Couch to Active

I have been a fitness ambassador for FitApproach #Sweatpink for almost 4 years. Sweat Pink is a group of fitness influencers with an online presence. I really love their philosophy of fitness and health, and the founders have been nothing but responsive and kind to me in the several interactions I've had with them.

Recently, I was given two Couch to Active workbooks - one to keep and review, and one to giveaway on social media. Written by Lyn Lindbergh, she has a practical and no-nonsense approach to fitness. It's like having access to a motivational speaker who also cuts to the chase: exercise is vital and not some unnecessary luxury.

I created daily prompts through my Instagram stories that such as myths about exercise or 'stretch' exercises (we want to try) out of our comfort zones. Spoiler: mine is one of those aerial classes where your are suspended in the air using strips of fabric or 'silks'. Crazy cool, right? 

I added that cool sunglasses IG filter to Lyn's
cover photo. I hope she doesn't mind terribly :)

Mine would be taking an aerial class.
They look beautiful and crazy hard!
Have you tried one?

Congratulations to Kashmira G. for winning my giveaway! She answered each daily prompt with thoughtful and positive comments. If you are ever in San Diego, check out her indoor cycling classes at Carmel Valley CycleBar. She received the Couch to Active workbook, as well as a few extra goodies from me. 

Congratulations Kashmira!

Star Wars Half Marathon 2017: The Light Side

I ran the Star Wars half marathon in January for the second year in a row. You might recall the general bedlam of last years race: how I nearly missed the start of the race and my brush with the notorious 'balloon ladies'. I had wanted to run the 10k this year and pick up a third medal for running two consecutive days, but it was completely sold out. I should have purchased the Rebel Challenge packet when the race was first announced, but I was cranky and didn’t pull the trigger when registration opened. Oh well.

This year was more even fun than last year, if that’s even possible. I was in a much better headspace (read: I actually trained for this event) and I even planned an outfit.

Flat Brea 👋🏼 #runDisney #StarWars #halfmarathon #thelightside #BB8 #runalways #runner #Sweatpink #Disneyland

A post shared by Babydoll's Bloggie (@babydoll_brea) on Jan 14, 2017 at 6:50pm PST

The race coincidentally fell the same weekend that I needed to pick Girldoll up from the Long Beach port. It worked out to be a bonus because we got to spend the night at my SIL’s house and visit with my niece and nephew. The kids are always such good sports and came with me to pick up my packet at the Disneyland Hotel. The only hiccup was that I was supposed to pick Girldoll up at 10:30AM, but she wasn’t ready to go until well past noon. This ended up pushing everything back so that we didn't get to until a half hour before it closed. I had hoped to browse longer -- no one does an expo like Disney -- but time was too short.

Part of the problem was getting into Downtown Disney itself. Security was INSANE. In all the times I have been to Disneyland, I have never had to wait in any sort of security line to access the area surrounding the park. It is a sign of the times that security has become a necessity during travel or entering concert venues, but it definitely stole some of the magic visiting the resort. I’m not talking about a quick look inside backpacks, either. We were subjected to a full search of our belongings as well as being required to walk through a metal detector. Bummer, man. The only thing I could attribute the high security to was that Trump had just officially taken office as POTUS, and there were a lot of people in Los Angeles who weren’t happy about it. (You can count me as one of them. No surprise there.)

What has two thumbs and the best nephew ever??
This girl! Johnny and Lego Hulk at Downtown Disney.

This backdrop coordinates nicely with my glasses.
Of course, anything blue does...but whatevs.

By the time we got to the Disneyland Hotel, we had barely enough time to grab my bib number and pick up my race t-shirt. I quickly bought some anti-chafe Glide from an expo vendor and we were on our way. It was probably the least amount of time or money I've ever spent at an expo. Girldoll and I treated the cousins to a late lunch, and then we enjoyed a nice evening with family.

Of course, I took an obligatory Flat Babydoll photo. It was so cute that my niece reminded me to post the photo on social media; she had remembered me talking about the phenomenon of laying out your race day clothes and taking a picture of your race bib and outfit. The stuff kids remember!

Orange is the new black!

