Activewear Made in the U.S.A

September 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

I am and always have been very patriotic. When possible, I prefer to buy things made in the USA, and I shop local a good bit. That’s why I was super excited to learn about Vast Terrain, which takes “A different approach to premium activewear”.  They stand on these key principles:  (1) a transparent model of both pricing and supply chain, (2) made in the USA, (3) being sold “direct to consumer” without the retail markup and (4) using only proprietary technical fabrics.  

Vast terrain activewear made in the USA

I wanted to know more, so I dug a little deeper. Their website has a ton of info, so it was easy to see their transparency, which after talking to the owners, is very important to them. 99% of their production value is sourced in the USA!

So how did they get started? “The Gillerts, both 47 years old, were inspired by their own outdoor adventures, including scaling Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mount Elbrus in Russia. They wanted activewear that was made in the U.S., but couldn’t find it.” (Currently, their office is right here in Tampa!)

The fabric was also of great importance to them. They wanted it to be soft (which it really is!), protect from moisture buildup, and provide odor control. It was time-consuming and tedious to find what they were looking for, but after research, trips to factories and hundreds of phone calls to mills, they were able to create a game plan.

To give you an example of all that goes into the clothing, check this out: “The fabric is woven at a plant in Roanoke, Virginia. They work with a company in Los Angeles that is one of the most technologically advanced circular knitting mills in the world. There’s a cut and sew facility in San Francisco, zippers come from Los Angeles, and trims from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The design is done in Santa Cruz, California.” WOW! I love that these clothes all come from so many different places in the USA. You can see the transparency here because the supply chain and each factory is on their website!

“We’re on a first-name basis with the owners. They know who we are. We get responses more quickly, and we’re not tied up in customs,” Says owner Carrieann. “We’re also keeping jobs in the U.S.” <—LOVE this so much!

vast terrain

Remember guys, premium technical activewear doesn’t have to cost a premium price. Keep in mind traditional retailers mark their products up by at least four times their cost. (Sometimes a lot more!) By selling directly to you Vast Terrain eliminates this retail markup and passes on the savings to you, the customer.

I can attest to the softness, durability, and comfort of the fabric. I have a tank top and pair of shorts from Vast Terrain, and I am loving running and working out in them. I highly recommend supporting them, men and women, and supporting our great country as well.

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Health and Fitness on the Carnival Vista

January 11, 2018 by

Disclosure: I was provided with a free cruise from Carnival, however all opinions about fitness on the Carnival Vista are my own.

As people who work out on the regular, it is important to us to have active and healthy things to do, even while on vacation. I was so pumped to see that the Carnival Vista has plenty of options for health and fitness lovers, and we took advantage whenever we could, which meant more dessert for us!

fitness on the carnival vista

Up on the open decks, the Vista has a great sports and activities area. There was a huge caged in basketball court, and even though we never had the chance, we saw where they play volleyball up there, too!

There is also a really fun obstacle course, mini golf, ping pong, and other games you can play with your family.

Fitness on the carnival vista

Don’t forget about the one of a kind sky ride where you pedal all the way around the boat, up in the sky! Talk about a workout with a view. A walking/jogging track also goes around this area if you just want to take in the view or chat with a family member while walking and burning some calories.

Our favorite however, was the fitness center which is located int he Cloud 9 Spa.

They had tons of treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, weight machines, dumbbells, bosu balls, medicine balls, and even a foam roller. There was definitely not a shortage of workouts to do here! They also had health and fitness seminars you could attend, personal training, and Pilates.

The treadmills have the best view in the house, looking directly out the front of the ship. it was gorgeous!

Fitness on the carnival vista

After you are done with your sweat session, you could pay a little extra to have access to the thermal suite (we got it free with our spa stateroom.) Here you can go into the sauna, hot tub, steam room, or several different cool showers.

I spent some time on the heated tile loungers to relax my sore muscles, which was just what I needed.

We worked out three of the five days we were on the ship, which I think is a great balance for a vacation. There is no need to ruin your routine or hard work just because you go on vacation. I love knowing that Carnival gives me great options and cares about my health, and hope you too will enjoy fitness on the Carnival Vista!

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Better Body Jump Start FREE Email Challenge

January 1, 2018 by

2018 is upon us, as is the time we all make goals or resolutions for the new year. Let me ask you a question. How many goals do you ever actually keep? Let me make it a little easier…how many do you keep for at least a month? That number is hopefully higher, but the sad truth is that so many of us have GREAT intentions, but then fall off the wagon because we have no support or accountability, or we just plain don’t know where to start.

