FitViews

Review: Bose SIE2i Sport Headphones with Reebok Armband

2013-05-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

I was ecstatic to receive the Bose SIE2i Sport Headphones for review.

I have a little confession: I can't run without music. While I envy those of you that can go out and be one with the run, that's just not me. I need my tunes. I've even been known to go back home from the track to retrieve my forgotten ipod. A track workout with no music just seems like no fun!

Don't you love the orange?

I just plain enjoy music when I run. It motivates me through tough workouts like sprints at the track. On most easy runs you'll find me belting out Kelly Clarkson. (Please note: I cannot sing, but I do anyway. It's OK, I live in the middle of nowhere, although I have scared the cows before. Everybody's a critic these days.) Music + running = happy me.

What's in the box.

A little product info from Shop.Reebok.com:

To push your workout to the limit, you need headphones that can keep up. Bose® SIE2i sport headphones deliver a combination of sweat- and weather-resistance, comfortably secure fit and Bose quality sound that conventional sports earbuds can’t match. The exclusive Reebok® fitness armband holds your device securely and comfortably in place during exercise – plus stores your headphones when your workout’s over. And the inline remote and microphone let you conveniently control select Apple products.

What I love about the Bose SIE2i Headphones:

These headphones (and the included armband) are designed specifically for workouts/fitness activity.
The ear buds are sweat-proof and water resistant AND they stay put!
The shorter cable. I am constantly flinging my ipod across the track with my other earbuds because I catch the cord wrong with my hand while doing sprints. No problem here. (it also comes with an extension if you need the cord longer)
The touch-sensitive plastic window on the arm band. Makes it so much more functional.
The separate pocket in the armband to stash keys etc.
The inline remote and microphone. This is a very cool feature that lets you control volume/track selection and even take calls if you have an iphone.
The sound quality. It's amazing!
The colors. OK, call me silly, but I love the colors these come in.

Check them out:

Just for fun, my current favorite get-me-through playlist:

What's your favorite song on your current workout playlist?

Disclaimer: I received these headphones for review. As always opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Review: The Paleo Slow Cooker by Arsy Vartanian

2013-04-30T19:23:00.001-06:00

If you've read my blog for long you know that I'm absolutely a Paleo cookbook hoarder. Yep, I love them and want to own every. single. one. out there.

Needless to say I was ecstatic to receive a review copy of The Paleo Slow Cooker by fellow blogger Arsy Vartanian.

What I love about this cookbook:

It's a hardback. Silly maybe, but I love that this is a beautiful hardcover cookbook.
The Paleo info and tips she weaves throughout the book. From what Paleo is to nutritional info to tips on dining out... I love how much helpful information she includes on top of the amazing recipes.
The amazing recipes of course! I love the variety of slow cooker recipes she includes. So much fantastic Paleo food here! There's main dishes, sides, soups, desserts... Some of my favorites so far are the Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Paleo Beef Casserole, Beef Brisket in Espresso Bean BBQ Sauce (I just drooled a little), and Paleo Banana Coconut Foster. There will be no room for boredom with this cookbook.

We're all busy. I realize that the real food approach of Paleo can be a bit challenging to fit into our busy lives. I personally lean on my slow cooker a lot to help out with this. It really is a lifesaver for my busy family.

This cookbook is an amazing resource for me. I was tending to make the same 3 or 4 recipes in the slow cooker. My family is thankful for the new infusion of delicious Paleo dishes!

I won't beat around the bush: I'm entirely smitten with The Paleo Slow Cooker. (PS if you haven't checked out Arsy's blog rubiesandradishes.com you should!) I have some cookbooks that I only make a few recipes out of because the rest really aren't to my family's tastes. Not this one. This is one cookbook I see myself using over and over. Definitely recommend.

Disclaimer: I received this cookbook for review. As always all opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Review: Cathe Friedrich's XTRAIN Series

2013-04-29T11:00:00.000-06:00

A while back I was ecstatic to receive Cathe Friedrich's XTrain Series for review.

The XTrain Workout Series is a total body fitness program that combines heavy weights with intense cardio. If you've read FitViews for long you can already guess this was a match made in heaven for me.

The XTrain Series comes with:

9 or 10 (deluxe set) calorie crushing workouts
142 Premix Workouts
2 Bonus Core Workouts
5 Bonus One Hundred Rep Challenges
Bonus Rear Delts Workout
Bonus Barre Workout
STS Full Color User's Guide packed with four rotations and detailed XTrain workout details.
Free XTrain Online Tools and Workout Cards

My unboxing video:

As you can also purchase each DVD and the User's Guide individually I'm going to briefly discuss each item. Each DVD includes a brief introduction, several pre-mixes, and the option to play with or without music.

Disc 1 Chest, Back & Shoulders
Equipment needed: Dumbbells, Stability Ball, Resistance Tubing.
Bonuses: Core #1.
100 Rep Challenges: Lateral Raises.
This workout is an upper body strength training workout with little rest between moves. You will do 8 rounds of: 1 set chest, 1 set back, 1 set shoulders with new exercises for each round (no repeating moves here).

Disc 2 Bi's & Tri's
Equipment needed: Dumbbells, Stability Ball, Resistance Tubing.
Bonuses: Core #1 and Core #2.
100 Rep Challenges: Bicep Curls and Flat Bench Tricep Extensions.
This workout is an intense upper body strength workout focusing on biceps and triceps. You will do 9 rounds of 1 set biceps, 1 set triceps. Again, different exercise for every round.

