Color psychology researches and helps to explain the influence of various colors over our moods, feelings, and even behaviors – including exercise and fitness! Even the idiom, “in the pink,” means “looking healthy”! So, what do you THINK, how do you FEEL, and how do you PERFORM wearing or being surrounded by the color pink?
Most likely wearing pink fitness gear or being in a pink workout will make you feel peaceful, calm and that you are sending out (and attracting) a jovial, gentle positive energy. These pink vibes make total sense considering the color’s more saturated sibling (Red) is often interpreted as aggressive, excitable and even sexually forward. It’s pretty common knowledge (although I personally would not know!) that the holding cells at city jails are painted pink to keep the vibe subliminally laidback and peaceful. Literally and figuratively, pink is red toned down and on a chill pill!
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Pink is also considered “playful” and a color that elicits joy, happiness and even euphoria. I think we can agree that joy, happiness and euphoria are all moods that make exercising a much better experience – who doesn’t love the endorphin-rush high after a great run or productive workout? The playfulness of pink (probably conjured up from childhood days) is also ideal for setting the tone for a fun sweat session. I personally consider my workouts “play time “ and live by the hashtag #KeepingFitFun – that’s my not-so-secret tip for a successful and long-lasting fitness journey. A pink workout definitely has place in my rainbow week!
A calming trail run in nature would make an ideal pink workout.
Great workouts for pink would include gentle yoga flows, peaceful trail runs in nature, and even upbeat (but not over-the-top) group fitness classes. Before you start just slip into a pink top, pink shorts or pink sneakers – and don’t forget about pink yoga mats, pink hats, and a pink hoodie. As an ambassador for adidas.com, I’ve discovered so much functional, fun pink fitness wear to outfit daily workouts and casual living.
A stretch sesh or yoga flow makes another feel-good pink workout!
Pro-pink feelings can vary in degree from person to person, based in great deal on past experiences, personal taste, and even cultural norms. For example, pink is symbolic to trust in Korea and architecture in Latin America. In Western culture, pink is often labeled a feminine or “girly” color for clothing, toys, and textiles. However, it’s interesting to note, that up until the 1940s, pink was a color marketed to and worn equally by male and female youngsters in the United States. In recent years, pink has been trending as a unisex color – I love this pink energy vibe for the guys!
So, can you wear too much pink. I say, there is no such thing as an overly pink mood. But, some say it’s overkill and may bring on “too much” calm and relaxation– and, as a consequence, be demotivating! But I believe you should exercise wearing what makes YOU feel good – because feeling good is the ultimate reward of exercise! GO PINK!
This post is sponsored byCelltrient™,however all opinions, anecdotes, and enthusiasm are my own.
Running and fitness events are more than a “hobby” to me. Competing now for almost 35 years, my competition days are like “pay days” to reward me for all my training, focus and hard work. Obviously, I am hoping to do my very best and I’m definitely not ready to stop at almost 54 years young.
But over the last 10 years or so, I’ve noticed it’s become increasingly difficult to keep up the literal and figurative pace of my younger self. For example, even with similar training, I can only run a single mile at the same pace I could run 26.2 miles years ago. And, after workouts, my soreness is typically more noticeable and the recovery time longer. That can put a damper on my plans. Many times, I feel just plain tired. I’ve accepted and adapted to some of the slowing down, and stopped competing with my past accomplishments. I think you must to some degree to stay mentally healthy as an aging athlete.
However, accepting some of the changes doesn’t mean NOT trying to preserve and improve what I have left! When researching how to optimize my performance as an older athlete, I learned that much of my body’s increasing inefficiencies can be linked to Age-Associated Cellular Decline. Beginning around age 40, and increasing through the remainder of life, all of our cells start slacking off in their respective jobs. The cells just don’t renew and replicate themselves well and this time-related deterioration can start to have a noticeable effect on strength, energy and resilience beginning in middle age and beyond.
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Slacking off (intentionally or unintentionally) is something I’m not ready to do. And, I’m also not ready to take up knitting, scrapbooking, rocking on the front porch or some other inactive pastime anytime soon. I knew I had to find some way to be more proactive about my cellular health and that’s how I found, Celltrient™, a cellular health supplement that targets the power plants of our cells (the mitochondria) to transform how cells perform with age. As time passes, mitochondria start to fizzle out and this negatively impacts cell energy production and can contribute to a build-up of free radicals and oxidative stress within cells. None of this is desirable to me as a competitive master athlete! Check out these informative articles HERE and HERE that explain more comprehensively why and how we age at the cellular level.
