Supplement Strategy of Middle Age Female Endurance Athlete – Peek Inside my Medicine Cabinet

Friends and acquaintances on social media frequently ask me what supplements I use to support my active lifestyle. Partly, I’ve never really answered the question because it feels like opening up my medicine cabinet and inviting strangers rifle through at their leisure. And, also partly because I don’t want anyone to use MY cocktail of supplements as a cookie cutter solution for their needs. That just won’t work, we are all unique people with different needs. Peek Inside My Medicine Cabinet

However, that being said, I think that many of my supplements, considered individually, could help another female athlete (and in some cases, men) optimize wellness and performance . . . and so, I share! But please consult a medical professional if you thing you want to try one or more of these. Read on to learn about my major challenges as an elite master’s athlete (running, obstacle course racing, and CrossFit) and the supplement solutions I use on both a daily and as-needed basis. Continue reading

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Agua Fresca – #NewWayToSparkle Mocktail

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NewWayToSparkle #CollectiveBias

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Agua Fresca is a very low-calorie option to carbonated beverages and makes a fun, festive mocktail for your next celebration or post-workout recovery.

Jennifer Fisher CASA Superhero 5kI’ve got my sparkle on! Not just the skirt or the sweat, but I’ve been making every moment sparkle with Dasani Sparkling, a delicious and healthy alternative to sugary carbonated beverages. I drink a ton of water to support my sweaty lifestyle as a runner, obstacle course racer, CrossFit fan and yoga enthusiast – it’s so important to stay hydrated. However, sometimes water starts to get boring and I need a little treat to top off my tank.

I Don't Sweat, I Sparkle!Enter Dasani Sparkling . . . especially the two new flavors of this sparkling water brand, Tropical Pineapple and Raspberry Lemonade.  Refreshing, flavorful and just the right amount fizz to make me feel like celebrating . . . without the consequences of a cocktail or other adult beverage. It’s easy to transform a can of this no-calorie carbonated water into a yummy mocktail – one of my favorite ways is to add pressed ginger root, stevia and a bit of mint to a can of the Tropical Pineapple flavor. That’s it! Check out the recipe for Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Agua Fresca below!      Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Agua Fresca is a very low-calorie option to carbonated beverages and makes a fun, festive mocktail for your next celebration or post-workout recovery.

We all know drinking water is essential for athletes, but did you know ginger also works wonders on a physically stressed body? In addition to a host of other benefits, ginger eases up inflammation and muscle pain for those days when you’ve gone all beast mode on a workout. Ginger also helps quell nausea – like when that sprint to the finish line has made you feel like hurling in the nearest trash can.  And, if that isn’t enough, ginger boosts the immune system, protects against many types of cancer and relieves migraines.

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Agua Fresca

I hope your enjoy my recipe (below) for Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Agua Fresca – the bubbly water has hints of pineapple complemented with the zing of ginger. Dasani Sparkling has no calories straight out of the can, and this drink stays very, very low calorie yet thanks to the addition of a little stevia along with the ginger.

Dasani Sparkling Water at TargetFind more easy-to-make recipes that are refreshing and fun to make with Dasani Sparkling Water by visiting this link: NewWayToSparkle. Purchase the new, sleek cans of Dasani Sparkling at your nearest Target on the bottled water aisle (near the sodas, juice or on an end-cap) for a special intro price of 3 for $9 (plus a 5% cartwheel offer) now through May 1, 2016. #NewWayToSparkle

Do you have a favorite mocktail? Are you a ginger-lover? What do you drink after a workout?  Please share in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Agua Fresca
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Servings: 1 serving
Ingredients
  • 1 12-ounce can Dasani Sparkling Water - Tropical Pineapple Flavor
  • 1 1/2" length fresh ginger root
  • 1 to 2 packets powdered stevia
  • 1 small wedge pineapple
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint leaves
Instructions
  1. Pour can of Dasani Sparling water into tall glass.
  2. Cut ginger into 1/4" thick discs. Using garlic press, squeeze juice out of ginger directly over glass. Can also use fine grater to grate about 1 to 2 teaspoons of ginger instead.
  3. Add 1 to 2 packets stevia, according to sweetness preference.
  4. Add chopped mint to glass.
  5. Lightly stir to combine. Add ice to top off glass
  6. Garnish with pineapple wedge.

Move More, Sleep More – Holiday Activity Goals

Every morning, a have three predictable thoughts – 1) where is the coffee, 2) how am I going to move more today, and 3) how am I going to sleep more tonight. Bet most of you don’t need any help finding your java jolt, but maybe you also think about making gains in your fitness and sleep routines! Here are two fitness products I recently tried that have been encouraging me to move more and sleep more  — check it out how to optimize your workout and rest time!

