When most people hear the term “nootropics”, their first thought is “new what?”  In a nutshell, nootropics are supplements for your brain.  These are a family of compounds that reportedly are able to improve cognition, brain function, attention, creativity, memory, and executive function.  Basically the movie Limitless but in real life.

As a whole, nootropics contain a huge list of different compounds and include the world's favorite drug; we’re talking about caffeine of course.  When taken properly, caffeine can actually improve mental function and cognitive performance.  In fact, caffeine has been found to actually improve brain function in scientific research.  However, it should be noted that more is not necessarily better and that lower doses (100-200mg) seem to produce better cognition results than high doses (>300mg).

L-theanine is another very popular nootropic that is often consumed alongside caffeine.  It can be consumed by itself but most people will get theirs from drinking green tea as it’s the active ingredient.  The reason L-theanine is often consumed with caffeine is that it’s actually not a stimulant but rather enhances brain function by increasing the number of alpha waves.  These are responsible for sustaining clarity and focus making it a great choice to get some work done without the jitters.  However, if you do want that little “pick me up”, caffeine is the compound of choice.  Still, this combination allows an individual to decide what levels of each they want.

Perhaps the most popular supplement on the market for improving performance is creatine.  Most people are aware of its effects in the gym but new research is showing that creatine can also improve performance in the workplace or classroom.  The reason being is that while the vast majority of creatine is used by your muscles (around 95%), the remaining is required to actually fuel proper function of your brain!  Studies have shown that with supplementation, creatine can actually improve reasoning and cognition!  To be clear, your response creatine will depend on two variables;

  1. Vegans and vegetarians tend to see greater improvements due to their natural creatine stores being naturally lower due to their diet (creatine is primarily found in red meat or fish).
  2. Stress levels.  Again, studies have shown that individuals who are highly stressed tend to see greater improvements in cognition.

Various mushrooms, such as lion’s mane and cordyceps, are reported to enhance various facets of brain function.  For example, a lion's mane may be able to not only improve brain function but also act as a neuroprotector.  In other words, it can help prevent any sort of mental decline as we age.

Alpha GPC, also known as L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, is known as a cholinergic nootropic as it helps to deliver a surplus of choline to the brain.  The multiple benefits of Alpha GPC are reported by thousands of user reports, as well as actual research studies.  For example, it has shown to reverse memory loss in patients with Alzheimer's and other cerebral diseases.  Still, many healthy users report a plethora of benefits including:

Numerous B-Vitamins are also essential for proper brain function and can also directly improve cognitive function.  Benefits include:

This is a non-exhaustive list of the numerous nootropics that can help your brain function better.  More importantly, these are a safer and more natural form of energy than what is usually found in “energy drinks”.  Energy drinks will often produce a short-lived boost in “energy” which is followed by a crash or even health risks.  If you are serious about health and optimizing your brain health and cognitive function, nootropics are definitely the path to explore.  These ingredients are natural and work to improve brain function organically, the way the brain is supposed to work.

When most people hear the term “nootropics”, their first thought is “new what?”  In a nutshell, nootropics are supplements for your brain.  These are a family of compounds that reportedly are able to improve cognition, brain function, attention, creativity, memory, and executive function.  Basically the movie Limitless but in real life. As a whole, nootropics […]

Looking to start your yoga journey? Here is all you need to know about yoga, its health benefits, types, poses, and how exactly to get started! 

Yoga has been a popular practice since ancient times, tracing back to over thousands of years ago. Many people practice yoga to achieve its many benefits including staying healthy both mentally and physically. Not to forget, it has also been an incredible fitness trend lately. If you are looking to hop on the trend, read on to discover all you need to know about the journey you are about to take.

What is Yoga?

While many people around the world practice yoga, it often holds a different meaning for different people. For instance, some people turned into yogis to work out and stay physically fit and healthy. On the other hand, it goes beyond physical health for others who believe that yoga takes them into a spiritual world. Not to forget, it is both for many others.

