October 5, 2025

Sample This…RunnerBox!

Sample This…

Have you ever wished you could sample new athletic gear and supplies a few items at a time, without purchasing an entire box or bag full? Now, you can! Meet  RunnerBox.

Here’s your opportunity to demo and test products just like the pro’s, only on your own time, on your own schedule and in a cost-effective manner!

“RunnerBox is a mini shoebox full of running and fitness based products” shares founder Staci Dietzel. Finding the perfect products to complement your individual exercise program doesn’t get any easier, or more convenient than RunnerBox. The box arrives on your door step packed full of products to try out and sample. “We search out great products from the tried and true, to brand new, and then send them to you in our custom box” shares Ms. Dietzel. The RunnerBox was developed by athletes, for athletes! Ms. Dietzel is also an experienced marathon runner, endurance cyclist and duathlete. So who better than a fellow athlete to know what products we want, need and will benefit most from sampling?

“RunnerBox was started last year after my sister and I were enjoying another subscription box, but being an avid marathon and half-marathon runner wished it were filled with running stuff” shares Ms. Dietzel. “There are a lot of boxes out there, but when we started last year not one that we could find was for runners or triathletes” she continues. RunnerBox caters to runners and triathletes of all abilities and distances. Their products include the RunnerBox, TriBox and even a GlutenFreeBox, as well as a GiftBox Option for all three categories. They also offer a customer-service focused option of a gift card. Simply present the gift card to your loved ones and allow them to choose which Box they prefer!

Why should you become a subscriber? Prevent boredom when logging those miles month after month, and stay on the forefront and cutting-edge of what’s new and popular in the athletic world. RunnerBox is the way to try out a new product to determine if it works for you. Upon opening your box you’ll find everything from bars, protein shakes, energy gels and chews to apparel and various accessories designed to better your training and your racing experience.

“We set it up the way we would want it to be set up as a customer, with options.” Ms. Dietzel says. Customers may purchase a single Box as a gift, participate in the monthly or bimonthly program. RunnerBox also offers a 6 month subscription option to span a training season allowing athletes to explore and test many new products. Their great go-to GiftBox option makes a thoughtful birthday gift for any athlete, as well as a fun congratulatory gift for a completed 5K or marathon. Their GiftBox even includes a handwritten note customers can compose upon purchase on the RunnerBox website.

For as little as $10.00 athletes can sign up for monthly subscription (5-8 products per box) for the RunnerBox, the TriBox or the GlutenFreeBox, or $20.00 for a bimonthly subscription of a box of their choosing (includes 12-15 items per box.) The RunnerBox received on a bi-monthly basis is their best selling product. All GiftBoxes (consists of 12-15 items) are also $20.00, with shipping investment of under $6.

Subscriber Ali Jones touts RunnerBox saying, “my favorite part of the service is that I know I can expect high quality items that I’ll actually use.” She continues, “with RunnerBox, I have been impressed each month and have found great new fuels for my long runs.” Ms. Jones has been a subscriber to the RunnerBox service since February. She describes her experience with RunnerBox in three words, “reliable, quality and exciting – I’m always excited to see what’s inside!” Why not see what the fuss is all about for yourself?

RunnerBox’s motivation is simple and clear as described by Ms. Dietzel, “whether you are a seasoned runner or just getting started – this is a fun way to try out some great new healthy things.” Check them out at www.therunnerbox.com, or call them directly via 517-290-2785.

Be sure to connect with them via Facebook and Twitter as well!

How-to Love Your Exercise by Mary Miriani

As a trainer, I encounter my share of people who say they hate to exercise, but know they have to do it.   I usually respond by telling them that they just have not learned to love their exercise yet.  Here are three ways to love your exercise:

Choose an exercise that you like and is appropriate for your current fitness level.

So many people focus only on burning calories.  (“I hate to run, but running burns the most calories!”)  That is a recipe for disaster, because you end up hating exercise and not doing it.  Pick something you like to do, so you can stick with it over the long run.  Equally important, make sure you are doing something that is right for your fitness level.  If you spent the last 20 years sitting, it is not possible to jump right into vigorous activity without injury.  It is better to be slow and steady than quick and quit.

