purse or gym bag – cheering them on and providing the lasting energy and great taste to outlast and accomplish any goal they set." 

For more information about Balance Bar and Amber Rosenberg , visit Balance.com, Facebook and Twitter."

 

1.     2007 study by Richard Wisemen from the University of Bristol, UK

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My Thoughts:

As the first month of 2013 winds down, how are doing with your new year's resolutions?  Have you kept them up?  Is that gym membership being used, or have you found it hard to make time to exercise?  I don't know about you, but during these cold winter months, the last thing I want to think about after my husband gets home and I have some "me time," is getting dressed and heading out in the cold just to go to the gym.  Instead, I would rather make a cup of cocoa, pick up a book and just relax.  But, one of my new year's resolutions was to finally lose the excess baby weight from my 2010 and 2011 pregnancies.  So, I have been braving the bitter cold weather and going to the gym at least 3 days a week.  And, on those off days, I will go into the family room and through on an exercise video and workout to that for 30 minutes to an hour.  

Even though my mindset at the end of the day is not for exercising, I feel so much better after I do.  With two young children, by the time I head to the gym I am drained from running around with them all day.  But, I have found that if I eat a Balance Bar® before a workout, I feel more energized and can last through a spinning class or workout routine.

I was recently sent an assortment pack from the folks at Balance Bar®, which included Peanut Butter, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch, Blueberry Acai and Cookie Dough & Double Chocolate Brownie Minis (only 100 calories each!). 

 

"The rich, satisfying goodness of cookie dough – in a nutritious, delicious treat. Luscious cookie pieces, wrapped in a rich milk chocolate-flavored coating, keep you on the go with long-lasting energy, day or night.

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! High-energy protein and the deliciousness of chocolate make for one sweet treat! Rich, decadent chocolate brownie flavor with chocolate chips and a drizzle of tempting chocolate goodness combine for a delightful indulgence – minus the awful "sugar crash" you get with candy bars."

The Essentials – Original Cookie Dough:

• 7 grams protein
• 100 calories
• 23 vitamins and minerals

The Essentials – Original Double Chocolate Brownie:

• 7g protein
• 100 calories
• Balanced 40-30-30 nutrition
• Excellent source of antioxidants & Vitamin D
• 23 vitamins & minerals

"Savor the creamy taste of protein-packed peanut butter in this crave-able peanut butter energy bar. Then try to say "protein-packed peanut butter" five times fast…after you've cleaned off the roof of your mouth, of course."

  

Nutrition at a Glance:

• 15g Protein
• 200 Calories
• Balanced 40-30-30 Nutrition
• Low Glycemic Index (GI)
• Excellent Source of Antioxidants & Vitamin D
• 23 Vitamins & Minerals

"Whole grain nutrition and hearty rolled oats meet a burst of blueberry and acai fruit flavor, offering lasting energy for any activity – with a sweet finish that satisfies your taste buds."

  

Nutrition at a Glance:

• 15g Protein
• 200 Calories
• 7g Whole Grain
• 4g Fiber
• Excellent Source of Antioxidants
• 19 Vitamins & Minerals

"Here's a refreshing new take on a classic. We've added a crunchier cookie base and more mint flavor to this delicious chocolate cookie bar. The chocolate and cool mint come together in a satisfyingly crunchy delight for a perfect chocolate mint Balance Bar."

  

Nutrition at a Glance:

• 14g Protein
• 200 Calories
• Balanced 40-30-30 Nutrition
• Excellent Source of Antioxidants & Vitamin D
• 23 Vitamins & Minerals

With so many energy/nutrition bars on the market it is hard to know which ones are good and really work.  I can't tell you how many times I have purchased these bars based on their flavors alone, to only be disappointed with the overall flavor, or realize that it is just full of sugars and additives -- not what I was expecting from a nutrition/energy bar.  Prior to receiving these samples from Balance Bar®, I had never tried them.  So, I couldn't wait to see how they stacked up against others I had tried in the past.  Before trying each flavor, I made a point to check out all the nutritional facts of these bars.  I couldn't get over how much protein, vitamins and minerals each contained, and how they were between 100-200 calories -- a big difference from others I had tried previously.  And, how did they taste?  Delicious!  I wasn't expecting them to taste so good for being so healthy.  They didn't leave a mediciney or chalking taste like others.  Out of all the flavors I was sent to review, I have to say my two favorites were the blueberry acai and peanut butter bars.  With each bite you could taste the blueberries in the blueberry acai bar, and the rich, creamy peanut butter that makes up the Balance Bar® peanut bar was so tasty.  I found myself looking forward to going to the gym, not only to feel better about myself and work towards my weight loss goals, but also because I knew I would be enjoying these delicious Balance Bar® energy/nutrition bars on the way there. :-)

I am so glad I had the opportunity to try out these bars from Balance Bar®, and will definitely be buying more.  I have even had a few in between meals when I need an energy boost.  And, they are small enough to fit in your pocket, or thrown into the diaper bag, so that I can enjoy them on the go.  So, if one of your new year's resolution was to eat healthy, exercise more, etc., why not pick up a few energy/nutrition bars from Balance Bar®?  If it wasn't for these tasty energy bars, I think I would be struggling like so many others to keep up with my resolutions.

 ----GIVEAWAY----

One lucky reader will win a sampler Balance Bar® pack, including the flavors I was sent above, to try out these energy/nutrition bars for themselves.  To enter, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About Balance Bar                       
  
Founded in 1992, Balance Bar, one of America's original nutrition/energy bars, inspires consumers to lead active, well-rounded and balanced lives by providing great-tasting, healthy and convenient nutrition for lasting energy. Balance Bars are available in eight unique product lines (Original, Gold, Dark, Bare, Cafe, CarbWell, nimble and mini) and all 28 flavors are based on the 40/30/30 nutrition model – a proven formula developed by scientists to help stabilize blood sugar levels that represents the caloric ratio the body needs to enjoy lasting balanced energy and satisfy hunger for longer; 40% of total calories from carbs, 30% from quality protein and 30% from dietary fat. For more information, visit www.Balance.com. Follow Balance Bar for tips and nutritional information on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Balancebar) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/Balancebar).

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.