Adrenal Fatigue: The Reason I {almost} Quit Coffee

{Me ... just over four weeks ago}

I am not even sure how I can concentrate enough to write this blog post.

I can't focus.
I have a headache.
I keep zoning out.
My ADD is off the charts.
I'm a little moody.
Okay I'm a lot moody ... I cried for NO reason yesterday .. twice.

Why? CAFFEINE WITHDRAWALS!!!!
(The withdrawal symptoms got better after a couple days thanks to THIS product. Keep reading.)

My name is Stacy.
I am a coffee addict.
I am on DAY THREE of a "caffeine cut" in an attempt to give my adrenal glands a little break/restore. ((More on the Adrenal Restore product I'm using a little further down... keep reading.))

Firt things first ... I have not totally cut out caffeine. I just can't. But I have cut it DRASTICALLY!!

A couple times a year I do something called an ADRENAL RESTORE cycle. Every time I've done it in the past I've had ALL the coffee I usually have daily and just cut out pre-workout.
Not this time. I'm doing it right. Well almost right. Right would be cutting out caffeine 100% .. but I seriously couldn't do that. But I was pretty darn close!

So how much caffeine did I cut out? ALMOST all. A typical morning for me consisted of 30 ounces of coffee every morning.  During the cut, I did 3/4 deaf and the rest regular. So guessing I got 50-75 of caffeine (max) ... that is a BIG difference compared to what I was getting before!

I also would have a late afternoon coffee pick-me-up about 1-2 hours before training. It was usually another 20oz thermos. During the cut, instead of that 2nd thermos, I had either Green Tea, a Vital Proteins Collagen Matcha Latte, mushroom coffee, mushroom elixirs, or some other hot tea. That varied from either ZERO to 60mg of caffeine in the afternoon.

I have also cut out ALL stimulant based pre-workout. I actually did that a LONG time ago. Somewhere around Olympia. So from October until this "cut" .. I had stopped having stimulant pre-workout DAILY and would only take a stimulant pre-workout AS NEEDED (this is the one I use.) Instead, I used a NON-STIMULANT pre-workout like THIS one or THIS one. So I simply continued doing that (never taking the stimulant one) during the Adrenal reset.

WAIT A SECOND! REWIND! Did I said MUSHROOMS in the paragraph above? Yes, I did and I'm not talking about the kind we like to put in salads or stir fry, ha!

Wanna know more about MUSHROOM COFFEE and MUSHROOM ELIXIRS -- CLICK HERE.

These products deserved a blog of their own! So make sure you CHECK IT OUT after you read this so that you can determine if they are something you may be interested in!

I'm blown away by them and am now doing a TON of research on ALL KINDS of Adaptogens .. not just shroomz!

Ok...back to caffeine and ADRENAL RESTORE (the product I'm used to re-set my adrenals.)

WHY is it important to do an Adrenal Reset?

The adrenal glands are responsible for regulating the production of over 50 different hormones, most importantly adrenaline, cortisol, DHEA, progesterone, and testosterone.

Physical things like overtraining, and mental things like nerves, general stress, chronic anxiety, and other external stressors can cause adrenal function to become impaired. This causes the balance of adrenal hormones to shift and excess cortisol begins to be released into the system.

Over time the adrenals become taxed and worn down, leading to a group of symptoms that have collectively come to be known as adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue includes, but is not limited to: being tired for no reason, feeling rundown and overwhelmed, having trouble getting up in the morning even though you’ve had a full night’s sleep, sweet and salty cravings, difficulty recovering from illness, heavy dependence on caffeine and energy products just to function and not really feeling the kick from them anymore.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way and with a steady treatment and a little break from some of the stressors, adrenal function can be fully restored.

HOW do I do it?
I use a product called ADRENAL RESTORE. It is amazing! I try to do this two times a year. At the END of contest season and then again JUST BEFORE prep starts. No real reason for the timing. It's just easy to remember. You can do it ANYTIME and the most effective time would be when you FEEL like you need it! That is pretty easy to determine. Is your coffee not giving you the energy it once did? Do you find yourself needing more? How about pre-workout .. does it just not give you the same effect? Those are all signs that your adrenals aren't functioning properly.

When our adrenals aren't optimal our bodies aren't functioning properly! Andrenal Restore™ brings together a potent complex of vitamins and herbs that have been proven to treat adrenal fatigue at its origin, not just mask the symptoms. The potent ingredients of Adrenal Restore have been shown to help reduce physical and mental stress, minimize caffeine headaches, reduce cortisol levels to help minimize fat storage and optimize natural energy levels. At the same time, the ingredients of this powerful formula come together to aid in the production and release of adrenal hormones back into the body. Defeat stress and minimize cortisol production with Adrenal Restore. *

FAST FORWARD TO THE END OF MY ADRENAL RESET.

