Your Body on Stress and How 5-HTP Helps Calm + $25 #Giveaway

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Jennifer FIsher

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Stress stinks and it really does a number on your body, from insomnia and tummy troubles to general grouchiness! Gee, I’ve never had any of these issues (cough, cough). There are some safe ways you can lessen your response to stress though, including working out, yoga, meditation and non-drug supplements. I’m a big fan of yoga for stress relief (see this past post) and need to make more room for meditation in my life. I also take a supplement called 5-HTP to help support calm and happy mood.

Natrol, a respected manufacturer of vitamins and supplements since 1980, is the brand of 5-HTP I’ve been taking lately. I was familiar with this mood-enhancing supplement previously, thanks to my mom who learned about it from her own healthcare provider. Knowing I had so many of these symptoms shown below, I immediately started taking it, fingers crossed that it was my stress-busing solution.

However, I found that I couldn’t keep with the routine of adding even more hard-to-swallow pills to my daily pile of vitamins (I always tend to go for the gummies, chews and quick melts when available). So, I gave up. That is, until I found the Natrol brand that comes in quick dissolve, chewable tablets in a tasty berry flavor. Natrol 5-HTP dissolves 30x faster than regular tablets, meaning your body can more quickly benefit from the bioavailabilty of the active ingredient – and no water is required to get them down the hatch!

You may be wondering how this drug-free, plant-derived supplement works to boost mood. Natrol H-5TP encourages calmness in the body by naturally increasing serotonin levels – serotonin is the chemical messenger that pulls the strings on our emotions, mood and behaviors. Each bottle of Natrol H-5TP has 30 fast-dissolve tablets in a 100mg dose — look for the purple bottle with UPC: 0-47469-06044-2. Available at mass-market retailers, online retailers, natural food and supplement stores.

Download the $5 off coupon and try Natrol 5-HTP Fast Dissolve for yourself .

Engage and get in on the social action by following Natrol on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

I also want to giveaway a $25 Visa Gift Card to one lucky ready, so that you can try this product out yourself – and spend the extra on something that makes you happy! To enter, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter app below by Feb 1,2016.

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Run – Workout – Roll – Recover – Repeat – ACUMOBILITY #Giveaway

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Jennifer FIsher

Okay, cool stuff going on for this New Year! I’m excited to announce that I am an ambassador for ACUMOBILITY, a really awesome company that provides systems and products to Assess, Correct and Unify (ACU).

The whole elite ambassador team hasn’t been announced yet, the official news is rolling out March 1st but I’ve been given the okay to blab. Apparently, I’m rubbing elbows, knees and shoulders with the likes of World Record holders and other athletes with extreme badassery –. Yup, little ole me.

If you’ve never heard of ACUMOBILITY, it’s time to get acquainted. Their sport specific assessment and corrective programs can help address your individual needs for a given sport or movement. Their goal is improving your active mobilization to unlock and maximize your performance, whether you’re a professional or a weekend warrior. Heck yeah, I’m all about getting after my sports of choice (running, obstacle course racing, CrossFit, yoga . . .blah, blah) with the highest degree of efficiency.

Of course, I’ll be sharing more about ACUMOBILITY later, but today I wanted to tell you all about some mobility tools they sell that will keep you moving and grooving and post-workout and ready you up for beast mode the next day. Oh, yeah – and I get to GIVEAWAY the mobility products to one of you lucky readers, whoohoo!

The Eclipse Roller is brand freakin’ new – it actually isn’t available for shipping until Feb. 2, 2016 – that means the winner is going to be one of the FIRST in the world to have it in hand (and on hammies, neck, back and glutes)! Imagine a regular foam roller, meh. This bad boy totally redefines foam rollers, zeroing in on hard to reach spots and targeting multiple muscles simultaneously, to reduce rolling time

I’m also giving away a pair of the Mobility Balls (Level 1). These seemingly innocent looking guys tackle your trigger points with gusto – of course, you control the amount of pressure, but dang, it hurts so well. Using these neurologically retrain the muscle being worked on to move more efficiently, while enhancing range of motion and muscle elasticity. Two mobility balls can be used for vice-like compression on the spine or joints – they also are useful for stability exercise.

Educate yourself! Follow the very detailed video tutorials to learn how to use best use these products to take your training and performance to the next level.

Enter Run, Workout, Roll and Rebuild #Giveway @ACUMOBILITY #spon

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I am an ambassador for ACUMOBILITY, the sponsor of this giveaway. However, all opinions and enthusiasm are my own.

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That’s It. Fruit Bars – Fuel Your Race . . . or Space! #Giveaway

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Jennifer FIsher

Nutritionally, these That’s It.® fruit bars seriously sound – despite . . .or, make that due to, their simplicity. That’s It takes Mother Nature’s natural bounty and conveniently packages it up for snacking on the go. Their best-selling bars are a combination of two fruits (imagine apple blueberry or apple mango) – and that’s it! There are NO added juices, sugars, concentrates, purees, artificial colors, preservatives, flavorings or the like. Each bar is the equivalent of two servings of fruit, yet has just 100 calories and a nice supply of important vitamins, minerals and fiber (2g to 3g). How does non GMO, non-fat, gluten free kosher, vegan, and raw sound? Roger that! And, even though these bars are made with just fruit, they are diabetic friendly with a low Glycemic Index! Parents love them, kids love them, and athletes like me love them thanks to the convenience, great taste and natural quality carbs that provide quick energy for sports performance.

Oh, and did I mention that astronauts love them too?! Just back in December, That’s It.® took off in space to join astronauts on the International Space Station. After being tested at NASA’s food lab, the bars were given the thumbs up for the cargo mission making them truly “out of this world.” We were at the McDonald Observatory in Ft. Davis, Texas near that time and I kept looking up at the zillion stars in the sky imaging just where those bars were! I did, in fact, see several satellites orbiting (seriously) and imagined them to be like intergalactic ice-cream trucks that were instead delivering That’s It fruit bars!

