Vitaminwater Goes Back To Old Recipe After Grossing Everyone Out

NEW YORK (AP) — Coca-Cola is reversing course after fans of Vitaminwater complained about the drink's new sweetener.

The Atlanta-based company promised Thursday the drink would go back to its previous taste after fans flooded Vitaminwater's Facebook page with negative comments. The reversal comes just a few months after Coca-Cola had changed the sweetener in the drink to a mix of sugar and stevia, a low-calorie sweetener known for its metallic aftertaste.

Vitaminwater will revert to its older recipe, shown on the left.

"Our fans haven't had the greatest things to say about it," said a statement posted on Vitaminwater's website.

The statement said the Vitaminwater that people "loved" would start appearing on shelves this fall and be available nationwide by winter. Previously, Coca-Cola sweetened Vitaminwater with a mix of sugar and crystalline fructose. The change didn't alter the calorie count, which remained at 120 calories per bottle.

In explaining the change without providing specific details, Coca-Cola had previously said it was "always innovating and evolving" its products. The move came after sales volume for Vitaminwater declined 18 percent in 2013, according to Beverage Digest, an industry tracker.

Despite its lack of popularity in some circles, Coca-Cola Co. still sees potential for stevia. The company has introduced a reduced-calorie version of its namesake cola using the sweetener in Argentina and plans to eventually roll out a version in the U.S.

And Coca-Cola still uses stevia in Vitaminwater Zero, a version for the drink that has no calories.

Here's a look back at what Vitaminwater’s fans said about the brand's switch to artificial sweetener.

Post by Chelsey Slenders.

Post by Stephanie Landy.

Post by Andrew Lamming.

Post by Dotchi Latham.

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On the Days I Struggle the Most With My Little Ones

There are days when everyone needs and wants to be held and there isn't a second I can find to myself. One of the children in the group is either unhappy, throwing a tantrum, crying or shrieking, and I think, Please go play. Mommy needs a break. Just two minutes to myself. I can't hold you right now. My arms are about to break.



I know I will want each moment back that I took for granted -- and be begging for the opportunity to chase one of my children down, to have them let me hold them at all.



The incessant one mores -- when I'm asked to color one more picture, read one more book or play one more game, after the previous hours of devoting every last breath of energy left in my body -- find me answering at times with a slouch and a sigh.



Yet, I know there will come a time when I'd give anything to be able to sit down and not only do these one more time, but a thousand more times.








There are mornings, afternoons and evenings when I feel like a slave in my own kitchen. When it feels like it's more of a war zone. I don't get to sit down, as someone always needs another refill, a second helping -- or naturally, there is a mess that needs immediate attention.



And yes, one day, I will look around my kitchen and wish for it to be filled with little people who need me to wait on them hand and foot... all too soon, it will be empty, quiet and lifeless.







There are moments I feel like I can't change one more diaper, help one more time on the potty, wipe one more messy mouth or clean up one more disaster. As soon as I get one of these tasks accomplished, the next is already awaiting me.



But I know that ultimately, my need to be needed is far greater than anything else. I will not only miss this, but yearn for it one day.



There are nights when the babies just won't go down for bed... or for that matter, stay asleep. The times they prolong the inevitable at tuck ins and ask for one more kiss, one more hug, one more drink of water or have just one more thing to tell you, but... for the fifteenth time.



There will come a time I would give anything to have made sure I took each one of those extra hugs and kisses and realize that I'm pacing the halls with an emptiness that can't be replaced.



The hundreds of times I'm asked daily, Mommy look! Mommy just watch me! Mommy.... Mommy? Come here! Mommy can you help me with this? There are times I think I could crumble and often, at my breaking point, I wonder, How is it possible for one human being to meet all of these tiny people's needs all at once, every single day, all day and all night long? I feel so defeated at times simply because there aren't five of me to go around.



One day, I will be praying to have those requests and sweet demands back.







There are never-ending pleas where I'm asked to watch the same show or movie over and over or listen to the same songs again and again. At times, my head aches and spins from it, and I'm certain it will burst if it sees or hears something one more time. I realize at times my much needed social, adult vices are no longer met; they're simply a thing of the past.



But yes, at some point, I will laugh to myself and want it back.



There are ever-too-early awakenings when I'd give anything to have my kids sleep in and not have each day begin at 65 mph by 5:30 a.m.. Most days, when I'm trying to get my eyes to open and remind my legs to put themselves one in front of the other, I'm not sure which direction I'm heading or what needs done first. I'm just doing my head count to make sure everyone is accounted for and made it through another night.



