The Run, Jump, CrossFit, Trampoline Secret I Just Can’t Hold In!

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

No worries thanks to #AlwaysDiscreetatTarget

Okay, this post is just more proof that I cannot be easily embarrassed, much to my three teenagers’ mortification. That’s one of the better things about advancing in age (and, no, I’m not talking about having older kids who prefer to hang out in the video games department while on shopping trips to Target), but rather the fact that there’s not too much that can make me blush. I mean, geeze, when you are a blogger your life is pretty much on full display – have you SEEN my Instagram account?!

An ALWAYS DISCREET #selfie at Target!

I’ll ask complete strangers what they think of so-and-so, I’ll pose for selfies in the store aisles, and I’ve done handstands and cheerleader jumps in public. I don’t have a problem complaining if I’m getting bad service or a product doesn’t meet my expectations, I hate flying under the radar and blending into the crowd and “YES,” my dear children, I AM wearing this outfit to your football game and/or band concert.

So, do you really think I mind walking into Target to stock up on P&G Always Discreet products? No, in fact, I wanted to load up my cart with tampons, granny underwear, lice shampoo, athlete’s foot spray and other unmentionables that might make my boys (and the cashier dude) really squirm! But, I behaved myself!

Loading up my cart — hey, where did the kids go?!

So, if you’ve had three kids like me – three really large babies with really big heads, you may have had some issues with bladder leakage. This is really all THEIR fault! For years, I would show up at my races wearing shorts that I knew would camouflage the problem and bring along a spare pair to change into right after crossing the finish line. This still didn’t prevent the stress of worrying just how bad “the situation” would be. I’d heard that doing kegels religiously could help, but amazingly it was CrossFit that help tighten up my innards and pulled everything mostly back into place. Sometimes there can still be a little “oops” and an almost unnoticeable liner from Always Discreet keeps me confident to run, trampoline, and jump rope without worry of a puddle.

If you shop at Target (and who doesn’t?) text DISCREET to TARGET (827438) for instant coupons on Always Discreet – they also make pads and disposable underwear in addition the little liners. BTW, coupons expire 12/31/14. Also, now through October 25, when you buy $20 of Always Discreet products, you get a FREE carrying case ($6 value). Look for the Always Discreet display at your local Target! Target has online savings going on, too – enter promo code DISCREET at checkout for a $1 savings. You can also use Target’s “Subscribe and Save” service and have Discreet delivered straight to your door. You’ll get 5% off your order; free shipping and even an additional 5% off if you use your red card. Find out how to get a free sample and more details here.

Care to share on this one? Pees do . .. uh, I mean PLEASE do!

The Run, Jump, CrossFit, Trampoline Secret I Just Can’t Hold In! #AlwaysDiscreetatTarget #CleverGirls #ad

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

RUN HAPPY & RUN FAST + Motivational Fitness Jewelry #Giveaway

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

I have my lucky ladybird earrings, go-to running shoes and a favorite route (and friend) for long runs. Despite all these creature comforts that get me out the door, I often I lose sight of exactly WHY I’m running. Sometimes running seems like such a chore, I will grumble and grouse about it in not-so-eager anticipation for longer than it actually takes to do the run. But, I’ve noticed time and time again that my mood is elevated, my worries are worked out and my heart is lighter when I finally hit the streets to run– although it can take a few miles to get to this RUN HAPPY state of mind. Other times, I’m so anxious and excited to run, I can’t even sleep at night. Can I trust my training, will my performance meet my expectations, and will I really be able to RUN FAST? I’ve been wearing these two motivational bracelets to remind me of why I run – to RUN HAPPY and to RUN FAST. At first, I thought I’d wear them one at a time, based on the type of run on my day’s agenda – like a race, a track workout or a social run with a friend. But, then I had an “aha” moment and realized my ultimate relationship goal with running is to RUN HAPPY and RUN FAST at the same time (well, most of the time). So, now I’m wearing the bracelets as a pair and happily reminding myself that the reality of running fast is all relative.

So, I know you are probably in LOVE with these motivational bracelets too– they are from Words to Sweat By, a fun fitness jewelry and apparel online boutique. The inspirational words are hand-stamped on an aluminum charm and attached to a one-size-fits all jersey cuff. There are TONS of colors and motivational word choices to choose from and the bracelets are a great little gift for yourself or a fitness friend.

Words to Sweat By makes other motivational fitness jewelry and apparel that will inspire you to start a new fitness routine or help push you through those last minutes of a workout or run. With the holidays coming up, I bet any girlfriend in your group exercise class or running club would love receive such a thoughtful and thought-provoking present. If you have a “Best Running Friend,” Word’s To Sweat By even has a Best Running Friend Forever necklace set (one for you, one for her) designed with a running shoe design, race distance and initial letter charm. Hello, can you believe the fabulousness of this necklace that was custom-designed just for ME! A miniature fork is resting on a salad bowl of beaded greens and the words “THE FIT FORK” are stamped on a circle charm. If you want something special made just for you or to give as a unique gift, Words to Sweat By has a lovely selection of custom and personalized items.