The headaches and brain fog went away after about 3 days. After a few days, I also didn't notice much of a difference as far as energy levels being lower! However, I did notice that I was sleepier when it was time to go to bed, which is a perk for me since I suffer from Insomnia. I credit the withdrawal symptoms going away because of ADRENAL RESTORE!! The ingredients in this product help with the "caffeine headaches" and "brain fog" that often comes with doing a caffeine cut!

The plan WAS to go back to my regular caffeine consumption after 4 weeks. While I've gone back to much higher levels of caffeine ... I'm still not having as much as I used to! In using the adaptogens listed on THIS blog ... I don't really need to!

I did start incorporating my stimulant pre-workout back in (MegaWatt V2) on the days I feel like I need the extra push! And the best part .. IT WORKS AGAIN! My adrenals were so taxed that even pre-workout didn't really do much! Now I remember HOW GREAT it can be to give you that little extra push to train harder/longer!

Okay .. so that is my story. I wanna know YOUR STORY!
Have you had success in cutting caffeine? If so, tell me what you did!
Are you SCARED to try cutting out caffeine? If so, why?
Jump over to my Instagram page and let's chat about it!!

As always if you have questions about Adrenal Restore or any 1stPhorm product ... send me an EMAIL!

You can always get FREE FAST SHIPPING and 110% money back guarantee by using my link: www.1stphorm.com/stacy.

XoXo,
Stacy


**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not recieve commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use and stand by.**

Mushrooms Are The New Black [coffee]

Hey Fit Fam,

Hopefully you read my blog about me being [almost] caffeine free for FOUR WEEKS!

If not be sure to check it out HERE and learn more about WHY I cut (most) caffeine in order to address/treat adrenal fatigue!

One of the products I mention in that Instagram post is MUSHROOM COFFEE and MUSHROOM ELIXIRS. These products are probalby foreign to most of you (they were to me until a few months ago) so I wanted to give them their own little blog entry.

SAVE 15% off with code SIMPLYSTACY

Recently I've been doing a TON of reasearch on something called ADAPTOGENS. You may be  taking them and don't even realize that is what they are called (things like rosemary, aloe vera, milk thistle, licorice root, ginsing, maca, goji, etc.) But there are a TON of others adaptogens that you may have never heard of ... like Ashwagandha, Rhodoila, Chaga Mushrooms, Reishi Mushrooms, Cordyceps, etc.

In short, adaptagens are a natural substances that works with a person’s body and help them adapt. Adaptogens are a natural ally in dealing with things like stress and fatigue because they work with regulating important hormones.


Pending which one you take .. they can offer a host of benefits (naturally)

• Boost immune system
• Support a healthy weight
• Increase physical endurance and mental focus
• Lower Stress (ie cortisol levels)
• Encouraging a balanced mood 

There are a few that I plan to start incorporating in 2018 (once I'm back home from travel and have time to order them) but in doing this caffeine cut I got a jump start on a few! Here is a little breakdown of a few I've been using.

Cordyceps (Supports Energy and Performance)

Cordyceps is an adaptogen, not a stimulant, so it helps you produce and maintain steady energy levels. Coffee can give you an energy spike, followed by a crash; cordyceps, on the other hand, helps your body produce its own energy.

REISHI Mushrooms
Reishi is classified as an adaptogen. It has no side effects, it is useful in a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, and it helps the body return to a normal and balanced state.

Reishi is gaining acceptance as being helpful in combatting the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, and its anti-stress effects are believed to contribute to easing tension, strengthening the immune system, sharpening concentration and improving memory.

CHAGA Mushrooms
This one has SO MANY beneifts - read here. But in short .. it is the antioxident king!! It smashes things like green tea in terms of levels of antioxidants!

So far the products I've used are from a brand called Four Sigmatic. The mushroom coffees and elixirs (that contain these adaptogens listed) that I have personally tried are:

CHAGA Mushroom Elixir Mix 
See above for what CHAGA is. I use this one in AM mixed with my decaf for it's antioxidant properties. You don't have to mix with coffee. You actually mix it with 8oz of water. I just mix it with my decaf because for ME much of nixing the caffeine addiction was HABIT in the form of drinking my morning coffee ... not so much the caffeine.



Mushroom Coffee Mix
This one is made up of Chaga and another shroom called LIONS MANE. It does have a little caffeine plus the NATURAL kick/focus from the shrooms! I have this in place of my coffee or mixed with my decaf. It has 50mg caffine and also cordyceps and chaga for natural energy and antioxidant properties.
I already describe CHAGA above, but Lions Mane is basically a natural cognitive enhancer. It's been shorn to support memory and concentration!