But this, too, will be an exhausting time that I will look back on and smile and think, They were my reason to carry on and pull myself out of bed every day. I will find a point when I need to have these mornings again.



There are daily games where I have someone playing peek-a-boo during my two-minute shower or have thumping feet and squeals running through our halls to the point it sounds like someone is being seriously hurt and our house will surely come crashing down.



One day, the peace and silence will be deafening. I will miss this.








There is running from one event and appointment to the next. The constant in and out of the car seats to keep up with our schedule. And while we're traveling, the unremitting battles in the backseat that are sometimes enough to make it impossible to even attempt to drive safely. All so often I think to myself that I must be one of the most courageous people on this earth to put these tiny people in the car and take all of them out in public alone.



One day, I will turn around and find complete emptiness behind me, with no one asking or needing me to take them anywhere or pick them up. I surely will want it all back.








The daily cleaning the toothpaste out of the sink, switching the shoes that are on the wrong feet, fixing the shirts that are misbuttoned, keeping up with the never ending loads of laundry, tripping over and picking up the sea of toys that lay scattered through the house or once again scrubbing the crayon that has found its way onto our wall.



Yes, all of this, every single last thing, I will want it all back.



That's the crazy thing about motherhood -- the most tiring and sometimes most dreadful duties are actually where we can find the biggest blessings hidden.



The days of Help, Mommy....Mommy, please....Just one more! I need to at times beg myself to embrace this, all of this... the struggles, the exhaustion, the wearing of the 50 hats to just survive one day with my little ones because one day, this will all begin to slow down and eventually come to a complete stop. There is no pause button. There is no rewind button. And unfortunately, there is no do-over button.



In our moments of exhaustion and despair wishing, Oh when they're old enough for this. We just have to push it out a little longer to make it through this stage.

There will come a time I will be sick thinking that I could have wished any amount of time away and would walk to the ends of the earth to be back here; right here, right now.



I'm given one shot with my children. They are given one childhood with me. The amazing, yet scary part of all of this, I'm the author of this part of their lives. I determine how their chapters are being written out. Every day, I will go down in flames trying to give them one hell of a story to reread and look back on one day and think, "I remember being happy. When I think of my childhood, I simply remember happiness."



And if we're really lucky enough, they will know in their hearts that their mother, well she was a huge contributor to that happiness.



As I have my failed attempts and times I only wish I could take back, I simply must try to learn from my mistakes, hoping by God that it bettered me as a parent, move on and try to make the next chapter a little better than the last one was.



Thank God every day we're given a brand new page to write on. Make today a good one.






Photographs above taken by Ashley Kostok Photography



************************




To follow Long more closely,



Instagram



Author Page



101 Moments of Motherhood



Beachbody Coach Contact



In the Moment Photography



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Why Social Media Should Take the Back Seat When It Comes to Health

In the pursuit of thinness, there always seems to be some new fad or weight loss movement that young women subscribe to. Years ago, it was all about protruding hip and collar bones made popular by the waify-thin runway models. Then came thinspiration, where girls kept a collection of photos of extremely thin bodies as motivation to lose more weight as they glorified the thigh gap and bikini bridge. Girls were harshly restricting their food intake to achieve a desired super thin look, and many of them had developed full-blown eating disorders. More recently, there has been another phenomenon known as fitspiration, which lies the obsession with physical fitness.



It could be considered a good thing that women have a new found focus of hitting the gym. However, fitspiration has also turned into an obsession. Working out and getting into better physical shape is great, but sometimes these ladies are participating only for the purpose of maintaining a certain body type. It has been said that fitspiration is really just thinspiration in disguise. What happened to trying to be healthier for the sake of being healthier? These days, it's all about striving to look more attractive. Appearance seems to be in the forefront of concern, and health is taking a back seat.



The power of social media plays a large role in the body image of today's young women. Tumblr is a popular source for sharing photos of thin women wearing swimsuits. Pinterest is known for it's outstanding number of users that have made boards for fitspirational photos and quotes. Most women that use any social media platform are highly likely to be bombarded with photos being shared to them of women looking a certain way that only fits a very narrow ideal of what our society views as attractive for women, and many of them are blindly buying into it.



When it comes to dieting, of course it's good to want to eat healthier and it's okay to want to look and feel good too, but your body requires a certain level of nutrition that the no-carb diet and the Weight Watchers program doesn't provide. Besides, those fad diets only set you up for failure because the weight loss is only temporary unless you plan to stay on that diet for life. Another thing to keep in mind is that weight is determined primarily by genetics and secondarily by environmental factors. Chances are good that you will take after your relatives in weight and body shape. This is hard for some people to accept, and for many of them, just eating well and being active won't necessarily get them the results they want, so the disordered eating patterns and a vicious cycle begins. This is not only harmful to the body, but mental and emotional health starts to suffer as well.