Disc 3 Burn Sets
Equipment needed: Dumbbells, Bench or Step with Five Risers per Side, Incline Bench or Step with Two Risers on Front and Five Risers on the Back, Firewalker Loop, Resistance Tubing.
Bonuses: Core #1.
This workout includes two upper body workouts. Chest, Back, & Shoulders and Bi's & Tri's. You will work each muscle group with 3 sets of 3 exercises (the final set a burn set to failure) and then move on to the next muscle group.

Disc 4 Super Cuts
Equipment needed: Dumbbells, Slide N Glide Discs, Dixie Cups, Firewalker Loop, Resistance Tubing.
Bonuses: Core #1 and Core #2.
100 Rep Challenges: Hip Thrusts.
Super Cuts is low impact metabolic circuit workout. This is on of my favorite discs. A little taste:

Disc 5 Legs

Equipment needed: Dumbbells, Stability Ball, Slide N Glide Discs, Dixie Cups, Firewalker Loop, Chair.
Bonuses: Rear Delts and Barre.
100 Rep Challenges: Hip Thrusts.
This workout is a mix of standing leg work, stability ball work, barre, and floorwork.

Disc 6 Cardio Leg Blast
Equipment needed: Dumbbells, Step with Three Risers per Side, Dixie Cups, Firewalker Loop.
Bonuses: Core #2 and Burn Set Bi's.
100 Rep Challenges: Hipe Thrusts, Scarecrows.
Cardio Leg Blast mixes cardio, such as plyo moves, and strength moves using moderate (not heavy as in the other strength workouts) weights.

Disc 7 All out Low Impact HIIT
Equipment needed: Dumbbells, Step, Slide N Glide Discs.
Bonuses: Core #1, Burn Set Chest, and Burn Set Shoulders.
100 Rep Challenges: Scarecrows.
This workout is a High Intensity Interval Training workout that Cathe manages to still keep low impact.

Disc 8 Hard Strikes
Equipment needed: Dumbbells, Optional Boxing Gloves.
Bonuses: Core #1, Burn Set Tri's, and Heavy Bag.
100 Rep Challenges: Bicep Curls.
Hard Strikes is a boxing infused cardio workout.

Disc 9 Tabatacise
Equipment needed: Step with Two Risers per Side.
Bonuses: Core #1, Core #2, and Burn Set Back.
100 Rep Challenges: Flat Bench Tricep Extensions and Bicep Curls.
Tabatacise is an intense tabata workout that lets you work up from level 1 to level 5. Another one of my favorite discs, this workout is no. joke.

Disc 10 (Spin workout available with the deluxe set, I did not receive this DVD) Ride

XTRAIN User's Guide
This guide is jam packed with useful info. It includes several different calendars (from 30 days to 90 days) for workout XTrain workout rotations, discussion on the science behind Xtrain (undulating calendars, HIIT, Tabata, heavy lifting, etc), detailed info on every DVD and the exercises in each, finding the right weight to use including a one rep max chart and testing, nutritional info, and more.

What I loved most about XTrain:

Variety. XTrain is all about variety. Variety in the types of workouts included, variety in the exercises you do in the workouts, variety in the workout calendars included, variety of premixes... So much variety. I love it. I'm not sure I could ever get bored here.
Intensity. Cathe is definitely not playing around here. This is a tough workout set. Which of course I love. From lifting heavy to tabata to HIIT to plyo this set is intense start to finish. Expect to work and expect to have some sore muscles. All good things...right?!
Seperate Cardio and Weights. I don't mind working in circuits, but I feel like that has become such a trend in at-home workouts that it can get old. I really like that most of the workouts in this set separate the cardio and the strength. I love being able to focus strictly on lifting or strictly on cardio.
Online Tools. The online tools available at cathe.com/workout/ are very cool. There's calendars, workout rotations, tracking, a one rep max calculator, and so much more. I love that all of this is available to enhance the XTrain set.

I do want to note that XTrain is definitely not for beginners. It is more of an intermediate to advanced workout. Also, it does require a little more equipment than some workout sets. However, I think if you're serious about working out at home it's all definitely worth it. As someone who strictly works out at home I already had most of it. I also found that I could work around what I did not have, such as boxing gloves.

I get a lot of emails with people who have finished Body Revolution, ChaLEAN Extreme, etc and are looking for what to do next to kick it up a notch. I would absolutely recommend XTrain for this (or to anyone looking to take their fitness and their results up a notch).

I plan to blog my way through either a 30 day or 90 day calendar sometime post-baby. I can't wait to share my results!

Final Answer:

I've never given a workout system 5 stars before, but I wholeheartedly bestow 5 stars on Cathe's XTrain. This set rocks. Period.

Disclaimer: I received XTRAIN for review. As always opinions are 100% honest and my own.

May's #PaleoChat - What Does Paleo Look Like in Real Life?

2013-04-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's already time for May's #PaleoChat! This month's chat will be Wednesday May 1st at 9 PM Eastern time.

We'll be chatting about what Paleo looks like in our lives.

To me Paleo (or Primal) eating is more of a spectrum than an absolute. Sure, there's strict Paleo a la Robb Wolf's first 30 days or Whole30, but not many of us live that way day in and day out (although some do and that's great too).

While there are those out there that play the Paleo police and insist strict Paleo or nothing, I know that most of us fall somewhere along the Paleo spectrum. Most people I know that "do Paleo" take the framework of Paleo and fit it into their lives. Some do a little dairy, some do 80/20, some believe in cheat meals, and so on. I think supporting and encouraging each other to find what works is so much more important than preaching or policing some standard.

