If you think fitness is hard enough, try adding motherhood!
This Mother's Day, LIFEAID is launching Mothers of Fitness, a docuseries and an inclusive online community to help support, inspire and motivate moms worldwide to lead healthy, active lifestyles.
Join us as we experience fit moms tackling motherhood—from the laughter to the tears, juggling workouts between feedings & diapers, and everything in between! You'll get an inside look at the daily lives of women who have taken on the biggest job of all: being a mom. Mothers of Fitness (MoF) proves that being a strong mom is so much more than just fitness.
"Here's to strong women.
May we know them.
May we be them.
May we raise them."
Watch for top athletes and everyday mamas featured in upcoming episodes of the Mothers of Fitness docuseries, with new episodes airing each week. Some of the Mothers of Fitness currently featured include:
- Former NPC competitor turned CrossFit athlete, fitness model, SG Training Zone owner & proud toddler mom Sarah Grace
Mothers everywhere are now invited to join the online MoF community on Facebook, a place for moms to come together, support and build each other up. After all, we are stronger as women when we stand united. So tell a mom you love and come get inspired, share advice with fellow moms, find fitness tips, discover healthy recipes, workout virtually together, laugh or cry—we're here for it all.
The Mothers of Fitness Facebook group will also feature partnerships with brands moms love, giveaways, online events, live Q&A sessions, discounts for MoF members, fresh content, and other fun ways to get involved.
“As a mother, it is often hard to find time to dedicate to yourself. With MoF, we want to provide an inclusive community that will be a platform of inspiration and motivation for busy moms,” says Emily Sommariva, LIFEAID CMO and mother of one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Luna. “We are excited to be bringing top notch, heartfelt content through articles, amazing moderators and our MoF docuseries. We've gotta stick together!”
Here's a sneak peek of our upcoming Mothers of Fitness docuseries, launching this Mother's Day!
Interested in submitting content or becoming a moderator for Mothers of Fitness? Please email us at: mothers@lifeaidbevco.com
Not a mom? Share this with a mother who inspires you.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Proudly brought to you by LIFEAID Beverage Company
> > > Stay strong, mamas.
Written by travel blogger Tiffany Ammerman
This is definitely an unprecedented time in everyone’s lives. As we’re self-isolating in our own homes, many people are finding creative ways to stay connected during this time of social distancing. While it might not be the same as gathering your closest friends together for a backyard BBQ, these clever ways of staying in touch with your friends are sure to help banish any quarantine blues.
CHECK OUT OUR TOP 5 TIPS TO HELP YOU GET SOCIAL, EVEN FROM AFAR:
- Share Your Playlists
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Curating a personalized playlist is an old throwback to creating mix tapes (or CDs, for all you millenials out there) for your best friend, and it is a classic, time-tested tradition of showing someone that you care. Not only can you create a playlist for your friends but you can also create various different playlists to share with others so they can listen while doing quarantine activities, like making dinner or cleaning out their closet. It'll make them feel more connected to you and help boost their mood.
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- Virtual Workout Sessions
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Athletes are having to get a bit creative when it comes to sticking to their workout routine from home lately. Even though we may be maintaining our fitness, most of us are missing that important social aspect of being a member of a gym and its community. A cool way to get together with your gym buddies during quarantine is to set up a WOD, HIIT, yoga or stretching session over FaceTime (video call). Not only are you getting your workout in for the day but you’re also getting the chance to connect with your fitness friends. Just knowing we're all still sweating through this together can help keep you motivated!
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- Watch Shows Together
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Streaming services (like Netflix® and Hulu®) have been churning out the content lately, so now is the perfect time to (video) call up your sister, co-worker or friends and tune into the same guilty pleasure reality series. Just because we can't physically have visitors in our home doesn’t mean we can’t have a fun night of laughing and chatting together over FaceTime, Zoom® or video calls with them.
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- Parking Lot Dinner Dates
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Want to spend time with your partner or loved one while helping to support your local economy at the same time? Try a parking lot dinner date! Many local restaurants are still safely offering take-away options for select menu items, so grab yourself a yummy meal and meet your favorite person in the parking lot. While still maintaining the six feet of required distance, you can sit in your car while they sit in theirs—with the windows rolled down—and spend some quality time catching up. Nothing beats good food and good company, and a few feet of distance is always better than a few miles.
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- FaceTime While Cooking
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Sharing recipes has seen a resurgence, with thousands of people discovering or rekindling their love of cooking and baking while in quarantine. (Finding bread and yeast online or in stores lately is like a quest for the Holy Grail!) When has there ever been a better time to try trading recipes with a friend or—as an added level of fun—try cooking together virtually! Not only can you get in some good gab time but you can also share cooking advice while attempting to master each other’s favorite recipe(s). Plus, making a mess in the kitchen is always more fun when someone is doing it with you, even if it's only virtually. After quarantine, we may have to change the saying to: "Friends who cook together stay together."
