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Writings on Fitness, Food, and Life

December 11, 2014

Gifts for the Newbie Fit Friend

by Jenni in Fitness


Gifts for the newbie fit friend
Gifts for the newbie fit friend

Do you have a friend who has recently gotten on the fitness band wagon? Sometimes, it can be hard to shop for these friends since you want to encourage their fitness habit, but not sure what they may already have or what they do not yet need. Personally, I find newbie fit friends to be some of the most fun to shop for! They are so excited about this new fitness world and everything in it can be their oyster. Here are a few of my absolute favorite purchases for that friend who has just gotten into fitness!

1. Foam Rollers ($63.54) These are like the Cadillac of foam rollers. They will last forever, has varying width and densities for a full massage feel, and has less foam than most other rollers. At $63.54, this is also something that most fit friends will not splurge on for themselves.

2. Foot Messager ($39.00) Anyone who has run in old shoes or farther than you planned that week probably knows the pain of sore feet and the dreaded plantar facialis where your arch feels sore and tight all the time. This massager will remove that foot pain and leave warm fuzzies in it's place!

3. Ohm Necklace ($46.00) When I started getting more into yoga the hubs got me a lotus bracelet. This little thing made me feel so special as a person and as a yoga enthusiast. The lotus bracelet is still one of my favorite pieces and the thought behind it inspires me to do my best whenever I see it. A little something that shows we notice hard work can mean a lot more than all the expensive things in the world.

4. Lululemon Beanie ($38.00) This beanie can be worn while exercising as a way to stay warm, or, as a needed accessories in these cold winter months. Don't you just love things with multiple purposes? I know I do! The whole super cute aspect does not hurt either ;)

5. Fitbit Flex ($95.00) If your friend/family member/ person you met that one time at the gym does not have this, it is your duty as a friend to get it for them (or tell them to get it) right away! Fitbits are the best things ever for people just starting their fitness trek. Not only do they measure steps, stairs, and calories, they inspire people to move and exercise far more than said people usually would. Don't believe me, read this.

6. Stronger Bracelet ($25.00) Just like the Ohm Necklace, this bracelet can give your friends warm fuzzies and inspire them to stick to their fitness goals. I also love the engraving, stronger than yesterday because really, isn't that what we all aim for in everything.

7. Blue Apron ($59.95/box) There are two reasons Blue Apron is on this list. The first being that most of the time, being fit goes hand-in-hand with eating healthy. A week or so of Blue Apron boxes will ensure healthy eating (for a few meals, anyway) and also give plenty of cooking ideas, tips, and tricks along the way. And, if you are a Blue Apron customer already, this could be the least expensive gift yet. Each BA member gets five free boxes to share with friends and family. Go on, spread the love!

8. Polar Heart Rate Monitor ($53.50) It is my honest belief that everyone  who works out should wear a heart rate monitor. These will take workouts from grasping at straws in the dark to a complete understanding of how one's body works best. The Polar HRM's are a great intro option since they are inexpensive and easy to set up. The FT4 was my first HRM and lasted me 18-months!

9. Polk Headphones ($53.49) Good headphones are a must when jogging or doing any other single person workout. These Polk inner ear headphones have a sweat-proof design,  interchangeable cords, and an Apple friendly remote option. Yes, I would say these are a pretty great gift!

10. Lululemon Reflective Head Band ($16.00) Nothing says you care more than giving someone something that will help keep them alive. This head band from Lululemon serves that purpose in two ways. One, it is harder to get hit, bumped into, or overlooked when you run with reflective gear. Two, headbands keep hair and sweat out of ones face thus making it harder to trip and fall. Yes, this is $16 of pure love and care.

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TAGS: what, to, get, for, a, friend, starting, fitness, exercise, beginner, workouts, workout, gym, membership, new


June 4, 2014

6 Health Questions I Do Not Know the Answer To

by Jenni in Fitness


Health questions I do not know the answer to
Health questions I do not know the answer to

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There are plenty, and I mean plenty, of ways to find out information on the internet. But, no matter how hard I look, a few questions of mine have still gone unanswered. Like most with a question, my first stop is the internets and it's wealth of knowledge. Unfortunately, these answers seem to not exist or I am at a loss for where to find them. 

I, therefore, set these questions out to the internets. Do you know the answers to any of these or have questions like them? 