What does Paleo look like in real life? Come share!

Benefits of a Paleo Pregnancy

2013-04-24T11:42:00.002-06:00

In my third trimester I find myself looking back at this pregnancy and marveling at the difference I see between this and my previous pregnancies. I had assumed Paleo would make a difference, but I'm a little shocked at how much of a difference I've seen.

Benefits I've seen with my Paleo pregnancy:

Excellent nutrition. I've tracked my nutrients throughout most of my pregnancy and I've been amazed at just how great my nutrition is without really even trying (other than just sticking to Paleo). My daily values are at or above recommended daily values consistently (before any supplements).

People have asked if I feel deprived. With eats like this?

Nope, haven't felt deprived!

Less moody. Now, I still get sappy at the silliest things, but I'm not near as moody/emotional as I was in my previous three pregnancies. I was downright... grouchy. My husband has even remarked at how much more like myself I seem this pregnancy (pretty sure that was his nice way of saying I wasn't acting like a whacked out pregnant lady a la my previous 3 pregnancies).

Less weight gain. Weight gain was a huge issue for me in previous pregnancies. I gained about 80 pounds with my youngest son. Now, my body is prone to this. Heck, it likes to pack on the pounds when I'm not pregnant; I like to say I'm a very efficient calorie converter. When I am pregnant it seems to go into high gear wanting to store every calorie. That's just how my body is and I've made peace with it this pregnancy. BUT I've gained about 40 pounds so far and am guessing I will wind up with a 45-48 pound total weight gain. I'm pleased with that in comparison to past gains.

Just so there's no delusions of a crossfit babe with just a bump here:

Sorry for the weird-no-head-selfie, but we're under construction and took down the only full length mirror in the house to paint.

No gas or heartburn. None. I definitely had issues with these before and am grateful Paleo has dealt with those issues so far...knock on wood.

Better skin. My skin is terrible when I'm pregnant. From acne to discolorations it's just a mess. It's not perfect peaches and cream this time either, but it's SO much better.

Less bloating/water retention. I had so much water weight in past pregnancies it was miserable. I had to buy bigger shoes, my rings wouldn't fit, cankles were an understatement, and my face... I was just a puffy mess. This pregnancy I've only had minimal bloating in my feet and ankles if I wasn't active enough that day. It's bliss.

Amazing blood sugar. I struggled with blood sugar issues and even gestational diabetes in past pregnancies. This pregnancy I tested my blood sugar for a week because I was curious where it was. It's amazingly stable. Woo!

Of course most importantly I think choosing Paleo will result in the best outcome for the health and well being of my little one!

Disclaimer: these are my personal opinions. I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or any type of health professional.

From Dreaming of Boston to Praying for Boston

2013-04-16T04:00:00.000-06:00

Image Credit

I had a review post scheduled for today, but pulled it. After yesterday's events at The Boston Marathon I wanted to share my heart.

Like many of my running peers I have the goal of qualifying for Boston.

In July of 2011 I participated in Jack Sh*t's W.I.D.T.H. series. He asked us to answer on a note card why we were on this healthy living/weight loss journey. I had many reasons: my health, my family... but I chose instead to answer with a goal:

I chose that response because to me that goal embodies the amazing transformation my mind, body, and attitude have underwent on this amazing healthy living/weight loss journey. Even having that goal shows how far I've come and what it's all about for me. This me:

...was barely aware of the Boston Marathon and would have thought it impossible. I didn't set goals, I didn't believe in myself enough.

But now I hope to check Boston off my bucket list some day. I believe it's possible. I believe in me.

The marathon tends to be the 'I did it' race, and Boston like no other. Boston seems to embody the runner spirit. It stands for all the hard work, time, determination, and belief in ourselves that goes into running such a race.

My heart is heavy that someone chose to cause harm to the amazing people involved with this iconic race.

There's no sense to be made of this. It's wrong. It's evil. It makes me feel powerless.

However, I refuse to believe we are ever truly powerless. So, I choose to focus on what I CAN do. I can pray for all touched by this. I can raise my children to be positive, good, loving people. And I can keep Boston on my bucket list.

What can you do?

April's #PaleoChat: Paleo For Fat Loss

2013-04-02T08:38:00.000-06:00

This month's #PaleoChat will be Wednesday April 3rd at 9 PM Eastern. We'll be chatting about Paleo for fat loss.

There will be structured questions coming from me, but I'd also like to try a bit more of an open format this time. Have questions about paleo for fat loss? Feel free to ask them of the group. Need help troubleshooting Paleo specifically for fat loss? #PaleoChat is a wonderfully helpful group! Have tips, personal stories, etc related to Paleo for fat loss? Please share!

Hope to see you there!

2013-03-27T07:07:00.002-06:00

Hey guys! I guest posted on my Paleo diet success story over at my friend Tamara's blog today. I'd love if you'd go check it out.

Whole30 Wrap Up

2013-03-20T06:53:00.001-06:00

Wow, I can't believe I'm through my Whole30 already! Once I got into a groove with it, it seemed to just zip by.

My main goals for this Whole 30 were to:

Feel as good as I could during this pregnancy. My energy levels were very low.
Maximize my nutrition for this pregnancy.