Yoga tends to date back to around 2700 BC, while the term is also seen in one of the oldest Indian scripts called the Vedas. It arrived in America through Indian teachers like Indra Devi and Paramahansa Yogananda in the early 1900s.

Benefits of Yoga

There are various physical and mental benefits associated with yoga, for people of all ages. It can make you feel better on all spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical levels if you only practice it for a few days.

A few benefits of yoga include:

Types of Yoga and Poses

There are many different styles and types of yoga. A few of these are:

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga simply refers to the physical yoga rather than the meditation and breathing part of it. However, most Hatha Yoga poses are a combination of physical postures and movements as well as breathing exercises. Some easy Hatha Yoga poses for beginners are:

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga yoga demands physical strength as it follows a series of progressive poses that flow into one another. It is best that beginners practice this type of yoga with a trainer. Some Ashtanga poses are:

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a type of yoga that focuses on stretching connective tissues for improved body flexibility. It especially deals with connective tissues around the knees, spine, pelvis, and sacrum. Here are some Yin Yoga poses:

Tips for Getting Started on the Mat

Beginning a yoga practice may feel overwhelming, scary, and exciting at the same time. Here are some things to keep in mind as you start your yoga journey:

Starting off with yoga is a good way of beginning your health journey. It has numerous benefits for both the mind and body. Make sure you refer to our tips for getting started on the mat and let us know what you are looking for in yoga.

Have a favorite yoga pose or practice? Tag us on Instagram! @fitaid 

Looking to start your yoga journey? Here is all you need to know about yoga, its health benefits, types, poses, and how exactly to get started!  Yoga has been a popular practice since ancient times, tracing back to over thousands of years ago. Many people practice yoga to achieve its many benefits including staying healthy […]

What came first? You stopped taking care of your brain because you forgot?  OR, you forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain?  You likely forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain, if you ever did in the first place! Since it sits up in our skull in pure blackness, the only time we ever think about our cerebellum is when we have a headache and that’s not good! Case in point, when was the last time you’ve ever heard someone talk about nutrition for your brain?! Why does your brain need vitamins? And…which vitamins are essential for your brain?

Well, we’re going to talk about brain health today as it is literally the main frame of our entire body. If our brain doesn’t function at optimal levels, every part of our body will suffer! Therefore, we’re going to lay out the most important vitamins you need to keep your brain sharp.  Maintaining a healthy brain can improve memory, improve cognition, and mitigate any type of decline normally seen with age.  

Vitamin A & Beta-Carotene

The reason why we always see vitamin A & beta-carotene together is because beta-carotene is the primary precursor to vitamin A; in other words, beta-carotene produces vitamin A.  Regardless, these compounds have been found to act as neuroprotectors as we age and prevent cognitive decline.  Further, long-term supplementation has been found to sustain brain function past the age of 65 in men.  While studies aren’t conclusive about vitamin A improving brain function, if we are just as sharp as we are now when we are 70 years old, we’ll take that. However, the key to using vitamin A to maintain cognition levels is to make it a regular part of your diet for the long-term.  Studies show that this can be done either through your diet or supplementation.

The 8 B Vitamins

While there are a total of 8 B vitamins, all of them play a role in improving brain health.  In fact, some studies have even suggested that a B vitamin complex can be more beneficial than an isolated B vitamin.  Regardless, these powerful vitamins are absolutely essential to optimize your health.  One systematic review (the highest level of authority in scientific studies) found that taking B vitamins improved cognition, memory, and attention.

Vitamin C

Mmmmm….vitamin C.  Maybe the tastiest vitamin there is!  And that’s great because it’s essential to maintain brain health!  Studies have shown that vitamin C can;

Basically, eat your oranges if you want a healthy brain!

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is best known for its properties as an antioxidant.  As many diseases that result in lowering cognition are caused by free radicals, vitamin E’s function as scavenging these free radicals can play a big role in keeping these conditions at bay.  In fact, lower levels of various vitamin E compounds (there are eight total) were found to be associated with cognitive decline in scientific research.  