Vary your exercise routine.

The best exercise is the one you will do often.  Do whatever activity makes you feel good inside and out!  Have a couple of activities to choose from.  As they say, “Variety is the spice of life!”

Settle in and enjoy the process.

It is good to have goals, but loving exercise is all about loving to move your body.  Focus on enjoying what you are doing instead of “I have to do this to reach my goal.”  You will reach your goal simply because you will love moving.  A long journey doesn’t seem long when the scenery is pleasant!

If you keep these simple things in mind, soon you will love moving and be surprised at how fun exercise can be!

Mary Miriani earned a BA in Exercise Science after she learned to love exercise at age 40 and stopped worrying so much about weight loss.  (Yes, she lost weight and has kept it off over 12 years!).  She is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health/Fitness Specialist and trains clients in Naperville, Illinois.

Fruit-Inspired Recipes by Kathy Smart

As warmer weather comes our way, more fresh fruit choices will appear in the grocery store. Try these easy and healthy recipes for the entire family.

 

 

 

Banana’s For Chocolate

- 2 large bananas
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup peanut butter- unsweetened
- Unsweetened coconut flakes

Directions:
Cut bananas into chunks, melt chocolate and peanut butter in a saucepan- cover bananas with the chocolate coating-place on a plate with parchment paper and you can spoon additional melted chocolate if you desire- sprinkle with coconut or even chunk sea salt- freeze for 1 hour or until hard

I Scream for Raspberries

Directions:
Freeze 1 cup of raspberries and 1 banana- puree in a blender and voila! If you find a little hard to blend just add a touch of coconut milk or almond milk to help the blades.

Kathy’s Parfait

-1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
-1/2 cup fresh or frozen berries of your choice (I prefer blackberries or blueberries !)
-3-4 tablespoons of granola
-1 tsp of pure maple syrup.

Directions:
in large glass or mug, layer yogurt, berries, granola then drizzle maple syrup ! Enjoy!

Recipes by Kathy Smart
www.LiveTheSmartWay.com
North America’s Gluten Free Expert
National Health Activist 2012

Should You Consider Exercising at Home? By Crystal Reia

Is working out at home for you? With lots of benefits, it just may be the right choice for your healthy living plan. Here’s a few benefits and challenges to consider:

Benefit: No travel time! Get your workout done with little or no equipment at all! You do not require a large space to get in a great workout. There are so many wonderful and challenging full-body exercises you can do right in the comfort of your own living room. For minimal expense and the most bang for your buck, I suggest a few pairs of dumbbells, a stability ball and a yoga mat! Easy peasy!

Challenge: You may not know where to start at home? What exercises should I do to get the best workout? There are many exercise DVD’s available and free videos on YouTube and the internet to help get you started. There are many personal trainers who will also come to your home! It is such a great service and convenient. A personal trainer will take the guess work out of the equation and teach you wonderful workouts you can do at home.

Benefit: Privacy. Many people feel shy or overwhelmed at the gym. They would rather workout in the privacy of their own home. They may not like crowds or just may feel hesitant to try new exercises that they do not know in front of others for fear of doing it wrong or looking silly.

Challenge: It can be easy to get distracted and forgo a workout at home. The TV, couch, children, spouse can all be distractions. We tend to put our family first of course! A great way to get around this is to either do your workout when they are not home, or involve them in your activity! There are so many options. Take your family biking, walking, hiking; get them off the couch! WiiFit can be a fun way to get moving and get children involved, if you find they are too sedentary, or join a sport together! Your community has so much to offer in the way of fun sports! Ultimate Frisbee, Dodgeball, Baseball, Volleyball… so many to choose from! Think outside the box!

Benefit: No Monthly Fee/Less Expensive. As mentioned above, you do not need a bunch of fancy equipment to get a great workout. There exists an endless number of full-body no-equipment moves you can do. Even heavy cans of food can be substituted for weights at home. A chair can be substituted for a bench etc.