I got lots of compliments during the race on my excellent on the BB8 skirt I found on Etsy. Although there are all kinds of things that could go wrong running thirteen miles while wearing a knit beanie, I was totally fine.

The race was so much fun. 90% of the runners were wearing a costume or Star Wars themed embellishment. My personal favorite was a couple who dressed as Leia and Chewie wearing Belle and The Beast costumes. It was so meta! The spectators did not disappoint, either.

I decided I would live stream the half marathon on Facebook while I ran through Disneyland. I started in narrating my way through Tomorrow Land and filmed an epic lightsaber battle among cast members. I also caught some really fun footage of my hand as I high-fived a dozen Disney employees who had lined up along the course. I ran through Fantasyland and shared my favorite ride with Facebook (Storybook Land, in case you were curious) before the pièce de résistance: running through Sleeping Beauty’s castle.

After I crossed the drawbridge, I went to stop recording the video...only to discover I had never started recording in the first place.

Rachel doesn't use that word lightly, either.

I'll be honest: it took me the next mile to shake it off. For whatever reason, I fixated on my disappointment of not getting the video to work and had trouble letting it go. I'm charming that way. 

Right after this photo was taken, the key fob
to my car fell out of my Flipbelt. Someone
literallyran after me with it in their hand.
I mean, can you even imagine?? #bulletdodged

Fortunately, we were hitting the streets of Anaheim and it was time for me to focus and get my game face on. Since the rest of the race is through business and residential areas before finishing at the Downtown Disney parking lots, sections of the race on the streets feel like it starts to drag. That is, until the cosplay spectators start lining the course. It is truly an incredible experience seeing all the elaborate costumes and props.

Red Leader was all smiles and thumbs up.

I kept lapping these guys. I'd stop and mug for
photos along the course and pass them. #redleader

This was one of the most clever
costumes on the course. I love Greedo!

This couple finished the race together. How
her hair stayed perfect after running a half
marathon is one of The Force's mysteries.

Poppa Stormtrooper and Baby Stormtrooper

We had a moment. #BB8

There was something slightly despondent about
this ghetto Death Star. 

Done. Eye on the prize!

In addition to the half marathon next year, I really want to run the 10k for a chance to earn three medals. I know I said the same thing last year...but it's worth putting out to The Force, anyway.  

#AwareWithPink Friday Five

In solidarity of Breast Cancer Awareness month, here are five ways that I stay #AwareWithPink:

1. Educate myself: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women and it accounts for 29% of newly diagnosed cancers. 

2. Celebrate life: It is easy to get bogged down in the rat race. I make a conscious effort to tell my nearest and dearest how much I love them. I also spent time geeking out over stuff that brings me joy (writing, playing with my dogs, hanging out with my teenagers, and enjoying the company of my awesome husband).

These two keep me young. 

3. Self care: I exercise 5-6 times a week, schedule regular mammograms, focus on the 80/20 rule of eating healthfully most of the time but still enjoying treats, and make efforts to minimize my stress. 

4. Be inspired: Three women who regularly attend my spinning class have been diagnosed with breast cancer over the ten years I have taught at the Y. Despite fatigue and hair loss, these women continued to come to spin class weekly. That beats any excuse I have about being too tired to work out!

5. Share the message: As a fitness professional, I am an influencer in healthy lifestyle choices. It's an honor to advocate for #breastcancerawareness. This post was sponsored by Aftershokz in an effort to spread awareness about their new Pink Trekz headphones, in partnership with Bright Pink to spread awareness about breast cancer. All opinions and words are my own. I appreciate all of the brands that support the Sweat Pink community.

#AfterShokz is an incredible company with an equally amazing product: wireless headphones that conduct sound through audio technology without obsucring the ear canal. They are donating 25% of all Trekz Titanium Pink proceeds to Bright Pink, which is an organization that focuses on saving women's lives from breast and ovarian cancer. 

Smarty Pants Review

Back at it again, Daniel! Yup. I was selected as a reviewer for Smartypants Vitamins. 

His and Her gummies. Happily ever after...

