How to Lower High Blood Pressure with Lifestyle Changes

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA); however, all opinions and editorial comments remain my own. All content at thefitfork.com is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute the providing of medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgement, advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Did you know blood pressure is the second most common cause of preventable death in the United States from any cause and that nearly half of all adults in the country, an estimated 103 million, have high blood pressure? These startling statistics really caught my attention, especially since cardiovascular disease runs in my family, and I’d like to do everything I can to maintain a healthy blood pressure level and prevent a future heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening condition. Lifestyle Changes that Lower Blood Pressure

May is National High Blood Pressure Education month and I decided this was the perfect opportunity for me to keep sharing about and motivating people to get on board with my two life passions – eating a balanced “real food” diet rich in fruits, veggies, and lean protein and engaging in some form of exercise daily. Read on to learn more about these and other actionable lifestyle changes you can make to help control your blood pressure in a positive way. Continue reading

Tips (and Teas) for Sleep Deprived Runners

This post is sponsored by Celestial Seasonings but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for everyone, especially those in endurance sports including running, swimming, biking and obstacle course racing. It’s during sleep hours that our bodies do the bulk of recovery from our daily hard training and builds us into better athletes.  Tips ((and Tea) for Sleep Deprived Runners

A few years ago, I went through a long bout of insomnia (sleeping only 4 to 5 hours a night) and just figured I could power through it with little or no consequence. However, I became increasingly anxious, irritable, had difficulty concentrating and made rash decisions. I wasn’t seeing improvements in my runs and workouts and many days I wouldn’t have the muscle strength or endurance to get them done. My stress was out of control as evidenced by sky-high cortisol levels that would never level out during the day as they should. I knew I needed to do something about my “sleep hygiene” pronto. Creating a “calming” ritual by drinking a healthy tea in the evening, was one of my strategies. Read on to learn my tactics and tips for better sleep: Continue reading

Proven Ways Runners Can Treat Feet Better – Resolutions for Everyday Foot Care

This year, I’ve made a pledge, a resolution if you will, to take better care of my feet. I’ve been a distance runner for decades and also love to go to the gym, jump around and stand upright a lot of the day for my job. When it comes right down to it, my feet are the workhorses of my life and the very “sole” of my successes . . . and occasional failures. Makes sense, that if I take better care of my feet, my feet will take better care of me!   BioPods insoles provide active stimulous to improve natural reflexes and keep feet and body healthy

Read on to find out my resolutions for everyday foot care, Proven Ways Runners Can Treat Feet Better: Continue reading

Best Race Fuel, Runner Food and Sports Nutrition Products from TRE18

Truth be told, I hardly noticed the razzle-dazzle of all the fancy new running shoes and gear being promoted at the The Running Event Expo (TRE18). When I rolled into the Austin Convention Center at 10am this past Thursday, I was on a razor-sharp focused, food-seeking mission. How could I turn samples of the latest running fuels, bars and drinks into a legitimate morning meal to refuel my earlier run? And, how could I boost my energy later in the day so I could endure to the show floor finish line without bonking? I really, really did not want a DNF this event featuring over 250 amazing brands catering to specifically the running retail industry. 

Of course, this “quest for the best” runner food and race fuels was not an entirely selfish ploy to satiate my own hunger. It was also for YOU that I stalked, sampled, slurped and stuffed myself silly with countless “tastes” of the latest sports nutrition available today . . . along with new stuff rolling out in 2019.  Read on to discover (my opinion) on The Best Race Fuel, Runner Food and Sports Nutrition Products from TRE18. Continue reading

5 Ways to Refresh Tired Runner Feet

Piling on the miles as a runner can make for tired dogs . . . and by dogs, I meet feet that are barking at you for relief. Even if you don’t run or workout much, having a job (err, like being a mom), that keeps you on your toes all day, can also make feet start to feel a little unhappy.ways to refresh tired runner feet

But, moan and goan no more, I’m sharing 5 Ways to Refresh Tired Runner Feet. Read on! Continue reading