Three Running Gifts Under Tree #Giveaway & Santa 6-Pack WOD

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Jennifer FIsher

This post is being sponsored, in part, by Fitfluential LLC on behalf of Koss. Products from Bondi and Pocket Fuel were provided to me for review; however, all opinions are my own.

No need to panic, but there are just 14 days left for Christmas shopping! If you have a runner or fitness enthusiast on your list, I have three inspired ideas to wrap up and hide under the tree. And, because I’m feeling quite elfish (and, girl can only have so much stuff), I’m super-excited to be giving away the whole kit and caboodle. If you win, these three gifts are for YOU; no promises that they will arrive in time to stuff in stockings. So, if you’re interested in gifting one more to your favorite runner, please visit the various websites ASAP – or hit Walmart, Walgreens or Best Buy for the headphones.

Koss Fit Series Headphones: Are you ready to rock around the Christmas tree and all through your wintery runs with a festive playlist of holiday songs? Ho-ho-ho, Koss Fit Series headphones are the way to go! I’ve been running with Koss Fit Series headphones for the last 6 months and they are fantastic! Both the fit clips (which wrap around your ear) and the standard style fit buds are scaled down in size (33% smaller) to better fit the female ear. They don’t hurt, they don’t sweat and fall out, and they let you crank up the carols with crisp, clean sound. Oh, and did I mention that the Koss Fit Series headphones come in five vibrant colors? They are designed for women by women (natch) including the incredibly inspiring Olympic gold medalist, Dara Torres. You can order online now through Dec. 15th in time for Christmas delivery and save 20% with discount code DEC20. If you need a pair NOW, you can find a pair at Walmart, Best Buy and Walgreens – keep your eyes open because I’ve seen them on sale for $19.99. Or, maybe you’ll get lucky and win the pair of coral-colored fit buds in my giveaway!

BondiBand Compression Socks: I’ve tried a lot of compression socks in the last few years and I have to say, the trendy patterns offered by this company definitely put the FUN in functional. If you’re a runner, you probably know all the benefits of compression like increased circulation, decreased recovery time, and less general swelling, cramping, aching and fatigue of the lower legs. Plus, when it’s cold outside, knee-high socks add a little welcomed warmth. I’m giving away this super-cute pair of pastel purple, blue and pink argyle compression socks from BondiBand. The size is medium which fits a women’s shoe size 7.5 to 9.5 and 14” to 17.5 calf measurement.

PocketFuel: I recently met the super-nice folks from this Hood River, Oregon-based company and fell for their products. How could you not love a portable fuel that is made completely from whole foods and tastes incredibly yummy at the same time?! All of their product blends are made from ingredients found in nuts, seeds and fruits. Slow burning and easy to digest, PocketFuel provides a natural and sustained energy boost that will help you perform your best at whatever sport you pursue . . .uh, like running! Available in individual-sized “squish and squeeze” packets or in larger sizes that can be diluted down in a reusable sports bottle in lieu of “goo.” In this giveaway, you could win two really tasty flavors. The first is Chocolate Haze, a mash of hazelnuts, almonds and rich chocolate blended together into a silky smooth sweet delight. The second is Pineapple Coconut, a tropical blend of crushed pineapple, shredded coconut and almond butter. Both flavors, along with their other blends, are packed with vital nutrients including potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium that will help replenish your body and ward off fatigue.

To enter the giveaway, just head to the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post. But, before you do, I think you’ll appreciate this seasonal Santa Six Pack Workout out I whipped up for the CorePower blog. Also want to mention to CorePower High Protein Shake fans; it’s time to stock up because their having a flash 48-hour sale at Amazon.com where you can get $5 off a case. The sale starts December 12th, 2013 at Midnight PST and ends December 14th, 2013 at 11:59 pm PST.

Enter the “Three Running Gifts Under the Tree” Giveaway here:

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Pick-Me-Up Apple Pie Smoothie & #Smoovember Blender Giveaway

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Jennifer FIsher

Hello November, what a wonderful time of year! I am always so thankful for the opportunity to visit with family and friends, enjoy fabulous (mostly healthy) food and soak up the spirit of the upcoming holidays. But, to be honest, things get crazy up in the Fisher house by mid-November. School and extra-curricular activities are in full swing, meaning band concerts, sports banquets, robotics competitions, community volunteer opportunities, and more – whew! Oh, and did I mention I am running the San Antonio Half Marathon (Nov 17) and Dallas Marathon (12/8)? Through all of this, I’m also keeping up with my CrossFit — some days I just feel like I’m barely hanging on!

