Bulu Box

Don’t you just love getting packages in the mail? Even if you ordered the item yourself online and you know exactly what is in the box, you can’t help that bit of excitement you get when you arrive home to see a package waiting just for you. Maybe it is all the memories of Christmas morning, waking up to find what Santa has left for us under the tree. If you are anything like me, when you come home to a “surprise” package on your doorstep, it’s a flat-out race to open the box to see what is inside.

If you want to capture that Christmas morning feeling every month, then you may want to check out Bulu Box. A friend of mine actually turned me on to this and, I have got to say, I really love it. It’s honestly a great concept.

Basically, you register on the site and complete a short “user profile survey”. You are asked questions like:  How often you exercise, what types of exercise you do, if you have any dietary restrictions, and what your health priorities are (to lose weight, try new supplements, eat healthier, etc.) From this profile, Bulu will generate a box of “goodies” sent right to your door every single month. The box will be filled with product samples based on the answers you gave in your user profile. It’s really a great way to try out a product before you decide to buy a full-size version of it.

Another great feature of Bulu Box is their rewards points program. Each month you can earn up to 100 rewards points worth $10 just for subscribing to the service and sharing your thoughts on the products that you receive. Once you’ve earned enough rewards points, you can use them like cash towards the purchase of full-size products. So, when you get a sample that you really want more of, you can buy it using your rewards points!

Each Bulu Box is filled with about 4-5 samples of different products. When you set up your account, you can choose your “box type”. Choose either the Bulu “original” (contains a well-rounded sample of health and nutrition items) or the “weight loss” box (all items pertaining to weight loss. This could be workout DVD’s, supplements, or even small fitness devices)

The retailors that Bulu has teamed up with are all clamoring to get in the box (no pun intended) because they want you to try (and like!) their product so that you purchase them again in the future. This ensures that you will get a nice variety of products each and every month. What is nice is that the sample sizes are sufficient enough in order for you to decide whether or not you really like them.

Bulu Box is the first health, nutrition and weight loss discovery box designed just for you! The profile survey determines what you will get but it is always such fun to open the box each month and discover something new and exciting. Want your own? Use the code  SWEATPINK for 50% off a 3-month subscription. 

Talk Much?

There are lots of ways to be rude in a fitness class, but one of the most annoying situations is a group of chatty people discussing their lives or whispering together as they run on treadmills or lift weights. How about the group of guys who are obvious at class together and each one tries to out “grunt” the other? Even more irritating are the class divas.

There are social “norms” to being in a fitness class. Trying not to throw dirty looks at two people chatting about their fresh laundry or baby bottles, or what about the girl who stops midway between workout sets to send a text? Nothing is as annoying as two people chat about the others in the rooms as they do yoga poses.

Not so long ago a cat fight ensued over, of all things, a spot on the floor. First the talking and whispering was okay, then it escalated to loud talk and then it turned into a cat fight. Two women came to class. One woman took a spot on the floor, and the other attendee whispered, “That’s my place.” A verbal argument started and turned physical. The entire session was ruined for everyone. Rude? Yes and thoughtless. Result? They are not friends anymore. Hope they never come back to class.

Recently while in the gym, exercisers were doing lunges and cardio workouts at full speed, but a group of twenty something's ran, giggled, and laughed out loud. Were they laughing about the other patrons? Seemed like they were. The talking got louder as the workout class carried on. Now everyone in the room knows about what a “b… so and so boyfriend is,” the “wonderful sex” from another exerciser, and how someone is just not ready to “move in.” Ick. You don’t go to class to vicariously live through someone else.

The social butterfly who uses the gym as get-together time. They spend work out stretches talking to anyone within shouting distance. Choosing you as a talking partner ruins your focus. The cure? Plug in your MP3 player or headphones and zone out. If you put your headphones on, you are signaling you are not in the mood to talk. Mentally check out and hint to others that you are not at class to discuss politics.