C O N C L U S I O N
This is a new way of life for everyone so it’s normal to feel days of frustration, stress and loneliness. Taking this new journey one day at a time while finding new, inventive ways to connect with our loved ones is a helpful way to make us feel more social and happy. While these creative shelter-in-place solutions may not be able to replace the joy of holding our partner's hand at the movie theatre on the weekends or meeting up with friends for brunch, we must simply do our best to stay connected and positive during this time. Being kind to ourselves by prioritizing self-care is not only about eating well and keeping fit, it's also about remaining connected with our core group of loved ones. So the next time you’re feeling down, hop on a video call with your best friend and try working out, cooking or just talking while sheltering-in-place, virtually, together.
Cover photo courtesy of @ninaghamari
Cooking photo courtesy of @foodfirstfuel
About the Author:
Georgia native Tiffany Ammerman is the thru-hiker and CrossFitter behind the travel blog The Goodish Traveler. She spends the majority of her time traveling, eating sushi and searching for hiking trails. When she's not blogging, Ammerman can be found training at CrossFit LaGrange and teaching art to kids.
> > > Stay well.
Amidst the current COVID-19 crisis, it is our health care heroes who have helped sustain us, the brave women and men who are tirelessly battling on the front lines of this pandemic with smiles under their masked faces. To each and every one of you, for your sacrifice and your bravery, we say THANK YOU.
This month, LIFEAID has donated over 30 pallets of FITAID ZERO to more than 150 hospitals worldwide to help fuel the dedicated paramedics, nurses and doctors on their rounds. Here are just a few of the many heroes who wear masks. We could not get through this time without you!
WPB Medical Center in Virginia
Loma Linda University Medical Center in California
Covenant/Fort Sanders Regional Hospital in Tennessee
Columbia Memorial Health in New York
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla in California
Trident Hospital in South Carolina
Gilbert Fire Department in Arizona
Bellevue Pharmacy in New York
St. Luke’s Health System in Wisconsin
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR HEALTH CARE HEROES!
> > > Stay well.
With so many gym doors forced to close, we started the LIFEAID LIFT program to support our local gyms & businesses, helping our community get through this current crisis, together.
BOX OWNERS, earn some cash and save your members money! Simply share this link: www.LIFEAIDlift.com
Your gym will receive $15 cash for every 24-can purchase made by your loyal members or customers under your gym's name at LIFEAIDlift.com! We ship their orders directly to them and send you the cash*. It's a win-win. (*Verified accounts will be paid out every two weeks via PayPal.) Program valid only for the temporary duration of your gym or business' mandatory closure.
GYM MEMBERS, now you can purchase discounted cases ($5 OFF/case) when you shop at www.LIFEAIDlift.com. Plus, we'll give $15 cash back (for every 24-can case purchase) directly your gym. Remember to SHARE the link, SHARE the love!
This is a great way for those who are working out at home to be able to stock up any of our immunity and recovery boosting LIFEAID blends—chock full of vitamins—while supporting the gyms and businesses we call 'home,' so we can return to them once the dust settles.
We're so grateful for our community. Let's stay strong together!
Your LIFEAID family is humbled and grateful to be able to give back and financially lift up those in need during this difficult time. Please contact our team if you have any questions about the LIFEAID LIFT or how to get started: (888) 558-1113.
> > > Stay strong.
Featuring Dr. Nick of @thefittestdoc and Aaron Hinde, co-founder and president of LIFEAID®
What’s stress got to do with it? Can’t I just double up on vitamins to stay healthy? With the expertise of Dr. Nick, MD, also known as “The Fittest Doc,” alongside co-founder and president of LIFEAID® Aaron Hinde, we are debunking some of the top immunity myths while providing health tips that will actually help keep your immune system firing on all cylinders.
1. STRESS IS UNRELATED TO IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTH
“It is important to try to reduce anxiety in order to keep your immune system working at maximum capacity. Chronic stressors like a stressful job or home life or even persistent non-transient states of anxiety...tend to cause an inflammatory state physiologically and a persistent depression of our own ability to fight off infection,” says Dr. Nick.
TIP: If you are feeling anxious, try meditating or practicing breathwork exercises to help reduce stress. Dr. Aaron Hinde, says “My daily life at LIFEAID can be hectic, so I’ve created a morning routine practicing breathwork and meditation to help me stay calm and grounded throughout the day.”
BONUS: Here is a simple breathwork exercise that you can do anywhere:
- Get into a comfortable position
- Place your hand on your chest and your other hand on your belly
- Take a deep (belly) breath in while counting to five in your head.
- Pause, then slowly and fully exhale your breath.
- Repeat for a few minutes, until you feel calm & relaxed.