Challenge: Motivation. Some people find it hard to go it alone or get up the motivation at home for their next workout. Asking a friend or family member to join you can help and is free! If your friend is coming over for a workout, you will be less likely to skip it! Hiring a personal trainer to keep you accountable and on track can also help. It might be a little more money to hire somebody to come in, however it is worth it if you are the type of person who needs a trainer knocking at your door to ensure you get in your workout.

By: Crystal Reia, Personal Trainer
Owner of Your Health-Your Choice
PTS, PFS, OAS

Pilates Anywhere By Chanda Fetter

Owning a Pilates and Fitness Studio, I often hear my clients offer excuses as to why they can’t seem to stick to their program.  We all tell ourselves stories that help us explain away why we haven’t gotten something done when in truth we always seem to find a way when we really want something.  So my first piece of advice would be to change your story!  Likely this is a pattern that follows you beyond exercise, you must stop making excuses and take the small steps needed to improve the quality of your life, you deserve it!

The following three exercises can easily be done at home, in a hotel room or even in an office break room!  They will give you a boost of energy, reduce your back pain and tighten your tummy.  As always, consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Forced Exhalation Breathing – Sit up tall in your chair or lie down on the floor.  Place your hands between your ribcage and your belly button.  Take a long deep inhale through your nose, then exhale through pursed lips, pulling your abdominals in towards your spine while contracting your Pelvic Floor Muscles (otherwise known as Kegel or bladder muscles).  When performing the exhale you should make a “shhh-ing” sound to ensure the pressure is great enough to create the contraction needed.  Do this a minimum of 10 times then use this breath when performing the remaining exercises.  This generous flow of oxygen will do wonders for your brain as well as your abdominals.  Each time you perform this breath you will be engaging 80% of your abdominal wall!

Hundreds – Lie on your back with your legs in one of the following positions – knees bent / feet on floor making sure your lower back is in neutral position, knees bent with feet off floor / table top, or legs extended away from body on a 45 degree angle so as to stress the lower abdominal section.  Reach your arms long down the side of your body, bring your head and shoulders into a tight curl and pump your arms up and down so as to engage your back muscles, ie Latissimus Dorsi.  Using the forced exhale technique above, inhale for 5 pumps, exhale for 5 pumps and do for a count of 100. The curl is a constant, high hold.

Swimming – Lie on your stomach with your arm and legs stretched out like Superman/woman.  Extend long through your spine as you lift your arms and legs off the floor.  Be careful not to arch extensively into your spine but rather lengthen out of it.  Using the forced exhalation technique above flutter your arms and legs up and down for total of 10 breaths.

Chanda Fetter
IM=X Pilates, Owner

www.imxsb.net

Can Reiki Help Manage Chronic Pain? By Marty Fabianova

CAN REIKI HELP YOU MANAGE CHRONIC PAIN?

Chronic pain. An unwelcome intruder in millions of people’s lives, he often arrives when you least expect him and for no obvious reason. His stay can last anything from a few weeks or months to years. Once Mr. Chronic Pain occupies a person’s body, he can make their life a misery and evicting him from the property is rarely straightforward.

As chronic pain often does not have a clear connection to any physical cause, many people can go from one doctor to another without finding much relief. This applies especially, if the pain cannot be attributed to any specific event (i.e. fracture) or disease (i.e. arthritis.)

So, what are the most common causes of chronic pain then?

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Chronic pain can be caused by accidents, disease or physical overload. But what we experience as chronic pain can also be linked to stress, trauma or supressed emotions. In such cases, the problem manifests itself physically, yet treating the body alone often brings little or no respite. This is because the underlying psychological, emotional or spiritual causes have not been addressed. And that’s where Reiki can help.

REIKI AND CHRONIC PAIN

Reiki is a healing modality which treats a person as a whole. This approach helps to restore balance on both a physical and an emotional level. Laying hands or hovering them above various parts of your body, the Reiki practitioner acts as a channel of energy. During Reiki treatment, your muscles relax, energy blocks are released, and depleted areas of your body are charged. By restoring the energy flow, a life-altering chronic pain becomes more manageable or may disappear completely. People often feel refreshed and relaxed even after just one Reiki session. For deep-lasting results, a set of consecutive sessions are recommended.

