Extremely embarrassing confession: from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, I gorged like an absolute pig! (Yes, this is hard to admit in writing, but I try to share what’s happening in my life—the good, the bad, and the ugly.) Normally, I try to diet and eat healthy, but this holiday season just knocked me out. I felt so achy, so hungry, so sleep deprived, and so stressed out, that I gave in with abandon. We’re talking huge bowls of mashed potatoes, fettucine Alfredo, bags of Gelt, sweet drinks, baked goods, platters of latkes and bagel, Chinese food feasts…gosh, you name it and I probably ate it!

So much binging led to an 8-lb weight gain, constant indigestion, a very puffed out belly, and even more lethargy! Clearly, I had to get back on track. Since New Year’s Day, I have been focusing on eating whole foods like fresh produce and lean meats with minimal carbs and NO desserts.

After 18 days, I’m starting to see improvement. The cravings are not nearly as strong and my stomach doesn’t seem as doughy. Now, when I feel hungry and it’s not meal time, I try to fill up on no-cal beverages. Plain water or water with a slice of citrus is great, but sometimes I just need more flavor in mouth.

Newport Skinny Tea generously sent me some samples to review and this was truly the right product at the right time. The kit consists of two bags of loose leaf tea, one for daytime and one for evening. The recommended amount is 2 cups of Daytime and 1 cup of Evening—something I’ve done faithfully.

While I prefer tea bags—because it’s one less step—making tea with an infuser isn’t difficult. The taste depends on how long it’s steeped, with longer equaling stronger (my preference). I thought it was very nice, definitely more of a “gourmet” variety. Drinking it before meals did help to fill me up and the evening cup was a nice way to wind down before bed. My only complaint is that the tea contains stevia and I’d rather have an unsweetened product.

All in all, Newport Skinny Tea is a good product for anyone trying to consume less calories. Obviously, diet and exercise are important, too, and this is not a magic bullet. Definitely worth a try, though!