First, the pitch: The website calls their product the 'galaxies best tasting gummy vitamin.' They provide an excellent source of vitamins A, C, D (D3 instead of D2, btw...which is the form your skin produces when it's exposed to light), E, B6 and B12, plus zinc and folic acid. It contains no high fructose corn syrup or synthetic colors, flavors or preservatives. Non-GMO, too!

****

Most multivitamins are the size of a horse pill in order to 'squeeze' all the nutrients inside them, which are too big for me to swallow. Even after purchasing a pill cutter -- I don't play when it comes to my gag reflex, y'all -- I still was unable to swallow my multivites.

Okay. I don't look like this in any way, but you get the point.

So, yeah. I pretty much have to rely on a gummy vitamin if I'm going to take any kind of multivitamin. Besides, why do kids get to have all the fun? These gummies are REALLY GOOD. They have a multivitamin for both men and women (prenatal and kids, too). I was sent several samples of both -- and despite the fact that I'm not a guy -- I broke all the rules and tried the men's multivitamin; I really liked the sugary coating. They are just like tasty gumdrops! The women's version are more along the lines of Jujubes, but just as yummy as the boy version.

I asked my son to try the men's vitamin as well, and he liked them. Here's his contemplative pose:

Blueberry pancakes, milk and #smartypantsvitamins
Start yer day right!

This blogger's review is two thumbs up! They taste delicious and are a great way to make sure you get your daily vitamins. You can track them down on Amazon's link: http://amzn.to/1SWPLKx 

Manitoba Hemp Heart Bar Review

As an ambassador for Fit Approach, I was recently selected to do a product review of Manitoba Hemp Heart bars. As an expert snacker, I'm well-qualified and equal to the task. #allthesnacks 

First, the pitch: Hemp is considered a 'super plant', and every part of the plant can be harvested for a multitude of uses ranging from clothing, paper, rope...and food. Manitoba Harvest is passionate about their products, which are all non-GMO project verified and they are the largest hemp food manufacturer in the world. Each 45 gram Hemp Heart bar contains 10 grams of plant-based protein and 10 grams of omegas. 

Other fun facts about hemp: although untrue, the Declaration of Independence was rumored to be written on hemp paper, which is sturdier than tree-based paper.

Fun mail days are the best! 

I received two flavors of Hemp Heart bars to try: apple cinnamon and chocolate. The seeds of the hemp plant have a slightly nutty flavor is similar to pine nuts or sunflower seeds. I thought it would be fun to bring samples to my spin class for the members to try. 

This product tester came prepared,
including toothpicks for samples.

Apple cinnamon (top left) and chocolate (bottom right)

I'm a pretty adventurous eater; I likened the nutty flavor of hemp to sesame, similar to a Middle Eastern confection called Halvah that I used to enjoy when I was a little girl - although these bars are not as sweet. Unfortunately, most of the members in my class didn't care for the bars. Many people struggled with the soft consistency of the apple cinnamon bars, but everyone preferred its
sweetness over the chocolate hemp bar.

Want to see what all the fuss is about and judge for yourself? Use code hhbarlaunch1015 for 15% off your order (expires 4/31/16). 

Join the conversation: If you're photographically inclined, you can also post a photo on social media for a chance to win your favorite Manitoba food product. Tag @manitobaharvest and use the hashtag #fueledbyhemp with a photo of your favorite hemp product. No purchase necessary!     

Santa Barbara Veteran's Day Half Marathon

Last Saturday was the Santa Barbara Veterans Day half marathon. Somehow I had in my mind that Veterans Day was late November, although I'm at a loss as to where that notion came from, what with Thanksgiving falling at the end of the month and all. Suffice it to say that the race snuck up on me and I wasn't ready, which is a growing trend that I need to buck. 

Packet pick-up never felt so patriotic!

This was the first time I spent less than $5 at a fitness expo. I picked up two Gu for race day (Espresso Love and a new flavor that involved salted caramel) for $3...only to set them down and forget them at the t-shirt table. Whoops-a-daisy! 

Not only was I untrained for this race, but it was mentally one of the toughest events I've showed up for. From the moment I woke up at 4:40 AM to the moment I stepped onto the course, there was negative dialogue going off in my head:

'I should just go back to bed.' 