2. MYTH: EXERCISE LOWERS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
“From the research that I’ve seen, exercise is no different than any other stressor,” says Dr. Nick. “Transient stressors involving family, work and even exercise have been shown to be associated with strengthening the immune system.” Moving the body will release endorphins — the ‘feel good hormone’ — which reduces cortisol levels and thus improves your immunity response.
TIP #1: Go for a 15-minute walk outside to release endorphins and reduce stress. (You will also be getting the added benefit of absorbing Vitamin D from the sun.)
TIP #2: If you are not feeling well, skip the gym. “Self isolate to keep others safe,” says Dr. Nick. “Even though you may know what health issues you have, you have no idea what other people at the gym have.”
3. MYTH: HAND SOAP IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN HAND SANITIZER
“If hand sanitizer has 60 percent of alcohol or higher, then it can be just as effective as washing your hands with soap, if applied properly,” according to Dr. Nick.
TIP #1: Make sure to wash hands for at least 20 seconds. Many germs live underneath the fingernails, Dr. Nick recommends putting soap on the palm of one hand and cleaning your nails of the opposite hand by lighting scratching the soapy palm.
TIP #2: For maximum effectiveness, coat your entire hand (front and back) when using hand sanitizer, then let it air dry.
4. MYTH: THE MORE VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS THE BETTER
There is no proof of the added benefits from consuming extra vitamins and supplements (above & beyond the daily recommended amounts), unless your body is nutrient deficient. However, if you aren’t consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables, you may need to look for an extra immune boost from supplementation
Dr. Nick also adds, “There is no solid evidence that vitamins like echinacea, zinc and vitamin C effectively treat the common cold; However, there is absolutely some data showing there is a significant decrease in illness duration if taken before onset of symptoms.”
TIP: Need a boost? Try IMMUNITYAID. The IMMUNITYAID Wellness Blend delivers key vitamins and nutrients to naturally help boost your immune system, with 20x more Vitamin C than one orange, plus other natural ingredients like Echinacea, Zinc & Astragalus Root in every can. IMMUNITYAID is the simple and delicious way to get your vitamins and stay defended, with only 40 calories and a refreshing Orange Burst flavor kids & adults love!
> > > Be well.
(KGTV) -- The internet is exploding with people trying to help firefighters and animals in Australia amid raging wildfires — enter the Koala Challenge.
The challenge, which was started by beverage company FITAID, encourages people to take a video of themselves latching onto the underside of a workout bench.
An employee for the company tells 10News that, through Friday, it’ll donate $5 for every video of the challenge posted on social media and hashtagged #FITAID and #KoalaChallenge.
“You don’t have to successfully complete it,” joked FITAID employee Jordan Costa.
The company also plans to donate five percent of all sales from FITAID ZERO directly to those fighting the fires.
Videos posted on social media show people successfully, and some not so successfully completing the challenge - all in the name of a good cause.
To join the challenge, learn more at: @fitaid
HOW LIFEAID IS HELPING AUSTRALIA
When LIFEAID Beverage Co. heard about the devastation caused by the brush fires down in Australia, we knew we had to try and find a way to help. (More than 10 times the area of the 2018 California fires has already burned!)
This week, FITAID is donating 5% of all sales from FITAID ZERO directly to our brave family and friends who are fighting the devastating fires down in Australia. We will also be sending 10,000 cans of FITAID Down Under to help those hardworking men and women recover from their exhaustive relief efforts.
Additionally, we are partnering with FITAID athlete @JamesNewbury’s GoFundMe to help raise even more funds for the firefighters, by asking each of you to do the #KoalaChallenge! Now through Friday, for every post shared of someone doing the Koala Challenge (photo/video), FITAID will donate $5/post directly to the efforts of Australian wildlife protection services. Please be sure to include #FITAID, #KoalaChallenge and tag @FITAID in your post.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
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JOIN the FITAID Koala Bear Relief Challenge
Whether you're successful or not doesn't matter, it's for a great cause! Simply document your attempt at the "Koala Challenge." Be sure to tag @fitaid in your photo/video and include the hashtags #KoalaChallenge & #FITAID in your post. Share your post now on Instagram, join the challenge HERE!
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SHARE
Be sure to tell others about the FITAID Koala Challenge and how they can help raise $5/post just for participating! NOTE: All submissions must be posted by the deadline on Friday, Jan. 10, to count towards the total donation (up to $30,000).
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Stock up on FITAID ZERO
This week, when you purchase FITAID ZERO, 5% of your purchase will be donated directly to Australia wildlife relief services. SHOP NOW at LIFEAIDBevCo.com/ZERO
LIFEAID is beyond grateful for the overwhelming response and participation in these efforts so far. THANK YOU to everyone who has participated in any way. Every little bit helps, we're all in this together.
> > > Live well.
Things got a little buttery last night...
CrossFit's sweetheart Rory (Ro) McKernan joined The Buttery Brothers & well-known media team duo—Heber (Heebs) Cannon & Marston (Mars) Sawyers—Thursday evening for the Open Workout 19.2 LIVE Announcement. The trio anxiously huddled around the TV in the FITAID box, located at the office of LIFEAID Beverage Co. in the old Wrigley building on the west side of Santa Cruz, California.
Everyone was eager to hear what the workout would entail as they tried to mentally prepare for the good old-fashioned head-to-head throwdown that lay ahead of them. Despite a slightly disjointed announcement broadcast from Australia, the group finally pieced together the details of the workout:
OPEN Workout 19.2 (Men's RX)
25 toes-to-bar
50 double-unders
15 squat cleans (135 lb.)
25 toes-to-bar
50 double-unders
13 squat cleans (185 lb.)
If you complete all of the above movements under 8 minutes, add 4 minutes to clock and proceed to next round.
25 toes-to-bar
50 double-unders
11 squat cleans (225 lb.)
If you complete the above round under 4 minutes, add an additional 4 minutes to clock and proceed to next round.
25 toes-to-bar
50 double-unders
9 squat cleans (275 lb.)
If you complete the above round under 4 minutes, add an additional 4 minutes to clock and proceed to final round.
25 toes-to-bar
50 double-unders
7 squat cleans (315 lb.)
Time cap: 20 minutes
Now armed with all the workout details, the athletes scattered like ants and started talking strategy as they warmed up in the FITAID box. They each methodically got their equipment all set up, carefully preparing for battle as they passed around a few light-hearted taunts. Trust us, this crew is accustomed to hyping each other up to compete.
The last time this trio competed was during the LIVE Announcement of Open Workout 18.5 in Iceland (in 2018), where Heber walked away with the win. Since then, plans for redemption have been spoken of in hushed tones by both Rory and Mars ...
"Daddy, let's go kick some butt," Rory's daughter said with an aggressive high-five for her dad just before the workout began.
3, 2, 1...Go!
True to form, Mars came out "hot" and was in the lead after Round 1. But a determined Rory and Heber weren't too far behind as they all started Round 2 ...
Amidst repeated shouts of "Go, Daddy, go!" from Heber's two little boys—Finley (2) and Maverick (4)—who cheered madly from the corner, Cannon managed to stand up his 11th squat clean at 185 lb., finishing just 2 reps shy of completing Round 2 within the 8-minute time cap.
As Heber sat and attempted to make a buttery recovery, Rory and Mars were forced to forge ahead into Round 3 without the company of their lusciously long-locked companion.
Mars hopped back onto the pull-up bar first, while Rory strolled slowly over in an attempt to catch his breath. Quickly it became apparent just how winded both of the remaining athletes were after having sprinted to complete those final squat cleans in the previous round.
With every rep, the athletes took extended hunched-over breaks, often turning their toes-to-bar into painful singles.
Ro & Mars continued chipping away at their remaining 25 toes-to-bar in Round 3. Mars finished his first and advanced to the 50 double-unders. Meanwhile, Rory remained on the pull-up bar.
As the third round's 4-minute time cap approached, Mars managed to get to the barbell and power through 5 squat cleans at 275 lb., taking the overall win and bragging rights for 19.2! Rory advanced to the jump rope and completed a total of 12 double-unders in that third round, securing his second-place finish. With only 11 of the required 13 squat cleans under his weight belt prior to the 8-minute time cap of Round 2, a humbled Heber found himself in an unfamiliar last place compared to his previous first-place finish in their Icelandic battle for 18.5.
Great job, boys! It's been a long time since Rory found himself in the middle of a sandwich this buttery:
OPEN 19.2 RESULTS
1. Marston Sawyers (258.pts.)
2. Rory McKernan (215.pts.)
3. Heber Cannon (176.pts.)
Even though none of these three buttery beasts completed the work requirement within the third round's 12-minute time cap (necessary to advance them into the final two rounds), all three of them are winners in our book. Just don't think for a second that they're gonna let Heber forget this one any time soon ...
Redemption was sweet for both Mars and Rory!
In case you missed the LIVE action, do not fear—you can still watch it over on the @FITAID Instagram page! (Just click on the Story, then select "Watch Live Video")
"When was the last time you had pancakes for dinner?"
—The Buttery Bros.
The team at FITAID wishes to sincerely THANK Rory McKernan, The Buttery Bros. (Heber Cannon & Marston Sawyers), their crew and the entire CrossFit community for showing up and making this event possible.
It's the sound of our friends, family members and fellow athletes cheering us on, paired with our ongoing inner desire to dig deep and do our best—that's what makes CrossFit great. —LIFEAID staff
> > > Live well.