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Technically not a “vitamin”, but your diet should contain Omega 3’s for a slew of reasons.  It just so happens that maintaining a healthy brain is one of them.  Omega 3 can do this through several mechanisms.  First, eating an adequate amount can help reduce inflammation thus improving brain health.  Secondly, Omega 3 can prevent excessive stress to the brain by keeping your blood pressure in check while also maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol.

 If you haven’t been thinking about the health of your brain, you need to start doing so now.  Not getting these brain vitamins in adequate amounts could be putting your brain health and mental capacity at risk. Losing cognition is not a fun experience and in reality, it can have a drastic effect on our quality of life and even relationships.  What makes this even more troublesome is that brain health is actually very simple!  Being sure to consume the vitamins that are essential for your brain listed above is literally all it takes. To ensure you maintain your Einstein-esqe levels of intelligence, check areas of your diet which could use some tweaking or opt for a quality vitamin.  (could link a product here)  Preferably you can get the bulk from your food but adding some supplements can ensure that you truly get what you need. Check out the ingredients in our products, too, we bundled them all together in a can for you 😉 

What came first? You stopped taking care of your brain because you forgot?  OR, you forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain?  You likely forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain, if you ever did in the first place! Since it sits up in our skull in pure blackness, the only […]

Can you believe we are already two years deep into this crazy life adventure known as the pandemic? If you’re anything like me - SO many things have changed in the way I live my life since March 2020. While so much has returned to normal, so much…hasn’t. Our twins had just been born when all of this began, and even though so many of my old “treats” are available yet again, sometimes it is just too difficult to carve out regular time for me to get out of the house, find daycare, and experience the “normalcy” of what my life was like pre-kids and pre-pandemic.

Whether it’s due to the pandemic or motherhood - there have been numerous ways I have learned to pamper myself at home, and I am excited to share some of my favorites with you! Let’s dive into some of my favorite at-home self care rituals.

Photo courtesy offashionisers.com

One of my most missed activities when Covid started was getting my nails done. Constantly having my hands wet from washing pump parts, baby bottles, etc, meant normal nail polish wouldn’t last long and I needed to have dip or gel manicures to keep any sort of polish on my nails. I was SO excited when I found out there are tons of options and brands who offer everything you need to do dip manicures at home. A quick Google search will give you tons of options, and even Amazon carries a lot of these products. Even though nail salons are back open again, I love being able to do this at home, and save a TON of money at the same time.

One of the biggest adjustments after my babies were born was no longer being able to make it to the gym regularly. This is a huge part of my life, and we made it a big priority to build out our home gym with pieces of essential equipment. Whether you have a garage, a room, or even just a corner in your bedroom to dedicate to your fitness - give yourself the gift of a space to work on your health. This could include a yoga mat and a pair of dumbbells, an exercise bike, or a barbell. Maybe it just includes a few resistance bands and a spot to plug your computer in so you can watch your favorite YouTube fitness videos. Whatever it is - creating a dedicated space can help keep you motivated to accomplish your health goals, no matter what life throws at you.

Photo courtesy of usmagazine.com

No matter what time of year it is, nothing boosts my mood like a fresh coat of tanner! It helps me look so much healthier, gives me a nice healthy glow, and nothing beats that pre-tan shower where you really take your time shaving and exfoliating so your application comes out perfect. It may take some trial and error to find the perfect tanner for you and your skin type (spoiler alert - the best ones will be a bit more pricey, but I promise it’s worth it!), but once you find it, you’ll never want to get a spray tan or lay in a tanning bed again.