The ultimate rude act? The know-it-all person who is a friend of the instructor and corrects all your moves and postures. This happened recently in a yoga class where one of the participants and the yoga instructor were obviously very well acquainted. No attention was paid to the rest of the class unless the “friend” gave her obnoxious advice. The entire time the instructor and his “friend” chatted about their latest dinner date and what they were going to do later. The flirting was obnoxious. One very brave yoga student went up to the instructor, gave him a rude look, and walked out of the class.

Tips for good fitness class etiquette mean staying focused. Leave the technology at the door and restrain from chatting. Fitness class is supposed to be a quiet time. Chatting and joking while in class throws off others’ workouts.

#7daystretch

I’m joining prAna and Sweat Pink for a super fun, #7daystretch #liveinprana challenge – it starts today and ends at the end of the week (Sunday, August 30th). Join in on or if you’d prefer to lurk, you can follow along on FitApproach or through the hashtags: #liveinprana #7daystretch #sweatpink!
We’ll be talking about how we (the community) embrace a prAna lifestyle (#liveinprana) and are challenging ourselves to stretch a little deeper, farther and more mindfully for 7 whole days (the #7daystretch). And we’re not just stretching our bodies so you don’t have to be pretzel to join in, we’re also stretching our minds and souls!
I’d love for you @mzmotivational and @novelty718 and @sws0926 to join me for this fun challenge

We’re nearing the end of August and even though the summer is coming to an end, I’m super excited about the Fall because I love the cool air for my outdoor sweat sesh.  In fact, my very favorite thing about Fall is the amazing scenery I have while I workout. I can imagine myself wearing the Quinn Top while I take yoga because it's super cute and it looks like it would be perfect for a class.  
If I had one goal for the Fall, it would be to meditate more regularly because I need to chill  and reflect on this summer. To achieve it, I know I will need schedule the time in my calendar. And of course I want to look great doing it so have the Prism Capri on my wish-list…..

Are There Any Good Multivitamins Out There?

If you have read anything health-related at all in the past few years, you will know that taking a daily multivitamin is the minimum you should be doing for your overall health. And, as quick and easy as it is to pop a pill in to your mouth, it really is a no-brainer. The trick is figuring out which multivitamin brand to purchase. The market is literally flooded! Visiting the vitamin section of any store these days is a completely overwhelming task.

I recently received some vitamin products made by a company called “Rainbow Light”. They gave me these products in return for my honest evaluation and opinion. The first product I tried was the Women’s One Multivitamin. Since this product is made specifically for women, it promotes breast, bone, heart and skin health. It also provides energy and stress support. There is absolutely no stomach upset when taking this product since it is gluten-free, lactose-free, dairy-free, wheat-free, yeast-free, and sugar-free and contains no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or additives (you can’t really get much more natural than that!)

The second product I tried from Rainbow Light was the Gummy Power Sours Multivitamin & Mineral. This vitamin is designed for kids and has twice the recommended daily value of Vitamin C. If you have children, you know that their little immune systems are often working overtime! This vitamin is designed to enhance the immune system as well as provide all the nutrition they need for bone and muscle development. The vitamins come in individual stay-fresh packets. (They remind me of those little fruity candies you can buy in the character shapes) I actually gave these to my husband to try without telling him what they were and he thought they were candy. I don’t think you would have a problem giving these vitamins to your kids daily because, let’s face it – who doesn’t love candy?

The third product Rainbow Light gave me was the Probiolicious Gummies. These are designed for better digestive health. Unlike most other probiotic products on the market, these contain prebiotics to help restore your natural digestion. They are gluten-free and have only 1 gram of sugar per serving. They are completely free of preservatives and sweeteners and contain no soy, yeast, milk, eggs, nuts, fish or shellfish. They are so natural that they are safe for children too! They have a great cranberry flavor that made them very enjoyable to take.

Final product I tried was the Gummy Vitamin C Slices. These fruit flavored yummy-gummies (that is fun to say!) are tasty enough for both kids and adults. These not only give you a super boost of Vitamin C but also provide some Vitamin E, as well.

I was really impressed with all of the products that Rainbow Light gave me. I am most impressed with how natural they are- so you are only putting “good stuff” in your body with these. And, they have made them so yummy (namely the gummy vitamins) that it is really a treat to take your vitamins every day.