DECAF Mushroom Coffee Mix
This has both Chaga and Reishi mushroom extracts! See full descriptions above. You can also read all about these shrooms on their page but in short this coffee has these benefits:

• Reishi dual extract is known for its potential ability to support occasional stress
• Earthy chaga dual extract balances the lighter roast beans with its rich flavor while helping to reduce coffee’s natural acidity and potentially supporting immune function with antioxidant properties.

Cordyceps Mushroom Elixir Mix
See full description of Cordyceps above. I took this one pre-workout since cordyceps help your body produce natural energy.

Mushroom Hot Cacao Mix
They have two. One is good before bed. The other (pictured) in AM or Pre-Workout. I've had them alone with just unsweetened almond milk, mixed in my coffee and even mixed in my ice cream at night.

 




Each of these producs have a unique taste (hard to explain) but all taste very mild and are really good in my opinion. As mentioned, I've been mixing in my decaf most of the time instead of drinking alone. However many people mix with milk or water (pending the product) and a sweetener or in smoothies! The COFFEES can be BREWED or PRESSED just like regular coffee! The elixirs and hot cacao you just mix with water/liquid.

As for the MUSHROOM COFFEE (regular and decaf) it does taste like COFFEE! This one would be a great alternative for someone that can't handle coffee because of the ACID! So instead of buying a "low acid coffee" you may want to check this out instead! My husband can't tolerate coffee very well because of an ulcer so I'm hoping this will allow him to enjoy "coffee" without stomach pain!

I'm not sure I've ever seen a webpage that is more organized and more educational than Four Sigmatic. For real, I think I spent like 3 hours on there reading! So make sure and check it out HERE.
 The site has SO MUCH information it can be a little overwhelming finding it all! So I've made it easy for you! If you don't want to just go to the main page, you can also follow any of the specific hyper links I mention throughout the blog or here below to take you directly to things like:

FIND MY SHROOM

START HERE (examples of times/situations you may want to take each)

SO MANY BLOGS about medicinal mushrooms! With endless reasearch and studies!

FAQ that answers just about anything you can think of.

RECIPES using their products.

Even VIDEO LESSONS that allow you to take a 3 hour course and become a mushroom expert, ha!

I'm not a "shroom" expert. I am still learning about these products and simply wanted to share with you what I've been trying out! So I highly suggest you use the links above (specifically Find My Shroom) to see which (if any) may be best for you! Just like many supplements and herbs ... they are not one size fits all! But luckily they have this great little guide!

I can't wait to dive deeper into the world of ADAPTOGENS and am thankful I found this product during my CAFFEINE CUT ... which is now over, ha. I may not cut back as much as I was during my Adrenal Restore, but I am going to continue limiting the amount I take in daily.

I was able to get Four Sigmatic to give me a discount code that I can pass on to YOU so that YOU can save some money! Just type in SIMPLYSTACY at checkout and you will save %15 off your order.

Xo
Stacy


**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not recieve commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use and stand by.**

6 Gut Friendly Foods For Your Kitchen (Plus Anti-Inflammatory Gummies Recipe)

Hey Fit Fam,

Improving gut health doesn’t have to be a difficult feat if you keep gut healthy foods in your kitchen. We all know that gut health is important, but many of us don’t realize just how much of an impact the foods we eat play a role in how we feel, think and behave. Before you plan your next shopping list, read more about the foods that can improve your life in more ways than one.

6 GUT FRIENDLY FOODS FOR YOUR KITCHEN

YOGURT

• Spoon your way to a better digestion with a cup of yogurt. 
• Yogurt contains probiotics, which are a powerhouse for digestive health. Probiotics are live micro-organisms that promote health benefits when consumed and support the "good' bacteria in the gut (3).
• Look for yogurts that contain live cultures-an active bacteria that has been shown to help promote in overall gut health and aid in reducing digestive distress (12.)
  
  (I know it's not some fancy flavored yogurt. But we are talking about GUT HEALTH. Probably the best yogurt on the market for this would be Nancy's.)

CAYENNE PEPPER

• Spice up your day with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper in your meals.
• Research has shown that cayenne pepper can assist in bringing necessary enzymes to the stomach which ultimately aid in metabolizing food (1).
• Also, a great aid for relieving intestinal gas as it encourages peristaltic motion - the movement of muscles located in the digestive tract (2).