I’ve competed twice in the last month, and come in 1st in Age Group and 5th Woman Overall (all ages!) in both!
Based on my lifestyle as an older athlete, I began using Celltrient’ s Strength formula* in November 2020, and am thrilled with how the cellular nutrition supplement is making me feel overall, and specifically in keeping up with my intense training routine. I feel like I have more stamina to get through my workouts and competitions at the top of my ability and also am recovering well afterward.
One of the important active ingredients in the Strength formula is Urolithin A. Urolithin A (UA) is a cellular nutrient that can help to address a decline in your cells’ ability to renew their pool of mitochondria (remember, these microscopic guys are the like the batteries that fire up cells). Since I follow a clean and nutrient-dense diet, I figured I was getting everything I needed to take care of my cell heath from food. But, I learned that UA is not commonly or easily sourced from food. While it is a metabolite formed by gut bacteria after eating foods that contain a compound called ellagitannins (found in things like pomegranates, berries, nuts), only about 33-percent of people have the proper gut bacteria needed to efficiently transform these compounds into UA. Those aren’t the best odds and that’s why I am using a cellular nutrition supplement like Celltrient to help me redefine the way I age!
Celltrient Strength and other formulas are available in capsules or drink mix packets!
If you have any questions about Celltrient and cellular nutrition (or just being a 50+ year old elite athlete), drop a comment here or find me on Instagram @thefitfork Also, if interested, my Celltrient Discount Code JENNIFER overs a savings on product purchases (excluding bundles and subscriptions) at Celltrient.com
*Celltrient also offers other targeted cellular health products including Protect formula and Energy formula. Products available in capsule or drink mix format for convenience! To learn more about Age-related Cellular Decline you can read my past post Three Ways to Age Less and Do More and also visit Celltrient to find the cellular nutrition product best suited for you: Product Recommender
This post is sponsored by Watermelon.org. However, all opinions, content, comments and extreme watermelon enthusiasm remain my own.
Watermelon is a wonderful food for runners, athletes and every BODY with an active lifestyle, plain and simple! Over the years, I’ve shared so many healthy benefits of watermelon and creative ways to use watermelon in recipes AND workouts!
As we burst into spring and soon enough into summer, and fill our hours with more outdoor activities and recreation, I just wanted to touch on the fitness-focused nutritional benefits of watermelon. These include 1) hydration, 2) natural energy, 3) workout recovery, 4) important vitamins and antioxidants
HYDRATION: Watermelon is a fruit you can eat and DRINK! You can actually drink watermelon by making watermelon juice, but eating it is a drink in itself – watermelon is 92% water. For example, 16 ounces of watermelon hydrates your body with about 14 ¾ ounces of water! I think that’s why it tastes extra refreshing after a summer run or day working in the yard. There are many other ways to “drink” your watermelon, these are some of my favorites:
Watermelon Electrolyte Ice Cubes: Watermelon juice and lime juice mixed with Himalayan sea salt, baking soda and maple syrup, frozen and meant to be melted straight in the mouth or dissolved in water. A great way to prevent cramping in high sweat-output athletes.
Watermelon Coconut Cream Soda: Cure your cravings for bubbly without drinking sugary, chemical-laden soda with this easy-to-make fountain-style drink made with watermelon juice, coconut cream, sparkling water and stevia.
NATURAL ENERGY: Watermelon is also a source of natural sugars to fuel your adventures. Most runners go further and farther fueled with carbohydrates! Some mistakenly avoid watermelon thinking it is too high in sugar, but really, it’s quite reasonable and most everyone can eat it as part of a balanced diet. To understand this more, you need to realize that the watermelon Glycemic Load (GL) is actually low at 2 for 100grams of watermelon . . . even though the Glycemic Index (GI) which everyone seems to get stuck on is considered higher at 72 on a 100 scale (BTW, GI isn’t everything, calories vitamins and other nutrients are important too – not JUST the GI number and that’s why you need to consider the GL number too). In fact, many nutritionists feel Glycemic Load (GL) gives a more realistic value of how different foods affect blood sugar than GI because it also takes into consideration the amount of carbohydrate in the food, not just how quickly it turns to glycogen. For reference, foods with a low GI level (under 10 considered low, over 20 considered high), are less likely to raise your blood sugar levels.
WORKOUT RECOVERY: Not only does watermelon replenish your body’s glycogen stores after running and rehydrates with fluids, but it also contains L-Citrulline. Exciting new areas of study suggest that L-citrulline (286- 1266 mg per 2 cup serving) in watermelon may help to support vascular health and help maintain healthy blood flow. With respect to athletic benefits, the optimized blood flow created by l-citrulline may help performance and accelerate recovery. Here are a few post workout watermelon beverages I like to enjoy after a run or workout.