WOULD MY GP APPROVE IT?

More and more doctors are beginning to appreciate Reiki and suggest it to their patients as a complement to traditional treatments. This can be advised for coping better with cancer pain, emotional pain, recovering from complicated injuries or helping to ease chronic pain that is not linked to any physical cause.

In May 2012, Reiki has been added to a short list of complementary therapies approved by the CNHC (Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council).

Reiki is by no means a substitute for medical treatments and health checks are always advised if concerned.

__________________________________

This article is written by Marty Fabianova. Marty works as Reiki and Bowen Technique Practitioner in Stoke Newington, Crouch End and Notting Hill in London. She is passionate about helping people to tap into the wellness of their body and mind in a natural way. Contact her at www.thebowenway.co.uk or via marty.fabianova@hotmail.co.uk. You can also connect on Facebook via her page The Bowen way – Help your body to help itself or on Twitter @MartyFabianova.

 

 

Red Flags! By Julie Mulcahy, M.P.T

3 Red Flags That Indicate You Should Stop Exercising and See a Doctor

Exercise is a great way to keep your body feeling healthy and energetic. However there are signs to be aware of that indicate when exercise should be stopped and contacting a doctor is the best decision.

We have all heard the mantras. “No Pain No Gain”. “Push yourself through the PAIN”. “Pain is temporary but winning is forever”. When do we throw these old adages out the window and listen to our body? Our body will alert us when something is wrong. We receive this message of pain to tell us to stop an activity. Ignoring this signal of pain can lead to serious injury. Quite often exercise can cause some level of discomfort.  How do we recognize the difference between normal exercise discomfort and pain that needs to be addressed by a physician?

There is a difference between pain and discomfort. It is normal to experience muscle discomfort and fatigue after a hard workout. Feeling the muscle burn during exercise is normal. Starting a new exercise or pushing yourself particularly hard during a workout can result in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This DOMS usually occurs in next 24-48 hours after a workout as muscles grow and repair. This type of discomfort is a normal part of the muscle rebuilding process. A simple day of rest or gentle stretching should alleviate this pain within a few days.   It is very different from feeling sharp pain during or after exercise. This type of persistent, sharp pain should not be ignored. It is your body telling you something is wrong. Certain muscles, tendons and other tissues are signaling that they are being overloaded. Continuing with the activity while experiencing this type of pain can result in injury.

If you answer “YES” to following questions, STOP exercising and follow up with your physician:
Is the pain sharp in nature?
Does the ache or pain come on during or after a certain exercise?
Is there swelling, redness or warmth around the affected area or joint?
Did you feel a pop or snap during exercise in the painful joint?
Does the pain persist or worsen with warm up and gentle stretching?
Do you have pain at night that wakes you from a sound sleep? Is the pain not responding to over the counter pain medicine?

Another possible side effect from regular exercise is fatigue. Athletes require extra sleep and proper nutrition to allow there bodies to perform at high levels. This is the same reason when exercising on a regular basis you may experience fatigue. A good night sleep, proper hydration and proper nutrition are critical factors in reducing this fatigue. However, if you experience severe, unrelenting fatigue that lasts longer than a day or two after exercise, it is time to see your doctor.

Other symptoms to be aware of that can occur during exercise are dizziness, confusion, chest pain or lightheadedness. These symptoms demand immediate cessation of exercise and require medical attention. If you stop sweating and breathing becomes shallow, it is also necessary to seek medical attention. These can be signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, which can be a life threatening situation. Heat stroke can occur when exercising in a hot environment and the body cannot properly cool itself.  The body temperature can rise to unsafe levels. Avoid exercise in hot temperatures and properly hydrate to reduce risk.

Our bodies are designed to be in motion.  Regular exercise is one of the best things we can do to stay active and healthy throughout our lifetime. Listening to the signs of pain and getting proper medical attention when necessary can help prevent manageable situations from becoming chronic problems. Learn to listen to your body.  Signs and symptoms are there for a reason. When you are alert and responsive to your body’s signals you can enjoy the incredible benefits of exercise and minimize risk of injury.