I feel like I accomplished both of these. My energy levels definitely went up after the first week of Whole30 and my nutrition was amazing. I'd already been eating Paleo, but I'd fallen into a terrible food rut this pregnancy. I was eating the same things over and over. Variety is huge in getting great nutrition whether eating Paleo, eating for a healthy pregnancy, or just healthy eating in general! I was not getting much variety. I used this Whole30 as a way to focus on getting variety back into my diet.

My kitchen overflowed with different kinds of berries, kale, red kale, swiss chard, red chard, collard greens, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, spinach, pumpkin, coconut, chiles, different lettuces, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, onions of every shape and size, spices galore, and the regular staples like cucumbers, tomatoes, garlic, avocadoes, etc. It was awesome! And much needed. My nutrition is amazing now and I'm so glad I took this month to get back on track.

It's funny, the only thing I really missed during my Whole30 were Paleo versions of pancakes and waffles.

If you need me I'll be devouring some of these...

Source: cavegirlcuisine.net via Kerri on Pinterest

or maybe these...

Source: balancedbites.com via Kerri on Pinterest

I highly recommend the Whole30 to anyone seeking to clean up their diet and feel better in general. It's a great program with an active/supportive community.

My Paleo Pregnancy Week 25

2013-03-13T04:00:00.000-06:00

Long time no update! Wow, this pregnancy is flying by. You might want to grab a cup of coffee, I have a LOT to update on!

Well, let's see, since my last update at 16 weeks...

I've been doing Whole30 and my nutrition is amazing on that. I have been tracking to ensure I'm getting all my nutrition right because I have stopped taking a prenatal. Every one I try gives me gas. TMI, I know. I think it's because many of the whole food ones contain brown rice, etc. Luckily with Whole30 all of my daily values are at or well above where they need to be.

My workouts have gotten better. I'm being much more consistent and this week have even been able to up the intensity a bit. I've also added in yoga more. It just feels fabulous right now.

My energy levels are better and overall I feel pretty good.

At 21 weeks I had an ultrasound... but baby wouldn't cooperate. So, we still don't know the gender. I've been reluctant to do much shopping because it's so tough to buy gender neutral. The last week or so I've finally started shopping though. And boy have I shopped...

I ordered a Graco Snugride Classic Connect 30 car seat from Target. It was on sale for only $89.99! Plus, we have a Target Debit Card, so 5% off that AND free shipping. SCORE. We had a Graco with the last two and loved it.

I was super excited to find a local Cloth Diapering company: Kanga Care aka Rumparooz is based in Colorado. I love to support local businesses whenever I can! Plus, I've heard from other bloggers that they're some of the best all in one cloth diapers out there, bonus. I ordered an assortment of their diapers to see and registered on their site. I have to laugh at myself... I was most excited to buy cloth diapers. My husband has joked that the baby might be naked otherwise, but it'll have cloth diapers!

I visited Diapers.com for the first time. Whoa, that site has everything! I was mainly on the hunt for the Bambo Newborn diapers. They're the most eco-friendly disposable I've been able to find. I wanted one pack to have so that I can ease into cloth diapers the first few days. While on the site I also found these biodegradable wipes by Attitude and some natural, less junk baby wash from Little Twig and diaper cream from Butt Paste (am I the only one that giggles at that name?).

I picked up some Seventh Generation Baby laundry detergent while I was at Natural Grocers so that I can wash up baby clothes, blankets, etc before baby arrives. Plus, I found this other natural baby wash at Target and registered there too. Baby wash is another thing I'm super focused on for some reason. I want to try every natural brand out there!

I ordered this diaper bag by Kalencom from Amazon. I looooove it. I also ordered a glass bottle by Green Sprouts from Amazon. I plan to breastfeed, but may pump some.

It's so crazy to me that this is my 4th, but we're still starting from scratch! We'd long ago given away all things baby. Ah well, baby shopping is fun.

At about 23 weeks I lost sight of my feet. I'm sure they'll return this summer sometime...

Since passing the half-way mark I've been thinking about my home birth more. Pondering and preparing mostly. I've been reading up on the Bradley Method. Knowing myself well, I know the most important thing for me is to relax and let my body do it's job. That's my main focus.

All in all things are going fabulously well.

Don't forget to enter my Post Pregnancy Belly Wrap Giveaway!

Small Changes to a Cleaner, Healthier Life With Seventh Generation #7DayJourney

2013-03-12T04:01:00.000-06:00

Seventh Generation's new BioBased Certified products.

For the past year and a half (since going Paleo) I've been diligent about cleaning up the foods my family consumes. Out went the junk food and in came the healthy, clean, whole foods. Something has been nagging at me though: while I've managed to clean up the foods and drinks we consume I have not taken on the task of cleaning up what we put on the outside of our bodies! I've started to reconsider what's inside the products my family routinely applies to their skin.

When cleaning the junk out of our lives it was easy to forget the things we were applying directly to our skin. Lately I've been reading more about the junk they add to many common personal care products. Why would I want to keep applying these harsh chemicals to myself and my kids?!

I've swapped the harsh chemical and additive laden products that normally populated our bathroom for Seventh Generation's BioBased products. It really is easy to make these small changes in our daily lives:

Swap out the body wash in the shower.
Change the lotion we buy.
Reach for a better facial cloth.
Choose a new bar soap.
Pick up a different hand soap.

How can I not be picky about what's going on his skin?!

I feel much better about the products that now live in my bathroom. Seventh Generation's new USDA Certified BioBased products contain essential oils, botanical extracts, and plant-based ingredients. They do NOT contain parabens, phthaletes, or petroleum-derived ingredients. Plus, they all smell amazing!

