Powered By ENERGYbits

It's Christmas time and I received an early present in the mail this week from ENERGYbits.  The kind folks at ENERGYbits sent me a sample to try out after I expressed an interest in their product. 

Right out of the gate I will tell you to take their advice and don't attempt to chew these little green bits, they look harmless but their flavour is reminiscent of fish food .... or better yet fish food sitting in a fish tank!  It is certainly an acquired taste but these little bits are small enough to swallow quite a few at a time, thus eliminating the need to dig the green crud out of your teeth!  If for nothing else my munching on one single bit provided a laugh for my son while I danced around the kitchen ;)

I held off trying anymore of the ENERGYbits until I could commit to a proper workout, and today was the day!

Before hitting the dreadmill I took 30 bits ... relax, it sounds like a lot but it's not.  They are really quite tiny and it only took 3 swigs of water to get them down the ol' hatch!  I should point out that ENERGYbits are called "bits" for a reason, they are not pills.  Spirulina is an algae that is compromised of 64% protein, 40 vitamins & antioxidants .... taken in the right quantity these little bits are a meal replacement, not just an energy boost.

I definitely felt the energy boost almost right away, I thought it was all in my head until I was on the 'mill.  I noticed that my breathing wasn't as laboured (keep in mind I am a newbie runner) and my endurance was far greater then normal.  I only ran 2.5 miles today because I have taken a few days off and did not want to over do it.  That being said, I felt like could have finished the 3 miles that I normally have a battle with and kept right on going! 


I suspect that the improvement in my breathing and endurance was a direct result of not just the ENERGYbits themselves but more specifically the natural nitric oxide found in these little wonder bits.  Nitric oxide opens up your blood vessels and provides a steady stream of oxygen and nourishment through out your body .... which in my mind can only help!

I would say the best part of these bits would be the clean energy it provides to your body, no caffeine like crash afterwards and no jitters or heart palpitations to deal with during your workout.

There is a whole line of different "bits" .... ENERGYbits are 100% spirulina and are intended to boost mental and physical energy.  SKINNYbits are also 100% spirulina and help to eliminate hunger and fatigue.  RECOVERYbits are 100% cholrella and can assist in preventing colds ... they even help with your holiday hangover!  VITALITYbits are 50% spirulina and 50% chlorella providing a mix of both algaes in a smaller amount.  

I have to admit I was quite impressed with these little green bits, being #poweredbyBITS proved to be a positive experience and I highly recommend this small addition to your daily routine.  I plan on introducing bits into my son's daily regime of hockey and physical activity, I can see it being a simple yet effective addition to his training.  Be sure to pop by their website and check them out on Twitter and Facebook as well.

Cheers to ENERGYbits!

K.

New Found Energy

I have decided to stop being ridiculous and take advantage of the gym that is located at my work, that's right .... I have a gym, a FREE gym ...at my work AND I have been neglecting to use it!  I blame in on the pooches and running home to let them out in the middle of the day, or running home to meet my son during lunch, and I suppose there is a dash of just plain laziness in there as well!  Regardless, I have decided midday is the BEST time for me to get in a workout, anything I do at home on top of that is just icing on my fitness cake :)

We have a great Treadmill (love, love love this treadmill), Elliptical, Weights, Smith Machine and Spin bikes and if I time my workouts right I can have the gym all to myself!  That was my plan today and it worked out perfectly! 


I did my own version of a HIIT.  I likely grouped the wrong exercises together but felt it was a good "mix" and as a result my workout felt great!


 



HIIT
Dreadmill Run 5 min
Push Ups  10-12 reps
Medicine Ball Chops 10-12 each side
Squat/Shoulder Press Combo w/weights 10 reps
Stationary Lunges/Bicep Curl Combo w/weights 10 reps each side
Incline Chest Press/Fly (obviously with weights!) 10-12 reps each exercise
Repeat the circuit 3 times and finish with a 4th Dreadmill run for good measure!  I finished it all off with 5 minutes on the spin bike because my legs really have a long way to go in terms of strength building and they needed to finish with something they were comfortable with!