AVOCADO

• Avocados are not only a delicious addition to any meal, they are also a one-stop-shop for a wide array of vitamins and nutrients, and are full of potassium, fiber, magnesium, and monounsaturated fats (4). 
• Fiber is largely found in avocados with approximately 4.5 grams per half, which contributes to healthy digestion as a result of its ability to feed the ‘friendly’ bacteria and remove waste in a minimal amount of time (5). 

ROOIBOS TEA

• Gut healthy foods don’t necessarily have to be a food! 
• Steep a warm cup of sweet and flowery rooibos tea for its digestive health benefits. Even add a scoop of Vital Proteins Bone Broth for an added digestive boost.
• Rooibos tea is rich in nutrients such as manganese, iron, zinc, and calcium to promote a healthy inflammatory response. Studies have shown that rooibos tea has the ability to promote improved digestion and abdominal comfort (6). 

QUINOA

• Quinoa is fiber-rich with a whopping 5 grams per cooked cup (8), mostly consisting of insoluble fibers which help to deliver friendly bacteria to the gut (7). 
• Rich in antioxidants–which flush out free radicals from the digestive tract (10)–and other minerals, quinoa boasts, even more, iron, fiber, and zinc over other common grains (9). 
• Magnesium is the star player in quinoa, where one cup can offer 30% of the recommended daily amount (9).

VITAL PROTEINS BEEF GELATIN
(my number one GUT HEALER)

• Gut healthy foods can be made even healthier with an all natural supplement. Maintain a digestive support with supplements such as Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin.
• Gelatin is most beneficial for improving the lining of the digestive tract and combating intestinal damage which ultimately prevents permeability (11). Gelatin is slower to digest, moves through the GI tract further and coats the small intestine.
• Beef Gelatin and Collagen Peptides' nutritional benefits vary only slightly. The main difference is how they're used. Gelatin works best while cooking, or with hot liquids, soups and broths. Both can be used cooking, but Beef Gelatin dissolves well in warm liquids, gummies, parfaits, hot teas, and more.

Anti-inflammatory CBD Gummies

You can omit the CBD if you want or don't have. But not sure why you would! It is AMAZING for inflammation! Check out THIS BLOG on how I am using CBD and am "Healed Not High" and THIS BLOG for any confusion as to what HEMP you should and SHOULD NOT be buying!!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup water
4 tbsp. Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin

1 heaping scoop 1st Phorm Lemonade, Apple or Blueberry BCAAs
3 cups mixed fresh or thawed frozen strawberries, blueberries or apples (pending BCAA flavor)
 *Can omit if you want to get carbs elsewhere or want no carb gummies*

DIRECTIONS:
Add the Beef Gelatin to 1/4c of the water in a small bowl. Stir and set it aside for 3 minutes to let the gelatin bloom.

Mix the other 1/4 of the water, bcaas and 1 full dropper of UNFLAVORED IGNITE CBD OIL.

If adding the berries add the berries and sweetener large blender.  Blend on high until smooth.

Pour the berry juice (if used) and BCAA/CBD mixture into a medium saucepan and place over medium-low heat.

Add the bloomed gelatin and continuously until the gelatin is melted.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the magnesium, if using.

Pour into silicone molds or a large glass dish.

Refrigerate until solid, about 2 hours for molds or 4 hours for a large dish.

FREE SHIPPING for all US VITAL PROTEINS orders - HERE
FREE FAST Shipping on all 1st Phorm orders - HERE

**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not receive commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use and stand by.**