Because the bars have an 18 month shelf life, are individually wrapped and withstand a wide range of temperatures, they are a natural choice to fuel scientists up in space – and also to keep on-hand for us mere earthlings as we enjoy camping trips, trail running, ultra-marathoning, obstacle course racing, after-school snacks, and any other activity on the planet.

I’m so happy to be able to share the That’s It.® love and goodness! I’m giving away Sample Pack (featuring full-size bars in all 9 flavors) in honor of this company’s stellar achievement in getting their product such intergalactic acclaim! Follow the That’s It.® journey into space on the That’s It! Facebook Page and enter my giveaway via the Rafflecopter app below. Meanwhile, you can purchase these smart snacks at Starbucks, Kroger, Target, Whole Foods and online at That’s It.®

Enter #giveaway #healthysnacks for race or space @thatsitfruit #spon

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This post and giveaway are sponsored by That’s It.®, however, all opinions and enthusiasm are my own!
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Comforting Chicken & Rice Soup Recipe – Really Helps You Feel Better!

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Jennifer FIsher

This is a bad news, good news post. Unfortunately, it’s that time of year when the sneezes, sniffles and the stuffy-head crud comes on. But the upside is that a comforting bowl full of chicken soup (your grandmother’s remedy) actually has some merit to making you feel better — plus, it tastes great too!

I whipped up a huge batch of my Best-Ever Chicken and Rice Soup when the kids came back from our recent trip to the mountains feeling under the weather. I had them licking their colds . . . and the bottom of their bowls in record time.

Dozens upon dozens of scientific studies have investigated the basis for this centuries-old remedy — from how the hot temperature unblocks stuffy airways to how the zinc found in certain ingredients might just shorten the length of a cold. Science aside, it’s pretty much agreed on that slurping up soup helps keep you hydrated, chases away chills associated with fever and reduce certain annoying symptoms of being sick. Plus, the addition of turmeric, a golden spice related to ginger, helps to provide the antioxident power you need to start feeling better.

If you’re not feeling up to par, please see a doctor to make sure it’s nothing serious. But, I’d also highly recommend a batch of my Best Ever Chicken and Rice Soup.

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This easy soup recipe is also ideal for light dinner and lunch leftovers to keep your wellness in check every day of the year. Plan ahead and double the recipe – freeze in single serve portions for busy or sick day convenience.

I’ve used Instantly Fresh Italian Herb Blend as a recipe shortcut to lighten and brighten the broth – it’s a medley of basil, oregano, garlic, red onions, red pepper, marjoram, rosemary and sage conveniently bottled together. I love these freeze-dried Instantly Fresh Herbs by Litehouse Foods — they have a huge assortment (I also love the Mint). Find them in the produce section or herb aisle of your grocery store. Head over to my Instagram profile (@thefitfork) now through this Monday (1/4) at midnight for a flash giveaway for three free product coupons. Look for my Chicken Soup photo and follow the post instructions to enter.

Comforting Chicken and Rice Soup #FeelBetter #BowlofLove #SoupMonth

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Do you have a home remedy for times when you’re feeling under the weather? What is your favorite soup? Please share in the comments below, XOXO — Jennifer

Best Ever Chicken & Rice Soup

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 15 mins

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 large bowls

Ingredients

1 cup (dry) white or brown rice (plus water to cook rice)
8 cups additional water
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
8 cubes chicken bullion
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large white onion, finely chopped
1 medium yellow bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 long celery ribs, finely chopped
2 large carrots, finely chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 tablespoons Instantly Fresh Italian Herb Blend
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare rice according to package instructions. Set aside. In large stock pot, boil chicken breasts in water for 15 to 20 minutes or until no longer pink inside and internal temperature reaches a minimum of 165 F degrees.
Remove chicken breasts from pot, but do not discard water. Skim off any residue not desired in soup. When chicken is cool enough to handle, pull apart with fingers or fork into large shreds. Add back to pot with water. Add bouillon cubes. Turn heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, add olive oil to large skilled and bring to medium high heat. Add chopped onion, bell pepper, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes or until vegetables are softening. Add garlic and continue to cook for 1 more minute.
Add vegetables to stock pot with chicken. Return skillet to stove top. Add Instantly Fresh Herb Blend to pot with chicken and vegetables, keep simmering and stirring occasionally.
To make thickening roux, melt butter in skillet over medium heat. When butter is beginning to bubble, whisk in flour and stir constantly and quickly for several minutes, or until it has turned a light golden brown. Remove skillet from heat and allow roux to cool a bit.
Once roux is no longer hot (can be warm), scrape into stock pot and stir well to combine. Stir in prepared rice. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Continue to simmer soup for 15 more minutes, or until everything heated through.

DIY Citrus Ginger Mint Tea Bags with Honey Crystals

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

Updated on 10/3/2019: Tired of stale, tasteless, un-sweet tea? My DIY Citrus Ginger Mint Tea Bags with Honey Crystals are the perfect solution and steeped in “I cared enough to make them with my own hands,” that they make a thoughtful holiday gift.

Read on to get the recipe and tutorial on how to make your own tea bags: Continue reading →

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Tag Archives: giveaway

Your Body on Stress and How 5-HTP Helps Calm + $25 #Giveaway

Run – Workout – Roll – Recover – Repeat – ACUMOBILITY #Giveaway

That’s It. Fruit Bars – Fuel Your Race . . . or Space! #Giveaway

Comforting Chicken & Rice Soup Recipe – Really Helps You Feel Better!

DIY Citrus Ginger Mint Tea Bags with Honey Crystals