I need to look into more ideas for exercises incorporating Medicine Balls .... I like the variation and  have only used them once in the past.  So yet again, I have some reading to do!  What are your favourite exercises ... I'm open to suggestions!

Also, super exciting news ... Last night during the #Fitblog Twitter Chat I chatted a bit with @ENERGYbits and they are sending me samples in the mail today!!!  I can't wait to try them.  The benefits of algae are just unreal.  I have only begun to look into this super food, I see a new obsession on the horizon!  Stay tuned :)

Cheers!

Roll .... on a piece of Foam???




via Runner's World

 
I've been hearing lots about Foam Rolling lately and have decided that I now need to expand my knowledge base beyond my obvious and somewhat literal interpretation of .... "you want me to roll?  On a piece of foam???"

It makes sense, I have used a tennis ball or a frozen bottle of water to relieve Plantar Fasciitis pain so I suppose a foam roller over other muscle groups would be a logical progression. 

I found a fantastic infographic from the folks over at Greatist that outlines the basics with various ways to introduce Foam Rolling into your workout regime.  Personally I would rather enlist a masseuse but that likely isn't in the budget and I figure I have nothing to lose by investing in a piece of foam that could potentially speed recovery, release muscle tension and prevent injuries! 

I have committed to the Runner's World 2012 Holiday Run Streak and the 5:5:5 Challenge with @FauxRunner so learning the foam rolling basics are now a necessity of my imminent future so this raelly is a rather timely post that clearly identifies my need to learn and diversify as I attempt to tackle this running bugaboo that has always haunted me.

Cheers all ....
K.

Motivation Monday

It's the start of another week and we are that much closer to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  I always find myself muttering the Monday Blah's but luckily they are generally over before my first cup of coffee :)

Today I am trying to come up with new ways to motivate myself.  Running and maintaining a running program is my main goal right now but I know myself and can admit that I have to diversify in order to stay motivated and interested!  I am thinking of adding in some TRX workouts to the mix, at this point I need to find what's the best balance and not do the dreaded too much, too soon routine!  So now it comes down to the question of high reps/quick transitions to get through a whole body workout or concentrate on different body parts each day?  I have always been a lover of each workout being dedicated to specific body parts, I don't know why but I tend to think it helps me focus.  Regardless, adding in some different elements to my workouts will certainly help keep me motivated!

I am thinking of committing to the Runner's World 2012 Holiday Running Streak .... you pledge to run 1 mile (minimum) per day between Thanksgiving (American of course) and New Year's Day.  Probably more ambitious then I should be committing to but why not give it a whirl?  I need to learn how to set goals instead of being afraid of not reaching them.  Starting this Thursday I will run at least 1 mile a day .... there I said it.  I will keep up with the running program suggested by J and then on rest days squeeze in a quick 1mile (and by quick I mean "my quick"!)

Feeling motivated already, Happy Monday!

Cheers,
K.

Back on the Mill

Hit the Dreadmill tonight for a run ... First one in a week :(

I'm sad because I had been hoping to have a full week's worth of planned runs under my belt but my cold resurfaced and set me back yet again.  Today's plan was 3miles doing 3&1 ... With a 5min warm up and a 5min cool down.  At my slow speed that ends up being 1/4mile warm up and 1/4mile cool down leaving me an even 2.5miles to run 3&1 .... Normally my rest periods have been longer so this was an adjustment for me but it still felt great!

A friend of mine has graciously agreed to coach me on this running journey, his suggestion was to start back at square one with 3&1 until I was comfortable, even if that takes two weeks of running at these intervals to get there.  I am determined to do this but definitely need suggestions and tips along the way to succeed and am thankful for J's input and encouragement.  And I even finished my workout with a little TRX to spice things up a bit!

Dinner tonight was .... you guessed it, Kale!  With quinoa, bell peppers and puréed tomatoes with garlic.  DeeLish!!! And the hubs even enjoyed it too :)

All in all, a good day!  I just really need to make an effort at breakfast time, coffee seems to be all I can squeeze into my schedule in the morning which is horrible habit, I am doing zero favours for my metabolism! New goal ... Eat brekkie, everyday!

Cheers,
K.