What one small change can you make today to live a cleaner, healthier life?

Seventh Generation wants to get you started on your journey to natural beauty.

Visit 7 Day Journey to natural beauty for tips and information on their new line of USDA approved biobased products ranging from facial wipes to body lotion!

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

Post Pregnancy Belly Wrapping

2013-03-11T04:00:00.000-06:00

Post pregnancy belly wrapping is not a new concept. In fact, it's something that women from cultures all over the world have been doing for centuries. Modern versions of post pregnancy wraps are quite advanced, but the concept is the same: postnatal wrapping is intended to help new moms recover and heal.

What is post-pregnancy belly wrapping?
Postpartum Belly wrapping (also called postnatal binding) is the practice of using gentle compression to aid in recovery after giving birth.

Why wrap?
In the first six weeks following birth, whether a woman delivers vaginally or by cesarean, the body goes through a significant recovery and healing process. Belly wraps have been used for centuries by women all over world to aid in this healing process. Belly wrapping can help:

shrink and re-position their uterus after birth
reduce bloating in the abdominal area caused by water retention
provide additional support to the abdominal area and core muscles to help improve posture and reduce strain in the lower back
help heal any abdominal muscle separation
give additional support and comfort during exercise (6 weeks+ postpartum)

From WebMD.com:

Jay Goldberg, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist in Beverly Hills, Calif., agrees. "We have been prescribing abdominal binders for a long time. They have been used for tummy tucks and back problems, but with obstetrics these wraps help women recovering from a vaginal delivery or a C-section with their posture, abdominal support, and self-confidence.”

The gentle compression on the abs may help the uterus return to its normal size quicker, so new moms may get rid of their still-pregnant-looking-belly quicker, Moore says.

Another belly wrap bonus: “You may feel more comfortable and may feel like moving more and the more you move and exercise, the quicker you get your figure back,” Moore says.

To me the concept of compression as aid to recovery makes total sense. Just like I would use compression garments to aid my recovery after a really tough workout or a long run, a post pregnancy belly wrap is what I'll use to help my body recover post baby. I only wish I'd heard of this concept with my first three pregnancies!

When should I wrap?
From vespaandtheladybird.com.:
For maximum benefit, we recommend that you begin using your Vespa & The Ladybird Belly Wrap within 24-48 hours after the birth of your baby and then continue to wear it for as many hours as you can throughout the day and night. As a first time mum you may still be coming to terms with the experience of labour and meeting your new baby that it may take you a few days longer to feel ready to start wearing your wrap - and that is totally okay. Be guided by how you are feeling as no two women's experiences are the same.

How long do I continue to wrap?
Most recommendations I've found say for the first six weeks postpartum. That seems a good rule of thumb. You may also wish to wear your wrap past the 6 week mark during workouts when you've been given the go-ahead by your doctor or midwife to restart your fitness routine.

I am most excited about the wrap for use during workouts. As someone who's lost quite a bit of weight in the past (and not to mention that post baby I just tend to have a little extra jiggle in my wiggle) I really believe wrapping for workouts will make them much more comfortable. Especially for things like plyo, sprints at the track, and the other high impact workouts I love.

For this purpose I've chosen to use the Vespa & The Ladybird Belly Wrap Plush. Their Classic and Plush ranges are both tagless and seamless (great for workouts). Their Plush range, however is also lined with super soft bamboo fabric. Bamboo is naturally moisture wicking and antibacterial (Not to mention a sustainable crop. Bonus.) which is perfect for workout use.

The awesome folks over at Vespa & The Ladybird have offered to send one of their awesome Post Pregnancy Wraps to one of you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. As always opinions offered are 100% honest and my own.

#Whole30 Week 2

2013-03-05T06:49:00.000-07:00

Week 2 of my Whole30 went very well. I feel great! No more headaches, no real cravings to speak of... Well, I did crave sauerkraut one day, but I think that was more pregnancy related and not really Whole30 related.

My meals were very similar to my Week 1 meals:

Breakfast was generally a veggie omelet or scramble with some fruit.

Lunch was either a huge green salad (with protein, like chicken, on top of course), egg salad, leftovers, or tuna salad.

Dinner was some incarnation of meat and veggies. Paleo Spaghetti is one of my standbys and favorites.

I tried the Riced Cauliflower recipe from The Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook this week. It's. Amazing.

This week I was curious how my nutrition was on Whole30. Being pregnant, that was my number one reason for doing this Whole30. I tracked my food in an app a couple of days and was excited to see that my nutrition is AMAZING. It's what I'd expected, but still reassuring to see.

My energy levels aren't quite what I'd hoped, but that has been an issue this entire pregnancy. I think they're about as good as they'll get, which at the beginning of the week I was disappointed with. Memories of my last 30 days of strict Paleo reminded me of just how much energy that rewarded me with. However, I can only do what I can do. I am pregnant, my body does strange things while pregnant, and that's OK. As long as I'm taking the best care of myself possible... The rest just is what it is.

On to week 3! I'm excited.

If you're interested in Whole30 please join us for this month's #PaleoChat on twitter! More info here.

It's That Time Again! #PaleoChat

2013-03-04T06:09:00.002-07:00

I can't believe February is gone already! But, I'm glad that it's time again for my favorite twitter chat. March's #PaleoChat will be this Wednesday, March, 6th at 9 PM Eastern Time.