Sources
(1) Maji, A. K., & Banerji, P. (2016). Phytochemistry and gastrointestinal benefits of the medicinal spice, Capsicum annuum L. (Chilli): a review. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine,13(2). doi:10.1515/jcim-2015-0037 (2) “Spices Exotic Flavors & Medicines Chile Pepper.” History & Special Collections UCLA Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, 2002. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017. (3) Guarner, F., Perdigon, G., Corthier, G., Salminen, S., Koletzko, B., & Morelli, L. (2005). Should yogurt cultures be considered probiotic? British Journal of Nutrition,93(06), 783. doi:10.1079/bjn20051428 (4) Lu, Q., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, D., Lee, R., Gao, K., . . . Heber, D. (2009). California Hass Avocado: Profiling of Carotenoids, Tocopherol, Fatty Acid, and Fat Content during Maturation and from Different Growing Areas. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,57(21), 10408-10413. doi:10.1021/jf901839h (5) Naveh E., Werman M. J., Sabo E., Neeman I. Defatted avocado pulp reduces body weight and total hepatic fat but increases plasma cholesterol in male rats fed diets with cholesterol. Journal of Nutrition. 2002;132(7):2015–2018.(6) Gilani, A. H., Khan, A.-u., Ghayur, M. N., Ali, S. F. and Herzig, J. W. (2006), Antispasmodic Effects of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) is Mediated Predominantly through K⁺-Channel Activation. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 99: 365–373. doi:10.1111/j.1742-7843.2006.pto_507.x (7) Slavin, J. (2013). Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits. Nutrients,5(4), 1417-1435. doi:10.3390/nu5041417 (8) Repo-Carrasco-Valencia, R. A., & Serna, L. A. (2011). Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Willd.) as a source of dietary fiber and other functional components. Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos,31(1), 225-230. doi:10.1590/s0101-20612011000100035 (9) Nascimento, A. C., Mota, C., Coelho, I., Gueifão, S., Santos, M., Matos, A. S., . . . Castanheira, I. (2014). Characterisation of nutrient profile of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus), and purple corn (Zea mays L.) consumed in the North of Argentina: Proximates, minerals and trace elements. Food Chemistry,148, 420-426. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.09.155 (10) How to Help Digestion. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/14432/1/How-to...(11) Cardile, V. (2012). Gelatin tannate reduces the proinflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide in human intestinal epithelial cells. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, 61. doi:10.2147/ceg.s28792 (12) Guyonnet, D., Chassany, O., Ducrotte, P., Picard, C., Mouret, M., Mercier, C., & Matuchansky, C. (2007). Effect of a fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 on the health-related quality of life and symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome in adults in primary care: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics,26(3), 475-486. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03362.x

Merry FITmas: 2017 Fitness Lovers Gift Guide

Hello Fit Fam ..

It is the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is coming!! Which means it's time for another installment of my MERRY FITMAS GIFT GUIDE!!

Each year I put together some of my favorite fitness finds and products that I know the fitness lover in your life would love to see under the tree!

Make sure to watch my Instagram Story as we get closer to Santa coming! Many of these companies have great sales and I may or may not be doing a giveaway or two as well!

Happy Gifting :)
Stacy

#1 - Athletic Apparel (i.e. - Anything except jeans, lol! Gym clothes, cute lounge clothes, leggings, sweatshirts, tank tops, etc.)

There are endless brands out there. Of course there are the obvious ones like Nike, Athleta, Lululemon, etc. But I suggest that you branch out and support smaller businesses!

My favorite is FOXY ATHLETICS! They just released the brand new Carla II leggings in FOUR color combos! So whether you go with the classics or the new ones .. you can't lose! These are comfortable, pass the squat test and have pocket(s) that hold your cell phone (in case) snug and in place!

You can use my code STACY to get FREE 2 DAY SHIPPING!!! Perfect for all y'all that are waiting until the last moment! Sizes are true to size and compression style! If it helps .. I am an XS.

If your fitness lover is a fan of 1st Phorm they have TONS of great apparel including leggings that were designed by ..... FOXY ATHLETICS! For 1st Phorm you can use my link for FAST FREE SHIPPING! www.1stphorm.com/stacy

#2 - Supplements
This stuff can get expensive so I can guarantee that nobody is gonna complain about getting a nice supply of protein powder, pre-workout, etc.

My GO TO every single day "fitness supplements" are by 1st Phorm. I've been using this company for over 4 years because it not only tastes the best .. but QUALITY!! Most companies go whatever route is CHEAPEST. Not 1st Phorm. They use low temperature processing on their products and because of that you get what the label says but also you get a product that does not cause ANY stomach problems!!! My supplements change based on what phase of training I am in. But my supply consists mainly of ...  Level 1 Protein, Phormula-1 Protein, Ignition, BCAAS, MicroFactor Vitamin Pack, MegaWatt, AlphaCre, Creatine, Glutamine, GDA and any of the sleep aids (C-21 and Night T are my faves.) But there are so many others!!! PLEASE EMAIL ME and let me help customize! What I need may not be what our loved one needs! Use www.1stphorm.com/stacy every time you order for no minimum FREE SHIPPING and 110% money back guarantee if for some reason you aren't happy with your purchase!!!!

The other company I use is VITAL PROTEINS. If you want to learn more about how I am becoming healthier and healing my gut with COLLAGEN products. Check out THIS blog!

I personally use the COLLAGEN BEEF GELATIN and COLLAGEN BONE BROTH POWDER the most (daily.) Then on occasion I'll have the Collagen Peptides, Collagen Whey, Collagen Creamers and Collagen Matcha!  I also LOVE the Beauty Boost daily vitamin!

