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I had to make the graphics for this awesome giveaway Halloween related. If there are two things I love in life its Halloween and Quest Nutrition!

As summer has come to a close and fall is now beginning, people sometimes tend to become less active. When that happens, it is essential one watch they eat, and go for healthier choices. Therefore this giveaway could not come at a better time. Quest Nutrition makes healthy eating enjoyable and exciting. To me, that is the most important part.

The contest is open to residents all across the world; not just the United States. However, you must be 18 years or older to enter. ALL entries into this contest will be verified. If a submitted entry is found to be false, all entries submitted by that person will be automatically disqualified. This contest has no cash value and no purchase is required.

The giveaway starts Tuesday, October 7th and ends Wednesday October 15th at midnight. The winners will be drawn at random via random.org. Once the submissions are verified for authenticity, the winners will be displayed via blog post on Friday, October 17th!

If you are battling with weight loss, you must have come around many products which claim to help in getting rid of the extra pounds. Most probably you have tried one and it’s only you who can tell whether they work or not. There are herbal remedies which can suppress your appetite, improve the burning of fat and energize you exercises. Weight gain mostly happens due to overeating, sluggish metabolism and lack of exercises,

Here are some of herbal remedies you might not have come across but will actually improve your metabolism and kill the cravings to help you lose weight:

This is a herbal remedy extracted from a wild plant from India and Africa which has been to have the ability to reduce sweetness taste. Gymnema molecules are similar to glucose and works by filling the taste bud receptors on the tongue which makes you feel as if you have consumed sugar meals. In 1983, a landmark study was published in the journal Physiology & Behavior indicating that people who took some Gymnema developed a diminished perception of sweetness and when they were given snack foods ate fewer calories compared with those in the control group. High doses have been associated to low blood sugar and therefore you should use the recommended amounts.

Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which change how the body uses fat. Instead of storing fat, the body burns it for energy production. In reference to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2007, researchers from Australia found out that fish oil and exercises reduced body fat in different ways. However, the combination of the two made incredible results among the participants. According to Julia Ross, director of Recovery Systems Clinic in Mill Valley, California, fish oil kills the cravings for some kinds of fat.

L-Glutamine refers to an amino acid which instantly fuels the brain to stop cravings for sugary or starchy foods and drinks when the blood sugar level drops. There is mounting evidence support that l-Glutamine helps in weight loss by altering the conversion and storage of calories in the body. In 1996, researchers at Duke University Medical Center found out that rats which were supplemented with L-Glutamine lost weight.

Guggul is an Ayurdevic remedy used for relieving joint pain, lower cholesterol and helps in weight loss. In a study conducted in 1999, by researchers from the University of Nebraska and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, it was found out that people who consumed 750mg of Guggul daily and engaged in aerobic training three times every week for six months lost an average of 6 pounds compared to their counterparts in the control group who lost an average of up to 1 pound. According to John Douilliard, PhD., director of the LifeSpa School of Ayurveda, Guggul helps the body metabolize fat and boost thyroid function by triggering the production of hormones.

Reishi mushrooms can be harvested in the wild where they grow on fallen logs. They have been in use for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine to build and strengthen immunity and overcome fatigue. In reference to some health experts, their ability to deal with fatigue could be the main reason why Reishi mushrooms are used in supplements to help in weight loss. Reishi mushrooms have also been in use in the Chinese medicine to treat hypertension. People who are allergic to mushrooms are advised not to consume Reishi mushrooms. They should not be taken after coffee as they can make a person jittery.

Green tea extract contains compounds referred to as catechins. These are natural antioxidants which studies have shown that they increase metabolism and help in the burning of fat. In reference to a study published in the American Journal of Clinic Nutrition in 2005, men who consumed 690 grams of green tea extract daily lost more weight (an average5.3 pounds) in three months compared to the control group who shed an average of 2.9 pounds. Other studies have also shown that green tea extract helps women lose weight. Excess consumption of green tea extract can alleviate water retention diarrhea or constipation

You may have been aware about some of these herbal remedies but ill-informed about the facts behind their functioning. Some have been studied by researchers from reputable Universities across the globe to demonstrate how effective they are to help in weight loss. Since they are derived from plants, they have no known serious side effects if the right dosages are administered. Other than helping in weight loss, these herbal remedies come with other ingredients that are beneficial to your body. Some improves the mood which happens to be a requirement in any successful weight loss plan.