'I'm too old.' 

'I hope I don't bump into anyone I know; they'll be shocked at how much weight I've gained.' 

'I should quit running.' 

Yikes! That's just a small taste of the negative self-talk that dogged my entire morning. We frequently talk about taking contrary action in the recovery community. If it were up to my head, I would have stayed home...but I knew I would feel even worse scratching the race for no good reason. Honestly, it was almost a relief to start running. 

The one thing that pulled me out of the hate-spiral was my bracelet. My mom gave me a slender silver bracelet about 7 years ago that I never take off. It has a small stamped sentiment on it, 'I always believe in you.'  It occurred to me that this doesn't mean, 'I always believe in you...except when you're overweight,' or 'I always believe in you...except if you run slower than a 9-minute mile.' Always means ALWAYS. It was the tiny blessing that I needed to get out the door and on with my race.

My game plan for the race was to follow the Galloway half marathon training method: 3 minute intervals of running followed by one minute of walking. This proved to be a good strategy for the first 5 miles...until the wheels fell off, so to speak. I was banking on muscle memory to get me through the first 10k, which was unrealistic. 'My muscles have lost so much muscle memory, there's nothing left to remember.' Ba-dum bum!

A polite and chatty crowd right before our start. There was a man 
that wore a giant foam cowboy hat and looked exactly like Stinky Pete 
from Toy Story. It still kills me that I didn't get a photo of him. 

A quick snapchat to my daughter before
I started running. Emoji are life.

Part of my race ritual is determining what I'm going to wear and what I'm going to bring during my run. The night before the race, I convinced myself it would be a good idea to wear underwear with my running skort. Prior to my weight gain, I was all about #teamcommando. However, since I'm the heaviest I've ever weighed, it's not a so much a matter of whether or not I'll chafe as it is where: neck, underarms, around the elastic band of my sports bra, etc. 

I'm sure you see where this is going. 

Despite being generous around potential trouble spots with Glide, wearing underwear was a bad call. I'll just leave it at that. Suffice it to say that once things started going south, so to speak, I switched my run/walk ratio from 3:1 to 1:3. It was bad. 

Thank you for saying so! About a dozen of these hand-drawn posters 
appeared after the wretched switchback onto Las Positas Road.
The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

Despite being served a slice of humble pie -- in 2011, I PR'd my half marathon time by running this same event 85 minutes faster than last Saturday's effort -- it was a gorgeous day and a great course. The displays of patriotism reminded me of how fortunate I am to live where I do, and how grateful I am to my dad and all the veterans for their service to our country.

This gentleman saw us off safely and agreed to a selfie.
Thank you for your service, sir!

The man in front of me wore last year's 
race shirt. What an incredible sentiment! 

I dedicated the final mile of my race to three veterans: my father Joe,
my incredible SIL Michele, and my friend Bob Trimble. 

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
The last half mile was stunning and all downhill.

My race review: The organizers changed things up significantly this year by moving the start location onto the university campus. Although I was disappointed not to pick up the Obern trail right at the bird refuge, it was a spectacular course. It was also a nice change of pace, if you'll forgive the pun. Most local races begin and end in the same location, essentially making for an identical course over and over. This new change was well received. Variety is the spice of life, right? 

A month before the event, the organizers did away with the full marathon completely. I'm sure many people who were registered to run 26.2 miles were disappointed by this decision. The race officials offered full marathon participants three options which I thought were fair: a full refund, entry to the half marathon and a refund of the cost difference, or reduced fee for the half marathon in 2016. This race has been called three different names in the 5 times I've run it, and I'm certain putting on a road race is an expensive endeavor. I am sure eliminating the full marathon was a decision the officials did not take lightly. I was pleased with the new route, the volunteers were fantastic and the water/aid stations were plentiful. There was a good afterparty that included food trucks and a beer garden, and the morning concluded with an incredible airshow. I'm grateful to have such a prestigious race in my own backyard.  