I want you to be successful in 2018, and actually stick with something. I realized 2 things: 1.) Changes can and need to be SMALL if we want to really make them stick, and 2.) it truly does take a village. I don’t know about you but when I’m working out with a group, I push harder than when left to my own devices. So I figure in health in general, if we are left to fend for ourselves, we may be likely to cheat, skip, and give up all together.

 

I want to put an END to excuses and an END to goals that never get met. That’s why I created the Better Body Jump Start 7 Day Email Challenge. This is a completely FREE challenge. When you sign up, you will get 7 days worth of emails in your inbox, one each day, with ACTIONABLE tips, motivation, ideas, and calls to action to get you going.

 

 

Remember, little changes add up to BIG things, so don’t discredit the small shifts you make in your schedule, habits, and life. I KNOW you can do this, and I want to help you prove to yourself that you can.

The emails may only go on for 7 days, but I CHALLENGE you to keep up the thins I discuss all the way through the month of January. At the end of January if you don’t feel stronger, healthier, more energizes, and better about yourself, then you can stop. BUT, if you do the things I talk about, then I know you will feel amazing and want to keep going!

All you have to do is click this link to sign up (make sure you confirm your subscription when it hits your inbox, and be sure to check your spam!) Please email me with any questions, I’m happy to help any way I can.

Let’s make 2018 the year you become the best version of yourself. To get you really thinking about your goals and what you want out of 2018, I decided to share with you something that I actually started a couple weeks ago but was nervous to share out loud, but I am letting go of fear and taking action in my life.

I started a podcast! It just so happens that my very first episode is all about goal setting. I encourage you to listen to it if you are on the fence about the challenge (it has nothing to do with the challenge itself) or if you are telling yourself NOT to make goals because they never happen for you. After you click the link, check out the December 18th episode. I hope you enjoy, and then will join in the email challenge.

 

Filed Under: blogging, fitness, food, health, holidays, Mental Health, motivation, running, tips Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Why You Should Workout This Winter

November 21, 2017 by

Even though I live in Florida, temperatures are still finally starting to drop (hallelujah!) While this makes me happy, especially around the holidays, it also makes me want to curl up on the couch with a Halmark movie–er…book…and just…not move. While this sounds quite relaxing, it’s not exactly beneficial to my waistline. So, on behalf of EcoDrink, a healthy and easy way to get your vitamins every day, I’d like to share with you 5 reasons to take your workouts outside this winter:

1.) General Happiness: Exercise increases your endorphin levels which in turn can put you in a better mood, but did you also know the effect is heightened when exercising in the cold? This is due to the fact that you have to work harder in cold weather, so your endorphin production is boosted more than normal, and in turn, your happiness level. Confession: Whenever someone talks about endorphins and happiness I think of the movie Legally Blonde!

2.) Vitamin D boost: Did you know that about 80 to 90 percent of your vitamin D comes from the sun?  It’s pretty easy and fairly common for people to become vitamin D deficient in the colder months since they aren’t spending time outdoors. (Well, unless you live in Florida like me!) Vitamin D helps to keep your bones and immune system strong, and can also give you an additional dose of happiness.

3.) Burn more calories: Cold weather causes your body to regulate its temperature better meaning you can exercise for longer and burn more calories. Does shivering count as a workout? This sounds like a win to me!

4.) Less sick time: Some studies have found that regular outside exercise in the cold helps reduce the risk of flu by 20 to 30 percent. Through low-temperature training, the body adapts to the cold weather and, with time, strengthens the immune system against it. A a mother of a germy preschooler, this gets two thumbs up from me.

5.) It pairs well with EcoDrink: The EcoDrink Multivitamin is a healthy and convenient way to get your recommended daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals. Full of electrolytes and antioxidants to keep you hydrated and healthy, EcoDrink is a refreshing and delicious thirst quencher that provides energy and aids in muscle recovery after your workout to make the most of your time. It’s also a great way to get in extra water. Just pour the powder in 16 oz, shake, and enjoy! Also, EcoDrink Naturals is made with stevia, not sucralose and can be found on Amazon!.

ecodrink

The folks at Eco Drink have offered for me to run a GIVEAWAY for two lucky readers. Two people will each get two boxes of the flavor of their choice mailed to them to try out (they are all yummy!) Please follow the instructions below, and the giveaway ends at midnight on 11/26. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by EcoDrink, however all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: fitness, food, Giveaway, health Tagged: , , , ,

Versatile Workout Clothes + a Discount

November 7, 2017 by

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PrAna . The opinions and text are all mine

I work from home, so I don’t feel the need to own a ton of “going out” or “cute” outfits because I am typically in my gym clothes. I have always said I wish more companies would make clothes that go seamlessly form the gym to lunch, or the gym to a night out with friends. PrAna does just that, and I’m in love! How easy would it be to take off my running shoes and slip on some tall boots? Perfect!