RT: Enter @WordsToSweatBy $50 GC #giveaway hosted by @thefitfork #FitnessMotivation #RunHappy #win #sponsored https://thefitfork.com/run-happy-run-fast-motivational-fitness-jewelry-giveaway/

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I have a treat for one of my readers – a giveaway for a $50 gift credit to Words to Sweat By! Don’t walk, RUN over to the website start making your list now – you may be the big winner! Rafflecopter entry below.

This post and giveaway were sponsored by Words to Sweat By. However, all comments and opinions are naturally my own. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Caramel Crunch Apple Nachos & The Running Revolution

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

Looking for a delicious dessert that celebrates some of the fall season’s favorite flavors without making your clean-eating conscience scream in horror? My recipe for Caramel Crunch Apple Nachos is an easy-to-make, fun-to-eat sweet treat that is perfect for a Halloween party, harvest hoedown or any autumn-themed entertaining. I’m planning on making this no-cook recipe again soon as a sensible snack for movie night – since it’s October, I’m planning a classic horror movie marathon with my three teenage boys. With so many apple choices at the market this time of year, this recipe is the perfect time to try that new variety – use just one type of apple or as many kinds of apples as you like in this fruit recipe.

Caramel Crunch Apple Nachos Recipe

4 large apples, any variety (about 2 pounds)
8 oz. light caramel dip from produce section (I used Litehouse brand)
1 cup favorite granola (with or without nuts)
¼ cup mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Cut apples crosswise into ¼” slices. Remove seeds and core from center with paring knife.

2. In microwave safe bowl, heat caramel until warmed and easier to drizzle, about 30 – 45 seconds from room temperature.

3. Layer half of apples on a plate and drizzle with 4 oz. of caramel dip. Sprinkle on ½ cup granola and 2 tablespoons chocolate chips.

4. Layer remaining apple slices on top of caramel-granola-chocolate mixture and then add on remaining toppings.

I also wanted to share with you a book that I’ve been reading – in fact, my running testimonial is featured! The just-published book is called The Running Revolution (How to Run Faster and Farther for Life) and is written by Dr. Nicholas Romanov, a two-time Olympic coach and world-renowned sports scientist known for the Pose Method. When applied to running, the Pose Method® marries gravity, key body position (pose), body weight, support, and change of support into a comprehensive technique that maximizes natural body mechanics, increases performance and reduces risk for injury. I’ve blogged a bit before about what Pose Method has done for me in the last five years and I’m admittedly lucky to have Dr. Romanov’s coaching protégé, Valerie Hunt, as my long-time running partner. I’d chomping at the bits to share more about foot strike, pulling not pushing, “falling” and more, but I also want you to check out the book and come to your own conclusions.

Paperback Version:

Kindle Version:

What is your favorite fall time dessert?

Are you a heel-striker, mid-foot striker or forefoot striker when it comes to running?

#LoveYourAge and Prevention’s #R3Summit

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

To me, the alleged compliment, “aging gracefully,” sounds so woefully outdated that I cringe every time I hear it – it’s like saying, “forget about your dreams, your purpose here on Earth is now positively correlated to your night cream’s effectiveness. Hope in a Jar, I always hated that name. It’s such an old-fashioned and sexist concept, this idea of a woman living out her middle age years and beyond with some sort of passive resignation – hanging up her goals while trying to hang onto her looks. I realize that most of the time, the term “aging gracefully” is bestowed to women who are embracing their natural beauty over a plastic surgery-enhanced appearance. Well, how wonderful (insert sarcasm); however, isn’t the focus still on the exterior image and recapturing youth?

val jen suzanne litehouse caramel cashew bars post

We love our ages — we’re fit, fabulous and all over 40!

Before any guy who reads this blog gets his boxers in a bunch, the sexism around “aging gracefully” is almost exclusively self-inflicted and further perpetuated by women. You don’t hear of some middle aged man deciding he’s too old to wear his bathing suit to the beach or arm wrestle with his juniors. I’ve never overheard two old guys gossiping about “how good” another man looks for his advancing age – they’re just one upping each other with the profit of deals inked, the size of fish caught, golf handicaps dropped or some other measure of manliness. For the most part, the men I know have audacious goals and are always moving forward despite beer bellies, balding heads and furry ears.

I think it’s time we women start focusing less on aging gracefully and instead just live all our years left to the best of our abilities – and let passion trump polish! You are never too old to keep pursing a life dream or set the bar higher on what drives you now — women like Dara Torres and Julia Child stand out in my mind. Dara Torres for sticking with her passion as a world class swimmer long after colleagues had turned in their goggles – extra Olympic gold in the process!

And, Julia Child for finding her passion later in life – she didn’t even enter culinary school until age 36 and then later wrote the iconic Mastering the Art of French Cooking which ended up as a syndicated television show she hosted well into her later years.