Some days I’m barely hanging on!

So, when I start going crazy in the mom brain, I want to reach out and grab something immediately comforting for breakfast, something like Fruit Loops or cinnamon rolls or (still being honest here) my kids’ Halloween candy. But, I know starting the day off with a carbohydrate sugar bomb makes me feel even more tired and crazy, so I try to switch my focus to protein. Starting the day off with about 25 grams of quality protein just makes me feel better, perform better and curbs between meal snacking. But, sometimes the thought of eggs yet again (although I love them) doesn’t sound so appealing compared to something like my favorite dessert. . . . apple pie!

So, why not a smoothie with the flavor of apple pie a la mode? And, why not add a little caffeinated tea to help me tackle the day? Yesterday, I whipped up a Pick-Me-Up Apple Pie Smoothie that satisfied all my morning requirements – easy, sweet and protein-packed. I tried out the recipe in the Single Serve Travel Blender Hamilton Beach sent me to test for their #smoovember promotion.

Enjoying a smoothie straight out of the blender jar. Yay, one less glass to wash!

This little blender is pretty cool; you can mix up a 14-ounce smoothie and drink it straight from the jar. That means, if you’re in a rush, you can mix up your favorite elixir and head on your way, snippity-snap. You’re not going to spill any smoothie in the car or subway thanks to the tight-fitting lid with slide-shut opening. Plus, it’s so light and compact; I’d even consider packing it in a suitcase along with my tub of protein powder for a weekend getaway. At less than 20 bucks (at Target), this blender would make an affordable holiday gift for any fitness fan on your list.

Not only am I giving away one of these Single Serve Travel Blenders courtesy of Hamilton Beach and #smoovember, but I also get to treat one of you lucky readers to its super-sized sibling – the Smoothie Smart™ Blender. The 40-ounce capacity blender is perfect when I’m making more than one smoothie at a time. One of the neatest features is the 45-second smart blending cycle that is pre-programmed with the exact number of pulses and speeds needed to whip up the perfect smoothie. And, at the end of the cycle, it shuts off automatically – perfect for this easily distracted mom. Another perk, the no-mess spout means that my countertops stay clean when serving it up into glasses.

I’m including my recipe for Pick-Me-Up Apple Pie Smoothie, you’re going to love it – and you’re going to love it even more in one of these new blenders! You know, Hamilton Beach has been making blenders for over 100 years and they really know what works best! Don’t forget to enter my giveaway at the bottom of the post.

Pick-Me-Up Apple Pie Smoothie Recipe

3 ounces water
1 cinnamon tea bag
1 medium apple, peeled, cored and sliced
2 teaspoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Dash sea salt
4 ounces vanilla almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (“scoop” varies by brand)
A few ice cubes
Optional Garnish: dollop of whipped cream and cinnamon

In mug, boil water in microwave. Let tea bag steep for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, place apple slices in a microwave-safe dish and stir in brown sugar, spices and dash of salt. Microwave mixture on high for 3 to 4 minutes; stopping once to stir. Stick in freezer to cool for a few minutes.

Remove tea bag from mug and add almond milk to help cool liquid.

Add tea-milk mixture, apples and protein powder to blender jar. Pulse mixture until smooth.

Add ice cubes and continue pulsing to achieve the desired consistency. Garnish with a little dollop of whipped cream and cinnamon for an extra treat.

Yield: 1 smoothie

Tip: I often steep the tea and cook the apples the night before, so they are already chilled for the morning. Also, you can make a warm smoothie by omitting the ice cubes and an ounce or two of liquid. Sounds weird, but it’s really good – like drinking pie! However, NEVER make the smoothie with very HOT ingredients, this can be dangerous – the lid can fly off or the glass can crack and explode.

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Cookbook Giveaway | Lighten Up, America!

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Jennifer FIsher

Golly gee, I was just talking about my favorite healthy cookbooks in honor of National Cookbook Month and then a new one (plus a second copy to give away) shows up at my doorstep — Cooking Light Lighten Up, America! I can already tell this collection of regional American recipes is going to be well-worn in no time thanks to the quirky style and healthy spin author Allison Fishman Task puts on so many of my family’s favorite dishes – and new recipe ideas!

Filled with more than 150 recipes with easy-to-follow instructions, helpful healthy tips and beautiful photography that captures every drool-worthiness morsel, this cookbook also exudes the spirit of foodie adventure that can only come from road-tripping from one American food festival to the next. Keep reading on and find out how you can win my giveaway for a copy of Lighten Up, America!