PrAna offers sustainable, fair-trade, recyclable and hemp items. I also love how they have a focus on giving back to make our planet a better place. Their items make me feel like I’m doing a little something to help make the world a better place. Their clothing is mindfully made to support fair trade and sustainable practices. Their core belief is to give back more than we take from the world. (Love this!)

I also love that the PrAna designers test all the clothing themselves, because they all have a love for the outdoors, too! I hope you will check out the below video to see why organic cotton matters. I have learned so much just by going to their website!

 

Why Organic Cotton Matters | prAna

“Breath, life, vitality of the spirit.” These qualities infuse not only our name, but also our aspirations, the things we make and how we make them. Welcome to mindfully designed, built to last products – born from the experience.

Not to mention, the clothes are super comfortable and flattering. I have worn my leggings several times and have gotten tons of compliments. The sweater is nice and light, which is perfect for Florida weather, or for layering if you live in a colder environment. The pieces are very versatile and I can make so many outfits with them.

Want to try for yourself? Use code FFHMF17 for 15% off through 11/22/2017. I can’t wait to see what you choose!

QOTD: Do you purchase clothing as mindful as the clothing from PrAna? 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PrAna . The opinions and text are all mine.

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5 Things Friday XXIX

October 27, 2017 by

Happy Friday friends! It’s been awhile since I did a 5 things Friday, and I thought it would be a fun way to “catch up” with you all.

1.) A cruise redo: Remember when my husband and I were supposed to go on a cruise with Carnival in September and it got cancelled due to a little thing called hurricane Irma? Well we were finally able to reschedule! It’s a 6 night western instead of an 8 night eastern, but still on the gorgeous Carnival Vista and we are pumped to leave in just over two weeks! You can follow along with me on social media (@heatherslg) and the hashtag #CruisingCarnival.

(I just bought these towel clips so our towels won’t blow away on the ship, I have meant to do it for years!)

2.) Finally fall? Y’all, we had to put our heat on last night! It dropped down to 50 and this girl was cold, but I’m not complaining! We have had record breaking heat this October (90’s!) so I was thankful to get to wear pants and a cozy sweater today. I’m busting out my boots tomorrow! Unfortunately it’s not staying this way, but maybe now we won’t be reaching the 90’s anymore until May? One can hope!

3.) Wine and Dine: I announced on Instagram stories a couple weeks ago that due to the generosity of a sweet friend I will be running the two course challenge! Yes I’m under trained and I have no costume (help?) but I am running both races and am PUMPED! I haven’t run this once since 2013 so it’s time.

4.) Giveaway: Head on over to Instagram because I am hosting a giveaway, a gift certificate, and if you like athletic apparel you need to check it out. It closes in a couple days so hurry.

 

5.) Webinar and pre sale: In case you aren’t on my email list or follow me on social, you may not know my pre sale for my e-course: Social Side Hustle, 21 days to becoming a social media manager, started yesterday. Not only can you get my course at the lowest price now, but you can sign up for a FREE webinar all about getting social media clients. Also if you would like to get on my email list here is the link for that.

I know I just gave you a ton of links and information, but y’all are sharp, I know you got this. I hope everyone has a fabulous fall weekend, has great weather, attends at least two pumpkin patches and three trunk or treats (no seriously we have a really busy weekend!)

QOTD: What are you or your kids dressing up as for Halloween? 

Filed Under: dining, fitness, Giveaway, holidays, running, vacation Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Ocean Road 10K 2017 Race Recap

October 5, 2017 by

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to fly to Rhode Island and have a weekend of fun, fitness, and learning with Cabot and the Cabot Fit Team. We traveled to Narragansett (and it took me all weekend to remember how to pronounce it!) visited a local farm, ate tons of great food, stayed in an adorable inn, and ran a gorgeous 10k. It was action packed but still restful which I loved. I will be sharing more on the rest of the weekend in another post, but this one is strictly about the Ocean Road 10k race.

I haven’t raced since February due to a nagging quad injury, so I was really excited to have this opportunity. I really love the 10k distance and thought it would be a good chance to test out my leg while racing on a beautiful course. The race was held on Sunday morning, and it was so fun to be able to watch the sun rise over the ocean. The sun comes up way earlier in Rhode Island than it does in Florida, so when I woke up at 6:15 it was just about to peek over the horizon.