“Find something you are passionate about and stay tremendously interested in it.” – Julia Child

So, I’m off my soap box now and want to let everyone know about Prevention magazine’s Love Your Age Day on October 1^st. Like me, the folks here want you to actually start living life rather than worrying about how many candles are on the cake. Prevention magazine has a lot of great content on this topic in the October issue and is kicking it off with a #LoveYourAge celebration on Instagram or Twitter . Please join me in posting a picture that shows how you love your age – don’t forget to hashtag it #LoveYourAge and also #TheFitFork if you have room so I can find the awesomeness of my readers!

I have so many reasons to love my age, but today I’ll share the fitness reasons that (surprise) have nothing to do with running. First, a biggie for me this year was finally getting my muscle up in CrossFit. It took me TWO YEARS of practicing but I was not going to give up! Also, I haven’t been able to do a backbend in TWO DECADES and recently got it back this year (ha- a pun), so this will be the #LoveMyAge pic I’m going to post:

Prevention will also be hosting a Love Your Age panel featuring the amazing Andie MacDowell at the R3 Summit in Austin, Texas on October 16^th and 17^th. The entire R3 Summit is about how you can refresh, revive and reinvent yourself at any age – other topics and the health and wellness conference include beauty, happiness, health, healthy epicurean, mind and body, and peak performance (the founder of barre3, along with others, will be on site leading workouts).

If you are interested in attending (I went last year and it was AWESOME), Prevention has a special offer for my readers! Enter code R3VIB at checkout for $20 off your R3Summit ticket. Also keep up with announcements and other happenings on social media with #R3Summit. Wear your workout gear and I will see you there!

What accomplishment are you most proud of this year? How do you #LoveYourAge ?

This post is sponsored by Prevention magazine, I received passes to the conference and other goods in exchange for promotion. However, all opinions and commentary are my own.

Nike 5.0 Free Review & a Workout They Rocked

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Jennifer FIsher

JD Sports out of London (insert trumpet fanfare) sent me a pair of Nike Free 5.0 TR Fit 4 Print to try out and review. I haven’t run in Nike in like FOREVER, so I was super excited to get my feet to the street in these stylish running shoes that I’ve been hearing so much about. JD Sports mentions how this product is part of the Crosstown Running rage. What is that? I’m from Texas, y’all, but I think it has something to do with Londoners getting into the lifestyle and community of running – and showing off their street chic style while running or just hanging out in their stock of versatile fitness gear.

So, what do I think specifically of the Nike Free 5.0 TR Fit 4 Print? Well, there’s no arguing that the shoe is quite fashionable for pounding the pavement on a run, leaping parked cars in parkour class or just knocking back some beers after work with friends. With quite a lot of print color combos, it’s easy to find just the right ones for your personality – or difficult, if you’re a complicated, multi-faceted . . . err, indecisive person like me.

As for the technical aspects, the shoe is light and has a breathable, engineered mesh upper which I like, especially in this Texas heat. Nike flywire technology provides just enough support and lockdown on the forefoot and an inner sleeve hugs the heel for a snug (but not tight) fit. What I really like about the running and fitness shoe is the sole, which has a nice bit of traction yet is still really flexible meaning – this bodes well for transitioning from a run right into a workout with jumping, burpees and fluid multi-directional movements. I NEED shoes that are flexible in the midfoot and toes and the Nike Free 5.0s totally delivered. Now, if you’re a runner that needs a bunch of stability and support due to biomechanical issues, this may not be the dream shoe for you. But, for the runner who needs a neutral, lightweight, high-performing, flexible shoe – the Nike Free 5.0 will be your new besties!

You also may be wondering what it was like to order running shoes from an overseas store. I was skeptical of delivery time at first but, honestly, my shipment arrived in about the same amount of time as here in the good ole U.S. of A. Now, these shoes did hop the pond by way of London to Dubai to Austin, so they moved a great distance quickly – I hope that translates into my running performance! One thing to know if you are buying running shoes or trainers from the UK, footwear is sized differently. For example, my women’s size 8.5 in America is a women’s size 6 in England – but don’t worry, they have size charts to help you out. JD Sports doesn’t just sell Nike, they also carry Adidas, Asics, Fila and more . . . you really should really check out all their running shoes and get yourself some of that British style!

So, to celebrate all this shoe can DO, I created a workout filled with all the moves it will help you perform better – like running, jumping and multi-directional movements! While you COULD do the Crossfit inspired WOD alone, it’s much more fun to pair up with a friend to push you all the way through the final 2k run! Have fun!

Have you every worn this or any version of the Nike Free? Whatdidjathink?

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The Fit Fork

Category Archives: Fitness

The Run, Jump, CrossFit, Trampoline Secret I Just Can’t Hold In!

RUN HAPPY & RUN FAST + Motivational Fitness Jewelry #Giveaway

Caramel Crunch Apple Nachos & The Running Revolution

#LoveYourAge and Prevention’s #R3Summit

Nike 5.0 Free Review & a Workout They Rocked

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