But, here are the Amazon links if you can’t wait to win!

With so many recipes, I devised a simple plan to start my cooking plan of attack! In each of the chapters, I’ve picked one recipe that speaks to me in some way – whether childhood memories, a favorite flavor crave, or just because the photo looks so inviting.

Lighter American Breakfasts:

$tex mex migas$

Tex-Mex Migas are a breakfast staple in my hometown of Austin, Texas. Good for lunch too!

Lighter American Lunches:

Shrimp Po’Boys loaded with pan-sautéed gulf shrimp (rather than fried) make this New Orleans classic my new best friend.

Lighter American Main Dishes:

Another popular dish in Austin (and one more way to use my 75 lbs of Hatch Green Chile), these Chile Rellenos are actually quickly pan-fried for crunch and then baked in the oven – saving loads of fat and calories!

Lighter American Side Dishes:

Not a fan of this veggie until I tried them roasted! Add bacon and it’s better – am I right?!

Lighter American Desserts:

I’m totally making this Triple Chocolate Cake for my husband’s birthday.

To enter the giveaway to win a copy of Lighten Up, America! , just follow the simple Rafflecopter instructions below.
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Time for Socks Talk & Why Everyone’s Doing It + #Swiftwick #Giveaway

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Jennifer FIsher

What do you think about compression socks? Personally, I love them and wear them for both racing and recovery.

Compression socks for the win at CASA Superhero 5k this weekend!

So, what is the science that supports wearing compression socks? There are several theories that explain just how wearing these snug, knee-high socks may help an athlete extend endurance and reach peak performance. The main theory is that the graduated compression of these socks creates better circulation (eg: oxygen delivery) between the lower legs and heart. This improved venous capacity will, in turn, help a runner reach peak performance during a race and recover from muscle damage more quickly. Another notion is that muscle fatigue can be reduced by providing a snug hug of stability that lessens the intensity of lower leg muscle and tendon vibrations that occur each time the foot strikes the ground. And, there is also talk that wearing compression socks may also increase leg power by reducing lower leg fatigue, as just mentioned, and increasing proprioception. Proprioception is just a fancy word for explaining how your mind senses its arms, legs and other body parts during movement and sends out messages to make (hopefully) helpful adjustments for future movements.

So, is there any truth to these claims about compression socks? I’m certainly not a scientist and there always seems to be some study or another that rebukes what another one just said. But, that being said, what I lack in science skills, I more than make up for in social studies and, from what I’ve observed, plenty of runners have found some benefit from compression socks. Just go to the start line of a race and take a look around; compression socks are being sported in prolific abundance on the legs of Olympic elite types to the back-of-the-packers. Personally, I’ve found that when I have to do my speed work on the treadmill (which is more often than I’d like), I notice a huge difference in the way I feel the next day if I am not wearing compression socks. Without, my legs feel completely trashed and it takes an extra day to recover. The correlation is significant enough that I don’t like to take any chances, that’s why I wear compression socks during races as well. The only negative experience I’ve had was during a 50 mile race. Although I had plenty of room in the toe box of my shoes to accommodate swelling feet, the compression socks didn’t want to “give” enough. Repeatedly, I would stop, take of my shoes and pull the sock forward – in the end I lost several toe nails. However, this has not ever been the case wearing compression socks in a marathon. Actually, the toe nail fiasco was partially my fault, since I didn’t test out any of my gear ahead of time for that distance. You see, that’s because I ran the 50 mile race on a complete whim, deciding while on course to finish the race after pacing a friend through the first half (you can read about that craziness here).

Here are some other reasons I like compression socks:

Mental edge: Whether the science behind them is valid or not, compression socks have become a must-have part of my race-ready routine. Just like my lucky ladybug earrings, I feel much more in control and ready to conquer when I am wearing a pair of compression socks.

Warmth: I get cold easily, yet refuse to race in running tights or capris. Knee-high compression socks give me a little extra layer of warmth at the starting line.

Fashion: Sorry if I lose the guys here, but compression socks are so much cuter than they used to be. Forget about orthopedic white ones, they are boring and get dirty too fast. I’m all for bright colors, stripes and sporty designs on my compression socks.

Protection: I have been known to throw down some epic falls while running, and not just on the trail where you might expect it. Compression sock coverage means fewer square inches of my body will get road burned the next time I wipe out. Plus, when CrossFitting, I’m ready to dead lift or rope clip at a second’s notice. Yeah, that’s me doing CrossFit Games Open WOD 13.2 in a pair of white Swiftwicks!