This one is totally new to me, but now that I have discovered it, I can’t stop talking about it! I had really been wanting to get lash extensions in recent months, but knew there was no way I could carve out the time for bi-weekly appointments, nor did I want to pay an arm and a leg to keep my lashes looking nice. A friend - who’s lashes I have always been so jealous of! - recommended an at-home lash system and this was the answer to my desires! I do my own version of “lash extensions” now once a week at home, and they usually take about 15 minutes, start to finish, to apply. There are a handful of brands who offer their own versions of this, so do a little research to find what would work best for you! I read up on some Facebook groups and beauty forums before investing into a particular system, watched how-to videos, and got comfortable practicing before actually applying them the first time. I am a total convert now and will never use mascara again! I honestly think these are even better than extensions, because if one were to come loose or come off, I can easily fix and reapply these myself at any point, versus waiting for an appointment.

What are your other favorite ways to take care of yourself from home? Share your tips and tricks with us below!

Can you believe we are already two years deep into this crazy life adventure known as the pandemic? If you’re anything like me – SO many things have changed in the way I live my life since March 2020. While so much has returned to normal, so much…hasn’t. Our twins had just been born when […]

The time has come and it’s time to get that hospital bag ready for the arrival of your new little babe! While there are some items that are obvious to pack that you would bring on any overnight trip, your hospital bag will likely have a ton of items you may not typically find yourself grabbing for on a typical trip. Here is a list of some of the less common items we are so glad we packed with us, or items we wish we had brought with us when we delivered our first babies!

Mama’s Items

Photo courtesy of snugglebugz.ca

A few absolute hospital bag necessities: several changes of loose fitting clothes, including PJ’s, a robe, and nursing bras and tanks. It is also super helpful to bring some of your own non-slip socks and slippers. Even if you aren’t planning on having a c-section, having some clothing options that drape over your stomach, like a nightgown, may provide a world of comfort in the case that something unexpected happens.

Other random “mom” items we recommend bringing along include: your nursing pump and a postpartum belly wrap. While the hospital likely has a pump you can borrow, it is a great option to bring your own so the nurses and/or lactation consultants can make sure you are using your own personal pump correctly. Having a postpartum belly wrap is also a great option to have on hand to start wearing soon after delivery. This aids in helping the uterus shrink and contract back down, as well as gives support to your midline and low back.

Some other random items that may be easy to forget but make a world of difference : your own toiletries, shower shoes, your own towel, your favorite pillow and blanket, snacks, electrolyte drinks, a phone charger with an extra long cord, anything that’s a necessity in your daily routine! 

Partner / Support Person’s Items

Photo courtesy of dollarmommyclub.com

Your support person or partner will need their own special bag packed too! While their items are a bit more standard or similar to items taken when on vacation, they too will need some unique, hospital-friendly items. In addition to a few changes of clothes, pajamas, etc, be sure to have shower shoes, additional blankets and pillows (trust us on this one), towels, etc available for your partner. They’ll also likely want to have cash on hand they can use in vending machines, and a phone charger with an extra long cord.

Baby / Misc Items

Photo courtesy of themamanurse.com

These items can vary quite a bit, and will definitely depend on your personal preferences. In addition to basics like onesies, sleepers, mittens, and hats, many parents want to pack some cute outfits for photos, as well as something like a wooden sign or letterboard to include in those first pics. Many mamas bring along a few swaddles, a sound machine, and a couple pacifiers so they can start incorporating some items from what will be their “home routine”, right away. You may also want to bring along a baby book to store mementos, a camera, and a cover for baby’s car seat.

For a hospital bag, we say it’s better to be over-prepared than underprepared. Being comfortable during this huge life transition can be such a gift! What other items would you recommend to new parents packing their hospital bags for the first time?

The time has come and it’s time to get that hospital bag ready for the arrival of your new little babe! While there are some items that are obvious to pack that you would bring on any overnight trip, your hospital bag will likely have a ton of items you may not typically find yourself […]

What is the flow state? If you’ve felt it then you’d know.  If you haven’t, being in a flow state is hard to describe.  

While the idea was developed in the 1970’s by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, athletes have known of this phenomenon for far longer.  In fact, in the sporting world, it’s known better as “being in the zone”.  Regardless of what you call it, flow state is the optimal mindset which unlocks your true potential.   

