I have to say I was very impressed when I opened the box. The booklet is a great “Quick Start” guide, while the DVD gives a more in depth look at how to use the product. The carrying bag is a nice touch and, unlike some other products, this Spinal Stretch fits nicely and neatly bag into the bag.

Setup was a breeze! My master bedroom is carpeted and I had plenty of room to setup the device and lay down. I do wish that I had a TV or some other entertainment (reclined is not the best way to read book), but it is only 15 minutes after all.

I was in a minor car accident over 10 years ago and have suffered minor back pain ever since. My pregnancy with my 2nd child made the pain even more regular of an occurrence. For the last year I’ve been going to a chiropractor once a week just to keep the pain at a low enough level not to need pain medication.

The Spinal Stretch isn’t going to replace my weekly chiropractor visits. However, for those between visits times that my back acts up, it is very easy to set up the device and just stretch out for 15 minutes. It also gives me a nice break from work.

If you suffer from regular lower back pain, give the Spinal Stretch a go. Around the house or even on a trip, the Spinal Stretch makes sure I can make it to my next Chiropractor appointment.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I am quite a bit overweight (understatement perhaps) and I’ve done the personal training thing before, but I have to tell you, I don’t respond well to drill sergeants – I’m too Type A. I ran across Libra Fitness (Chris Heidel) and thought she seemed like she might go easy on me…. *laugh*

I’ve been working with her for well over a year now and the results have been pretty remarkable. I haven’t lost any real weight, but that’s always been a secondary goal of mine. I wanted to feel better. I wanted to stop having so many backaches. I wanted to be able to walk around the block without huffing and puffing. I wanted to feel stronger and I wanted to feel better about myself. I’ve accomplished that and so much more.

Chris is definitely not “easy” on me by any means, but she also doesn’t push you beyond your own limits. When I tell her that I cannot do it anymore, she tells me “okay, after two more” there’s no heavy sweating and crying and dry heaving here. Her personal touch and the research and care she puts into each of her clients is simply amazing for what she charges (don’t tell her I said that though!!)

She has a home gym located in North Central Austin, and it’s quite impressive. There’s quite a few pieces of equipment, but it’s not so overwhelming. I didn’t walk in there like I would another one and want to run screaming from the room. Chris takes it slow, shows you what you are doing, tells you when you are losing form and prods you along. The gym itself is completely isolated from the rest of the house. A few times her husband or child has been home and I didn’t even know it, you walk straight back and close the door/curtains and you’re off.

I’m impressed by how far out she will go for clients. She has mirrors so you can see what you’re doing but one of her clients didn’t like them. The next time I was there, she had installed curtains so people could choose.

The payoff came earlier this year when, during a trip with my family to San Antonio, I realized I had walked all over the Riverwalk and Zoo and didn’t feel like I wanted to keel over. That’s pretty darn good progress!

Chris’ best attribute is her sense of humor though. Yes, she’s there to help you get healthy and attain your own personal goals – no matter if it’s to lose 30 pounds or to be able to walk around downtown. But she does it with good humor and really big heart.

I simply cannot recommend Libra Fitness enough (and I do it often!)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

We live in Central Texas where we battle with seasonal allergies seemingly all year long. If the pollen isn’t out, the mold is. This means at least one of my family members is sniffling, sneezing and rubbing their eyes until they are red and even more itchy. It’s a vicious cycle. We’ve used other drops with mixed results. When given the chance to try Zyrtec, we were excited (seriously, it’s sad, but true, the molds are really bad right now). The first up was my son who was sneezing and scratching at his eyes. We already use Zyrtec Tablets and this time, put a drop in each of his eyes. Within a few minutes his eyes weren’t itching anymore and within an hour the redness was fading. I used the the next day with similar results. We’re sold!

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Product Features
* Health Concern: Minor Eye Irritation
* Travel Size: Yes
* Pieces: 1
* Capacity (volume): 0.17 Oz.
* Manufacturer Suggested Age: 3 Years and Up
* Health Facts: Ketotifen

This book is packed with information about many different foods. The layout is great and the information given is very helpful to leading a healthy lifestyle. However, I do have two issues with the book.

First, there are a lot of healthy foods missing. The book is great if you are cooking on a budget, but if you want information on the benefits of more expensive fare, you won’t find it here. My personal trainer informed me that the book is written from a “bang for your buck” perspective, but it would have been nice for there to be a few more choices for those that don’t mind spending a little more.

Second, the book gives recommended recipes for the foods listed. However, after reading through the book you will soon realize that there are really only a few recipes and they are just used over and over with the different foods. One thing that makes people go off of their diet is that they get bored with their menu choices. I wish the author had researched different recipes for each item and let the reader try to mix and match on their own.

Overall, this book has a lot of cook information. If you are on a budget and have your own cookbooks or don’t mind experimenting on your own, then you’ll find this book very helpful. A great companion blog to this book is this Health Blog called HealthyFellow.com. The information here is very much up-to-date (I’m forgiving him for shattering my chocolate is healthy dreams *laugh*) and relevant to what’s going on right now… check it out!

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Product Description
George Mateljan’s new book takes healthy eating to a whole new level. It presents a unique nutrient-rich approach to the “Healthiest Way of Eating” with 500 Mediterranean-style recipes, most of which take 7 minutes or less to prepare. This book answers the question about what to eat to keep healthy. It focuses on the World’s Healthiest Foods, 100 delicious foods that are nutrient-rich, providing the maximum number of nutrients for the least amount of calories. The book is an inspiration not only for those who want to achieve vibrant health and energy but for those who also want a healthier way to lose weight by making the World’s Healthiest Foods the foundation of their “Healthiest Way of Eating.” The World’s Healthiest Foods are among the most flavorful foods in the world – so you can now eat healthier without sacrificing taste! George also explains why it is not any more expensive to eat healthy. The book complements the material on the whfoods.org website with innovative new ways to maximize the nutritional value of the World’s Healthiest Foods and minimize preparation time using quick and easy recipes that anyone can make.