This month I'm so excited to have my first ever guest co-host: Dee from Primal Beauty Queen! Chat questions will be coming from Dee, so be sure you follow her on twitter: @ThePBQ.

Our topic this month will the The Whole30. Ever done a Whole30? Many? Doing one now? Wanting to do a Whole30? Join us!

Two lucky chat participants will win their own copies of It Starts With Food! (Giveaways are open to US Residents only). A huge thank you to Victory Belt for supplying the books for this month's giveaways! I will be announcing giveaway winners during the chat, so be sure you follow me on twitter as well: @KerriOlkjer.

I hope to see you there!

Follow This Mother

2013-02-28T06:05:00.001-07:00

Hey guys! I'm excited to be featured over at Another Mother Runner today. I'd love if you'd go check it out. I'm chatting about running, weight loss, and overcoming my negative bent.

#Whole30 Week 1 Recap

2013-02-26T08:41:00.001-07:00

Week one of doing The Whole30 pregnant surprised me. I went into this thinking it would be a piece of cake (not real cake of course). As I was already eating Paleo I expected no withdrawal symptoms, no bumps at all really. I expected to clean up my diet a little and go on my merry little way.

Uh, wake up call. My diet had definitely strayed farther than I realized! If for no other reason than shining a light on that this Whole30 is worth it.

My eats for the week looked something like this:

Whole30 Breakfasts

Coffee with my Paleo creamer recipe. Kept before noon of course.

Most mornings were eggs from my chickens with veggies, fruit, and some good fats.

This was my I'm-too-lazy-to-cook morning. I was glad I'd boiled 2 dozen eggs on Sunday.

Whole30 Lunches

My Paleo tuna salad with baby spinach and a pink lady apple. Yum. Love this easy lunch.

Paleo egg salad with baby spinach and a mandarin. This recipe will be up soon. So good.

Whole30 Dinners

A new recipe I'm working on. Slow cooker chicken and cauliflower curry.

Roast (grass-fed of course) with salad.

Slow cooker beef with broccoli. I used my slow cooker a lot. Awesome time-saver.

I love this post explaining the timeline of symptoms you can expect on Whole30:

Source: whole9life.com via Kerri on Pinterest

I did experience a bit of a headache on day 2 and a wee bit of 'kill all the things' on day 5. I was shocked, but like I said a needed wake up call. Other than that the week was awesome.

This week's Whole30 menu plan:

How about you...how is your Whole30 going? If you haven't tried it yet, will you?

Easy Paleo Mayo Recipe

2013-02-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

Why do I make my own mayo? Well, have you read the back of a mayo bottle? They're often made with soybean or canola oils and lots of other things I'm not crazy about.

I've been playing around with my original Paleo Mayo recipe and really like this new version. I still prefer my original recipe for chicken salad and similar dishes, but this new recipe goes very well with some other recipes I've been working on. Especially egg salad, devilled eggs, Paleo veggie dip, and various Paleo salad dressings. (All of those recipes will be coming soon!)

Paleo Mayo
1 pasteurized egg
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp apple cider vinegar (I prefer BRAGG Organic Raw Unfiltered)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cup light olive oil (not extra virgin, just light tasting) OR walnut oil also works nicely

Blend egg in blender. Add apple cider vinegar, mustard, and sea salt. Blend. Then, take the little peep hole top off your blender and slowly drizzle in your oil while blending on low. Blend until the consistency of mayo. You may need to stop the blender and scrape the sides to be sure it combines well.

Keep refrigerated. Also, be aware that it won't last forever in your refrigerator like store bought (preservative loaded) mayo. I usually just make what my family can use in 5 to 7 days.

I know making your own mayo can sound daunting, but it really is easy. Let me know if you try it!

Easy Paleo Tuna Salad Recipe

2013-02-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequent requests I get is for EASY Paleo recipes and meals. Things that don't take hours of cooking and prep work. Meals that can be made quickly or ahead of time.

I'll be posting several recipes in the upcoming weeks and months in response to this request. First, my new go-to easy Paleo lunch recipe (and Whole30 friendly too!).

Easy Paleo Tuna Salad
1 can Wild Planet Skipjack Light Tuna
3 Tbsp Paleo Mayo (to taste, sometimes I only use 2)
1 Tbsp minced white onion (again, more or less to taste)
1 dill pickle diced (read your labels!)

Mix all ingredients well with a fork.

Serve it in lettuce cups, cucumber cups, lettuce wraps, or on apple slices. I LOVE this with baby spinach and pink lady apples:

I love this recipe! It's been my go-to easy paleo lunch recipe and something I've craved a lot this pregnancy.

Doing Whole30 Pregnant?

2013-02-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

The first trimester of my pregnancy was pretty rough. Since then I've been wanting to do a Whole30. It's been calling to me and I know it would help me to feel my best. But I kept putting it off...

"January", I said. But January 1 came and went...

Then I won a copy of It Starts With Food from Brooklyn Fit Chick's blog. Still, I put it off...

Recently It Starts With Food won best general paleo book in the first ever #PaleoChat Awards. A sign? Still, I said: March 1st.

Lately I've had a bit of stress in my life. Now I know most people deal with stress on a daily basis, but I'm one that keeps my life pretty low-stress. But right now on top of my normal life of homeschooling, blogging, wanna-be-farming we're also getting the house ready to sell. We're living under construction and with a tighter budget than usual. Plus, you know, I'm pregnant and my energy levels just aren't anywhere near what I'm used to.... I could go on, but you get the picture: life's been hectic lately.