“Flow state” is a psychological state of mind in which an athlete is 100% immersed in what they’re doing.  It’s a period of time when all of the hours of training you’ve put in come together with all of your previous experiences.  What manifests is a transitory period of time in which you are able to play at 100% of your ability and beyond. Being in the “flow state” 

All of your movements and decision-making seem to occur simultaneously with 100% harmony and fluidity; much like the way in which water is able to flow down any path regardless of what’s in front of it.  During this time, time slows down as if to give you all the time you need to decide what you need to do and how to do it.  While it may seem you are having a full-on debate inside your head, mere milliseconds pass before you must make another decision.  

Some will call this “being focused” but flow state is more than focused because when you’re in flow, you don’t have to even think.  In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear athletes explain their extraordinary performance as “I wasn’t thinking, I just did it”.  You become so immersed in what you are doing that your brain literally chooses to shut out anything of unimportance.  

However, being in the flow state isn't just for athletes. Have you ever been so locked into a task that you look up and hours have passed? Have you ever been so focused that you are oblivious to the outside world? You may have not known it then, but you my friend were lost in the flow state. Whether you're an all word athlete or your everyday, 9-5 worker engrossed in work, find your flow state and anything is possible. 

What is the flow state? If you’ve felt it then you’d know.  If you haven’t, being in a flow state is hard to describe.   While the idea was developed in the 1970’s by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, athletes have known of this phenomenon for far longer.  In fact, in the sporting world, it’s known better as […]

Did someone say love is in the air? From your family at LIFEAID, we want to wish you all a Happy Valentines Day! Whether you’re in a relationship or single, Valentine’s Day is just another day to get up and get your heart pumping. Instead of going to the gym alone on Valentine’s Day, get your partner, friend, or anybody you love and get after it with them! However, this isn’t a day to just switch off set for set or spot them on their squat. This is a day to work out TOGETHER! Rep for rep and you can even make it competitive! And of course, when you’re done, make sure you grab 2 ice cold FITAIDs for you and your partner to recover, TOGETHER. Cheers! 

Need some ideas for partner workouts? Feel free to take a look at our favorite 10 partner workout videos on TikTok. So, go get after it on Valentine’s day with your partner and feel free to record a video of you and your partner working out together. Don’t forget to post it on TikTok and tag @officialfitaid.

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Did someone say love is in the air? From your family at LIFEAID, we want to wish you all a Happy Valentines Day! Whether you’re in a relationship or single, Valentine’s Day is just another day to get up and get your heart pumping. Instead of going to the gym alone on Valentine’s Day, get […]

LIFEAID held a seminar for Renaissance Periodization Nutrition to learn more about sports performance and the importance of your diet – everything from healthy calorie balance to macro breakdown can have a major effect on your body in the short term long term. Founder Nick Shaw broke down their pyramid of importance when it comes to feeling good in the gym, losing fat and/or retaining lean tissue. 

Who is RP? 

Renaissance Periodization or RP is a platform that aims to deliver the most effective, scientifically sound, and reliable diet and training consultation to anyone looking to achieve success in the areas of physique alterations, sports performance, and health. They’re all about helping you target your time and effort into methods that work. RP lives and breathes fitness, nutrition, and sport, as well as educating whoever wants to learn. So if you’re someone starting your fitness journey or looking for the right knowledge and information to better yourself, RP is the perfect place! 

The pyramid above is broken down into 6 categories of importance. The most important being adherence followed by calorie balance, macronutrients, nutrient timing, food composition, and supplements + hydration. Each category plays a pivotal role in your success in the gym and overall, feeling good. 

Adherence

Adherence can simply be broken down into the fact that consistency is key. Not just consistency over the short term but more importantly over the long term. It is important to develop habits that add sustainability to your nutrition. We’re not just talking weeks or months, we’re talking years. Once you have a successful plan, knowledge is power. RP can assist you in gaining the knowledge you need to be successful on your journey. If you don't have adherence, no matter the nutrition plan, you're not going to get too far. 

