5 Health & Wellness Brands to Upgrade Fitness Self-Care Routine

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx

Running, obstacle course racing plus all the gym, boot camp and other fitness stuff I do, can really take a toll on my body! But, even though I’m in my 50s, I’m not about to give any of it up soon. That’s why I place a premium on eating well to refuel my body, taking proper care of minor injuries that come, and general workout recovery and some self-pampering.

I’m always on the lookout for new-to-me products to help me stay at the top of my game as an athlete and enthusiast of adventurous living. Today, I’m sharing five wellness and fitness finds that are perfect additions to my self-care routine.

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Prebiotic Shots (Ginger Turmeric): Gut health is so important for athletes and apple cider vinegar is one well-known way to cleanse and rebalance the body. Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar (raw and unfiltered) is such a well-loved product and has been providing wellness benefits to consumers for more than a century. One of their convenient and very nutritionally functional products is Apple Cider Vinegar Prebiotic Shot which also features turmeric and ginger (and a bit of honey) to help reduce inflammation – which is something I personally manage as an older athlete. Check out the Bragg’s product line up at Bragg.com and save 20% on your order with code BRAGG20

Intensive Foot Repair and Multi-Purpose Nail Repair from Kerasal: If I’m not in running shoes, I’m in flip flops – and sometimes that can be embarrassing due to all my runner foot problems including calluses, dry, cracked heels and toe-nail fungus -ugh. Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair makes my heels (and rough big toe) much more presentable with visible results in just ONE day! It’s an exfoliating moisturizer and callus remover with Salicylic acid that hydrates and moisturizes dry while exfoliating away dead skin. I like to apply it and wear overnight with cotton socks, for best results!

I’ve also been using Kerasal Multi-Purpose Nail Repair to help lessen the “shock and horror” reactions people have when they see my feet and the nail fungus damage.  Many of my toenails have been damaged from running, creating a hospitable environment for fungus, which in turn has also made my nails thick and discolored. The patented formula penetrates through the nail’s surface to help restore a healthy appearance – it can also be used on fingernails! It’s the #1 doctor recommended brand, and initial results can start to be seen in a week (although, expect to treat for 3 to 6 months for best results). Try it out and SAVE with this Kerasal coupon.

ll-In-One and Sensitive Skin Liquid Bandage from New Skin®: If you’ve ever run an obstacle course race or are considering it, TRUST ME, you want to have any minor cuts, scrapes, calluses, blisters, and dry cracked skin you have at the start line protected with the liquid bandages from this brand (because SERIOUSLY, who knows WHAT is in that mud)! Unlike traditional bandages that fall off easily when wet, dislodged from vigorous athletic activities, or just won’t work in an awkward and hard-to-cover areas (like between fingers, knees, or long scrapes). These bandages kill 99.9% of germs by providing a flexible seal that keeps out water, dirt, mud, and harmful bacteria.  The Sensitive New Skin® Liquid Bandage are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, plus the application and removal is pain-free. These are available at Amazon and Walmart

Sugar Face Scrubs from Tree Hut make me feel pampered in my skin care routine – especially after a hard, sweaty workout or race through mud, dirt and rough terrain! Tree Hut uses 100% natural exfoliants to help me buff away all the grime, dead cells and impurities from my skin and pores, and brighten my complexion in the process. Plus, the glycerin-based formula also helps my skin rehydrate and feel fabulous. Tree Hut’s Sugar Face Scrub line is paraben and cruelty free, vegan. They do not contain formaldehyde donors and are made in the USA. The line contains four different scents/formulas (being the watermelon-lover I am, I chose the Watermelon & Cactus Water Sugar Face Scrub first)!

 o Hydrating Watermelon & Cactus Water Sugar Scrub

o Brightening Pineapple & Papaya Face Scrub

o Purifying Blueberry & Turmeric Face Scrub

o Nourishing Banana & Oat Face Scrub

Chomps is not actually a new meat stick brand to me, but one I have loved in the past and was so happy to have again — I’m all about getting enough protein for workout recovery and their 1.15 oz sugar free meat sticks  have 9 to 10g protein each! The products, including Original Beef, Jalapeno Beef, and Original Turkey, are made from the highest-quality, sustainably sourced proteins with no hidden, harmful ingredients. Protein sources are never given hormones or antibiotics and humanely raised. You don’t have to be worried about eating something you don’t want, as Chomps free of added sugar, soy, dairy, and artificial stuff like preservatives, colors, nitrates, binders. Beef is grass-fed and grass-finished and turkey is free-range. If you are Paleo, Keto, have gluten and dairy allergies, or just expect the best – then these meat snacks are for you! I like to keep them stashed in my bag when hitting the gym, a road trip, or just a day of errands so I don’t get hangry and end up eating something lesser to this high-quality brand. Save with code BABBLE20 on chomps.com