While running Hood to Coast Relay this year and last, the official sock sponsor for our team was Swiftwick. This brand has a full line of sock options to meet a runner’s compression, thermal and wicking needs. Aside from the obvious performance of this company’s socks, there are a couple of other things I love about this brand – it’s completely made in the USA and the prices are really reasonable (only about $25 for knee-high compression socks – that’s a deal!).

Some teammates sporting their cute pink-striped “twelves” compression socks by Swiftwick. Not wearing mine yet because my first leg wasn’t for 12 more hours!

Not all of Swiftwick’s compression socks are knee-highs, in fact most come in traditional lengths. But they are ALL compression socks in the fact that these socks are designed to compress at the foot and move blood flow upward. Another perk, if you have high arches (like me) is that the snug fit provides excellent support right where you need it most.

I’m excited to share the Swiftwick love by giving away a $25 Swiftwick gift card code so that one of you lucky runners can try out a pair (or two) and discover all the benefits for yourself. Just follow the easy entry options below!

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Healthy Snack Solutions + SunRype Fruit Strips #Giveaway

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Jennifer FIsher

School is back in session for the kids and extra-curricular activities are in full swing. Let’s see, we’ve got cross country (two different teams), Pop Warner football, band, robotics team, extreme performance percussion team, Boy Scouts, National Honor Society and school play practices. I’m surely forgetting something. It takes a lot of food to keep the tanks of this crew topped off and ready to roll, and quality snacks become ever so important this time of year when our dinner is often delayed for hours. Plus, I won’t lie; with marathon training and CrossFit workouts, I’m an all-day grazer, so I like to have nutritious snacks on hand so I’m not tempted to pig out on junk food. While some people say “out of sight, out of mind,” I say “out of sight, out of mouth” – I still dream about my chocolate M&Ms.

Veggies always make a great snack. Loaded with vitamins, minerals and micronutrients, plus many of my favorite raw vegetables like mini carrots, sugar snap peas and cucumbers have such a satisfying crunch. One thing I’ve noticed about getting my kids to eat vegetables for a (gasp) snack is the presentation. I’ve had lots of luck getting them to munch on mini salads by making easy-to-grab veggie cups that have a little dollop of ranch dip at the bottom. If you want some other ideas, I did a fun post on this for Litehouse Living on mini veggie cups.

Who doesn’t love popcorn as a snack? The average American eats more than 50 quarts of it a year and I know that I can’t pass up a bowlful once I smell it popping. As an alternative to store-bought microwave popcorn which is packaged with congealed transfats, sodium and chemicals, I like to microwave mine in a brown paper bag, plain and simple! It couldn’t be easier or healthier; most people are surprised to find out this can be done without fats or oils. For a special treat, my recipe for Caramel Almond Popcorn with Coconut Oil and Honey is fun to pack in backpacks or for movie night – and it’s even acceptable to most of my Paleo diet peeps!

Out of necessity, other snacks have to be grab-and-go – I like to call these types of “fast” foods either purse snacks or car snacks! Beef jerky has always been a popular with my family, now we have a new reason to love it even more. Recently at the TriRock Expo I bumped into the Austin rep for Krave Jerky and he hooked me up with some of their gourmet jerky – previously, I had only tried the Sweet Chipotle Beef Jerky but found out this Sonoma-based company has lots of other flavors profiles I love like Black Cherry Barbeque Pork and Basil Citrus Turkey Jerky. Not at all like gnawing on an old boot, as is the case with some jerky; low and slow braising is Krave’s secret to its super-tender texture. I’m a #Kraver!

One of my longtime favorite take-along snacks is SunRype Fruit Strips – they are fruit leathers made with only 100% natural fruit ingredients and no preservatives or artificial colors at all. This season debuted new fun flavors that the kids will love as much as you – Raspberry and Strawberry Watermelon.I also use them as fuel while running — they have 50 calories each, 12 grams of clean carbs and are easy to carry on the course. By the way, for full disclosure, I am an ambassador for .SunRype but would totally eat this nutritious, delicious snack even if I wasn’t. Whoohoo, I think I feel like giving one of y’all a case of SunRype Fruit Strips this week – just check out the giveaway instructions below.

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Tag Archives: giveaway

Three Running Gifts Under Tree #Giveaway & Santa 6-Pack WOD

Pick-Me-Up Apple Pie Smoothie & #Smoovember Blender Giveaway

Cookbook Giveaway | Lighten Up, America!

Time for Socks Talk & Why Everyone’s Doing It + #Swiftwick #Giveaway

Healthy Snack Solutions + SunRype Fruit Strips #Giveaway