{Giveaway} Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation

The following post is sponsored by Girls Gone Sporty on behalf of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation. All opinions are my own.

12week3I’m so excited to share with you an awesome giveaway that two lucky readers will win!

As you may remember this past October I took on the challenge to participate in Michelle Bridges 12-week Body Transformation 4-week program. This program included one week of prep and four weeks of of meal plans, workouts plans, mindset videos and lots of support from Michelle, her team and other participants.

After just four weeks I could really see and feel a difference in my body and my mindset on fitness and eating. I lost a little weight, my clothes fit better, I had an increase in energy, I got back on track with my workouts and the program helped me to eat more mindfully. You can check out my posts here:

This is one program that I ACTUALLY STUCK TO. While I had a few off days I hoped right back into things and I followed through with the four week program and I saw results. I found the prep week to be essential to my success because it helped me prepare for the weeks ahead. I was able to get myself in the right mindset and ready to take on the challenge rather than just jumping in. The workouts were just what I needed to stay on track with my workouts and I loved how flexible they were as well allowing me to chose my setting (indoors, outdoors, gym). Lastly, it was great to have others to connect with via the forums so that I could ask questions and find support to help me push through the hard days. Now you can take my word for it or you can see for yourself what this program is all about and luckily two readers will have their own chance to experience the full program for themselves!

michellebridgesSo the Pre-Season of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation Round 1 is currently in session and open for sign ups! Since Round 1 of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation kicks off February 3rd, 2014 and continues for 12 weeks the giveaway will be open until January 26th so that you have a full week to prepare! The awesome part is that everyone who signs up for Round 1 starts together and and finishes together so you will be taking on this journey with other participants who are ready to get their lives on a healthier track.

Other important facts about Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation:

  • Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformationn program is delivered online by Michelle herself, where she will be your trainer, coach, and mentor at a cost much lower than a personal trainer. The cost is $19.99 per week of $199 one-time-payment
  • Pre-season: Like any great journey, preparation is the key! Michelle has designed 12 Pre-Season tasks to set members up for success and get the most out of their upcoming 12WBT Round 1. Every few days of Pre-Season, a new task will be unlocked for members to complete. Don’t worry these task are EASY to fit in and like I said above they were essential for me to stay on track so don’t overlook them!
  • Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation is not a one size fits all program. It’s customizable based on your fitness level and goals such as weight loss, running or strength training. It is even customizable for those who are breastfeeding or pregnant!

Check out the success stories on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOM8u9XtK8U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As5A4RYa1Hk&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwTTSBoJ1bU&feature=youtu.be

So here is the moment you’ve been waiting for and I am so excited to have the opportunity to offer 2 of my readers full Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation memberships.

Giveaway ends January 26 at midnight EST. Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 Great Recipes For A Healthy New Year

Disclaimer: this is a sponsored opportunity with Foodie.com. All opinions are my own and I am seriously loving these recipes.

Foodie
So it’s that time of year again when we are all looking for healthy recipes to help us stay on track to accomplishing out healthy living goals. However we don’t just want healthy recipes we want recipes that are exciting, tastes good and satisfies all our cravings. I’ve created a collection of my favorite healthy recipes that will satisfy you from breakfast to dinner and everywhere in between.

*If you are unable to see the slide show you can change your settings to allow ads or you can head right on over to the collection here.

Holiday Gift Guide: The Perfect Gift For Active Women

The Koss products feature is sponsored by FitFluential LLC. No other items are sponsored. All items  I personally use and all opinions are my own.

Most of us will have some sort of fitness related resolution coming up for the new year as well whether it is to run a half marathon, join a Crossfit gym or to try a new fitness class. For me the holidays are a perfect time to stock up on new fitness gear and accessories to get ready for the new year.  While I have a number of items on my list I wanted to feature a few of my favorite items for this holiday season.

Holiday Gift Guide: The Perfect Gift For Active Women

1. Koss FitBuds or FitClips ($29.99; however you can find them for $19.99 at Sears, Kmart & Best Buy this holiday season): I just recently tried both of these products out and they are great! I was in need of a new pair of headphones and I have to say the FitBuds were just the right fit for me however I know a lot of people, especially runners, that love the FitClips style. These headphones are designed by a woman for women so (hopefully) that means your husband or boyfriend won’t be stealing them. They are perfect for working out because they are both sweat resistant and they both come with  three sizes of ear cushions so you get the perfect fit.

2. FitBit Flex ($99): Neil bought me one of these for my birthday and although I have misplaced my charger in the midst of our move it is an item that I love. I love that I can tracks steps, distance, calories burned and active minutes. I can also track my sleeping patterns. I also love that it comes in multiple colors and that it is slim and comfortable to wear all day.

3. Reebok Crossfit Nano ($110): So I see they have come out with a 3.0 which I bet is fantastic but I have the 2.0’s and I LOVE them for cross training. Now I don’t do crossfit but these shoes have proven to be fantastic for strength training and cross training. So if you are looking for a good strength training shoe or maybe you are looking to join a crossfit gym these are a great item to add to your Christmas list.

4. Blender Bottle Sport Mixer ($13): I feel in love with so Blender Bottle many years ago and while I started with the original style the Sport Mixer is my favorite. I use it as a water bottle and as a blender bottle to mix up my vegan protein powders. The little whisk ball makes my smoothies nice and creamy. Pair this with a single serving size protein powder for the perfect gift.

5. Rodney Yee A.M. Yoga for Your Week ($20): I know this isn’t the first time and probably isn’t the last time you will see me sing the praises of Rodney Yee at home yoga videos. I am seriously a huge fanatic of his yoga videos because of his calm presence, the style of videos and the variety of yoga options. I love this one because it has five 20-minute yoga videos that you can easily do before you head off to work.

