Sore Muscle Skin Tightening Bath Soak

Hey Friends,

I told you all a few weeks ago that I've been healing and keeping my guy healthy by incorporating all sorts of very specific collagen products! If you missed the post you can READ IT HERE. So much VITAL information :)

I have several ways I am taking in this super supplement (collagen) but the #1 way is I have it every morning in my Gut Healing Frothy Coffee. This stuff is so yummy and has been a coffee game changer for me! I even travel with a blender now, haha!

I've also been adding THIS Collagen Bone Broth to my crock pot chicken while it cooks all day ... I often bake with THESE Collagen Peptides or Collagen Peptide Whey ... and I also just ordered THIS supplement and also THIS ONE (which is on back-order until August FYI) .. to start next week!
 More on the supplements once I start them!

There are so many ways to get collagen into your daily regime and SO MANY BENEFITS! You can always EMAIL me and I'd be happy to help answer any questions! If I don't know the answer I will get it for you!

The most recent way I've been adding Collagen to my regime isn't by drinking or eating it.
It's by soaking in it!!!

I’m not as sore as I’d expect considering the busting I’ve been giving my booty these days and my skin seems to be tighter lately! A new DIY Bath Soak is the only new thing I’ve been doing .. so I’m gonna say there is definitely a connection!

I always just soaked in Epsom Salt and maybe some essential oils but I've started using THIS WATER ENHANCER (yes, what I sometimes add to water and DRINK) to my bath and it has been a game changer (especially on prep when making sure my skin is tight is very important.)

The little "secret ingredient" is Collagen Beauty Water by Vital Proteins! The powder is a blend of collagen, hyaluronic acid, probiotics, organic lemon, organic lavender, organic blueberry, organic beet, and organic honey. Adding a scoop to food or beverages gives you the vitamin boost you need to support healthy hair, skin, nails, bone and joint health, digestion, muscle recovery, and more. And while it was designed to be added to your water ... I found out that you can also use this powder TOPICALLY!

How does it improve skin?! Well obviously it can work from the inside-out if you drink/eat it, but it also has benefits if you just apply it directly to your skin!

Collagen Beauty Water contains 120mg of hyaluronic acid per scoop - an ingredient that helps improve elasticity and smoothness (again .. even more important on prep/when dieting), increases hydration, and even the reversal of free radicals.

Here are just a FEW other benefits and ways to use this tasty stuff!

THE BODY BENEFITS:

Enhance Hair, Skin & Nails: The powerful duo of sustainably-sourced marine collagen and hyaluronic acid helps rescue thinning hair, dull skin and brittle nails.

Improve Energy: Collagen Beauty Water contains nothing but all natural ingredients. So no sugar or artificial weighing you down and hurting your tummy!

Boost Joint Health: Why stop moving? Help improve joint health and bring more comfort to your next 5K, yoga class or walk around the block.**

WAYS TO ENJOY IT:

*Blend into smoothies, lattes, or teas

*Add into your favorite recipes .. especially desserts!! (lemon + blueberry + lavender is so good)

*Freshen up your water (sure makes getting in that gallon a day much easier)

It comes in three flavors:
Lavender Lemon: includes 10 grams of marine collagen, organic lavender, organic lemon, hyaluronic acid and probiotics
Melon Mint: includes 10 grams of marine collagen, organic peppermint, real honeydew melon, hyaluronic acid and probiotics
Cucumber Aloe: includes 10 grams of marine collagen, organic cucumber, organic aloe, hyaluronic acid and probiotics

You can use any of these "flavors" in your bath. I prefer the Lavender Lemon for this purpose!

Get yours HERE!! Just don't be tempted to drink your bath water, haha!

DIY Sore Muscle Skin Tightening Bath Soak

Ingredients:
1. 1 cup Epsom Salts (I usually get mine at Smith's (Kroger Co) cause it's cheapest there.
2. 1/2 cup Vital Proteins Lavender Lemon Beauty Water
3. 10 drops Lavender Oil (optional ...but suggested. I also use Balance and Serenity sometimes.)

