This past Saturday the Neon Vibe sponsored a charity workout called "Squats for Tots". We want to give a special shout out to Brad, the owner of Cache Valley Strength and Conditioning, for allowing us to use his awesome cross fit facilities for our event. We had a great turnout and were able to raise over $600 to help families in need this Christmas. The funds raised will go directly towards gifts and meals.
Participants competed in a round of Death By Squats. At minute one each participant was expected to do 10 full-depth squats. At two minutes they did 11, at three minutes they did 12, and so on and so on... Roy, a local cross fitter won by making it to minute 29. Roy did a total of a total of 735 squats! Our female winner was Kate, who made it to minute 28, completing a grand total of 666 squats! Congrats to all the participants and thanks to all who came and made it a special year for our sponsored families.
You can exercise as often as you want, but if you're not putting the right things in your body you won't see nearly as many results. Replacing the usual burger and fries with healthy alternatives will give you the boost you need for a workout and speed up your metabolism.
Here's a list of power foods we recommend for runners:
DARK CHOCOLATE
In small doses, dark chocolate is good for your heart and brain. It increases blood flow and prevents the formation of clots in the arteries and veins. There are chemicals in dark chocolate that improve your mood, including phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the same chemical that is released in the brain when you're falling in love. Dark chocolate also contains caffeine (much less than a cup of coffee or energy drink), which is a mild stimulant. It's also loaded with antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals.
Even though dark chocolate has many beneficial flavanoids, it also has a lot of sugar, calories, and fat. Eat sparingly--overindulging will undo the aforementioned benefits.
FISH
Fish provides a great source of omega-3 fatty acids--something our bodies do not produce on their own. Omega-3's are found in all fish but they're especially present in salmon, tuna, trout and sardines. We need omega-3 fatty acids for several bodily functions such as preventing clotting and building membranes in the brain. It protects you from heart disease and stroke and can contribute to healthier skin and hair.
Not everybody is a fish lover, and for those of you that aren't, almonds, walnuts, and flax seeds are great omega-3 replacements.
POMEGRANATE Pomegranate is an amazing fruit filled with antioxidants and punicalagin--similar to acai berry juice and green tea. It has high levels of vitamins C, K and B5, which fight sickness, supports bone health, and helps the body metabolize. Pomegranates limit your risk for certain diseases such as prostate and breast cancer. They protect your cardiovascular health and because of all the vitamins and minerals (niacin, folic acid, potassium, calcium, iron, and fiber) it can even aid in pregnancy.
Pomegranate also has beauty benefits. It will slow the signs of aging, regenerate cells and protect you from the sun.
The biggest problem people have with pomegranates is getting the seeds out to eat. Watch this video--it will change your life!
AVOCADO
Avocados are one of the most versatile fruits, packed full of healthy fats and nutrients. They're a great source of fiber, potassium and vitamins C, K, folate, and B6. Eating half an avocado provides you with 160 calories, 2 grams of saturated fat and 15 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fat. When making healthy meals, replace the butter or spread with avocado for a delicious alternative. Not only do avocados have all sorts of healthy fats and oils, the mono-saturated fat in avocados helps your body absorb other fat-soluble minerals from other foods.
CLICK HERE for an awesome recipe for Garlicky Shrimp Avocado Sandwiches.
NUTS AND SEEDS
Eating nuts and seeds between meals is extremely filling and satisfying--and healthful. We're not talking about sugar-coated and candied nuts you can buy at a kiosk in the mall--we're talking natural, raw and un-salted nuts. Eating raw nuts and seeds will decrease your risk of many diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Eating nuts will inhibit those hunger cravings you may get in the middle of the afternoon, and in turn help control your weight.
Adding some chopped almonds to oatmeal, walnuts to your salad, or chia seeds to some peanut butter toast will give you an extra protein boost and burst of flavor. For a list of the healthiest nuts and seeds CLICK HERE.
There you have it, 5 power foods recommended by the Neon Vibe! Start eating a bit healthier and sign up for a race near you!
One of the best parts about working for the Neon Vibe is watching rookie athletes reach their fitness goals. So many of the participants at our runs are new to the running scene. We have a lot of runners tell us things like, "This was my first 5K ever", or "I beat my previous time!" We love having beginning runners at our events! It's not easy to leave the warm comforts of a couch and head out the door for a jog or trip to the gym. Sometimes potato chips and soda sound more appealing than pushing your body to its physical limits--but it's all about mind over matter. It may be difficult at first, but you'll never regret bursting the barriers of your comfort zone and pushing yourself to exercise.
Here are few tips on getting your training started:
1.Shoes. Find shoes that meet the needs of your specific foot type. Everybody is different. Go to shoe store and try on several different styles. That being said, wear comfortable clothing. Running in jeans is "no bueno".
2. Start slow. Numerous studies recommend training sessions to last between 20 to 30 minutes 3 times a week. Begin by alternating between a brisk walk and a slow jog. Don't be overly concerned about the time or distance you go. Concentrate on pushing yourself each workout and staying consistent. Consistency will get you fit and your speed will increase as your heart and bones get stronger.
3. Music playlist. Build yourself a playlist of some of your favorite songs. Blast "Eye of the Tiger" and get running! Listen to music you enjoy! If you're somebody that likes running on a treadmill or going to the gym, go when you're favorite TV show is on. Feel free to watch a movie on your phone or tablet as you run/walk.
4. Don't be afraid to strengthen the rest of your body. The weaker your muscles are, the more prone to injury they will be. Many people are afraid weight training will make them too bulky. Unless you're aggressively taking supplements and lifting heavy weights every day, you should be fine. Targeting your major muscle groups a couple times a week is a great way to lose weight and lean up.
5. Stay flexible. Stretch before and after every workout. Click here to review tips on safe stretching.
6. Don't give up. You're going to have your good days and your bad days--stay with it! Get out there and push yourself! We'll see you at our next race!
2013 was a fantastic year for The Neon Vibe! We had the opportunity to travel all over the country, and we were able to meet so many great people! The cities we visited were Fort Lauderdale, FL; Myrtle Beach, SC; Dayton, OH; Virginia Beach, VA; Philadelphia, PA; Peoria, IL; Detroit, MI; Oak Ridge, TN; Huntsville, AL; Corpus Christi, TX; and Tulsa, OK. Thanks to everybody that made it to our events! Without each and every one of you we wouldn't be able to do what we love to do--travel the country, be healthy, and have a great time doing it! We've had an absolute blast! If you check out our website and click on "register" you'll be able to see the locations we plan on visiting in 2014. Pre-register now to stay posted on future races. If you don't see your city now, keep checking back because we're locking up contracts with new cities weekly. You can also send an email toinfo@theneonvibe.comto recommend new cities and new venues! We love hearing your ideas and we can't wait to make this year even better than the last!
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