So those are my top five gifts for active women- what is on your list?

12 Holiday Recipes: From Appetizer to Dessert

This post is sponsored by Foodie. All opinions are my own.

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Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner? I haven’t even started to plan my menu yet but I can guarantee you that at least three of the following recipes will be on my list. Now I just have to decide brunch or dinner? What do you prefer?

I have a feeling I might lean towards brunch and do yummy maple pumpkin pancakes, gingerbread and of course we need some chocolate to snack on all day. I also want to make some vegan cheese balls but hmm so many options!!

Here are 12 recipes that I am loving for this holiday season.

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Spirulina In My Smoothie

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Nutrex Hawaii.

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I fell in love with spirulina many years ago now when I first started out as a health coach. I was actually looking for something for myself that would be an excellent source of protein, Vitamin B12 and Iron. As a vegan I have dealt with B12 deficiency and I wanted an easy way to get more in my diet. To be honest it’s not only vegans and vegetarians that often have a B12 deficiency but many omnivores do as well.I found that spirulina is not only is it an excellent source of those but also of Vitamins A, K1, K2 and manganese and chromium.  To top things off one 3 gram serving of Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica provides 60% protein. It is also rich in phytonutrients such as carotenoids, GLA, SOD, and phycocyanin.

While I have tried other spirulina I have found that Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica is one of the top quality and provide so many amazing benefits. These benefits include:

  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Boosts energy levels <– it really does! Take this for 3-5 days straight and you will see a difference.
  • Supports cellular health
  • Supports cardiovascular, eye and brain health <– this is why I give this to my vegan toddler (and why my husband and I take it as well).

Hawaiian Spirulina is packed with nutrients, gram per gram it has:

  • 2800% more beta-carotene than carrots
  • 3900% more iron than spinach
  • 600% more protein than tofu
  • 280% more antioxidants than blueberries

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I prefer to add mine to a smoothie but on days when I don’t have a smoothie I love that Hawaiian Spirulina also comes in capsule form. My (and Edith’s) favorite smoothie is Banana Blueberry Spirulina and this is how you make it:

  • 8oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 banana
  • 1 tsp spirulina
  • 1-2 tsp agave

Blend until smooth and frothy! So easy right?

Have you tried Spirulina? What’s your favorite way to use it?

PNW Winter Running & Mizuno Wave Rider 17

*The following post is sponsored by Fitfluential LLC on behalf of Mizuno. All opinions are my own.

It’s December 4th and I am still running outside! This is just another thing that I love about the Pacific Northwest. Last year I was able to run in mid-January (when we moved here) and it was amazing. I am looking forward to keeping up with 2-3 days of running per week this winter as well however I need to gear up.

Winter 2012-13

Winter 2012-13

Last year I waffled over whether or not to buy a water proof running jacket and by the time I decided to the rainy season was just about over. Here we are again in the rainy season and I think it’s just about time to gear up with a new running jacket. Other essentials for PNW winter running include a brimmed hat to keep the rain out of your face, gloves (!!), warm running tights and of course a good pair of shoes.

As I write this however we are in the midst of a cold spell and it’s actually been colder here than in Vermont AND yesterday there was a dusting of snow. So I guess I might need to get a few new warm base layers as well. Oh how much easier it is to run outside in the summer! Maybe we should move to Hawaii.

While gearing up for seasonal running is important I would say the most important and essential running items you need is a good pair of sneakers. I have been all over the place when it comes to running shoes just based on weight, experience and changes after pregnancy.  The first shoe I ever bought was a Mizuno Wave Rider about four years ago. I loved them but took a break and tried some others but I am glad to be able to try another pair of Mizuno and not just any Mizuno the new Wave Rider 17.

photo 2Why you might also like this shoe:

  • You’re a neutral runner looking for a new shoe.
  • You are looking to train for an upcoming race and need a shoe that will be able to give you just enough support and cushioning for high mileage training.
  • You want a shoe that is not only supportive and good for training but also looks stunning on your feet. photo 1

At this point I have done around 8 miles in these shoes (I just received them a week ago) and I like them. I can’t commit to loving them until I have done at least 20 miles but I am hoping that I do! So now I have new shoes and I am hoping Santa brings me a few of the other essentials above so I can make winter running happen (or I’d take a gym membership and do some winter dreadmill running).

What are your winter running essentials? How do you chose a running shoe?

 

What My Toddler Wears: Reebok VentureFlex

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Reebok and FitFluential. Edith and I both received sneakers as compensation. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Usually I’m blogging about my own fitness gear but today it’s all about Edith. Recently she received her very own pair of Reebok VentureFlex and she is in love. Seriously this girl is crazy about shoes, I mean if she could wear them all day and night she would but these seem to be a favorite of hers. Every morning before we even get dressed for the day she grabs those shoes brings them to me, sits down and asks me to put them on her.

EdithWalkParkReebok

The VentureFlex, which is just for toddlers – girls and boys sizes 2-10, is more than just a cute shoe that Edith loves they are an overall great shoe. Reebok’s Ventureflex has an incredible flexible outsole, a sock liner tool which helps you quickly size your toddler’s foot and also a wide toe box. One feature I really appreciate is that the shoe offers a good amount of flexibility while still being supportive.

Reebok VentureFlex - great for climbing slides!

Reebok VentureFlex – great for climbing slides!

Although we were provided these shoes for free I have to say that as soon as Edith grows out of them I will be buying her another pair. These shoes have proven to be perfect for walks to the park, running around the playground and they have even made a trip to the science museum where they were worn while doing some crazy water play (yes they dried fairly quickly).  Overall a winning shoe and perfect timing as she had just grown out of her first pair of sneakers.

P.S. This product is available at Finishline in store and online at finishline.com