Watermelon Beet Workout Recovery Smoothie: A satiating treat after a hard workout – a protein boost for muscles from cottage cheese and the l-citrulline helps lessen next-day soreness.
Hot Spiced Watermelon Lemonade with Collagen: In cooler weather, I can be chilled to the bone – especially once I stop running. This hot drink is a watermelon workout recovery treat that warms me up, provides all the benefits of watermelon but also with some collagen for joint and muscle management, plus turmeric for anti-inflammatory relief.
LYCOPENE & OTHER IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS: Lycopene is a carotenoid in watermelon that makes the hue so beautifully red. In fact, watermelon is the “lycopene leader,” containing higher levels of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable (12.7 mg per 2-cup serving) – even tomatoes that get a lot of attention. Researchers linking lycopene to benefits in positive cardiovascular health. Also, great news for outdoor lovers! While not a substitution for sunscreen, lycopene in watermelon is an antioxidant that is being studied for its role in sun protection when eaten. A 2-cup serving of watermelon is also a good source of vitamin C (21% RDI) and Vitamin A (18% RDI) and also some b-vitamins, magnesium and potassium.
Here are a couple of my favorite watermelon and tomato recipes, for a double-dose of lycopene and so many vitamins!
Watermelon Veggie Reviver Drink: watermelon, tomato juice, cucumber and a bit of lime and cayenne pepper blended smooth into a tonic that does the body GOOD!
HOW TO EAT WATERMELON: The easiest way to eat watermelon is to slice it up and enjoy cold! A good watermelon is even delicious room temperature, and some science shows that it could maintain more nutrients that way. One thing to know about watermelon temperature though is that if you buy it cold, it should stay cold. But if it is room temperature, it can last about three weeks from harvesting (so I would say 1 week at home, before cut open, just to be safe).
I also think watermelon is amazing with simple seasonings (check out these 4 Ways to Season Watermelon that will Blow Your Mind) or even grilled. Also, another way I add watermelon to my day is just to use as an ingredient in salads (like this quinoa watermelon salad) or no-recipes “throw everything together” watermelon salads (see above) with whatever I have on hand! Today it was watermelon, oranges, avocado, spinach, kale, Marcona almonds, coconut, and dandelion flowers (yes, they are edible)!
How are you incorporating watermelon into your active lifestyle?
Nothing is as clean and fresh as a new pair of white sneakers or white fitness wear. The clean, pristine look of white workout clothing really pops and makes you feel fine. That is, until you get the fabric stained or it turns a dingy grey from laundering. Or, because you spilled a berry smoothie down the front — that would be me!
Find out how to keep your whites white, these white laundry tips will let you keep that pristine look going on at the gym, on the courts, in fitness class or wherever you like to wear your white gear!
The main reason white items become dull is due to incorrect sorting. Maybe you don’t have enough solid white items to make up a full load, so you just toss what you have in with darks or colors. Certain fabrics, like cotton, aren’t colorfast which means that a little bit of the dye seeps out in the water with each wash and sinks, most noticeably, on lighter items. Dingy whites can also be caused by washing heavily soiled white items (like nasty socks from a trail run) with very lightly dirtied items, like that cute workout top you wear to yoga class. In addition to co-mingling colors and levels of dirtiness, the quality of water in your home can also affect the whiteness of whites. For example, water with high levels of iron or hard water, loaded with minerals, make detergents less effective and can be a perpetrator of staining.
BASIC TIPS for keeping white laundry white:
Wash whites in their own separate load, always. Not negotiable.
Use the hottest water that the care label says is advisable. Make sure you actually read the care label!
Look for “bleach alternative” and/or “enzymes in the laundry detergent you purchase.
Don’t skimp on detergent, use the exact amount (and not more) than recommended on the back of bottle. The detergent helps keep the removed dirt suspended in the water during the washing cycle, lessening its ability to settle back in on the fabric. The use of too much though, becomes hard to wash out in one cycle.
For stubborn stains and dinginess, soak fabrics in a solution of water and oxygen bleach before laundering, according to package directions.
Never put a stained item in the dryer until you are satisfied with the progress you have made removing the stain. The heat will “set” it in. While the item is still damp, soak, spot treat, scrub — or whatever is needed — and then rewash again.
If possible, do not dry whites, allow them to air dry. If running tight on hanging space, a fold out clothes drying rack that mounts to wall is perfect for sports bras, running shorts, and such. OR, if you can, drying outside in the sun is a great option, the sunlight offers natural lightening abilities.
