Clif Bars

I’m a BIG fan of Clif Bar & Company.  They’ve done great things to create sustainability, promote eco-initiatives, provide healthy programs for employees, support their communities, and engineer a variety of organic & sustainable products for consumers.  Read all about Clif Bar & Company in their 2007 Aspirations Report.  You’ll become a big fan, just like me!

I’m a hypoglycemic, lactose-intolerant vegeholic* (*my definition: someone who can’t seem to get enough fruits & veggies but could really live without meat).  As a result, I need a consistent supply of protein to regulate my blood sugar levels but don’t naturally get it due to the lack of dairy and meat in my diet.  Clif Bar products to the rescue!  Clif Bar products do not use dairy sources, no high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated fats, and contain high levels of protein.  Each Clif Bar product has a different purpose and benefits, and you can find out the details for each at the Clif Bar website.  Here are some thoughts:

Clif Bar: The Original: These all natural energy bars are a conglomeration of all kinds of natural goodness.  They average 230 calories per bar and contain 23 vitamins & minerals.  They come in a large variety of flavors, so if you don’t like one be sure to try some others!  Some people don’t like the mish-mash ingredients, but it warmly reminds me of a hearty cookie…  These bars now also come in minis!!!  You can’t buy them everywhere, but the minis are 100-110 calories apiece, perfect for any girl’s (or guy’s) pre-workout energy boost.  For the girls (and guys), there are also Clif Luna Bars below with other girl-friendly considerations.

Luna Bar: At 170-190 calories per bar, these are designed as the perfect fuel for active women who don’t want the calories of the average energy bar.  It contains 23 vitamins & minerals in a combination just for women, including high calcium and folic acid, as well as 9-10 grams of protein and 3g of fiber.  They come in a wide range of tasty flavors that don’t have that typical energy bar taste.  I usually keep a small stash of these around for when I’m having a sugar craving but want my calories to count for something.  These always hit the spot!

• Luna Bars also come in 3 specialty varieties: Luna Sport, Luna Teacakes, and Luna Sunrise.  I have not tried the Sport or Teacakes.  I have tried the Luna Sunrise, which comes in more breakfasty flavors than the original.  Sunrise does not have as many vitamins, contains more carbs, and fewer grams of protein than the original.  However, if you like these flavors better, you’re still giving your body a healthy boost.

Clif Mojo Bar: “The Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bar” The biggest snacking surprise of the year!  I had low expectations of this bar, since I’ve tried many fruit and nut snack bars in the past and have never been particularly impressed.  If you have the same feelings, you should really give this a shot!  The glycemic index of this bar must be incredibly low.  I normally need to eat at least every 3 hours, but after eating this bar I was fully satisfied for over 5 hours!  Wow.  This bar does not contain the same number of vitamins & minerals as other Clif Bars, and each bar has around 200 calories.  But if you’re looking for sustained energy, this may be it.

• Clif Mojo Bars also come in a Dipped variety, which I have not tried.

Clif Nectar Bar and Nectar Cacao: This is how I bribe my husband into eating his daily serving of fruit.  Each bar contains two full servings of fruit, is made from 100% organic ingredients, and is a serious source of fiber.  These are pure decadence and might as well be eaten for dessert. We’ve tried every flavor, and they are delicious!!!  While these are an expensive way to get your fruit, they are a guiltless indulgence.

Clif Builder’s Bar: This bar claims to be the only all-natural protein bar, and it has 20g of protein per bar which means the glycemic index is very low.  It’s marketed toward men, but I’m a big, big, big fan of this one!  (Oh, and the hubby like it too!) There are about 270 calories for a full bar, so I like to eat one bar in stages throughout the day between meals to keep myself fueled. I was particularly impressed with the texture of this bar, which has a layer of “clif pro” (rice and soy puff stuff) and a layer of thick protein-y goodness, all dipped in a coating. (Sorry for the poor terminology!) This is simply a delight to eat, and I like it with a cup of coffee.  However, I’ve only tried the Vanilla Almond flavor so far, so the others may still be suspect.

