Things I’m Doing to Better Take Care of Myself in 2021 (and you can too)!

Wow, 2020 may actually be over by the time you are reading this. What a weird, disheveled, frustrating and sad year it was. Some have lost so much – lives, family members, loved ones, businesses, jobs, justice, hope. . .

Despite the it all, 2020 has also provided shining moments of kindness, support, patience, understanding and love.  So, I plan to kick off 2021 with focus on the shining moments and ways I can be part of the collective positive vibe, not the negative. Positivity starts with self-love and self-care – so I’m sharing a few things I’m in January to take care of myself (so I can better take care of others). Continue reading

Spring Break Detox: Jump Start Summer Health & Fitness Goals

This post is sponsored by adidas, however all opinions, comments and enthusiasm remain my own!

Spring Break has come and gone for most of us, sigh. Whether you were celebrating with no responsibilities on a beach somewhere fabulous or partying down with the kiddos at an amusement park, chances are you probably overindulged on food and drink and short-changed yourself on sleep among countless other possible indiscretions (!) Now worries though, life is about balance and it’s easy to get back on track with your health and fitness goals with my holistic “Jump on Summer” Spring Break Detox.

jennifer thefitfork adidas Spring Break Detox

When most people hear the phrase “detox” in a health and fitness connotation, they immediately think strictly a DIET detox, maybe to the extreme like fasting or just drinking juices. But, I’m not really a fan of such food-restrictive detoxing – while my “Jump on Summer” Spring Break Detox incorporates getting back into a clean-eating routine (but not starvation mode), it also attends to the other parts of our lives that may need a gentle (or hard) reset. In addition to eating nourishing foods, focusing on hydration, sleep, meditation, exercise and optimizing free time are all other areas where you can detox and get a fresh start for the remainder of spring and summer. Continue reading

Tips (and Teas) for Sleep Deprived Runners

This post is sponsored by Celestial Seasonings but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for everyone, especially those in endurance sports including running, swimming, biking and obstacle course racing. It’s during sleep hours that our bodies do the bulk of recovery from our daily hard training and builds us into better athletes.  Tips ((and Tea) for Sleep Deprived Runners

A few years ago, I went through a long bout of insomnia (sleeping only 4 to 5 hours a night) and just figured I could power through it with little or no consequence. However, I became increasingly anxious, irritable, had difficulty concentrating and made rash decisions. I wasn’t seeing improvements in my runs and workouts and many days I wouldn’t have the muscle strength or endurance to get them done. My stress was out of control as evidenced by sky-high cortisol levels that would never level out during the day as they should. I knew I needed to do something about my “sleep hygiene” pronto. Creating a “calming” ritual by drinking a healthy tea in the evening, was one of my strategies. Read on to learn my tactics and tips for better sleep: Continue reading

Healthy Desserts for Sweet Sleep

It’s almost bedtime and you’re feeling a little hungry for a sweet treat, should you cave to the cravings, or not? You’d be surprised to find out that a bedtime snack is NOT bad for you. In fact, the right snack may even be able to help you sleep (in addition other great body function support, like muscle and weight management – see my post on this HERE). Healthy Desserts for Sweet Sleep

If you are looking for healthy desserts for sweet sleep, read on to learn about some nutritious foods (with easy recipe ideas) for your after-dinner dessert. The healthy treats are made with foods known for promoting relaxation and sleep! Continue reading

Holiday Gift Guide for Sore, Tired, Hungry Runners

Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy compression socks, massage tools, foam rollers, mobility gear, and special lotions and potions and some good eatin’ that can soothe sore muscles and quicken workout recovery — in my world, this kind of self-care IS the very definition of happiness. That’s why I’ve put together this Holiday Gift Guide for Sore, Tired, Hungry Runners!2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Sore, Tired and Hungry Runners

I’ve compiled a Holiday Gift Guide for Sore, Tired, Hungry Runners with my favorite items to help make muscle soreness and fatigue a distant memory and ready an athlete up for his next scheduled sweat sesh! From totally-worth-it splurges to little stocking stuffers, there is something for every sore and tired athlete in your life  . . .or maybe you! Continue reading