 Rem Fit Activity Tracker

MOVE MORE: I love activity and fitness trackers to motivate me through the day. Experts recommend getting in 10,000 steps a day or moving for 30 to 60 minutes – it doesn’t have to be all in one session, all your little movements add up! While I typically move enough, it’s interesting to analyze the data to see where I can make improvements – either to kick it up an notch, or allow myself to wind down and take it easy.

 Rem Fit Activity Tracker

The REM-FIT ACTIVE 200 SLEEP & ACTIVITY TRACKER  is an affordable activity tracker that reports steps, distance covered, calories burned, overall activity and sleep attained and a 360 Life Sore. I’ve found, the battery only needs to be recharged about every 7 days and, while it can’t be worn swimming or in the show, the tracker is splash proof.  Data is accessible via an app for iPhone or Android.

 Rem Fit Activity TrackerOne of the things I really like about this Rem-Fit tracker is the comfort and security of the band – the band is much more comfortable than most brands I’ve tried and I appreciate that there is a little loop catch along with the snap closure that helps keep it on the wrist if the band comes undone. I say this because, errr, I have one tracker that I has dropped off my wrist so many times and then finally to never be seen again. And, this may seem silly (but it’s serious for the fitness fashionista) – you can order a rainbow assortment of band colors to swap out to match your team uniform or daily gym style.

SLEEP MORE: Okay, never again am I buying the cheapie pillows from Target or Walmart – as an athlete and busy mom, my sleep time is too precious to be squandered on an uncomfortable, unsupportive and unhealthy pillow. In the past, my lackluster solution to staying comfortable through the night was a huge nest of pillows in a complicated arrangement. My pillow situation, well, sucked and the lack of sleep was making me crazy not to mention keeping my body from properly recovering and repairing muscle from the day’s workout.

Can't Sleep Funny Pic

I used to feel this way!

So, if the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, then I’m guilty of being a little nuts – or, at least a few hours short of a full snooze. I changed my mattress situation and that helped, but still . . . the pillows. Some of them have been around for years anyway, so time to break free and CHANGE for the better.Rem Fit Pillow

Enter the REM-Fit 300 series pillow. Yeah, it’s more than five bucks, but so worth it.  This pillow helps regulate body temperature during sleep and protects against allergens and dust mites. It also actually adjusts to my preferred sleeping style (which is left side) but also is perfect for back and stomach sleepers. Also, the fibers used to make the pillow provide a 4-way stretch which contours to my specific needs while providing a full range of motion. So glad I bit the bullet and made this pillow part of my overall sleep training plan. Don’t laugh, quality sleep may be just as important as an actual workout – muscles recover and stress stays low (did you know an increase in the stress hormone Cortisol can actually lead to injury?). The REM-Fit 300 series pillow and other pillows in the REM-Fit REST Collection would make a great holiday gift for the fitness fan in your life.

What are you doing to move more and sleep more this holiday season? Or, just feel free to share about coffee in the comments below! XOXO – Jennifer

Wind Down & Restore with Post-Workout Yoga for Athletes

If you’re anything like me, I bet you’re a runner, a weightlifter, an obstacle course racer or some other type athlete who thrives on a tough sweat session but not so much the attention to mobility and cooling down that should follow. Over the last two years, I’ve come to realize that yoga is a fantastic and fun way to stretch out, unwind and realign the body after working out. Plus, it can be done at home in 15 minutes or less – meaning, “I have no time for that,” is a pretty lame excuse!

Post Workout Yoga For Athletes

Forget the hassle of heading to a yoga class after the last mile has been run or burpee been thrown down, Grokker, an online resource of home workout videos, has a relaxing post-workout yoga practice for athletes that really works to help ease muscles and the nervous system into cool down mode immediately following a high-intensity exercise event. Actually, Grokker has 1,500+ fitness videos for to choose from, I just thought you’d like to get a taste of this one I keep putting in my queue – Post Workout Yoga for Athletes.

What I like about this athlete-centric practice is that it gently stretches and opens the body to optimize the workout I just finished. Each pose helps my taxed muscle tissue start to repair while I’m still warm and grounds my energy after being in “beast mode” for a couple hours. Because runners, weightlifters and other athletes tend to have tighter muscles than uber-bendy yogis, I appreciate how this video provides simple modifications so that I can attempt each pose without getting injured.

Yoga Shoulder Stretch and Chest Opener for Athletes

I couldn’t reach my hands together on the other side, but the Grokker instructor showed me how to modify this pose with a yoga strap.