Ladies (and gentlemen), when are we going to stop tormenting our bodies? When are we going to stop being slaves to this societal expectation of what we "should" look like? And finally, when are we going to really start respecting our bodies and care about our health? As the saying goes, there's no time like the present. If we prioritize our health over our appearance today, we will be so much better off in the long run. The decision is only yours to make.



Ashley writes for Unwritten. Studying journalism at Ball State University, you can follow her on Twitter @ashleybpariseau.



If you're struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorder Association hotline at 1-800-931-2237.



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Talking to Each Other: The Next Hot Thing

Photo: I.Rimanoczy




In a recent meeting my colleague Barri Litt, who teaches accounting and audit at Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, commented about a sleepover party she participated in, invited by a friend who hosted a group of 11-year-old girls. When bedtime arrived, they asked the girls to put down their iPhones, iPads or the like that each of them were holding and fiddling with.



"What do you mean, will we actually talk to each other?" one of the girls asked. "Yes," my friend replied. "That is exactly what we had in mind." The girls looked surprised and intrigued, as the adults brought a set of cards with trigger questions. "If you were an animal, what animal would you be?" The girls were excited and an animated conversation started that lasted until almost 2 a.m.



Needless to say, the next day they reported to their parents how amazing that sleepover party had been! So different. The parents looked a bit suspicious and with disbelief: "Did they really put their devices away?" "Did my daughter agree to that?"



We have become so used to spending time and attention on what comes up on the screens of our devices, that we actually develop a "relationship" with our devices. We used to wake up thinking of the person we're in love with, and that often was also the last thing on our mind before falling asleep. Nowadays, the first thought when waking up is to check our phone for messages.



What is the relationship we have and what is the one we would like to have with the devices? What are we missing out while we look at the screen?



As students of my Sustainability Mindset class at Fordham University were reflecting on what they valued about the course experience, one person said:

I loved that we didn't sit as in other classes, at the tables, but that we sat in a circle during class, and that I had a chance to listen to the thoughts of my colleagues. In all these years, I never really talked much to anyone, and sitting in class I always just saw their neck. We run in and out of classes, rush from work to school and from there home. Having time to talk, that is not something common at school. I was amazed, surprised, and enjoyed so much discovering the diversity and richness of experience of my colleagues.

Well, yes, may be talking to each other is the next hot thing.



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The Best Way To Work Your Biceps, According To Science

By Rachel Grumman Bender for YouBeauty.com



If you wish that you had stronger, more sculpted biceps -- and really, who doesn't? -- but you're not seeing results from your regular strength training routine, science just came to the rescue: The American Council on Exercise (ACE) commissioned a study to find out which biceps exercise is head and shoulders above the rest.



After testing seven different biceps-toning moves -- from the classic barbell curl to the preacher curl -- on men and women between 18 and 24 years old, the researchers found that the concentration curl was the big winner, eliciting significantly higher muscle activation than any other exercise tested.



"The reason that this exercise is best for targeting the biceps is because it takes other muscles that may usually help with the bicep action out of the equation," explains ACE expert and exercise physiologist Jacque Ratliff. "Because the biceps muscle's connective tissue crosses both the shoulder and elbow joints, the anterior deltoid and brachioradialis muscles are activated when doing other biceps exercises. With the concentration curl, however, the movement of the shoulder joint is limited, which focuses the work within the biceps muscle itself."



How To Perform A Concentration Curl

While sitting, lean forward and place your upper arm against your inner thigh, making sure there is plenty of clearance for your arm and a weight to curl up and down. Starting with the elbow extended, curl the dumbbell up until your elbow is fully flexed.



Perform three to six sets of six to 12 repetitions with 30 to 90 seconds of rest between sets.



More from YouBeauty.com:

5 Killer Squats for Toned Thighs

The Single Best Exercise for Abs, Says Science

This 5-Minute Activity Will Help You Live Longer



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I Learned a Lot From Being Three Months Behind on ALL My Bills

Recently I was challenged by a commenter to share a story on my "happy blog" of a time when I was so behind on things for several months and didn't know what I was going to do. This person was in a very negative space and assumed I wouldn't have a story like this since I'm so happy all the time. Usually I don't engage in those comments, but this time I felt compelled to do exactly that... because this is a part of my journey and has absolutely shaped who I am today.