If you have heard your loved one say they have gut issues (bloat/gas/etc), that they want healthier skin, hair or nails, have bad joints, have issues recovering from workouts, or simply say they want to try VP products .. most people start with the Collagen Peptides because they are most versatile. But it really depends! Feel free to shoot me an email and I'll help you order! If you don't mind .. use my LINK to order! They are hyper linked! But if you ever need it just DM me on the gram or email me!
You do get FREE US Shipping when you use it

For digestive enzymes I use GAINS IN BULK

#3 - Mobility Tools
We can't afford to get massages or body work every day .. but THIS IS THE NEXT BEST THING!
These mobility tools have changed my life!!

They are called RAD ROLLER. Guys I'm telling you .. this IS NOT your standard roller, etc. This company has really thought about human anatomy and the way our body works to bring THE BEST mobility tools on the market (in my opinion and MANY others that have purchased/used.)

I suggest investing in the entire kit . But my favorites are the ATOM, Helix, Roller Original (blue) and ALL of the rad rounds. The "block" also comes in REALLY handy! Hit me up and I'll tell you how to use them and you can use code StacyM at checkout for a big discount!

Oh and did I mention everything is so small it fits in your gym bag?!? Yup .. I take these with me everywhere! Even when I travel!

Make this present extra special by adding a Gift Certificate for some real deal Body Work and/or a massage. Here are my favorite peeps in Las Vegas in case that is where you live!

Fixed By KG (body work)
Kinetic Bodywork - Kevin Buechter (massage)

#4 - Gym Bag Essentials (This is really like 10 things categorized under one)
My gym bag has a gym inside of it, lol. There are so many things that can make your gym experience better and often many things a gym-goer NEEDS in their gym bag.
Here are a few things I think are ESSENTIAL

Versa Grips - Can NOT do an upper body or deadlift day without these!
Weight Belt - (got mine on amazon but I'm hoping Santa brings me a Cardillo)
Bands - (The X Bands, Gains In Bulk, sling shot and Arsenal are my faves.)
Ankle Weights (the kind that wrap around your ankle. They even have them at TJ Maxx usually)
Ankle Straps -  I ONLY use IPR Fitness. This brand is THE BEST! Get em on Amazon!
Squat Sponge - I got mine through Gains In Bulk. But IRP also has a great one that I'm getting next!
Jump Rope
Battle Ropes
Sliders

#5 - Meal/Gym Bag
6 pack, FitMark, etc. There are endless companies and endless styles.
I like the backpack and tote from 6 pack bags the best! I don't have a code buy lots of my FITFAM does. So hit me up if you can't find one and I'll get ya one!

#6 - Fitness Tracker/Smart Watch
I have an Apple Watch and love it! I had a FITBIT originally and loved it just as much! Style will depend on what type of workouts an lifestyle/needs your fitness lover has!

#7 - Meal Prep Company
Sometimes the most challenging part of living this lifestyle is .. meal prep. I enjoy making my own foods, but I'm not gonna lie, it would be helpful to AT LEAST have bulk meats sent to me in the mail! Some people would love to have ENTIRE meals. Whatever your fitness lover would prefer .. there is a meal prep company out there that offers it! Why not buy them 3 months, 6 months, 12 months of "meal prep". It's the gift that keeps giving .. especially someone who is pressed for time!
You can contact the meal prep companies to see about how you would go about this. Google for ones in YOUR town .. but here are a few popular ones that deliver nationwide. Feel free to search on Instagram for discount codes from athletes. If you can't find one hit me up and I'll get ya one!

#8 - Meal Prep Gadgets
Can't afford to buy people catered meals?! There are TONS of gadgets that will make meal prep easier! Here are a few of my favorites!!

- Quality Cookwear
- Waffle Maker (invest in a good one. I got mine on amazon)
- Ninja or other QUALITY blender/extractor (I just upgraded to the Vitamix 7500 and LOVE IT.)
- Spiralizer (don't get a cheapo one .. splurge for a nicer one .. it's Christmas.)
- Air Fryer (This has CHANGED MY LIFE. I got mine for 99 bucks on QVC.) That is a hyper link that takes you to the BRAND I purchased. This is just an UPGRADED one that looks to be even better than mine .. that they have on sale for 99 bucks right now!
- Crock Pot/Insta Pot (InstaPot is on my xmas list since it's both a slow cooker and pressure cooker.)

#9 - LuMee Phone Case
I bet your swolemate or fit friend loves taking selfies :) Then get them this case so they can always be in the best light!

#10 - Coach/Trainer/Gym or Class Membership
This is something they are gonna pay for anyway and it can be a big expense.
This is another "gift that keeps giving." But this is NOT just for competitors. SO MANY people are LOST when it comes to "getting started." I don't do this kind of coaching, but my coach and his team offers contest prep and LIFESTYLE clients! They are based in Arizona but have clients all over the world! The are called The Pro Physiques and you can check them out HERE. Make sure and tell them I sent you!

