(Foam) Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’ (Foam Roller App Review)

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Coco

This post is sponsored by Fitfluential LLC. I was provided a free download of the Foam Roller App in order to review the product. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I’ve had a foam roller for years–ever since my first ITB flare-up.

I even got a mini one that I can fit in my duffel bag–it’s also perfect for Fit Stanley!

I’ve used my foam roller at home, with my chiropractor, and with my physical therapist, so I have a pretty good idea of its versatility. Still, I was interested in the new Foam Roller App, and excited when I had an opportunity to provide a Foam Roller App review as I was preparing for The Army Ten Miler.

The app is very easy to use. From the main screen, you choose the area that you want to work on:

(There’s a “menu” for frontal body parts too.)

The next screen has information on the target region, a summary of different foam roller exercises, and links to short video clips demonstrating each one.

I hadn’t thought to orient the foam roller this way when targeting my piriformis.

Even this app warns that rolling your ITB can be painful!

The app costs $2.99 in the iTunes store (I was provided with a free download in order to review the app). At first I wondered why anyone would want to pay for access to video clips that probably can be found for free on YouTube, but then I appreciated the convenience of having over 100 demonstration videos literallyin the palm of my hand as I am using my foam roller. I’ve enjoyed trying different exercises and using the foam roller on different regions–like my shins. Another benefit of the app is that it is motivating me to use my foam roller more frequently and more effectively.

Have you used a foam roller?

Do you have any exercise apps?

Posted in Fitness, Product Reviews | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Pumpkin Jack

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Coco

Jack-O-Lantern Lore

Do you know why we carve pumpkins and call them Jack O’Lanterns?

Apparently, the tradition stems from Irish folklore, and the story of Stingy Jack.

Stingy Jack was a mean drunkard who liked to play tricks on everyone, including the Devil. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree, and then placed crosses around its trunk to trap the Devil up in the tree. The Devil struck a deal with Jack–if he would remove the crosses, the Devil would not take his soul when he died. This sounded like a good deal to Jack, so he removed the crosses and let the Devil go.

When Jack died, he stood before Saint Peter at the pearly gates of Heaven, but was refused entry. Saint Peter told him that he had been too mean and would not be permitted in heaven.

So Jack went down to Hell and met the Devil. But the Devil kept his promise and would not let Jack into Hell. Having been refused entry into Heaven and Hell, Jack was going to have to spend eternity wandering in the darkness.

Jack asked the Devil for help getting out of hell, and the Devil gave him a burning ember to light the way. Jack hollowed out a turnip he had in his pocket, and put the ember in that.
From that day forward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth and became known as “Jack O’Lantern.”

On all Hallow’s eve, the Irish made their own “lanterns” and put them by their front doors to keep evil spirits–and Stingy Jack–away. Originally, they used hollowed out turnips and other vegetables common in Ireland, but when they emigrated to America, pumpkins became the “lantern” of choice because they are bigger and easier to carve. Have you heard the story of Stingy Jack?

Do you carve pumpkins for Halloween?

Posted in Life | Tagged | 4 Comments

Favorite Fitbloggin’ Food Finds

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Coco

I loved trying new workouts at Fitbloggin’ but I also enjoyed being able to try new food products.

My favorite “new” find is Soyjoy–especially the new cranberry flavor.

The ingredient list is short, but sugar is listed first (12 g) and maltodextrin is listed as a “natural source of fiber,” so some people may not be impressed. I like that it has 140 calories (so many bars are closer to 200 calories or more), 4 g protein, and 2 g fiber (from that maltodextrin, I guess).  Most of all, I like how it tastes–sort of like a soft (stale?) biscotti.

I also really like the ZonePerfect® Perfectly Simple™ bars.

(Yes, I happened to get the cranberry flavor of this one too!)

As the label says, it has 10 ingredients and 10 g protein:

Soy Protein Isolate, Apple Juice Concentrate, Sweetened Dried Cranberries (Sugar, Dried Cranberries, Sunflower Oil), Date Paste, Roasted Almonds (Almonds, High Oleic Sunflower Oil), Dried Pomegranate Seeds, and Cinnamon Powder.

This is a higher calorie bar (170 calories), and has 2 g fiber and 19 g sugar, although here the sugar is coming from the apple juice concentrate and dried fruit. It is very satisfying, with large chunks of fruit and nuts held together by the date paste.

Attune Foods® even gave us boxes of cereal to try.

It’s a “flake” style cereal, but it has a nice crunch and a hint of a nutty flavor. The ingredient list is pretty short:

Organic Whole Buckwheat Groats, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Hemp Seed, Organic Maple Syrup, Sea Salt.

But, with 220 calories (and 5 g fiber, 5 g sugar, and 5 g protein) in a 1 cup serving, this is not a cereal that I am likely to keep in the house. I just like cereal too much and tend to want to eat 2 bowls at a time!

What new foods have you tried lately?

Posted in Food, Product Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Wordless Wednesday (The Doodle Edition)

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Coco


Do you doodle?

(You can follow me on Instagram — Got2Run4Me)

Posted in Work | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Packing My Suitcase–First Things First

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Coco

I didn’t have much time to bask in the glory of my Army Ten Miler results before I had to head to New York City for a conference. I knew my schedule on Sunday would be tight, so I did most of my packing on Saturday.

I hate packing because I hate having to decide what to wear in advance. Will it be hot? Will the meeting room be freezing? How casual is “business casual” at this event? Will those pants make me feel fat or fabulous?

I always know that I will want workout clothes, so those go in my suitcase first.

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I take the same approach when I plan out my days. I usually exercise first thing in the morning, so it’s the first thing I pack into my day. On days when that’s not possible, I try to figure out another place in my schedule where I can fit my exercise time.

For this trip, I hit the hotel gym at o’dark-thirty on Monday.

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(Is that random pot of bamboo stalks supposed to add some zen
to that cluttered corner of the gym?)

On the other hand, I made Tuesday a rest day–with a 5:45 am departure for an 8:00 am flight, a 6 pm conference call, and a full day of work in between, my schedule was bulging beyond capacity. While I couldn’t squeeze a workout into that oversized bag, I know that once I am home, my exercise routine will be the first thing that I unpack.

What is the first that you put in your suitcase?  

How far in advance do you start packing for a trip?

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , | 2 Comments