exercise

Always Know Your Heart Rate with Beets Blu HRM

February 2, 2016 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

I like to be active, whether it’s yoga, walking, doing 5ks, stand up paddle boarding, whatever. There’s nothing quite like that endorphin rush. Am I right?! 😉

*Disclosure: I received a free heart rate monitor and wireless key finder in exchange for an honest review on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. This post contains some affiliate links.

However, I’ve never had a way to measure my heart rate, and it’s something that I think is important to monitor.

With that being said, the Beets Blu Bluetooth heart rate monitor is AWESOME! The readings are accurate and work up to 35 feet from your phone. I always carry my phone on a run, but have no way to monitor my heart rate (which is essential for someone with tachycardia, like myself), until now of course! The strap is thin and comfortable, unlike other HR monitors I’ve used. Obviously it’s not comfortable to have a thick, heavy strap when sweating!

There’s a QR code on the box; scan that and you can download the Beets Blu app. The app is where all your information is stored. You can also use it with apps such as MapMyFitness, Strava, RunKeeper, Runtastic, and many more!

[Photos courtesy of beetsblu.com]

You can find the Beets Blu heart rate monitor on Amazon.com (affiliate link) for $44.95.

I also had the opportunity to try the PaperTag wireless key finder.

I’m the type of person who tends to lose my keys in a pile of papers or clothes. Having this key finder is SO helpful, especially because it connects to my iPhone 6 via Bluetooth (Android too)! There’s a QR code on the box, which gives a lot of info on the product/Beets Blu when scanned. I tested it out on my dog for fun; it works really well (up to 33 feet). The device is small and portable. Great for traveling!

You can get one on Amazon.com (affiliate link) for $24.95.

Follow Beets Blu on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest. Visit their website at beetsblu.com.

Do you use a heart rate monitor?
If yes, what do you like about it? If no, what are you looking for in a heart rate monitor?

Share your answer in the comments below! 🙂

Thank you so much for reading my blog!

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Fitness

Huge Merrithew Fitness Prize Pack Giveaway!

September 4, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 22 Comments

This post is sponsored by Merrithew Health & Fitness. All opinions are my own.

Fit friends, I have an amazing giveaway for you: a fitness prize pack from Merrithew Health & Fitness (aka STOTT Pilates) valued at $150!

I found Merrithew last summer during IDEA World / BlogFest with #sweatpink; they have the BEST products for various forms of fitness (pilates, barre, yoga/zen, and core). They were at BlogFest this past July and had a contest for attendants — myself and a few other amazing bloggers won! We each got a prize pack, and were given the opportunity to keep or give away a second prize pack (identical), so here we are!

This is the prize pack that one lucky winner will receive:

What’s Included:

The flex massage stick is hands down my favorite. It’s amazing for sore/fatigued muscles at the end of the day (or whenever ha). But truly, everything is awesome and such great quality!

Alright, let’s get to it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & conditions can be found on the widget, but US & Canada only + 18 & over only please!

If you can’t wait to find out if you’ve won, Merrithew is having a huge sale right now. Visit their shop and the discounts will already be applied.

Thank you for stopping by & good luck! 🙂

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Ambassador Health Nutrition Reviews

Avoid Dehydration With The World’s First Alkaline Sports Drink, Phenoh

April 18, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

I suck at keeping hydrated.

Really, I do. I’m ALWAYS thirsty because of a medication I’m taking, I’m always walking/playing with the kids I babysit, it’s hot in LA, and then add in my yoga and stretching. You’d think I’d be better at it! Truthfully, no matter how much water I drink, I can’t seem to feel hydrated. It’s a never-ending battle and it’s severely hurting my health.

Disclosure: I received a 12 pack of pHenOH as part of my #SweatPink ambassadorship with Fit Approach. Monetary compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

I heard about pHenOH through Fit Approach (I am a #SweatPink ambassador) and thought I’d give it a try! It’s the world’s first alkaline sports drink, which aids in staying balanced during times of stress and exercise! Below is an excerpt from the home page of their website, explaining who they are and what pHenOH is:

A superior, healthy, ALKALINE alternative to conventional sports drinks. Phenoh has redefined the concept of a “sports drink” to reflect the needs of athletes and active individuals alike. Phenoh 7.4, with just 7 naturally healthy ingredients and a pH of 7.4, is everything that your body needs to stay balanced during stress and exercise. This is not an ade, this is pHenOH.

After a yoga sesh; ignore my sweaty selfie & super weird smile! 😉

What attracted me to pHenOH is the pH level. PHenOH’s pH level is 7.4 (alkaline) and is the biggest part of what makes them stand out. If you’re having difficulty recalling anything from your high school chemistry class (ahem, me), pHenOH gives an easy lamens terms summary of pH (website):

The body is naturally alkaline [7.4 pH] and it must stay that way in order to function properly. Stress and exercise cause the production and buildup of acidic compounds in our blood, contributing to fatigue and negative health effects.