And ½ to 1 cup white vinegar distilled vinegar to rinse cycle to help in stain and odor removal. For synthetic workout wear, you can use a specifically designated laundry soap (like this one I use), to help keep fitness clothing bright and odor-free. I give WIN Detergent a big thumbs up!
Install a water softener to help remove minerals from your water supply and thusly fabric mineral stains and dinginess from your white fabrics.
SPECIFIC TIPS for stain removal on white clothes and white workout wear:
Perspiration and greasy stains: Use a clean toothbrush to rub clear-colored detergent or dishwashing liquid into stain. Sweat has a lot of iron in it, and that’s why it can discolor fabric so easily.
Blood stains: The sooner you can attend to a blood stain, the better. Treat area carefully by pouring a little hydrogen peroxide directly on the stain, also treated reverse side of the stain too (flip fabric over). After it bubbles up, add clear detergent and scrub with a clean toothbrush, rising with cold water.
Colored stains: From sports drink and yellowed underarms, apply undiluted liquid oxygen bleach directly to fabric right before washing. You can try a homemade baking soda paste and (2 parts warm water to 1 part baking soda) and scrub into affected area before laundering. For an extra stain removal boost, allow baking soda paste to dry in sun before washing off.
Grass Stains: Treat with baking soda paste (as described at all); rinse; rub in vinegar with a clean toothbrush; launder with an enzyme or oxygen based bleach detergent.
HANDY HACK: I discovered that refillable dauber bottles with sponge or mohair tips (like those you might use in crafting / painting) make excellent, inexpensive containers to hold various homemade stain solutions like bleach water, baking soda water, vinegar water.
HOW TO clean white athletic shoes:
To clean white leather shoes: Use a dry toothbrush to remove and dried mud and debris. Next add several drops of liquid dish soap to a cup of warm water and use this to scrub shoes uppers and soles. Wipe down with a wet paper towel. If stains remain, use an eraser sponge to gently treat the area. Let air dry completely. Any scuffs can be covered with dab-on white shoe polish at this point.
To clean white mesh shoes: Use dry brush to remove dirt and mud on soles. Mesh uppers need to be treated more carefully than leather uppers. Use several drops of clear liquid laundry soap in water and gently rub uppers with circular motion with white wash cloth. Periodically rinse wash cloth to prevent spreading dirt. Use a soft bristled tooth brush to work on more stubborn stains. Carefully rinse shoes under the faucet, taking care not to totally submerge. Use a dry towel to pat off excess water and let air dry. For non-leather shoes, you can speed up the drying process with a mesh shoe dryer bag that attached to the inside door of your drying.
To clean all-white shoelaces: After knowing how to clean white sneakers, you need to make the laces pop, too! For all white shoelaces, use a solution of 3 tbsp. bleach to one gallon of water. Soak laces for 5 minutes, remove and rinse, and then let air dry.
HOW TO clean white hats, caps and visors:
To clean white caps and visors: Do not place in the dishwasher as some suggest. This can leave your cap misshapen. Use a cotton swab, paper towel or white cloth to apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain. Then use a clean toothbrush to work in in, let set and then rinse. If hat is dirty all over with sweat stains, soak it for up to 30 minutes in a bowl filled with warm water, a bit of oxygen-based bleach and laundry detergent. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, dab dry with clean white towel, and air dry with paper towels wadded up to keep the caps shape.
Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Please visit my Amazon Storefront for more finds I love and use to support an active and healthy lifestyle.
I’m a fan of WIN Detergent to keep our activewear clean and stink-free!
You can find WIN Activewear Detergent on Amazon. Raising three active boys (and being an athlete myself), it’s been a huge help keeping sports uniforms and workout clothes clean and odor-free. WIN for the win!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on purchases which helps me run The Fit Fork. For more of my favorite products, visit my Amazon Shop.
Color has a major effect on mood, energy, productivity, and focus – these factors all come together to predict the overall tone for your workout! In general terms, blue is calming and serene, a peaceful choice for yoga. Yellow is upbeat and friendly, the star of group fitness class. And, black is at once no-nonsense, fierce and intimidating – perfect for ninjas and football uniforms alike. But, what about red and working out?
Red is a powerful and eye-catching color that can literally pump a person up – studies have shown that just looking at the color red can increase heart rate! Read on to find more about how the color red can affect your workout and jump into my Gr8teful Red Workout, which is the high-intensity sweat sesh for aficionados of red. Visit PAGE TWO for more!