1. What is a healthy body muscle percent?

We all know about body fat percentages, BMI, water percentages, and visceral mass, but what about muscle percent? Is there a healthy amount or is it just whatever is left over after everything else is a healthy number? 

2. Should I be sore after a workout?

This one is a little less of an unanswered question and a little more of a question that has many answers, all going in different directions. It also seems to change whenever the mood strikes. Is being sore a good thing for muscle growth like some say, or does it mean we breathed and drank to little?

3. Does height really make a difference to BMI?

It would make sense that it does since BMI only really covers two dimensions and we are three. But, would we have really gone this long in the health industry with something that measures us all wrong? I don't know... we did it with food. 

4. Give me real foods that are healthy and not fads

This is more a statement than a question. I am a bit simple when it comes to food and prefer to stay away from fads and "secret foods that will increase energy and health". I love spirulina and kale and vitamin B12, but there are so many fad mixes and sugar replacements out there; can't we just be healthy without jumping on a band wagon? 

5. Is a gym membership worth it?

We know that working out in groups is better for keeping us on track with our fitness goals, but do gym memberships count as groups? This is something I have been wondering as I have been taking more Orange Theory and Hot Yoga classes throughout the week. Unfortunately, I have found no conclusive data that shows a marked difference between health of non-gym and gym goers to share with you. 

6. What should I avoid to loose weight?

Haha, I tricked you on this one! There is a very good answer to this and one that will have it's own blog post quite soon. People have a predisposition to eat and not eat certain foods from the three categories- fats, carbs, and proteins. One of these three is harder for the body to breakdown and will cause weight gain. Thankfully, close monitoring of how what you eat effects your body, or, a quick genetic test will give you the answer. 

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TAGS: health, and, fitness, questions, not, answered, do, you, know, why, we, are, sore, after, a, workout, is, it, good, or, bad, to, be, what, toavoid, loose, weight, gym, membership, worth, health food, fads, body, muscle, percent, healthy


May 28, 2014

Fabletics Faves

by Jenni in Fitness


Fabletics Spring Faves
Fabletics Spring Faves

Spring definitely feels like it has arrived in Florida. In fact, we have skipped spring all together and gone straight into summer. Sure the hot weather is not my absolute favorite, but boy do I like an excuse to buy new clothes... Especially with all of Fabletics great Spring additions! These are just five of my favorites from their Spring Fling, Graphic Impact, and Tee's lines. Now, to decide which one to buy...

1. Gallant 2. Parapet 3. Brave 4. Cupola 5. Switch Back Tee 6. Poised

 

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TAGS: fabletics, spring, gym, clothes, workout, fashion, fitnessista, fashionista


May 9, 2014

Bag Love

by Jenni in Lifestyle


Bag Love- Herschel Supply Co.
Bag Love- Herschel Supply Co.

We do not talk about random style often on P+K, but today will have to be an exception. When we were in California last year we bought too much and needed a new bag. The hubs picked this one out and I happily accepted. For the hubs and I, picking out weekender bags is something of a hobby. We both have an addiction to weekender bags... Especially me. My closet has an entire rack dedicated to my favorite weekender bags and our guest closet is full of my not-so favorites that I cannot yet bare to give up.

Thankfully, this one has cured my obsessions [for now]. It is so pretty with it's leather straps and red stripe lining, but my favorite part is the zipper shoe pocket that runs the bottom length of the bag. That pocket was the most handy thing ever after running the Expedition Everest Challenge and having super yucky clothes+shoes.

Side note: We will have a full Expedition Everest run-down (so punny!) next week; and did you know it was the last year for it? Seriously curious about what will be taking it's place!

Sure, it is a bit pricey for a weekender, but it is completely worth it! If you have not checked out the bags at Herschel Supply Co., I would recommend doing so for sure. Especially with all those summer trips I know we are all going on :)

And.... To bring it all back to fitness, here is the Herschel Gym Bag I have been eyeing. Happy Weekend!

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TAGS: herschel, great, bags, for, a, vacation, trip, weekend, get, away, what, are, some, best, of, the, most, recommended, trendy, stylish, nice, pretty, gym, bag


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  • Oh look, @jcrew sent us a cat, and in my favorite color too!! How kind of them 😻 http://t.co/MNEjROeSpE
    Oct 14, 2014, 9:54 AM
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