I really feel like now is the time that I could benefit from getting my nutrition RIGHT. I'm always the first to tell people not to wait for Monday, January 1st, or whenever. "Start now!" I happily advise. So, I'm listening to my own advice and not waiting until March 1st; I'm starting my Whole30 now!

If you're not familiar with The Whole30 I highly recommend you read It Starts With Food. You can also find the basic "rules" here.

Follow me on Instagram if you'd like to see what I'm eating.

Have you ever done The Whole30? Doing it now? Want to join me?!

**Updates:
Week 1 Recap
Week 2

Cathe Friedrich's XTrain Workout Series

2013-02-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

Recently I was sent Cathe Friedrich's new Workout Series XTRAIN for review. Not going to lie, I'm really excited about this new workout set! This is the set I've been drooling over and planning to do post-baby (yes, yes I've been planning for that already).

Wondering what comes with this set? My unboxing video:

XTRAIN comes with:

XTrain User Guide (which includes multiple workout calender options)

Free XTrain Online Tools & Workout Cards

XTrain DVD Set

Disc 1: Chest, Back & Shoulders
Disc 2: Bi's & Tri's
Disc 3: Burn Sets
Disc 4: Super Cuts
Disc 5: Legs
Disc 6: Cardio Leg Blast
Disc 7: All Out Low Impact HIIT
Disc 8: Hard Strikes
Disc 9: Tabatacise

From Cathe.com:

XTrain is the ultimate total body fitness conditioning program that has been designed to crush calories, incinerate fat and work and tone your muscles like never before. XTrain comes with four different workout programs ranging from 30 to 90 days, but XTrain has also been uniquely designed by Cathe to fit almost anyone's hectic schedule. With over 140 Premix workouts there are hundreds of ways the XTrain program can be done no more excuses!

So what do you get when you combine kick butt cardio workouts with the most effective undulating toning workouts, great music, tons of premixes, detailed chapter menus and beautiful filming? A system that stands in a league of its own The XTrain series!

A little sneak peek:

Cathe Friedrich is one of my all-time favorite trainers and I have never been disappointed by one of her workouts. They're tough, they're fun, they work. This new set looks amazing and I can't wait to dive in.

Have you ever tried any of Cathe's workouts?

**Update:
XTrain Full Review

Disclaimer: I was sent Xtrain for review. As always opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Do You Detox? A Detox Smoothie Recipe

2013-02-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer that our bodies are built to detox, or cleanse, themselves. Every once in a while after a period of sickness or riotous food choices I do feel the need to give it a little help.

My thoughts on detoxing and cleansing and my detox smoothie recipe:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup almond milk (or coconut milk or other milk product of choice)
insides of 2 fresh aloe vera stalks
handful of fresh parsley
handful of fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon spirulina powder (I use Nutrex Hawaii)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 scoop very clean protein powder (optional, but a good vanilla protein makes this very tasty)

This is very thick; if your blender isn't great you may need to add a little more almond milk to get this to blend well.

What's your view on cleanses and detoxes? Do them? Hate them?

Disclaimer: The spirulina powder used in this video was sent to me for review. As always any thoughts/opinions are 100% honest and my own.
Please note I am not a nutritionist or health professional. What you read are my thoughts and opinions.

2013 #PaleoChat Award Winners

2013-02-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who joined in #paleochat on twitter last week and helped pick the winners of the first ever #PaleoChat Awards! Also, a huge thank you to everyone who's made the first year of #paleochat so great. Without further rambling...

The 2013 #PaleoChat Awards go to:

Favorite general book on Paleo or Primal

Favorite Paleo or Primal Cookbook

Favorite Paleo or Primal E-book

Favorite Paleo or Primal Podcast

The Paleo Solution Podcast

Favorite General Paleo or Primal Blog

Mark's Daily Apple

Favorite Paleo or Primal Recipe Blog

Everyday Paleo

Favorite kitchen tool since going Paleo/Primal

Food Processor

Favorite Paleo/Primal staple, something that's always in your pantry or refrigerator

Eggs. My chickens approve!

Your favorite excuse or bash from Paleo/Primal naysayers. (we didn't have a clear winner here, I'll share a sampling of responses.)

@kerriolkjer Eating fat will make you fat and clogs your arteries. Seriously people!? #PaleoChat
— Beth. (@PaleoBeth) February 7, 2013

@kerriolkjer "I love bread too much" and "I need carbs to fuel my body."--because we obviously don't eat carbs? #PaleoChat
— Dee Ann (@ThePBQ) February 7, 2013

A9. "I could never give up bread!" #paleochat
— Allison Nimlos (@WithFaithGrace) February 7, 2013

A9 @kerriolkjer your going to die of high blood pressure & get an aneurysm because all y'all eat is redmeat & treenuts... #paleochat
— Derrick Ingram (@IAMDWRECK) February 7, 2013

@kerriolkjer A9 Excluding food groups turns into eating disorders.... you can't possibly be getting enough calcium!#paleochat
— Elle (@eatrunsail) February 7, 2013

A9 BUT you NEED whole grains!!!!! #PaleoChat
— Kerri (@KerriOlkjer) February 7, 2013

@kerriolkjer A9 Saturated fat is bad for you.All you PALEO peeps live on bacon!#paleochat
— Elle (@eatrunsail) February 7, 2013

How about you: did we miss any of YOUR favorites?

The First Annual #PaleoChat Awards!