The real world has been kicking my butt this week. I am so, so tired. I normally thrive and appreciate the hectic days in my office, but this week they are drowning me. I am normally liberated at new blogging opportunities and posts, but this week they are exhausting me. My mom was in town Monday through yesterday, which helped, and was so nice to have. I let loose a little and enjoyed time with her. 

What has been bothering me most-- a lot of the reason why I am more tired than usual, and why I have had so much trouble sleeping lately is my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). I was diagnosed in February. I started showing symptoms a year before though, but they were sporadic and did not happen often. At the time, I attributed the symptoms to overworking myself at the gym. 

It feels like ever since I was diagnosed I have issues nearly every night when I get into bed, which is horrible for me because I absolutely love sleep, and I ensure I get plenty of it nightly. It is rare that I let anything interfere with my sleep schedule. For my RLS, I have been on prescribed medication from my doctor as well engaging in a plethora of "home remedies" that my friends and readers have advised to me. Most of the time, that entire combination helps, but sometimes it doesnt. 

Saturday and last night it did not. I was up all night in so much pain. It is so hard to describe the pain to people: it is not an ache or pulled muscle type of pain, it is nerve pain. It is agony to lay still. The only relief I find is when I get up and walk around; which last night I did until 2 in the morning. By then, all of my sleep medication kicked in and knocked me out. Which is great, but I have felt horrible today: fatigued, unable to concentrate, falling asleep at my desk, and my RLS pain is still active. It carried on from the night and is still hurting as I am in my office. I keep getting up to stretch my legs that provides provides relief, but the pain sneaks right back in when I become still. 

Being sleep deprived affects me more than others sometimes. A lot of people are used to it, and their bodies and mind have adjusted. Unfortunately, I am not at that stage. Since I am a very high energy, outgoing, nonstop kind of person, I wear myself out a lot. I have admitted that on here many times. My remedy is sleep. When I am deprived from this, I can maybe be a bit dramatic and overbearing. Hell, I may even act like a 2 year old who needs a nap. I admit it, though. I am not proud. It is just one of my many flaws. 

I was dealing with the sleep deprivation over the weekend and on Monday and now I am back again plowing through it today. When I feel this way, it makes me lose sight of everything. I am a person who has never had balance in their life. It has always been all or nothing. Thus, over the past year, I have been working extensively to teach myself a life balance. 

I have gotten so, so much better, but I am still not where I want to be.

When I find myself slipping and losing my way-- losing vision of my goals, I need motivation to help me get over this internal negativity. 

Below is what I have done to help lately. It may be "over the top" to some, but for me, its perfect. I am a woman on a mission, I am a woman who is fighting emotional eating, and I am a woman who still has 30 pounds to lose. I am also a woman who is working on improving the way I handle tasks and stress. 

Some of us truly need this extra, grandiose motivation. 

Print that picture above (I think the black background and white font just make it so intense and like its really challenging you) and put it on your refrigerator, near your purse and/or wallet, at your desk-- wherever you need too. 

It may sound silly, but I promise you it works. There is nothing quite like reaching for that slice of chocolate cake after you already had a slice yesterday, and seeing something like that. It ruins the mood. It kills the cravings.

I am all about losing weight the healthy way-- a person needs their occasional bad food and cheat meal(s), however, if youre like me and stress eat, binge when life gets hard, or just have an issue with saying "no" to bad foods more often than you want to admit, something like this will help. It is a reminder of the measures you are taking to try and lose weight and become healthier.

Seeing something that like that puts my journey into perspective for me when a bad day or overbearing food craving start to take over and cloud my judgement.

When I remember how bad I used to feel, and how desperately I wanted to change, it helps me push on. I may be weary, I may be cussing and crying, but I push on. 

Eventually, you reach the finish line. You pushed yourself: you made healthy choices, and you attended that workout you so vehemently wanted to miss. That is when everything changes. The endorphins are pumping, your confidence is built back up, and you now how the strength to keep going. 

There is nothing that makes a journey so real than seeing what you could be-- what you WILL be. One thing I have done for years now and continue to do, is carry pictures of my favorite fitness inspirations; be it on my phone, on my refrigerator, desk, or somewhere in my home. My two favorite women are Ava Cowan and Pauline Nordin. They remind me that what I want is possible if I work hard enough. When my passion for fitness began in late 2008, those two women stood out to me more in the magazines than anyone else. I have been inspired ever since. 

If they can do it, damn it, so can I. They are women and I am a woman. Its simple-- if I put in the work and dedication, I will get the same results.