One summer while living in Hawaii, I found myself three months behind on every major bill. Student loans, mortgage for my house (which I was renting at the time), car payment, credit cards, home owners association, and electric. I was also a month or two behind on my phone and Internet. The only thing I wasn't behind on was my rent, because I figured it made more sense to ensure I didn't get evicted. And in case you're wondering, three months is when Hawaiian Electric will shut off your power after no payments. Yeah.



This was one of the most stressful times in my life.



Living in one of the most expensive places, trying to build a business with my ex-boyfriend (who also had to pay bills from our shared revenue), having clients pay late or not at all, no regular influx of new work, and still completely lost in my quarter-life crisis.



Getting through each month had been a juggling act for some time, but eventually, I just fell behind and couldn't catch up. There were times in those three months where I literally had to choose between gas or groceries, usually choosing a little of both... but making sure to get groceries first since the hold placed by gas stations could overdraw me on its own.



There were also points where I was so broke I actually owed the bank nearly $1,000 in overdrawn funds.



I remember conversations with my friends at the time when they wanted to go out for dinner or other fun activities. "I can't, I'm broke," I would say. "Haha, me too! Let's go to the movies..." was always their reply, not understanding I was actually without money in that moment.



Many, many tears were shed during those three months, and honestly, in the months before and following. It was with some help from my mom, an influx of new work and past due payments, and a lot of hustle that allowed me to pull through that time. I paid my student loans and car payment late for an entire year following those three months because I could never quite get back ahead.







Here's what I learned from this time:



1) It's really not the end of the world.



I remember the very first time I overdrew my bank account when I was in college by $20. I was so upset and nervous, feeling like my whole world was crashing in. I also felt the same way the first time I made a late credit card payment. I probably spent thousands of dollars on overdraft fees in the year in question. Thousands. While my credit dipped, it wasn't the end of the world and I actually learned it's better to overdraw your bank account than to pay a credit card late. I basically learned to be strategically broke!



Here's the truth: I could very well have lost my house and my car, but I didn't. Even if I had, it really wouldn't have been the end of the world. My credit would have sucked, for awhile. I would have felt pretty crappy, for awhile. I probably would have had to move back into my parent's house, for awhile. But then life would have gone on and I absolutely would have picked up the pieces. I'm not saying stop paying your bills because it's no big deal, just relieve the pressure a bit by knowing it's not the end of the world. Stuff can be replaced, credit can be rebuilt, and we're wired for survival.



2) It's possible to feel abundant when you have nothing.


One of my friends and coaches had given me an exercise to try around abundance several months before I fell behind, which I refer to as the "$100 bill practice." Simply put, you keep a $100 bill in your wallet at all times and mentally spend it. Any time you're out and about, you think to yourself, "I could buy that! I could sign up for that program! I could see that movie and get a bucket of popcorn!" It trains you to approach life from a place of abundance and not scarcity. While going through this tumultuous time, I stuck with the practice, always thinking, if it comes down to it, I can pay something with this $100. Should I have paid something with it, probably... but maintaining the practice helped me stay in a place of possibility. I could get through this.



Since this hard time, I've had months that have been overwhelmingly challenging financially, one of which was actually last fall, and I'll share more about that experience soon. Despite not having enough money at times, I always feel abundant and I credit it entirely to this practice.



3) This type of experience can change you for the good.



So long as you release the bad limiting beliefs and fears you pick up as well. I've worked hard to remove a lot of money blocks and limiting beliefs from those times. I've worked hard to restore the belief that I can generate as much money as I need and desire. But the habits I picked up weren't all bad... for one, I'm much more conscious about when and how I invest my money. I work hard to live within my means, am aggressively tackling my debt, and learned to be a super saver shopper. I also fell in love with thrifting. For awhile, all I could do was buy second hand, but now it's something I do for fun in addition to treating myself to new items. I'm not as wasteful as I was before, I appreciate the money I do have, even when it's not a lot, and I have this unwavering sense of faith and trust. Trust that even if things do get that bad again, I'm capable of getting myself through it, because it's not the end of the world and I've done it before.



4) There's nothing more powerful than positive thinking.



When I replied to the commenter that inspired this post, I mentioned that I'd be happy to share my story, but they probably weren't going to like it because it came down to mindset for me. While I got stressed and cried and felt utterly exhausted, I always stayed positive. I would break down, take a deep breath, focus on the fact that I hadn't lost anything yet, and worked to trust that everything would work out. I truly believe that if I hadn't had this practice in place, I wouldn't have made it through. Things would have gotten worse, I would've lost my car or my house, and I would be scarred for life from this season.