I got dressed, ate breakfast in my room, and headed to the lobby to meet my teammates. This is when I realized it was 43 degrees outside and was thankful I had packed accordingly. We all hurried into the team van and off we went to the starting line. We made it to the runner drop off area, which just so happened to be by the water, so of COURSE we had to take a group photo.

We were cutting it pretty close, the race started at 8:00 and it was nearing 7:45, but we were just having too much fun.

We finally got our act together and walked to the start line, only to discover there were VERY few port-o-potties and a line well over 100 people long. I decided I was just going to have to hold it, as they were lining people up and then singing the national anthem before I could really decide what I wanted to do. I hurried and turned on my Garmin and got Pandora working, and then we were racing! I was cold, but I have run enough races to know that I personally warm up very fast even when it’s cold outside and hate being miserably hot at a race because I overdressed, so I opted to wear a skirt, compression socks, and a throw away jacket over my team shirt, as well as something to keep my ears warm.

I started off too fast (shocker) and realized my thighs were completely numb. I just kept moving and was hitting them making sure my legs were still there, it was the oddest feeling. I got in the zone and just listened to my music and soaked in the gorgeous surroundings. They don’t call it the Ocean Road 10k for nothing. You literally run right along the ocean for much of the course. We passed gorgeous homes, beautiful tree lines streets, and rolling hills. I ended up throwing off my top layer at mile 2 and was so glad I didn’t overdress. My face was hot but my ears were cold, so I was again glad for the head wear.

I didn’t take many photos because I was just soaking it all in. I did take a few Instagram stories but didn’t save them to my phone. I kept a pretty good clip the first three miles considering I didn’t really train. I run 3 miles twice a week on the treadmill at Orange Theory, and I ran one four miler and one five miler prior to the race and called it a training cycle. (Hey, life is crazy right now ok?)

Anyway, I wasn’t expecting any kind of PR, I was just curious to see how my quad would do. Mile one was a sub 9:00 mile, and two and three were low nines. That’s where the wheels came off. At about mile 3.5ish, my leg started to get tight. I have not been training on up or downhills (I live in flat Florida!) and I foolishly thought it would still be OK. I had a goal to not walk, so I just kept on trucking even though my pace slowed down.

I made it to mile 5, and we were soon heading down a hill right out onto Ocean Road and past the inn where we were staying. This was my favorite part of the course.

I saw mile six, and knew I was close, but unfortunately didn’t really have any “kick” to give, so I just kept on at the same pace, taking in the beautiful sites. I finished it just over 59 minutes, not a PR, but I was super proud of my pace all things considered.

I found a couple of my teammates who had already finished, and we cheered on the rest of the girls as they came in, then we all walked down to the beach to take pictures of course.

ocean road

we took off our shoes, dipped our tired feet in the freezing water, then walked back to the inn. It was an amazing morning and I was so happy to have had the chance to run in such an amazing place. I quickly fell in love with Narragansett, and hope to return someday.

The race is in it’s fifth year, and if you live nearby (or not!) I highly recommend running it. We got lucky with perfect weather and it really was the cherry on top of a great race.

Disclosure: I attended this weekend free of charge thanks to Cabot, however all thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not asked to write this post. 

 

Filed Under: blogging, fitness, injury, Race Recaps, running, Running Skirts, vacation Tagged: , , , , , ,

September 2017 Goals

September 5, 2017 by

August really got away from me y’all. Honestly, I’m not complaining that it’s gone because it was SO HOT. It’s too hot to even go to the pool because the water isn’t even cool. September is still stifling, but brings the hope of some temperatures in the 80’s at least (I hope!) Before we look at my goals for this month, let’s see how I did in August:

1.) Research and get ready for the cruise: A+ Yes! I spent some time doing research and have a plan for each day. HOWEVER, with hurricane Irma, I’m not sure what is going to happen to our cruise or ports. Sad times.

2.) Workout 5+ days a week: C- Yall. This ecourse is sucking the life out of me. I’m SO excited to share it with you, but it is so draining and taking up so much time. I worked out 3-4 days a week this month but not five. I’m working on it.

3.) Set a date for my course launch: C- I’m close guys. I’m about 85% done. I WILL go out on a limb and say by the end of September, but I don’t have an exact date yet. I wwiisshhh I did. I just want it to be perfect.

September Goals:

1.) Launch my course: Self explanatory, no?