What To Do:
Run bath warm/hot bath.
Add the Epsom Salts & Beauty Water while the water is running to help it dissolve.
Add drops of Essential Oil.
Soak for 12-15 minutes minimum to allow the mixture to detoxify and moisturize skin.

XoXo
Stacy

My Morning Ritual: Warm Lemon Water

Hey Fit Fam ..

I am not much of a morning person, but when I do get up it's my favorite time of the day because it's my favorite meal of the day! I can't wait to go to bed just so that I can wake up and have my breakfast!  But before I make my much anticipated cup(s) of coffee and 2 min microwave "muffin", I have added something new to my morning ritual. I have myself a 6oz cup of warm lemon water!

I put 4-5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil in mine water and chug away! I started using Essential Oils a few months ago and the Lemon is amazing. If you don't want to invest in QUALITY Essential Oils, just promise me you will buy real lemon and not the squeeze stuff in the plastic lemon looking thing..... k?!

I can't say that drinking my daily cup of lemon water it's doing anything for me because I've not been doing it long enough (or consistent enough. I'm so bad about that.) But I'm certainly willing to sip on it while my coffee brews and my muffin bakes! What can it hurt? And apparently there is A LOT to gain! Here are just a few possible health benefits of drinking lemon water as soon as you wake up (before coffee, before breakfast, etc)

*Boost immune system
*Promotes healing
*Hydrates lymph system
*Balances PH
*Helps joints  ((lemon lowers overall acidity in the body ((balances ph) and this includes uric acid in joints, which is a primary cause of pain and inflammation))
*Aids in digestion
*Aids in weight loss ((this is because lemons are high in pectin fiber, which can help fight hunger cravings. Also many studies have shown those that maintain a more alkaline diet lose weight faster))
*Clears skin
*Enhances mood
*Is a mild diuretic

Here is a great article with even more benefits and info! Let me know if this combo has worked for you! I'd love to hear your stories!

Eat Clean. Train Dirty.
Stacy

Essential Oil Orange Smoothie

Hey Fit Fam ...

One of my big pet peeves is "mass marketed" type stuff. I am not downing anyones methods, they are yours and if they work for you, then great! It's just that 99.9% of those products are (in my opinion) just big marketing tactics. You don't need a "diet in a box" or a "wrap" to be fit and there are SO MANY more supplements out there that are "cleaner" and better than the ones being pushed just so someone can make a commission.  Again, not saying the products are bad, I just don't know how honest the tactics are. But there is something you may be seeing a lot of these days ... that I do 100% believe in. Because it's made a world of difference with my stomach issues.

Essential Oils have really done wonders for me. I started taking them back in November after I kept having some stomach issues, especially around show times. I believe in them so much that recently I became part of the doTERRA team so that I can share how oils have helped me and my health. I know there are several companies selling oils .. but after much research .. I felt like these oils are the ones that are best for me.  I'm going to be blogging more in depth about my personal "Essential Oil Experience" and how what I use/used may be able to help fellow competitors (or anyone with stomach problems .. we just have very specific ones sometimes.) But not just competitors .. everyone ... everyday .... in every aspect of your life! There are SO MANY ways to use Essential Oils. There is also a "tea" that I use by a different company that I plan to chat about that in a future blog as well. If it works for me ... I want to share, share, share :)

But today .. I'm just gonna tell you about this yummy Essential Oil Smoothie I made this weekend!

I used a scoop of a Vanilla Level One protein, some stevia because I like my shakes extra sweet (omit this and try first as it may be sweet enough for you) then added doTERRA Orange Essential Oil. It tasted like an Orange Creamsicle!

doTERRA Orange Essential Oil has many benefits. First of all, it's extracted (cold pressed) from the rind. So you get nutritional benefits you wouldn't get from just drinking Orange juice or eating an Orange itself. Some of the most common primary uses are: Anxiety, Digestion, Fear, Heart Palpitations, Insomnia, Menopause, Nervousness, Uplifting and Withdrawl. Some of the other possible uses are: helps with appetite, bronchitis, colds, colics in infants, dull/oily complexion, dermatitis, fever, flu, lower high cholesterol, mouth ulcers, muscle soreness, tissue repair, water retention and wrinkles! So there are obviously a WIDE range of benefits!