Jennifer Fisher - Beef Team Elite Runner

Home workouts and yoga videos from Grokker round out my fitness and keep me competing at the top of my game.

Plus, did I mention how easy it is to do a Grokker yoga workout at home?! Just log in, search the library and hit the play button – or schedule a reminder for a later date and time!  Somedays, I barely have time to fit in a quick run, let alone finding time to drive to a yoga class in crazy Austin traffic. There’s no denying the social benefits of exercising in a gym or group fitness class, but often – very often – that is not convenient, or even possible. Grokker video workouts have been a solid addition to my widely varied fitness toolbox – there are all types of workouts and even healthy cooking episodes to suit my current interests and abilities.  

 

Here are some other reasons to check out Grokker (in addition to receiving a 14-day free trial and 40 percent discount).

Variety: A library full of 1,500+ premium video classes in popular genres like yoga, fitness, meditation and healthy cooking. Videos last 10 minutes to 1+ hours and are available in beginner to advance fitness levels – you will never get bored!

Quality: Grokker’s videos, made in-house, are beautiful and inspiring to watch – the expert fitness instructors also know what they’re talking about and will wisely teach and lead you through all the steps.

Community: You can contact your fitness instructor to have questions answered and also connect with thousands of like-minded fitness enthusiasts from around the world. You’ll also find all the latest health and fitness tips at Grokker – they keep you in the know and motivated!   

Convenient: Workout as YOUR schedule permits, where, whenever and as much as you want. The Premium videos can be accessed on any device including laptop, tablet and phone.

 

Remember, for a limited time, you can get a 14-day free trial and 40 percent discount on premium memberships, so check Grokker out STAT! 

What is your favorite post-workout stretch or yoga pose?  Have you ever followed along with a video class?  Please share in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Grokker.

How I Wormed my Way to a Turkey Trot Win + Giveaway

The Original Worm - Rolling Body MassagerI’m just sharing a day from my Thanksgiving – it’s all good and I’m giving thanks and feeling blessed!  The morning started with a run – the Thundercloud Turkey Trot (5 miles) in downtown Austin. Well, let’s back that up, it actually started with a worm – The Original Worm. The Original Worm is a massaging body roller that provides trigger point release to combat stiffness, pain and stress in muscles and joints – I’m hosting a giveaway and one of you will win your very own — so keep reading on!

Forearm Stand Variation - TheFitFork.omSo, why might I need to worm? Ha, have you looked at my Instagram profile! On Tuesday I was at the gym, and after my workout I thought I’d wind down with some yoga – it didn’t go as planned. While up in a forearm stand variation, I was taken down my a writhing, hideous calf cramp –  I was trying not to howl and cry in public and after it passed, it felt like I had pulled the muscle. Plus, my hammies and glutes were still super tight from an 8 x 800m marathon workout two days prior.

Thundercloud Turkey Trot 2015 - Jennifer Fisher

The Original Worm GiveawayThe early bird gets the worm –and I’m not kidding. I’ve been putting my way-too-early mornings to productive use with this therapeutic tool – it’s like cross between a foam roller and tennis balls wrapped up in neoprene (pink or black).  At first I was a little freaked out I wouldn’t be able to run the Turkey Trot on strained calf and tight glute. But, after rolling, whacking and a little wiggling, I was able to get rid of all my kinks before lining up on the start. In the end, the Turkey Trot went pretty well despite some rain and muggy conditions – out of a field of 20,000 participants, I trotted away with 7th overall female and 1st overall Master – and my calf kink is gone.

Of course, The Original Worm is a great recover aid too, and worming after a race or intense workout is a preventative measure for stress out muscles. It comes in a carrying pouch and both sizes are small enough to stick in a gym back, but big enough to get the job done.  Just look at all the things The Original Worm can do!

worm collage

So, if you run, Crossfit, yoga, rock climb, parkour, obstacle course race, play basketball, soccer or football, you definitely need one of these WORMS – it’s like having a massage therapist on hand at all times. Also perfect for travel – I use it for relief on plane flights or when stuck at a standstill in my car during rush hour! Oh, and this company is Austin-based which makes me love it even more!

Enter to win your own Worm via the Rafflecopter app below. Also, check out The Original Worm website to get the specs on the two sizes, colors, care instructions, more uses and such. Enter by Dec. 11, 2015! In the meantime, order a few to give as holiday gifts to your fitness friends!

Also, I have another giveaway going on right now for a $25 Visa Gift Card, check that out too – that one ends December 3, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway