Brianna Cope is a professional surfer born and raised on the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii. Growing up near the ocean, Cope fell in love with the power of its waves and began surfing on a longboard at the age of four.

“I love how free and alive I feel in the ocean. It is such an indescribable feeling to be able to ride a wave, always thinking how special it is that you can only ride that wave once—you will never get the same wave again,” says Cope.

Cope won her first surfing competition when she was just 11 years old, deciding then and there that she wanted to be a professional surfer. Currently, Cope can be spotted competing on the World Surf League qualifying series, traveling across the globe for competitions. Her 2018 documentary “Surfing to Cope” is now available on iTunes.‘Big Neechi’ is an internationally recognized celebrity, bodybuilder and festival host known for his incredible strength, muscular physique, and for throwing wild parties.

Neechi graduated from Texas State University as somewhat of a campus legend, obtaining a degree in Exercise & Sports Science. His capabilities in the gym came at an early age when he broke his Jr. High School’s bench press record of 315 lb. in the eighth grade! Big Neechi has since won the title of "Combine King" and "Strongest Man". 

During college, Big Neechi also earned another reputation for himself after throwing a Project X-style pool party that went viral and ended up on every news outlet in America. Big Neechi has become the #1 event host in Texas, and even hosted Spring Break in South Padre Island. 

No matter how wild his lifestyle gets, Big Neechi always prioritizes fitness, maintains a great physique, and displays insane numbers on all his lifts. (He was the 2019 Iron Wars 4 champion after completing a 475-lb. pause-rep bench press!) Weighing only 215 lb., Big Neechi has proven he can keep up with the best of the best.

Greg Lutzka is a professional skateboarder, best known for his technical skills which have landed him countless trophies, gold medals and awards in contests including: X-Games, The Maloof Money Cup, Dew Tours and World Cups. Currently, Lutzka is also the only skater to have ever won the highly respected Tampa Pro an unprecedented three times.

Lutzka’s reputation as one of the hardest working skateboarders in the industry is well-earned. At the age of 18, Greg moved from the Midwest to Southern California, the Action Sports mecca of the world. During the course of his career, Lutzka has been featured in videos for Almost & Darkstar Skateboards, K-Swiss and Oakley Eyewear. He has also cross-branded himself with Harley Davidson and Aqua Hydrate, always representing sponsors to the fullest while also practicing and improving his skateboarding skills daily.

Lutzka has acted in a movie, commercials and music videos. During whatever remaining freetime Lutzka has, he enjoys snowboarding, cycle riding and spending time with family and friends.

> > > Stay well.

By: Nikki Dagot | June 2019

It’s finally summertime! Many of us wait all year for pool parties, beach days, camping and outdoor fun with family and friends. Personally, I love summer because it’s so easy to get outdoors and find a variety of exercises to help you reach your fitness goals while enjoying the sunshine: a jog along the beach, laps in your local swimming  pool, a friendly tennis match, or attending an outdoor yoga class. 

I want to start off by saying I am not the healthiest, most active person out there. But I thoroughly enjoy being outdoors, feeling energized, and paying attention to how both my mind and body feel. Do I go to the gym daily? No. Do I eat sugar? Yes (I love cookies). But life is about balance and feeling healthy on the inside.

That’s why I am a big fan of setting up smart, attainable goals for myself, especially during the summer when there are so many extra activities, food and fun that can distract us from our fitness goals. There’s no need to get extreme with your workout plans, especially during a season when your days are often jammed packed with outdoor activities to help keep your body moving. Currently, I have been going to the gym a few times a week, stretching, and going on walks around my neighborhood. When I start to feel too tired, I remind myself that even if I do something active after work for 20-30 minutes, it’s better than nothing so that’s a “win.”

HERE ARE MY TOP PICKS FOR
Summer Necessities for a Healthy, Active Lifestyle:

  1. Attainable nutrition & fitness goals are a MUST. Make a plan, keep it simple, and you’re more likely to stick to it so you can crush your goals this summer (which always gets me about setting new goals)!
  2. Workout clothes that I feel confident in! Because when you feel better, you move better and live better. Summer goal: feel good about moving your body.
  3. My favorite kanteen or water bottle filled with ice-cold water to help me stay hydrated. 
  4. An upbeat playlist on my iPhone to help get me pumped up to crush my workouts.
  5. An ice-cold FITAID ZERO as a macro-friendly post-workout treat or a refreshing 5-calorie soda replacement.

When it comes to nutrition, one smart addition to my grocery list this summer has been items that taste great, are refreshing and satisfying yet won’t blow my macros out of the water. That’s where FITAID ZERO comes in! It’s only 5 calories, 1g of carbs, and helps my body recover properly after I finish a workout. It’s also the perfect soda replacement or mixer when served ice-cold on a hot summer day. Bonus: it’s made without any artificial sweeteners, NO sucralose, NO aspartame—happily sweetened with Monk Fruit & Stevia, made with only the good stuff your body needs (glutamine, glucosamine, BCAAs, electrolytes, CoQ10, turmeric, quercetin, green tea extract (for 45mg of natural caffeine & energy), vitamins C, D, & E, and B-complex).

SUMMER SNACKIN'

If healthy eating is a challenge for you, here are some snacks and meal ideas I find fast and easy to help stay on track during the summer. Light and refreshing is key for those hot months, and meals that are easy to prepare so that you’re not wasting too much time in the kitchen are always a plus! Reach for fresh fruits, veggies, granola and nuts—all great snacks for outdoor adventures—as well as smoothies that you can take with you on the go! I also love a quick salad or wrap you can throw together — tuna, chicken, or veggie & hummus for a vegan option. Don’t forget that with summer, comes BBQ’s, pool parties and picnics. Be sure to treat yourself every now and then because life is all about balance. 

Wishing you a safe & healthy ACTIVE summer!

About the Author: Nikki Dagot is a 28-year-old food blogger who lives in Orlando, Florida.

You can follower her on Instagram @repeatandeat or on her blog at: www.repeatandeat.com

 > > > Live well.

  

As spring turns to summer, beverage makers from across a range of categories are launching a slate of new products aimed at quenching consumers’ thirst during the hot weeks and months ahead. In this gallery, we highlight a handful of the notable new products introduced to market or announced in the past month, including new packaging formats for Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice and CHERRISH, an imported flash-brewed coffee from one of Japan’s top RTD brands, and protein-packed chocolate milk versions of two classic candy bars.

LIFEAID

Timed for the summer season, functional drink maker LIFEAID has released two new products: FITAID ZERO and FITAID RX ZERO, both of which contain zero calories or sugar and are sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. The new items are available for sale in 24-packs through the company’s website and in 12 oz. cans at select retailers and gyms.

Product image of two FITAID ZERO cans, up close

Mood33

Cannabis beverage brand Mood33 has released a new SKU — Peace — which combines 20 mg of CBD with 2 mg of THC.

Product image of mood with three bottles on a white background

Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Co.

Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company announced earlier this month its plans to transition to PET packaging for its 8 oz., 16 oz. and 32 oz. bottle sizes.

Product images of five bottles of Natalie's, including orange juice, grapefruit juice, blood orange, strawberry lemonade, and orange beet flavors

Oatsome

Oatsome is the latest brand to jump into the increasingly competitive oat milk category. Available in a one liter carton, the product is organic and free from any added gums or stabilizers.

Product image of Oatsome box next to a white coffee mug

BodyArmor

Sports drink brand BodyArmor entered the powdered mix category this month with the launch of two flavors — Fruit Punch and Orange Mango — in 3.56 pound bags designed to be used with five gallons of water.

Product image of Body Armor bags sitting in front of a Body Armor cooler, sat in front of a sports field background

Earth's Own

Canadian plant-based beverage maker Earth’s Own has released a new chocolate oat milk available in 1.75 liter multi-serve and 250 ml single-serve formats. The flavor uses 50% less sugar than regular chocolate milk and includes 4 g of protein per serving.

Product image of Earth's Own oat milk boxes, including five different flavors on top of a yellow background

CHERRISH

CHERRISH, a line of ready-to-drink cherry juice-based beverages, has introduced a new 3 oz. “to-go” pouch format for its three SKUs: Cherry Pomegranate, Cherry and Cherry Blueberry.

Product image of Cherish, including 3 flavor bottles, one bag, surrounded by berries, and sat on a white background

Teavana

Teavana has added a new flavor to its lineup of sparkling craft iced teas: Blood Orange Mango White Tea. A blend of white tea, orange peel, champagne mango and a touch of cane sugar, the new flavor will be sold for a suggested retail price of $2.39.

Product images of Teavana tea, left to right: bottle of blackberry lime green tea (red) on a purple background with white bubbles, bottle of blood orange mango white tea (golden) on a orange background with white bubbles, bottle of peach nectarine green tea (orange) on a green background with white bubbles

Boss Coffee

Japanese beverage conglomerate Suntory is bringing its flagship ready-to-drink coffee to American audiences with the broad launch of Boss Coffee. The line, which highlights the use of flash-brewed coffee, will be available in 12-packs of 8 oz. cans in two varieties: black and cafe au lait.

Product image of Boss Coffee, black can on the left and tan can on the right with white backgrounds

Last month, the Buttery Bros. (Heber Canon & Marston Sawyers) traveled to sunny southern California to crush some waves & WODs with Brooks Laich and a ready-as-ever, Games-bound Sara Sigmundsdóttir. Check out their photo journal from the weekend below, then watch the Buttery Bros.' full episode below — brought to you by FITAID ZERO, your new zero sugar Recovery Blend, still made with only the good stuff!

Check out the entire Buttery Bros. episode on YouTube here:

Learn more or SHOP sugar-free, Keto-friendly Recovery Blends FITAID ZERO and FITAID RX ZERO at LIFEAIDBevCo.com

> > > Live well.

 

Did you know that monk fruit is naturally 150-200 times sweeter than sugar?

"Monk fruit is a small sub-tropical melon that has been cultivated in the remote mountains of Southern China for centuries. According to legend, monk fruit is named after the Buddhist monks who first cultivated the fruit nearly 800 years ago."

."Monk fruit juice is an amazing twenty times sweeter than other fruit juices. The unique low-calorie sweetness of monk fruit comes from naturally occurring antioxidants found in the fruit that have a delicious, sweet taste, without the calories of sugar. Used as a food ingredient, monk fruit adds delicious low-calorie sweetness, replacing sugar and calories with great-tasting goodness from fruit." —MonkFruitCorp.org

Watch how Monk Fruit is naturally harvested HERE:

Source: Monk Fruit Corp.

All-natural monk fruit concentrate is harvested using this
simple 3-step process:
1. The monk fruit is harvested and crushed to release its natural sweet juice.
2. The crushed fruit is then infused with hot water to gently release its natural calorie-free sweetness.
3. The sweet infusion is filtered to obtain a pure, calorie-free sweet fruit concentrate.

This month, LIFEAID Beverage Co. is proud to launch their first sugar-free products, happily sweetened with Monk Fruit & Stevia: FITAID ZERO and FITAID RX ZERO. Both products are made with only the good stuff and none of the junk, with no artificial sweeteners, no aspartame or sucralose — a proud continuation of the brand's mission to provide vitamins you'll actually enjoy drinking.

"There’s currently a lot of attention being placed on not-so-good-for-you pre-workout drinks that are chock full of junk with unhealthy amounts of caffeine, taurine, sodium and sugar. That’s why we couldn't be more pleased to offer the fitness community a clean, sugar-free post-workout recovery option in FITAID ZERO and RX ZERO,” says LIFEAID co-founder and president Aaron Hinde. “Crafting better-for-you recovery options without the use of artificial sweeteners, sucralose or aspartame — while still being sugar-free & great tasting — is something our entire team is very proud of accomplishing.”

What are FITAID ZERO & FITAID RX ZERO all about?

Complete NUTRITION LABEL INFORMATION for both new ZERO products:

ZERO SUGAR. ALL THE GOOD STUFF. NO EXCUSES.

Every single can of ZERO is made with only the good stuff, including essential vitamins & nutrients for recovery after any physical activity. Just like the rest of the LIFEAID line of clean products, Because you never stop being a Spartan. Now offering ZERO SUGAR and only a few calories!
Discover the ZERO difference at LIFEAIDBevCo.com/Zero.

#ABetterWayToDrink #FITAIDZERO

Rogue Invitational Attendees Raving About ZERO!

May 2019 — Columbus, Ohio: Hundreds of athletes, coaches, fans and crew were on site at the Rogue Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, last weekend. Here's what they were saying after getting a chance to try the new sugar-free FITAID ZERO and FITAID RX ZERO.

"It's ZERO SUGAR and macro-friendly, so now I won't feel bad when I drink like six in a day!"

"I think FITAID ZERO tastes even better than the original. I love it."

"Kinda pineapple-y... I already loved FITAID, but now I love ZERO even more!"

"The new FITAID (Zero) definitely tastes sweeter. So good!"

"It's soooooo good!"

"Not gonna lie, I'm happily surprised by the superior taste of the new Recovery ZERO. It's as flavorful as regular FITAID! I'm in love with ZERO."

You can find additional information & resources regarding Monk Fruit & Stevia here:

> > > Live well.