Regular sports drinks have an excessive amount of sugar and extremely acidic pH levels. Did you know anything below a pH of 5.5 can cause tooth decay? Super gross. So not only am I not hydrating enough, I’m also most likely consuming things with too high of a pH. In addition to the things I’m consuming, I also have very high stress levels (I rarely have me time). I realized it was time to try pHenOH and see if it helped!

In a nutshell, YEP! After incorporating pHenOH into my daily routine (2 a day for 6 days), I felt more hydrated and balanced. Dehydration causes fatigue, so it was definitely awesome not getting tired a couple hours after waking up. For only have 7 ingredients, I wasn’t sure how it would taste. However, it is delightful! I love the hint of aloe vera and agave nectar.

The Ingredients:

the finest organic aloe vera
naturally low glycemic organic agave nectar
potassium (no added sodium)
magnesium
vitamin C
only 30 calories per 8 ounce serving

Research shows that pHenOH 7.4 (source):

Increases VO2 Max (oxygen metabolism) by up to 10%.
Boosts your endurance.
Enhances your peak athletic performance.
Offsets the effects of altitude on performance.
Buffers your acidic metabolic waste during exercise and stress.

If you’re interested in a Q&A with the founder Alex Schmotter (an avid outdoorsman and dentist), I highly recommend fellow #SweatPink ambassador Kinetic Fix’s blog post!

My honest opinion of pHenOH 7.4 alkaline drink:

Also after my yoga sesh; hydrating with pHenOH of course!

I love it! I’m an advocate for consuming only natural and organic foods/drinks (except the occasional cake from Susie Cakes), avoiding chemicals as much as possible, and easier ways to get hydrated. I can only drink so much water without getting bored; having a tasty, healthy drink like pHenOH is exactly what I need! Oh, and my boyfriend totally loves it. He’s a soccer coach, health coach, swimmer, and exercise enthusiast (he walked 12 miles today if that’s any indication of his enthusiasm), and he’s been stealing my pHenOHs (I caught him red-handed!). He never likes anything I like; so pHenOH and friends, know that this is a HUGE victory! Haha 🙂

Share on social media what you love about pHenOH 7.4 by using the hashtags #GoAlkaline, #FindYourPhenoh, #StayBalanced, & #Sweatpink! You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

To purchase pHenOH for yourself (or friends!), order on Amazon here (affiliate link) or their website. You can also use the store locator (scroll to the bottom). One case (12 pack of 16.9 oz tetra packs) is $28 plus free shipping.

So tell me,

how well do you stay hydrated? Do you drink anything other than water?
When would you incorporate pHenOH into your daily life?
Do you remember learning about pH levels in high school chemistry?

Thank you SO much for reading! Connect with me:

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Ambassador Fitness

Take The Leap Into Yoga With prAna & Sweat Pink (Challenge)

February 2, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 8 Comments

When I think about yoga, the first thought that comes to mind is pushing beyond limits. Yoga tests me and makes me feel strong.

That’s why I am SO pumped to participate in prAna’s Take The Leap 30 days of Yoga Challenge with Sweat Pink. I plan to camel pose my way to a more strong and stress-free 2015!

For me, the biggest challenge when it comes to yoga is doing poses while having chronic pain. Taking the Leap with prAna and Sweat Pink is a great way for me to conquer the obstacles of not being able to complete certain poses.

My favorite place to yoga is outdoors (secluded) because it is so peaceful and rejuvenating.

Here’s a photo of me in my very best tree pose:

I tag:

Christiana from Spilling Coffee N Dropping Things
Jessica from Healthy = Happy
Amber from Bold Fit Mom.

I want these fabulous bloggers to share their very best yoga pose photos, this fun madlib and of course, I challenge them to join me on this fun 30 day yoga journey!

Come on y’all, Take the Leap with me!

Join prAna’s & Sweat Pink’s #TakeTheLeap 30 Days of Yoga Challenge (starts Monday, Feb. 2) and be eligible for a chance to win $500 worth of new prAna gear from their latest collection as well as gift an additional $500 worth of prAna gear to the person of their choice… because isn’t giving as important as receiving? They just launched their new Spring Collection so you best get on it!

If I win, I would gift the $500 to Jessica (http://healthyishappyblog.com) because she is one of my closest friends & deserves it!

Join the Take the Leap with prAna and Sweat Pink Facebook group / event which we’ll use for updates, sharing, and inspiration:

Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1525412337742204/
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/423377431152799

And join the challenge on Instagram, Twitter, and your blog using the hashtags:

#TakeTheLeap

#prana

#sweatpink

And of course, tag @prana @FitApproach (Insta & Twitter)

YOGA ON!