Shoe Lacing Techniques for Runners – Happy Feet for Miles and Miles

Yes, this is my pile of running shoes for the last year. As you can see, I’m not particularly brand loyal but I have been regrettably faithful in one thing, wearing my shoes laced up exactly the way they came out of the box. I was wondering why my feet hurt a bit. Not hurt so much biomechanically, but hurt more in the little aches and pains way of being rubbed wrong. We all know that over time, this sort of irritation has beastly byproducts – namely callouses, blisters and toenail troubles.  Of course, before you try any of these lacing techniques below, you need to get a proper evaluation of your foot and the right shoe suggestion from a decent running store that knows of what they speak. But, even geared up with a shoe that meets the needs of your foot shape and running style, there can still be nagging issues. Who knew feet could be so happy with just some simple re-lacing solutions?

“Stop Heel Slip” Lacing Solution

I get heel slip frequently, usually because I decide against better judgment that I just absolutely have to put myself in a men’s shoe because it looks cooler than the women’s model. Or, sometimes that women’s shoe is actually running large in the heel counter. Also, the size of my feet are slightly mismatched (a common problem), making the smaller one more prone to slippage.

You can stop heel slip by creating a more secure fit around the ankle without tightening the entire shoe. What you do is lace shoes in a traditional crisscross fashion up until the last eyelet on each side. Then, draw the shoelace straight up and down through the last eyelet, in the process creating a loop the diameter of your pinky finger. Do the same thing on other side. Cross lace ends over the top of shoe and thread each through the opposite loop. Finally cinch to the appropriate tension, tie and run! The loops allow the tightening to stay around the ankle without affecting the tightness up the entire length of the tongue.

“Keep Big Toenail from Turning Black” Lacing Solution

Some might think losing your big toenail is a rite of passage for a marathoner or other endurance athlete. Not only is the problem unsightly; in my experience, the toenail grows back in all malformed and funky. At least I’m a girl and can keep my toenails polished! This problem is caused by running downhill, feet swelling during a long run and also by a mismatched foot size that won’t allow you to get a balanced fit on running shoes unless you’re willing to buy two pairs. I’ve seen plenty of marathon martyrs with blood seeping through the toe box area and I’ve also seen creative folks who have just gone ahead and cut out a little peep hole for their big to stick through!

Thank goodness, proper lacing can lift the shoe upper off your distressed digit and help prevent all of this awfulness. To get relief, thread one end of your shoelace through the eyelet next to your hurting big toe. Pull the end of that lace up to the last eyelet on the opposite side, bringing the lace through to the outside and leaving enough slack to tie off a bow eventually. It looks weird but don’t worry. Take the rest of the lace straight across toward the outside of the shoe and then diagonally up toward the inside of the shoe. Repeat until all of the eyelets are laced. Now when you pull on the outside lace, it lifts the material above your big toe up and off your nail.

“Stop Top-of-Foot Claustrophobia” Lacing Solution

Runners with high arches (like moi) often complain that the top of their foot feels too cramped inside the shoe. In fact, after wearing my shoes for more than an hour of running or anytime just out-and- about, I start to get that terrible feeling of claustrophobia and that I need to rip off my shoes immediately. Sometimes, I feel like my feet are even going numb. However, I was so excited to find out that I can improve both my physical foot and mental states by using parallel lacing.

This technique secures the foot without putting pressure on the top and even looks quite tidy. Start by lacing the first two eyelets on the big-toe side of the tongue (not the first eyelet on either side of the tongue like you normally would). Pull shoelace from first eyelet straight across to the first eyelet on the other side and push it down through eyelet. Now, pull lace straight up the side, skipping over one eyelet, and thread it through the third eyelet. Pull it directly across the tongue again, and push it through the third eyelet on the opposite side. Repeat until all eyelets are laced and tie off in a bow.