Clif Kid Z Bar and Twisted Fruit: I haven’t tried these, but my hunch is they’re good!  They’re marketed as a healthier alternative to granola bars and fruit snacks.  According to Reader Ashley (see her comment below), she eats the Z Bars for dessert.  I’ll just have to try that myself…

Clif Shot: This is Clif Bar’s line for performance atheletes, and I haven’t tried any of them.  (I guess I’m just your average runner…)  There are 4 options: Shot Blocks is a pack of 33 calorie cubes to pop while on the course; Shot Gel is a packet of liquid carbs for an on-the-go boost; Shot Electrolyte Drink is a mix to use in your water bottle for before and during performance; and Shot Recovery Drink is a mix that contains all kinds of body-nourishing nutrients.  Once I try them, I’ll let you know.

I hope you turn out to be a big Clif Bar fan just like me!  Feel free to share your thoughts and comments, especially on the products I have yet to try.

Posted by: Lynnette

New York City Ballet Workout

A couple of months ago I rented the New York City Ballet Workout from Netflix. I used to have a phobia of workout tapes and DVDs (visions of Denise Austin danced in my head). I’m a convert now and have a few on my shelf that I love.

I was a ballerina for seven years, but it’s been awhile since I’ve danced so I was excited to do some old, familiar exercises. People idolize the dancer’s body because it’s so long and lean and no wonder–there’s so much stretching and movement combined with the strength training that they do. Apparently the NYCB Workout is so popular that they’ve made a second DVD, expanding on the first one. In this DVD, male and female dancers demonstrate the stretches and exercises. You are prompted to follow them via a voice-over.

Things to love: This is a good workout. My first go-round I worked out for about an hour and was dripping with sweat afterward. I found it enjoyable and felt tall and stretched out after it was over. There’s a good bit of variety; you don’t have time to get bored with one thing. The classical music in the background is pleasant as well. I’m all about high-energy pop when I work out, so I found the contrast really soothing. Because you receive all your instruction through the voice over, there’s no cheesy “Come on! You can do it! Just like that! You’re doing great!” which I particularly hate. Just directions, pure and simple.

Less than perfect: There’s no tutorial with this DVD–no “this is what this term means” or “this is what you should do when you stretch this way so that you don’t overextend something,” so it takes a minute to catch on when the dancers transition into another exercise if you don’t know the “official” term for what they’re doing. Even with those years of ballet training under my belt I frequently paused and thought, “What does that mean?”

Final Analysis: If you don’t have some background in dance, Pilates, or yoga, this workout might not be for you. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to someone as a way to get into exercise, even though it’s fun. A beginner starting from scratch probably needs more step-by-step instruction. If you like something really peppy with lots of encouragement, this is not for you. In the future, I will probably buy this DVD, or at least rent it again from Netflix. It’s not my perfect workout, but it’s a great one, and it’s fun. Perfect for diversifying your workout routine.
Posted by: Catie

From Lynnette: I was so pleased to see that Catie posted this!  I also rented this workout via Netflix and was pleasantly surprised.  I definitely recommend it for people looking for variety in their workout routine. Be sure to check out all of our workout DVD recommendations in the Fitness category.

Power Yoga Total Body Workout with Rodney Yee

 I started doing yoga about a year and a half ago in response to back pain.  It turns out that sitting all day in an office chair while staring at a computer screen is not good for your body!  Who knew?!

When I first started, I asked several friends to recommend a good yoga DVD.  I always prefer to try things at home before going to a studio or gym – at least then I don’t look like a totalnovice.  Several suggested DVD’s they “liked alright” but none of my friends was able to make a firm recommendation.  Consequently, I’ve purchased a couple of DVD’s and rented countless via Netflix that I have “liked alright,” though I, too, was unable to find The One.  Until now!

Power Yoga Total Body Workout with Rodney Yee is the best at home yoga workout I’ve encountered for loosening up sore muscles while continuing to tone the body.  The method throughout the program is seamless, moving from position to position in a fluid manner.  He starts with smaller motions and continually adds and removes poses to and from the sequence to create a smooth workout.  The level is beginner-to-intermediate, which is good for general relaxation but doesn’t provide an intense burn.  If you’re looking for a vigorous workout, look elsewhere.  But if you’re looking to zone out and loosen up first thing in the morning or right after a long day at the office, I think this is perfect.  The level is enough to keep your attention but also allows some quality reflection.  Rodney’s focus is always on connection with the body and not so much on the meditative aspect, which I feel allows each person to approach the workout from their own perspective.

I got this via Netflix and was a big fan within the first 10 minutes of the workout.  I plan to buy this one for myself during my next online shopping trip.

Posted by: Lynnette