#liveinprAna

If you know me at all, you know that I live in fitness clothing! I love how it’s cute, comfortable and I am ready for a workout at a moments notice. Sweat Pink is doing something awesome with prAna and encouraging everyone to get to  #1millionminutes of physical activity this summer. It doesn’t have to be a certain type of workout either. That means everyone you know can participate, friends, relatives and countrymen. To check out more click here  The best part is there is an opportunity to win some amazing active wear from prAna!!!

I'm so excited to rack up more minutes towards our tubular goal of reaching 1 million minutes this summer!  While most of my sweat has come from barre workouts, I have also done quite a bit of weight lifting.

To motivate myself to get from my couch to the barre and through my day, I always have to be armed with Caramel Almond & Sea Salt @kindSnacks. I find that the more fit that I am, the more focused I am at achieving my goals.

Since staying on track requires so much meticulous planning, I think it’s important that I treat myself! If I were going to reward myself with something from prAna this week, it would most definitely be PrAna’s Misty Knickers because I need leggings that move with me when I teach.

I tag @suzBfitness, and @mzmotivational to join me for this week of #1millionminutes for a chance to win some fantastic goodies from prAna!

Tips for gaining better insight on daily physical activities

Guest post from Jamil Paden from @Brotherspodcast

I understand in the year 2015 we are too busy to tackle our physical fitness needs. Lets review an example of a typical day for someone that’s hard working and busy.  

They wake up and rush to get ready for the day. Some people probably purchase greasy breakfast food and coffee outside their homes Monday through Friday. In some cases we purchase lunch at a fast food restaurant. Not to mention the soda and alcoholic beverages we consume in some cases daily.

It’s a large amount of people who own gym memberships, but drive past the gym daily.  Those individuals make up excuses to make them selves feel better.

On the other extreme they arrive home and walk pass the treadmill, which is used as a clothes rack.

Lastly, we read Internet articles, which often state how overweight America has become.  Many hard working and busy people have worried so much about preparing for the future, they often realize abruptly, their chronologically in their 30’s, 40’s or 50’s and full of negative body images.

You may not know me, but I want to help you reach the best shape for you. Once your able to create a more positive workout routine you won’t dread weighing your self on the scale or even avoid the mirror after you exit the shower naked.

Here are a few helpful tips I’ve acquired over the years of research for increasing physical activities for adults with busy lives.

1.     Walk or Ride a bike.

Do you remember when you were a teen and had no license to drive to a store? Well, its time to start walking to local convenient stores near your residence. If there is no store close to you then ride a bike.  The amount of cardio you will achieve will benefit you overall. If your schedule is short on time then start small by walking to the corner of your residence. As time progress simply increase the distance and pace.

2.     Do basic home workouts.

Lets calculate the cost for performing simple push-ups and sit-ups. I hope you arrived at the sub-total Free. If you’re pressed for time then perform a trick I read in a Men’s Health Magazine. Complete 10 push ups while completing each morning or evening ritual. For example: 10 or 25 rep’s between brushing your teeth and starting your coffee. Input a sit-up before you take your shower.  Remember you would design this task according to how busy your day is.

3.     Write down what you’re eating.

Take the time and write down your meals. Once you’re in the habit of writing your meals out you will have the luxury of reviewing your eating habits. The more information you have in front of you the better you can audit your diet and modify some food choices. For example: before you go to bed if you eat junk food like potato chips, you may be able to substitute for crackers or a glass of water.

4.     Prepare your lunch and clothes the night before.

If you believe your evenings are to stressful the previous night then budget 10 minutes on the weekend and prepare your clothing for the week. Overall, you will save so much time in the morning that you will have time to complete that new morning exercise routine you created.

5.     Go to bed on time.

I understand it’s hard for working people to fall asleep before their daily tasks are completed.  Research indicate the more sleep you have the better you feel throughout the day. Listen, one tip to help you fall asleep and remain asleep throughout the night is reducing your electronic screen time. Take away the television, phone, and computer at least one hour before your ready to fall asleep. If you’re like me then you require white noise to fall asleep comfortably. A solution to this issue may simply be, playing your radio or reading an old fashion book.