Calorie Balance 

Calorie balance is about 50% of your dietary success. This is all about calories in vs. calories out.  The way you handle this factor, sets the foundation for your dietary and physical goals. To reach your goals, you have to nail calorie balance. If you do not, it is very similar to having a really nice sports car that just sits in the garage. If you do not gas it up, it is going nowhere. Depending on your goals, there are two states of calorie intake in which you can be. If you are consuming more calories than you are burning (i.e trying to gain weight and muscle) you are in a hypercaloric state. If you are burning more calories than you are consuming (i.e losing weight) then you are in a hypocaloric state. Then if you are pretty even, that is a eucaloric state or a maintaining state. 

Macronutrients 

Your macros make up about 30% of your diet. These macros include carbs (4 cal per gram), proteins (4 cal per gram), and fats (9 cal per gram). The most important of these are proteins. Roughly speaking, you should be consuming 1g per pound of body weight. Your protein intake will be based on your goals and it is key to keep track of your performance. The second most important are carbohydrates. Carbs have the biggest range of intake because it is based on how much physical activity you take part in. Simply put, more activity and exertions means there is a need for more carbs in your diet. Finally, fats are the first place to lower calories in your diet. It is important to try and focus on more unsaturated fats than saturated fats. When cutting back fats, be sure to keep proteins and carbs high. 

Nutrient Timing

10% of this pyramid is based around nutrient timing. This is broken into two categories. Meal quantity vs. meal distribution. Meal quantity is simply how many times you are eating throughout the day. You should try to focus on 3-5 times a day, every 4-6 hours. Meal distribution is how you consume these macros based on time of day and when we train. This is also based on your weight goals, whether you are trying to lose or gain weight. 

Food Composition 

People think the types of food you're eating matter the most but that’s not necessarily true. As long as you're hitting your numbers, the type of food should not matter. In terms of proteins, you can get those from animals or on a vegan diet. When it comes to carbohydrates, there are either your GI carbohydrates that include oatmeal, sweet potatoes, fruits and veggies. Or there are your higher GI carbohydrates which should not be eaten as often. Your fats can either be unsaturated or saturated. Most of your unsaturated fats should come from nuts, avocados, or olive oils. Your saturated fats include grass fed beef or coconut oil, these are the healthier ones that you should try and stick to. However, these should not make it the bulk of your fat intake. 

Supplements + Hydrations

RP gave us their top 5 supplements: 

All these are great to incorporate into your diet to help you achieve success on your fitness journey. 

Tag us on Instagram with your favorite nutritional tips that you’ve incorporated into your daily life! @fitaid 

LIFEAID held a seminar for Renaissance Periodization Nutrition to learn more about sports performance and the importance of your diet – everything from healthy calorie balance to macro breakdown can have a major effect on your body in the short term long term. Founder Nick Shaw broke down their pyramid of importance when it comes […]

Conflict - Use It, Don’t Diffuse It: CrisMarie Campbell & Susan Clarke TEDx

Conflict is a normal part of working on a team and it can be seen as either productive or detrimental. But instead of thinking of conflict as good or bad, Campbell and Clarke propose that conflict should be understood as an energy source that fuels innovation and team performance. Check out this Ted Talk and learn how to utilize conflict as a catalyst for positive transformation.

Watch now...

What’s Love Got To Do With Work?

Organization development consultant Khoo Seok Lin explores the crucial role that love plays in work by asking the question: “What is needed for me to be at my best at work while experiencing joy, energy and meaning?” Khoo Seok Lin explores various applications of love in work, including the importance of doing work that energizes you and accepting strengths and weaknesses. Read on to discover how incorporating love into your work can help avoid burnout and guide us to a fulfilling work life.

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"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."