If you are in Vegas I suggest CITY ATHLETIC CLUB for a gym (If you need a trainer I can help you find one at City.)

For GROUP FITNESS in Vegas I suggest THE RIDE. I've discovered a new obsession... I actually LOVE spin class (well this one.) Hoping Santa gets me some classes!!! 

I also recently discovered the phone app AAPTIV. For $99 bucks a year you literally get ENDLESS guided workouts, walks, runs, cardio, yoga, meditation, stretching - even training for marathons!
So far I've only used it for guided jogs, stretching and meditation. But I LOVE IT!! This would be GREAT for someone who just wants some new ideas or needs some help with structured workouts (many can be done at home with no equipment.)

#11- Fitness/Motivational Books or Magazines
I don''t really have any favorite books. But ANY of the fitnes magazines would be a great little stocking stuffer!  Oh and your girl is gonna be featured in the Feb issue of FLEX MAGAZINE!!!
So isn't that reason alone to get a subscription, haha! 

#12 - Home Gym Equipment
Got space? Your a fitness lover that is asking Santa for booty gains? It may be on the pricier end .. but trust me on this one. THE GLUTE BUILDER.
Email me if you are serious and I'll get you in contact with distribution!

If you have a cardio queen on your hands ... search wholesale gym equipment places, craigslist, sporting goods sales, etc. for a treadmill, arc trainer, eliptical, stepper, etc.

Space saving barbell/dumbbells

FULL set of Workout Bands - there are tons of PKG Deals on The X Bands site.

Kettlebells

Pull Up Bar

Yoga Mat

FULL Rad Kit (mentioned in detail above) *code: StacyM*

Any of the other "gym bag" items listed above (sliders, grips, ankle weights, jump rope, etc)

#13 - Competition Suits, Bling and POSING COACHING
If you have a competitor in your life you could take some of the stress away with a Gift Card for a new stage suit, shoes and/or bling!

My favorite is  CJ's Elite and I get all my bling and shoes from GLAM Competition Jewelry . Keep an eye on their Instagram Pages. They always have holiday sales! In fact I just saw them post on 12/8 they are doing 50% OFF Gift Cards!

As for POSING COACHING - I offer this! If you are interested in my pricing just shoot me and email and I'll send it over! For a Christmas gift I'll email you a personal video you can email them that is personalized from ME telling them Merry Christmas and what they are getting!

#14 - The Gift of HEALTH
If you now me at all .. you know that CBD has changed my life. If not .. check out THIS blog I did called HEALED NOT HIGH.

Even if your special someone doesn't have any kind of auto-immune (or other condition) that CBD helps with ... CBD is wonderful for EVERYONE and especially athletes! Right now THIS is the company that I feel comfortable suggesting and that I PERSONALLY USE!

There are so many other things I could think of. But these are my Top picks for now!

Merry CHRISTmas
Stacy


**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not recieve commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use and stand by.**

CBD Consumer Confusion: Not All HEMP Contains CBD

 CONSUMER CONFUSION: Does your HEMP even have CBD? The difference between Hemp Seed and CBD Hemp.

 Hey Fit Fam,

Several times a week I have people message me telling me they purchased “CBD” or have started “taking hemp” since reading my blog “Healed Not High”. 

While it makes me SO HAPPY to know that people are looking into the amazing healing benefits of CBD, what bothers me is that at least half of the people that message me have purchased a product from their local health store, etsy, or whatever popped up as cheapest in a google search. 9 times out of 10 it's either NOT even CBD or the purity and quality is unknown.

As for PURITY and QUALITY of TRUE CBD .. check out my blog HEALED NOT HIGH where I touch on ALL THINGS CBD!

But lets dive into where a ton of confusion lies. People seem to think that anytime they see the word HEMP .. that means they are also getting CBD. NOT THE CASE!

Hemp Seeds = NO CBD
Hemp Protein = NO CBD
Hemp SEED Oil = NO CBD

Although CBD can be derived from Hemp and neither oils have psychoactive effects like THC ... CBD and hemp oils are made from different parts of the plant and have different purposes.


Hemp derived CBD Oil (often labeled as Hemp Drops or Hemp Oil) is generally used for medicinal purposes, treating inflammation, pain, sleeping disorders and even certain types of epileptic seizures.

Hemp Seed Oil is made by applying pressure to hemp seeds in order to squeeze out the oil. But since there is almost no CBD in hemp seeds, there is no CBD in hemp seed oil!!