Acure

I got my first care package of goodies to review as an ambassador for Ramblen. Ramblen is special because they're the first organization that asked me to represent them as an ambassador. Plus, I have a raging girl-crush on Danielle, who is one of Ramblen's founders and the writer for one of my favorite blogs, The T-Rex Runner. Yeah, Danielle is THAT awesome.

Anyway. I got a box of organic personal care items from Acure: dry shampoo, lip balm, body wash, leave-in conditioner, skin toner, face and body wipes, and argan oil. 

Acure is not messing around. This is a
box of serious skin and hair care booty.

Due to time constraints and the sheer volume of awesomeness contained in this box, I am going to do a two-part review. Today, I'll be reviewing Acure's toner, lip balm, body wash and dry shampoo. 

Rose and Red Tea Facial Toner:

I love this product. It's smells wonderful and has a light astringent quality to it without stinging. The product is sprayed directly on the face, so it has a nice cooling effect on the skin.

All their products are certified USDA organic, which I love.
Plus, I'm all about pretty packaging. 

Pretty pretty! This bottle has fine-mist
pump that feels refreshing on the skin.

Dry Shampoo:

I don't have any experience with powder dry shampoo - and I had the tell-tale powder marks left over in my hair to prove it. Maybe there is such a thing as hair that is too dirty (I take my 'product testing' seriously, apparently) since I applied it after a sweaty spin class session. Out of the whole loot, this is what I was most excited about but ended up being the most disappointed with. It's difficult to apply and use -- I kept trying to 'pump' it into my hair -- but again, I'm sure there is a learning curve with a powder dry shampoo versus a spray. Plus, anything without aerosol is a win for the environment.   

Dry Shampoo - a runner's best friend!

Argan Oil Lip Balm:

I don't use lip balms frequently - or much make-up at all, really, but I loved this. I was pleasantly surprised with Acure's take on the typical waxy Chapstick-style lip balm. I applied it with a little too much pressure expecting a hard wax, but the argan oil made the lip balm much softer than I anticipated. It has a minty tingle and a yummy chocolate smell. The only thing that would make this product better would be to add SPF for UV protection...but maybe that messes with the whole 'natural' wah of their skin care line? *shrugs*  

Tropical Citrus Argan Oil Castile Soap   

A+ for eye appeal!
Babydoll loves a good aesthetic.

Castile is a more natural take on ordinary soaps or shower gels, so if you are looking for a luxurious Mr. Bubble-type experience, which I prefer...because I operate from the Bubbles = Clean school of thought, then this might not be your favorite body wash. It has a pleasant citrus smell without any lingering perfumes. It's a product similar to Dr. Bronner's Castile Liquid Soap, except with the added benefit of argan oil. I probably won't replace this product when I'm done, but my skin definitely felt softer after using it.

I received free product in exchange for writing this post. All opinions are my own.

Kooee

One of the perks of being an ambassador for Girls Gone Sporty is that I get to review products...and if those products involve snacks? Bonus for Babydoll, amirite? 

My very first official product review is for Kooee! all-natural beef jerky. Kooee is an Australian call made outdoors, expressing 'the freedom and exhilaration that nature brings.' Their jerky is from 100% grass-fed beef, sustainably raised without added hormones or antibiotics on pastures in Tasmania, Australia. What makes their product unique is that each package can be traced back to the farm where it was raised.  

I love snacks, but getting snacks via mail
is supreme. Internet, I have arrived.

Gluten-free and Paleo-friendly.

Their super snack is one part beef jerky, and one part trail mix. The packaging keeps the two separate until the product is ready to be eaten. I was given two packages each of two flavors to try: Lime Pepper with Mango and Smoked Chipotle with Apple. 

I'll be honest: it's the tastiest jerky I've ever had. I have never been a fan of Slim Jim 'sticks' or huge chunks of tough jerky. Kooee! is flavorful, tender and thinly sliced. Boydoll wasn't crazy about the addition of dried fruit and nuts to the beef, "Don't fruit the meat!"  However, I noticed that one (of only four precious packages) went missing right before baseball practice. 

I have a more adventuresome palate, and I really liked the combination of sweet and savory. The addition of cocao nibs to the Smoked Chipotle with Apple was pure genius. 

This post is sponsored by Kooee!. All opinions are my own.