- Helen Keller

10 Fundamental Truths That Will Change Your Life

Voted one of the most inspirational articles EVER by Linkedin, Travis Bradberry’s 10 Fundamental Truths offers an opportunity for self-analysis to ensure that we are acting in accordance with our values in our professional and personal lives. One fundamental truth states that fear is the number one source of regret. Read on for more valuable fundamental truths worth considering.

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Lifespan: Why We Age―and Why We Don't Have To by David A. Sinclair PhD

David A. Sinclair, co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School, takes a provocative stance on aging in this book, stating that “Aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable”. Dr. Sinclair explains the new scientific discoveries that suggest that we may be able to reverse aging in the future, while also explaining simple things we can do every day to slow down our aging process

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Conflict – Use It, Don’t Diffuse It: CrisMarie Campbell & Susan Clarke TEDx Conflict is a normal part of working on a team and it can be seen as either productive or detrimental. But instead of thinking of conflict as good or bad, Campbell and Clarke propose that conflict should be understood as an energy […]

Whether you’ve walked into your first CrossFit box this week or you’re a fellow veteran and full on addicted CrossFitter, we can all agree that watching powerhouse athletes dominate on the floor at Wodapalooza is a mind blowing experience. FitAid has been following the trajectory of up and coming elite athlete, Meg O’Donnell! Prepping for such an intensive four day event can be pretty daunting but O’Donnell breaks it down for us – from how she prepared her workouts to how she felt when she got her invitation to Miami’s Wodapalooza Competition. Check out our interview below: 

FitAid: How have you been preparing for your appearance at Wodapalooza?

O’Donnell: I have some hefty goals. So I've been going through Phase 1 of my "Open" prep. Which has heavy lifting, monostructurals and "fun" conditioning pieces. Otherwise, just trying to stay healthy and well fed. I'm pretty excited to compete at WZA. This will be my first time!!

FitAid: Did the cancellation of Wodapalooza last year have an impact on your performance or your experience as an athlete this past year?

O’Donnell: I was sad to see that WZA had to cancel. I had not planned to compete there last year, so the cancellation didn't affect my training. But I think it was a smart move with everything that was going on. Plus it helps to make this year EVEN more special. Especially with it being the 10th anniversary.

FitAid: How did you feel when you got the invite to this year's WZA?

O’Donnell: Getting the invite this year was a VERY pleasant surprise! I am beyond excited to get the chance to compete at such an iconic event! Not a terrible thing to get a little vacay into the heat during this time as well.

FitAid: What workouts are you hoping to see at this year's Wodapalooza?

O’Donnell: I always LOVE a good chipper and ladders. I've been looking at all the posts from Instagram. There are a LOT of fun workouts that WZA could bring back! Hopefully it'll be something heavy and fun at the same time! Rope climbs and sandbags and a heavy barbell sound like "fun"

FitAid: What advice do you have for other up and coming athletes looking to make it to Sanctionals?

O’Donnell: I've been competing for about 10 years now. My advice for the up and coming athletes is to believe and Keep training! You CAN do it! I started out just wanting to be a more healthy and fit human. That took a small step up to make Santionals.  It took me a few years, but after making Regionals/Sanctionals/Semi-finals; I set my sights on the Games. Haven't made it there yet, but I'm still trying and doing well. Been getting better every year! Maybe, THIS year will be the year! Either way, competing has been a very fun time! I have made more than a few friends along the way.

Don’t forget to check out Meg’s socials (@meg_breezy_ox9) for more behind the scenes WZA action! And tag us on Instagram if YOU were at WZA this year! @fitaid 

A big shout out to Tiffany Ammerman for grabbing this content. You can check out more of her articles, along with her photos at the link below: https://www.lifeaidbevco.com/blog/author/tiffany-ammerman/

Whether you’ve walked into your first CrossFit box this week or you’re a fellow veteran and full on addicted CrossFitter, we can all agree that watching powerhouse athletes dominate on the floor at Wodapalooza is a mind blowing experience. FitAid has been following the trajectory of up and coming elite athlete, Meg O’Donnell! Prepping for […]