By Julie A Mulcahy, M.P.T.

Contact Julie via Twitter @ptrunningmomof4 or email jam82296@hotmail.com.

Technology and Your Healthy Living by Coach Juli

Technology and You –
Out with stress, in with effective and efficient healthy living!

There are several ways that productivity has been, and can be, improved simply by taking advantage of the technology available to us today. Basically, any time that a task can be simplified, or the labor required to complete the task is reduced, stress will be decreased and productivity will increase.

Innovative technology is making it easier and faster for most people to take care of daily tasks – here are a few that are pretty simple for most to employ:

1.    Automatic or Online Bill Paying – Years ago when I started teaching people how to better manage their lives and save hundreds of dollars in late fees from not paying their bills, there were piles of paper to deal with, due dates to calculate, and then filing the bill once it was paid. No more! Now you can have most of your bills (think utilities!) deducted directly from your bank or credit card account and never worry about a late fee or worse, discontinued service. You can have your credit card statements emailed to you, and you can transfer funds, pay your bills, and manage your balances any time from the privacy of your computer or smartphone. Take a screen shot of the statement, or download it and store it in a receipt file on your computer. Paperless and Paid!

2.    Shopping & Coupon Clipping – newspapers, circulars, magazines…I think not. You can get deals emailed to you, sent to your phone, or simply Google® what you want and see if there is a coupon you can use when shopping online or at a brick & mortar. You can print your own coupons and only get the one you want for what you plan to purchase. Shopping online. Need I say more?

3.    Video Calling – I remember when there was talk of how someday we would be able to talk to people all over the world live! Wow! It seemed so miraculous. Well, it’s daily practice for most of us these days. Live far away from the kids? Jump on Skype, ooVoo, or Google Hangout and voila, instant quality time!

Contributed by Coach Juli, CPC: Efficiency & ADHD Coach. Efficiency Expert since 1984, and author of the eBook, Order! A Logical Approach to an Organized Way of Life, www.getordernow.com. Contact at jshulem@gmail.com 805-964-2389 or www.julishulem.com

Do Fitness and Fun Really Go Together? Flip2BFit says YES!


Who says fitness can’t be fun? Flip2BFit, an award-winning business, is here to show you how to introduce healthy living to the children in your life and have fun at the same time!

Based out of New York City, Flip2BFit’s mission encompasses two areas: education and family-fun. As part of their education outreach plan, they encourage play and fitness during recess, birthday parties and rainy days. Their family-fun focus demonstrates how easily families can get active together, and have fun while doing it! Invite another family over or friends to play along. The more the merrier and more fun as you strategize as a team how to gain the lead!

Flip2BFit offers an innovative new generation of board games that promote areas of fitness such as yoga, cardio, stretching and strength. Founder Heather Parisi explains, “Flip2BFit was created as a platform to bring healthy lifestyles to everyone that plays through the introduction of fitness, nutrition, individual goals, team work, competition and strategy.” She continues “my overall goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle to everyone that picks up the game and plays – realizing that fitness is fun and that you don’t need to go to a gym. You just have to get up and MOVE!”

Their products are eco friendly and made using soy ink, recycled paper and rubber plan extracts. Recommended for all ages 6 and over, these games encompass all areas of healthy living. “Flip2BFit products ensure nutrition, fitness and healthy lifestyle education through the active engagement of having fun” Ms. Parisi explains. As the recipient of the Kidlutions Solutions for Kids Preferred Product Award, Flip2BFit improves self-esteem, leadership skills and confidence through learning about the benefits of movement!

They have a world-wide outreach, as Ms. Parisi shares “my games are used here in the US as well as in Uganda (as shown in this YouTube video clip) promoting a fun way to live and learn about healthy lifestyles and forming a bridge between first and third world countries showing that fitness and health are achievable by anyone and everyone if they are educated and opened up to the concept.” How children view fitness and physical activity has drastically changed over the years, “kids don’t understand what nutritional foods are or what the value of exercise and all components of a healthy lifestyle are – they spend all their time exercising their fingers and minds forgetting to move their bodies. Overseas kids are lacking in education and nutrition and don’t understand that muscles need to be used in order to have a strong body to fight disease” says Ms. Parisi.