2.) Organize and de-clutter: I realized after living here close to a year (woah) that I have WAY too much stuff and really need to get rid of things. If I haven’t used it since we moved in, I probably don’t need it.

3.) Workout 5 times a week: Giving this one another go. I can tell a difference in the way I look and feel that I need to workout more.

As always, I feel you have a better shot at reaching goals when you can print them out and see them all month. Be sure to snag your free goal and fitness tracking printables here.

Happy September everyone!

QOTD: What are your September goals? 

Filed Under: blogging, fitness, motivation, social media, vacation Tagged: , , , ,

August 2017 Goals

August 3, 2017 by

And just like that, my birthday month is over. So sad! To keep myself occupied, it’s time to start getting excited about fall! (Even though around here “fall” means temps in the upper 80’s as opposed to the upper 90’s!) I’m so ready for football, a crisp fall breeze, and pumpkin spice lattes (YES I said it. Don’t hate.) Anyway, let’s take a look back at my July goals and see how I made out before looking ahead at this month’s goals:

1.) Work on my e-course at least 4 hours a week: A+ YES! I worked on my social media manager e-course 5-10 hours a week, and got a lot accomplished! I am by no means done, but I am chipping away at it. I can’t wait to release it!

2.) Workout 4-5 times a week: B+ There was one week I only worked out three times because I hurt my back, but otherwise, yes I have been doing much better with this, and planning ahead is what has really helped me so there are no surprises.

3.) Clean up extra room: F Big fat fail. Not only did I not clean it, but my parents brought even more furniture that we stored in there so now I can’t even get in the door. Oy. Another day, another day.

August is going to be a great month, I can already tell. I have a good attitude about my workouts and the possibility of cooler temps coming in the next two months, as well as my course, and then our cruise in September! Here are my goals:

1.) Research and get ready for the cruise: We are cruising to all new ports, and on a cruise line I haven’t sailed in almost ten years. I hate not knowing things, so I want to make sure I have a plan for the sea days and port days. I know if I’m not prepared and feel in the dark I won’t relax, and I DEFINITELY need to relax on this vacation, so this is a priority.

2.) Workout 5+ days a week: That’s right. I’m bumping it up. last month it was 4-5 days, and this month I want 5+ days. I expect a lot from myself and know I can deliver if I really want it, so here goes nothing!

3.) Set a date for my course launch: Setting a date for a course or book launch is very scary, because you are promising people it will be ready by a certain day. I’m not to the point where I am ready to nail down a day, but want to be by the end of the month at the latest. So scary but also exciting!

Looking for a way to help you reach your goals? I have always found that having them printed out and taped to my mirror or refrigerator help me. Click here to access my FREE fitness and goal tracker printables.

QOTD: Do you have any goals for August? Name one!

Filed Under: blogging, family, motivation, vacation Tagged: , , , ,

July 2017 Goals

July 3, 2017 by

Happy July! This is the bets month of the year, because it just so happens to be my birthday month! I can’t believe we are halfway through 2017, and on the downside to 2018. Makes me want to work quickly to achieve my goals! Speaking of which, let’s look at my June list and see how I did.

1.) Get my pre-sale for my new course up and running: C My course isn’t finished yet, but I made some great strides this month and am confident it will be ready by the end of the summer. I need to do better about setting aside blocks of time to work on it. I had a lot going on in June and it got pushed to the side.

2.) Read a book: D I did not read a book…however I did start one, and I read a magazine, so that counts for something, right?

3.) Make at least two new brand connections at BlogHer17: A+ Woo hoo! I crushed this one. I made about 5 brand connections at BlogHer and I can’t wait to see what comes of them!

——————————————–

Moving on to my July goals…..

1.) Work on my e-course at least 4 hours a week: I know just saying “work on my course” is not a measurable and actionable step, so I am going out on a limb and saying 4 hours a week. So one hour a day 4 days a week, and I will be keeping track. At that pace, I should be on track to finish by the end of the summer!

2.) Workout 4-5 times a week: It’s been SO hot, I have been slacking. I go to Orange Theory twice a week, but other than that I have only been working out maybe one other time because the heat is unbearable. I need to either suck it up and just go even though my runs will be slow, or find another form of exercise. I’m working on it.

3.) Clean up extra room: My parents brought over some furniture that will eventually be Emma Kate’s “big girl” bedroom set, and I need to make room for it in one of the extra rooms upstairs so we can get it out of my garage!

Looking for a great way to keep track of your goals? Sign up for my free goal and fitness tracking printables at this link. Have a great July!

QOTD: What are your goals for July? 

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