I'm anxious to try it with my pre-workout to see if it gives me any kind of extra boost on those days I don't really feel like going (yes .. we all have those days.) In this case .. I would use 1st Phorm Loopy Fruit (since it's a whey isolate) and of course my Ignition!!  If I've not had too much coffee I'd also add in some Megawatt HD :) I can't imagine how good it will be!!

Some ways I plan on using it in the future?

In high stress/anxious situations -- Inhale it! Rub some in may hands and take slow deep breaths. You can also rub it on your neck.

Water Enhancer -- Make my 1-2 gallons easier to drink :) However I was told to make sure you don't put this particular oil in plastic! Gonna get more info on that for you!

To order your doTERRA oils or learn more about what they are you can visit my page I now have.  www.mydoterra.com/stacymccloud  

If you have any ailment at all and want to know what oil would best benefit you .. feel free to email me! I'd love to help! They really have worked wonders on my tummy!! SimplyStacy@ymail.com

Eat Clean. Train Dirty.
Stacy

Fizz Fix: A great soda replacement

Hey Fit Fam,

We all know that regular soda is bad. One serving has more sugar in it than most people should have in an entire day! It is literally just sugar water .. with some extra "bad" additives  like caramel coloring (to name only one), which has been linked to CANCER! And how about those phosphates (phosphoric acid)? In excess, those will give you wrinkles, heart and kidney problems, muscle loss and osteoporosis!!! Let's not forget the "duh" fact .. those sugar water poison drinks WILL make you gain weight. Not just weight, they will make you gain fat in some pretty disturbing places... specifically around your liver and skeletal muscles. It can also lead to other organ fat, triglycerol blood fats AND increase cholesterol! There isn't a part of your body that isn't negatively impacted by even just ONE can of soda a day!

It's no secret that "switching to diet" has been a method for weight loss for many soda drinkers. I can't  deny that simply making that one switch will likely make you lose some weight. BUT at a huge risk. Not to mention, drinking diet sodas can also make you pack on pounds as well! Many studies suggest it's the aspartame...which raises blood glucose levels and when your lever has an excess amount of glucose, the excess is converted to .. you guessed it .. FAT! Oh and lets not forget the ENDLESS studies that link aspartame and cancer! Cancer and weight gain aside, aspartame has been linked to almost ONE HUNDRED different health problems!!! OVER ONE FREAKING HUNDRED!!!!

I could go on and on. There is a new study out everyday that tells us we are killing ourselves by drinking this crap. Bottom line is that diet or regular .. soda is an unnatural substance with zero nutritional value that HARMS the body. Is it really worth the risk?!? HECK NO!!

If you are craving a soda, a great alternative is Zevia! It's naturally flavored, no sugar and no artificial sweeteners! With no cals and only 4carbs ... it's a MUCH better alternative!

However ... you SHOULD be drinking lots of water! If you are a "I can't drink water" person .. try adding some deTERRA Essential Oils!! Lemon, Orange, Lime, Cinnamon -- options are endless! Not only will they give your water a "kick", each oil has ALL KINDS of health benefits. So just find which essential oil will most benefit you and add it to your water! BOOM :) You can get yours on my doTERRA page ! While NOTHING replaces water, there are great beverages with nutritional value! Tea is a great option (I prefer green w/stevia) and of course coffee!

Replace your soda with any of these for at least two weeks -- and grab a Zevia when you need a "Fizz Fix"! Promise you won't miss the fizzy cancer in a can!

Eat Clean. Train Dirty.
Stacy