Health & Fitness - Smoothie Boosts, Supplements & My Fitness Journey

A few years I did something that I never thought I was capable of at the time. I ran a half marathon less than a year after having Sophie (my youngest). I have always used running as my main form of fitness, but the older I got, the less I made time to focus on things like running or exercise or meditation. That year though, I realized that in order to take care of my children, I had to remember to care for myself. So, I decided to start training again and signed up to run the Fox Valley Half Marathon.  The concept of self-care is still something I struggle with as a mom. I won't lie. I still end up putting everything ahead of me, but I am a work in progress and I am slowly getting into a rhythm of self care that I realize is necessary in order for me to be able to be the best mom to my family. It's taken me a few years though and I still have my moments of failure.

So, back to my crazy half marathon story. I ran it, I finished it - I had to drag myself through that last mile and I can recall wanting to walk the last few hundred  yards to cross that finish line. It was grueling and I really hadn't done the full run until race day. I trained for about 3 months, the longest runs I did were just over 7 miles. So I did just over half the half, then before I knew it race day was here and I was like, screw it, just gotta run it all now. That last mile was the hardest, I liken it to the daily struggles I encounter as a parent, worker and entrepreneur. You know you are almost there, but sometimes you want to give up, but you have to keep pushing on. I remember almost stopping right before the finish line and some lady yelling at me to just keep running from the sidelines. A random stranger, I doubt I will ever meet her, but she brought me back into the moment and I huffed it across the finish line. She was like the universe reminding me to just keep going. I swear this is a post about fitness, but I totally learned a lesson that day, that even when we don't think we can do something, the universe has our back. That random stranger on the sidelines yelling at me like the coach I had in middle school during cross country who got my head back into the race. I listened, I finished, I was exhausted, but I completed it. 

The other thing I learned that day though, is that we have to continue to build up our bodies. I injured myself that day....Not because I wasn't training, but because my body was aging and my knees were experiencing issues. Specifically, I was dealing with runners knee. The marathon had me in recovery for a good 4 months and I had to scale back  on running. Thus, why I started on my yoga journey. You can learn more about  my whole fitness journey over the last 2 years HERE. It wasn't until the last 2 years that I have been consistent with my runs again. I take my dog with and it's great for her and me to get in a run at least 3 days a week with each run between 2-3 miles. I try not to over run as that is a major trigger for my runners knee as I am slowly working my way back up in terms of milage. If I do a long run, it is usually between 5-7 miles during a weekend and I only will do that 1 or 2 times a month.    Aside from gradually increasing any hill work, I also only increase my mileage about 10% a week if that. I've been focusing on consitent mileage rather than time or increases right now.  I mix in short yoga sessions at home 2 times a week to help with body elasticity and to strengthen my limbs and joints. I also realized I needed shoes to help support my foot type and gait. You can check out my post on natural running shoes HERE. The other things I learned from that is that I can truly support my body's strength and physical healing with the types of food I eat and supplements that I use.

On my health journey over the last 2 years, the hardest part of my changes included my diet. I made a conscious decision to start to make better ad healthier decisions. Although, I am not a stickler and if the kids want an ice cream, I will indulge because there's no need to suffer in life. I have learned to enjoy leafy greens, and replaced sweets with fruits, but I do all things in moderation and don't beat myself up if I decide to enjoy pizza night with the kids. We absolutely need to find balance in life. Restricting and   I've been using the LUXE Protein and Supplement pack to help kickstart my metabolism and help with energy and keep cravings at bay. A combination of protein shakes, vitamins and supplements helped me get on track to making better food choices. I have maintained my cut back on sugar and refined carbs and pull in more vegetables, fruit and foods rich in fiber. The Luxe shakes are great post workout meals and rather than just drink them plain, I mix in fruit to create tasty smoothies or add in cacao powder and bananas along with coconut milk to create a faux chocolate shake that helps with my sweet tooth. The mixes and vitamins are vegetarian. I find the shakes are good post run to help with recovery. I'll eat a banana before a run for an extra boost to help me get through the run without my blood sugar levels dropping. I'm just looking to maintain, but this product is a great option for those of you weight lifting and looking to make gains.

Smoothies are the easiest in terms of fast breakfasts on the go. In addition to the protein powders, I like to include other things like fruits and spices to shake things up. Just Spices has a fantastic product called smoothie boost that really packs a punch in terms of upping the taste factor of my smoothies in the morning. Packed with healthy vitamins and yet still wonderfully delicious, smoothies are a double threat. Smoothie Boost is a sweet blend of refreshing mint, zesty lemon and orange peels, sharp ginger, and a delicate taste of floral hollyhock blossom. Add some in your blender next time for the freshest tasting spicy smoothie of your life! The smoothies have truly been the easiest way to to get the greens and veggies into my body outside of things like salads. 

Here's a great Recipe to try out: 

Ingredients:
1 cup (frozen) mixed berries
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup coconut milk or water (or even more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon Smoothie Boost
1 teaspoon honey (optional)

Directions:
Slice the banana and add it together with berries of your choice into your blender.
Add the Smoothie Boost Seasoning & blend until you get a smooth texture.
With the blades whirring, pour in milk or water to reach the consistency you like.
Now you can toss a few extra fruits on top and drizzle with honey to taste. 

Enjoy & Share!

These are just a few things that I have found to be helpful to me on my fitness journey when it comes to things like healthy meals, adding more veggies to my diet and supportive supplements to help my body to get stronger.  My major focus, though, has been on finding balance. Balance with loving myself and loving my family. Trying to balance healthy eating with enjoying indulgences every once in a while. Balancing working out with also resting my body and also finding balance within my mind and soul. This journey has been about more than just getting fit, losing weight or trying to reach a goal. It has been more about learning to love myself and appreciate the body that I have. Realizing that when I can appreciate what I have in terms of health and continue towards a journey of self love, I will come into alignment with my best and strongest body. Yoga and mindfulness has had a lot to do with this mindset shift, but I will save that for another post friends. 

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Jen