2013-02-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

#PaleoChat is turning 1! I can't believe a year has gone by. What a fun year of chats it's been. A HUGE thank you to everyone who's made #paleochat so great.

To celebrate the one year mark our next chat will be The First Annual #PaleoChat Awards. Join in tomorrow, Wednesday February 6th at 9 PM Eastern time to vote for your paleo/primal favorites.

Categories will include favorite paleo/primal book, blogs, cookbook, podcast, ebook, and much more.

Here's how it will work:
I will ask questions as usual (@KerriOlkjer) and your answers will count as votes. For example, I may ask: Q1 What is your favorite paleo/primal cookbook?

To count as votes answers need to either include Q1 (or 2, 3, etc) or A1, 2, 3, etc (standing for question 1 or answer 1) so that I know which category you are voting for AND all votes must include the #paleochat hashtag.

Only votes during the chat (9PM to 10 PM Eastern time 2-6-13) will count. This will be the best of the best in the paleo/primal world as chosen live by paleochatters!

I will tally all of the votes and post the results next Monday here on FitViews.

It's going to be so much fun! I hope you'll join us and vote for your favorites.

2013 #PaleoChat Award Winners

Things I'm Loving Right Now - January 2013

2013-01-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

It's time for another Things I'm Loving Right Now list. I just realized that I haven't done one since last August. Oops!

What health and fitness related things are you in love with right now?

8 Tips for Exercising During Pregnancy

2013-01-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that just a generation ago, women were discouraged from exercising while pregnant? Indeed, pregnancy was a time to slow down, move less and avoid undue stress and strain on the body, thereby ensuring the birth of a healthy babe.

Nowadays, the benefits of exercise during pregnancy are well known. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a doctor or midwife who doesn’t encourage their pregnant patients to work out regularly.

As a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and mother of three (who worked out religiously throughout 2 of her 3 pregnancies) I can personally attest to the benefits of exercise during pregnancy. My clients and class participants sleep better, report fewer joint aches and pains, and have a more positive image of their changing bodies than their non-exercising friends. Some also report easier deliveries (alas, I was not one of them...).

In general, pregnant women can do the very same exercises as non-pregnant women, with a few modifications (for example, minimizing moves that require you to lie on you back after about 20 weeks). Below you’ll find some of the tips and general recommendations I regularly share with my clients, boot campers and friends!

1. Maintain the status quo; pregnancy is not the time to worry about setting personal bests or dramatically improving your fitness. Aim for consistency in your workouts and leave the adventure racing for next year.

2. Be kind to yourself; Your body, and what it’s capable of will change frequently and tasks that were once easy, may become more difficult as your pregnancy progresses (I distinctly remember having to take out a set of risers in step class at about 24 weeks gestation). Relax in the knowledge that you’ll be able to do it (and more!) all again, once the baby is born.

3. Focus on safety and form rather than speed; As your belly grows, you may find that you lose your balance more easily than before. Why? Your center of gravity has shifted, both forward and closer to the floor than you’re used to. Slower movements executed with perfect form will not only reduce the likelihood of injury, they can also result in improved strength and muscle size!

4. Ensure proper hydration during exercise; During pregnancy, blood volume increases by as much as 33% (mom’s blood provides nutrients to both herself and baby). More blood requires more water for proper hydration. Many pregnant women suffer from night time calf cramps (aka ‘charley horses’); prevent them by upping your water intake before, during and after exercise.

5. Focus on posterior chain work; Pregnancy changes a woman’s center of gravity. Heavy bellies and breasts pull shoulders forward, increasing strain on the upper and lower back. Try adding some extra back exercises to your workout; bent over rows, reverse flys and lat pulldowns are all good choices. Not only will they reduce the back pain frequently experienced during pregnancy, they’ll improve your posture and make you look taller!

6. Protect your knees; Relaxin, one of the many hormones produced by your body during pregnancy, results in looser, more flexible joints. While beneficial during labour and delivery, it’s effects are not joint specific. Many women find that proper knee alignment during squats and lunges is more challenging during pregnancy, due to greater laxity in the tendons and ligaments of the knees. Pay attention to form and remember that the load your knees are bearing is increasing weekly!

7. Prepare your upper body for the work to come AFTER baby is born; Infants need to be carried a lot. And they grow continuously, making them the perfect progressive resistance training tool! Strong backs, arms and shoulders will be needed (especially if you carry your baby in an infant seat...) in the months to come. Start training them now!

8. Enjoy being able to buy stylish workout clothes; Maternity fitness clothes have come a long way in 10 years. No longer do pregnant women have to wear their husband’s gym shorts and old cotton t-shirts to work out in (yes, I really did!). Pregnancy is a great excuse to go shopping!

Tamara Grand lives in beautiful British Columbia Canada with her husband, three children, a ginger cat and a large stash of hand-dyed yarn. She works as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor and enjoys pushing her clients and class participants out of their comfort zones. She’s happiest when they text her the day after a workout complaining about sore arms and legs.

She believes that exercise and healthy eating need to be part of everyone’s life and aims to inspire and motivate others by showing them that if she can do it, anyone can. She blogs about fitness, food, family and fiber (knitting fiber, that is) at fitknitchick.com and is always thrilled when you comment on her posts. Please follow her on Twitter @fitknitchick_1.

**Although Tamara is a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, she’s not YOUR personal trainer! Please see your health care practitioner for advice specific to YOUR pregnancy before you begin a new exercise program!