5) We all have different tolerance levels for risk.



And debt. Mine is higher than most, yet if I could do it over again, I would have kept my bridge job for far longer than I did. I made it happen and I made it work, but it didn't have to be as hard as I chose to make it. You have to be honest about your level of tolerance for risk and debt and act accordingly. There's no right answer. I'm comfortable with debt because I've always known being broke and not making enough money to pay it off was never going to be my life long mode. Back to the last point, I've always believed in my ability to be successful and make things happen, and that's carried me through and beyond this rough patch.



So tell me...



What have you learned, or what are you learning, from the most difficult experience of your life? What are the lessons and the gifts? How can you find the positive and use this experience to change you for the better?



P.S. My life changing, signature program Foundations for Unshakable Joy starts on Monday, August 11th! This transformational program is the exact foundational process that took me from a stressed and depressed mess, to happy, fulfilled and living a life built around my passions and purpose. It has everything you need, and I'll be there every step of the way guiding you, supporting you, coaching you and holding your hand as you step into your truth, uncover your passions, and begin to create alignment in your life and career. My promise to you: You'll experience more joy, passion, zest for life and clarity than you've ever experienced before, in just 8 weeks. Click here to learn more.



Stephenie Zamora is the founder of http://ift.tt/1cVdbLU, a full-service, life-purpose development, design and branding boutique and author of Awesome Life Tips book. Through her Mastery program, she merges the worlds of personal development and branding to help men and women build passion-based lives and businesses they love. Click here to access her free Foundations for Unshakable Joy video training series and learn the unexpected trick to transforming your life with one single question!



Connect with Stephenie on Facebook and Twitter!



For more by Stephenie Zamora, click here.



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The Perfect Way To Keep A Sexy Bod And Still Enjoy Your Vacation

So many of us focus our energy on getting to the gym in preparation for that beach bikini moment when we let the sarong fall and bare our abs, two piece and a sun hat. All of that work ethic goes out the door when we find ourselves overeating, drinking and indulging in rich local fare and tourist restaurant attractions.



When you’re on vacation there are a few things that will help you keep fit and diminish the stress on your joints: low impact exercise. Just because an exercise is low impact doesn’t mean it won’t torch the calories you’re putting on. Low impact activities are good for the whole family, so if you’ve traveled with your children and don’t have childcare, bring them along for the exercise.



Here are four of my favorite ways to blast the fat and get toned, no matter where you go on vacation:



Get your Walk on!







This is the original workout offering so many advantages. Most hotel spas will offer a walking activity where you explore the local region. Walking minimizes the stress on your bones and muscles. If you keep a fast pace and cover some serious distance you will get the most out of this activity. Want to burn more? Explore the hilly areas of the region.



Walking accessory of choice: Fitness Tracker – Fitbit flex wireless activity and sleep wristband- tracks your daily activities and sleep quality.



Put a Spin on It!







Cycling can provide an intense cardio workout that is easy on the joints and simple for anyone to do. Most hotels have a stationery bike in the gym, and spas will offer a spinning class option. The cycling motion is easy on the knees. To boost the burn, increase your incline and increase your speed in intervals. This is great for anyone at any fitness level -- it doubles as a cardio workout as well as a strength training routine. Inclines will strengthen and tone the thighs and lift the bikini butt.



Inhale, Exhale, Repeat!







Yoga is an ancient form of mind and body exercise that offers countless health benefits including peace of mind, stress reduction and physical flexibility. The focused breathing techniques and postures can be gentle on the body and the postures can be modified for your fitness level.



Want to boost the burn? Yoga can burn serious calories as your flexibility and strength improve. Poses like warrior, chaturanga and downward dog held for extended periods can rev up your metabolism while increasing your heart rate. Yoga is suitable for any age or physical condition and you can do it anywhere, even in your hotel room or on the beach with the kids. Many hotel spas will offer a group yoga class.



Jump to It!







We’re always warning our kids to stop jumping on the bed at home and in hotels, but there might be something to their rambunctious activity that we can learn from. Jumping is generally not advisable in low impact workouts, but if you add a trampoline to the picture, it’s a whole different story. The benefits are twofold –- you get the cardio intensity of a high impact movement but it’s gentle on the body. The trampoline absorbs the impact of your jumps so it’s not hard on the ankles or knees. Not only is it fun, you will be smiling just like the kids while jumping up and down.



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