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XO

Lyndsay

Holistic Living Nutrition Personal

GAPS Diet Update – Week 3

May 11, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 10 Comments

A couple weeks ago, I posted about my new nutrition plan and why I was doing it. As a recap, I am following a plan called the GAPS diet, which basically means my digestive system is not a happy camper. The past four months have been very stressful, which led to an excess of cortisol being released (stress hormone), sugar and refined carb cravings, poor nutrition, and then an overgrowth of candida.

(Image Source)

Candida is a fungus/yeast that we all have a little bit of in our digestive systems. However, if it grows out of control, you get pretty scary symptoms. Since starting to detox from things like sugar, soy, dairy, gluten (grains), and refined carbs, these are the symptoms I have experienced:

hives (daily)
migraines (6 days in a row)
fatigue, no matter how healthy I eat
difficulty sleeping
abdominal/digestive pain/bloating
irritability, mood swings, depression
muscle pain, especially in my legs
weight gain
acne (I haven’t had acne in YEARS!!!!)
intense sugar and refined carb cravings

I could go on and on, but those are the ones that really stood out to me. It has been a rough 3 weeks! But I feel like I am finally getting over the hump of the worst part. I started a 21 day cleanse (through Herbalife), I’m taking a supplement called FloraFiber daily (probiotics), and I just ordered goldenseal root (to push the candida out) and another probiotic. I already feel so much better!! I definitely have a ways to go with getting healthy again, but I can already feel a difference, and it is soo comforting!

(Image Source)

Sugar addiction and sugar detoxing are no joke. I was blaming myself for having a hard time cutting it out completely, but I was reassured that it really is my body that craves the sugar! It’s so similar to a drug addiction, it’s crazy. Did you know sugar is 8 times more addicting than cocaine? There was a study done on rats, and the rats chose the sugar over the cocaine every time.

Anyway, I feel like I’m rambling. I wanted to share a little bit of an update about this sugar detox since I know a few of you are following my updates (which I so so appreciate!!). If anything, I have totally learned how essential it is to truly take care of our bodies. Yes, I knew it was important before, but I feel like now, I have a deeper understanding of why we need to nourish our bodies with real food and get those toxins out through exercise. So many of us are living with poor gut health, and we don’t even realize it! I can’t stress enough how important it is to take care of our digestive system. 90% of our immune system is in our gut.

Healthy gut = happy life. 🙂

Fitness

How To Get Rid Of Love Handles

March 15, 2014 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

I often get asked, “How do I get rid of my love handles?” It’s something that men and women both tend to have and both struggle with getting rid of. Myself included.

I found this article that gives 5 simple exercises that are good for getting rid of that fat. You can check it out here!

Of course, in addition to this, it is essential to burn the fat from that area as well. If you spend your time doing side crunches, you will build muscle, but not necessarily cut down the fat in that spot. Therefore, your love handles will bulge out more.

Here is a great video that talks about this more, plus great workouts to do!

What do you do to get rid of your love handles? Is this a problem area for you? Comment below!

Fitness

New Yoga/Pilates Mat!

February 26, 2014 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

New Yoga/Pilates Mat!

I am soo excited about my new yoga/pilates mat! I have been using my boyfriend’s mat, and it’s very old and worn (plus thin and not cushioned at all). I have loved pilates for years, and really want to get my certification so that I can teach it at my wellness center! Luckily, there are tons of amazing places in LA who do certifications.

I decided that with my desire to get back into pilates, I should get a mat that reflects who I am! Pink is my favorite color, so I really wanted a pink mat. When I read that each color of the Aurorae Classic mats had its own “personality” behind it, I got even more excited! This pink mat stands for HOPE.

HOPE- intuitive, faithful, visionary, power of positive thought, energetic & healing

It is PERFECT!! I am very excited for this chapter in my life, and I am very excited to share this journey with you!

Bipolar Disorder Personal

The Chicken & The Egg

December 16, 2013 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

The way the mind and body work together amazes me. I’m so amazed, I’ve made the decision to learn as much about it as possible. A thought that I have been having lately is this: we need to have a healthy mind to have a healthy body, and we need to have a healthy body to have a healthy mind. So, which one comes first? It’s like the chicken and the egg question that we have all heard growing up. Which one came first?

Is our mental health any more important than our physical health, and vice versa? In my experience, it has been one in the same. The times when my my mental health was stable were when I was keeping track of my nutrition and fueling my body properly. With that stability came the strength for me to eat right and exercise. The more I kept my body healthy, the more my mind was healthy, too.

It’s a cycle. In the end, I suppose it doesn’t matter which one comes first. What matters is taking care of both aspects to the best of our ability at all times. Wouldn’t you say so?