Try these tips for a least one-week and examine how you feel.  Then think to yourself, if you’re able to complete one week, try another. Then continue until it’s a routine! I understand you may not be able to incorporate all the tips at once, but don’t give up entirely.

In closing, do not feel depressed if you break your routine. It’s okay, most trainers will always express to you its not failure unless you stop searching for routines that works for you.  Just keep trying and never allow yourself to quite.

If you have any questions or want to reach out to Jamil contact him at 2brotherspodcast@gmail.com

Time Is On The Sassy Side

Humor me now. Imagine a world if there was just a few more hours in the day? Just think about how much you could accomplish? The question I ask you now is, would you really get more done? I hear "I'm so busy, I have no free time to workout." Really? I think the honest answer is "I don’t want to make the time" or people just need better time management skills. We are all busy.  Whether you are as busy as you think and say you are. I’m pretty sure that you can squeeze a half hour to an hour of physical activity in every day if you wanted to. If you aren't convinced, how about writing down your typical day on a piece of paper? Be honest now, do you see a couple things that you can do without or do you see where you are wasting some time...checking Facebook, looking a kitty videos on YouTube, etc. I know what you can replace that with, you guessed it, a workout. Do you still think you have no time? Well, you’re just going to have to get up a bit earlier and get it done then. Sound harsh? Not the answer you were hoping for? Sorry! It's the truth! Once you make this a habit, you WILL be thanking me for how good you feel. It takes 30 days to make a habit. You brush your teeth every day right? Make working out just as important to your daily routine.

What Will Fitness Look Like in 100 Years?

“Home is where the health is” will be the slogan to fitness in 100 years. Gone are the days of the gym and the constant working from a treadmill, lifting barbells, or even doing floor exercises. Now it is the fitness of technology, of gels, pills, injections, and brain scans. Getting fit is quick, almost instantaneous, and exercising is done if you are bored.

Exercise Equipment of the Future

The wireless stationary bike looks like a piece of art and can even be hung on the wall. It uses an electromagnetic resistance system. The transmission replicates the effort of pushing on bike pedals and the harder you pedal the more the resistance kicks up. You will have awesome calf muscles with this bike. It is also being transformed into a road bike if you are so inclined to go out into the polluted air.

In just seconds, a 4D scan will capture a 360 degree model of your body and innards, and over 500 body measurements will be extracted. Your measurements will be plugged into the computer in your hand, and you will need to pick out your health requirements. The scan requires you to step through the portals once a day. If you have not gained fitness in any of your 500 points, shocks will alert you to your lax efforts.

Anti-gravity exercise machines will be available in 100 years. These machines use exclusive NASA or space patented technology to make you feel up to 80% lighter. Lack of gravity takes the stress off joints and muscles. You can run all you want on this anti-gravity designed treadmill; you won’t get tired. If you do not have the time to train on the weightless anti-gravity machines, you can plug into the control board and run in your mind. The mind is a serious fitness cube and will transmit our training programs to you muscles and joints.

Heated pods that reach temperatures up to 100 degrees and are designed to melt away your fat while you gently use yoga or Pilate’s moves. The heat literally sculpts your body and the moves are designed to give your something to do while you are “melting.” Yoga and Pilates done the old-fashioned way can give you and awesome body, but the heated pod will make it go faster. You will feel better in a shorter amount of time. You will, of course, need to stay on your nutrition diet that is inserted directly into your stomach.

Massage is awesome, and hydro massage is the ultimate. Get fit and trim while using a hydro shape underwater bike. This futuristic exercise aid combines hydro massage and cycling training. 100 years in the past the machine was used to rehabilitate damaged motor functions, but now it has the benefits of improving muscle growth and reducing cellulite. You will burn calories in a specially designed pool while gently or vigorously peddling through the water. Takes away the hard work needed when swimming or biking.

Gone are the sweaty days of working out in the gym; in fact, there are no gyms only social clubs. Everything is done in a virtual reality. You will look good since fitness and health will be the law of the land.

I, of course, have no idea what fitness will look like but it was fun thinking about all the wacky and crazy ways fitness might be.