For under $35.00 parents can end the days of “I’m bored!” from your children once and for all. Their two best selling products are the Flip2BFit®-Fitness in a Box and Bakari:

Flip2BFit®-Fitness in a Box is a new kids fitness game. No equipment or experience is required; simply give the wheel a spin and pick a card. Participants either complete an exercise together as a team or as individuals. Kids will now associate moving their body with fun, laughter and silliness! They’ll complete tasks such as jumping jacks and running in place for cardio. Sit ups, lunges and planks for strength tasks. Stretching challenges include such moves as arms circles and toe touches, and the yoga tasks include childs pose and downward dog just to name a few!

Bakari is a memory game with a fitness twist. The word Bakari is a Swahili word that upon translation means “one who will succeed.” Empowerment even exists in the name of the game! Participants earn points by matching two physical activity cards, and then completing their tasks. An entertaining fitness and mind challenging game, you’ll improve your memory at the same time.
EVERY parent and educator should know about this innovative proactive company, as it does not disappoint! Their games make thoughtful gifts for your favorite teacher. Here’s what just one of their many fans has to say. Luke Mohatt, Camp Director at Oasis in Central Park, New York raves “Flip2BFit and Bakari were invaluable assets for our campers and counselors this summer. Whether it was for a rainy day activity, during arrival and dismissal, or for an entire activity period these games got our campers up and moving in a way that was fun and educational! We absolutely LOVED the healthy eating tips that went along with the game play. It was so successful this summer that we actually implemented it into our after school programs this year as well!  Thanks for making these great products that are enjoyed by kids and grown-ups alike!”

Follow them on Facebook, on Pinterest, and on Twitter for all updates and new product info!

Introduce the children in your life to the many benefits of living healthy! Flip2BFit offers board games and products that will encourage, empower and get your kids active…and loving it!

Order your family-fitness fun TODAY at www.flip2bfit.com, via email or call them directly at 516-473-6971.

Brain Super Foods by Maggie Ayre

The Top Brain Super Foods and a Brain Boosting Recipe

Can you believe it’s nearly spring?  Before we know it the school summer term will be here and children throughout the northern hemisphere will be studying for exams.

Whilst study and revision time is important for securing good grades many experts now agree that what we eat and how much we move also play an important role.

Here are the top three areas of brain super foods:

1.    Healthy oils – foods such as oily fish, avocado, hemp, flax and fish oils contain the omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA which have proven very beneficial to the workings of the brain.  Unfortunately the western diet tends to be very rich in omega 6 fatty acids which the brain makes use of in the absence of omega 3.  It tends to be a bit like a diesel car trying to run on unleaded petrol, OK in the short term but with long term problems developing.
2.    Water – our brains are 75% water.  We must keep them properly hydrated to enable them to work at their best.
3.    Blueberries – these little berries are little power houses of brain goodness.  They are full of healthy antioxidants and packed with vitamin C.  They have been proven to help with memory and cognitive function.

Here’s a Brain Super Food recipe to get you started:

Banana and Peanut Butter Flapjack
Makes about 12

3.5oz/100g organic butter
1.75oz/50g soft brown sugar
1.75oz/50g honey
1 banana – mashed
1.75oz/50g no added sugar crunchy peanut butter
8oz/225g porridge oats

Preheat the oven to 320F/160C.

Melt the butter in a saucepan.  Add the sugar, honey and peanut butter and cook until softened.  Remove from the heat and stir in the banana and porridge oats.

Turn into a greased and lined cake tin.  Push into corners with a spoon.  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden brown.

Mark into rectangles and leave to cool before lifting out.

Maggie Ayre is the UKs leading Fitness Coach for Teen Girls. As well as one-to-one and small group nutrition and fitness work with teens she has developed the 3G Program designed to be run at schools as part of the PE curriculum. She also offers mentoring for PE departments on how to re-engage teen girls with PE and has recently published her third book; “Nutrition for Exam Success – A Parent’s Guide” which is now available as a Kindle and paperback at Amazon.