CBD is present in the stalks, flowers and leaves of the hemp plant (not the seeds.) Those componants are what is extracted to make things like Hemp Drops, Hemp Oil, Full Spectrum CBD Oils, etc., because they DO contain CBD!

There is substantial confusion in general, but it doesn't help that many companies are marketing hemp seed oils at crazy prices and often implying that the products offered contain CBD - when they do not.

You should carefully read the ingredient label on any food or nutritional product including CBD oil products. Just because a product says ’hemp-extract’ on its label does not necessarily mean that cannabidiol, or CBD, is the extract contained in the product. Considering that there are over 80 compounds contained in hemp, the term ‘hemp extract’ could signify an extract other than CBD. So you may be buying products labeled as hemp extracts under the impression that CBD is contained in the product, when there may be none! READ CAREFULLY and if you are still confused ask the company if it contains CBD. If they say YES .. ask for an an independent lab analysis of their product indicating the presence of CBD and how much! Speaking of "how much" .. remember that if a product does have CBD .. the mg listed on the front of the bottle (100mg/250mg/500mg, etc) is how much CBD is in THE ENTIRE BOTTLE .. not in ONE serving!

Bottom Line .... Hemp has been on store shelves for decades and even in many skin care lines contain hemp (remember the "Hemp Soap On A Rope" by Bath & Body Works) .. but these products are NOT CBD!

Hemp Seeds and Hemp products are GREAT for your health and have their own long list of benefits  but it's important to know that they do NOT contain cannabinoids! So by all means .. consume hemp protein, hemp seeds and slather on some hemp lotion. But if you are looking for the healing/health benefits of CBD .. you aren't getting it from those sources!

Also, remember that CBD isn't a "one and done" type product. You must use it every day! So while it's great that many smoothie shops are offering CBD add-ins (be careful with this as many are calling their hemp CBD when it's just hemp SEED oil as described above) ... you need to be taking it daily! So while it certainly won't hurt ya, one smoothie a week infused with CBD isn't going to provide medicinal benefits! Not to mention, you should ask these places HOW MUCH CBD they are putting in your smoothie! I wonder if they even know?!

There is one company that I currently use that is HC FREE because their CBD is derived from HEMP! SO they can ship to you legally! (read THIS blog for more).

**NOTE THIS COMPANY MENTIONED ALSO OFFERS THC PRODUCTS AS WELL but their CBD products do NOT contain THC**

here is the company I use
IGNITE CBD 

There are MANY other Hemp Based THC Free CBD Companies and products out there and lots of them are legit and trustworthy!

The big issue is PURITY. The black market for Hemp CBD is a sad reality. So I suggest YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH!ASK FOR LAB REPORTS and stay on top of doing so when you re-order ... to ensure you are using a QUALITY product. Otherwise you risk putting something into your body that is contaminated ... or contains no real CBD and is a waste of your money!

For the above reasons, you must use caution if grabbing CBD at a health store, gas station or grocery store. Legit brands are now starting to carry their products at these locations ... just familiarize yourself with the brand before buying! Many answers can be found with quick google search .. but if you want to be safe ... take picture, call or email the company with your questions, and buy it the next time you go to the store!  Chances are the sales associates and clerks at these stores have not been educated on CBD and would have NO IDEA if the product is pure/tested! Better safe than sorry!


XoXo,
Stacy

** I am not a doctor. I am not an expert. I am not licensed. All information in this blog is based on my PERSONAL opinion and PERSONAL experience using CBD. I am not responsible for anything you all choose to do when it comes to THC, CBD, etc.**

My Favorite Things: BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY DEALS

Hey Fit Fam

Just wanted to give you all a little ONE STOP page to go to for any of my favorite companies that are having BLACK FRIDAY and/or CYBER MONDAY deals, coupons, NEW RELEASES, etc.

Many of these places you can use MY CODE or LINK for ADDITIONAL savings (such as Free Shipping, etc.)  So make sure and use the code and use the HYPER LINKS in this post in order to make sure you are getting all the goods!

Every sale has a different start and end date! So pay attention when on their websites!

Happy Shopping :)
Stacy

Oh and stay tuned and make sure you SUBSCRIBE to the blog. I always do a Merry FITMAS Gift Guide! It will be coming out SOON!)

1st Phorm
My favorite supplement company and the only one I've used for over FOUR YEARS is having a pretty major WHILE SUPPLIES LAST Black Friday Sale (actually it started the Wednesday before Black Friday.)

I've mentioned a million times that the reason I stand behind and use 1st Phorm (and later became an Athlete) is because of QUALITY! It's the only brand I can use and have ZERO STOMACH PROBLEMS!!! Why?!? Because they don't fill their products with a ton of crap and use a process called LOW TEMPERATURE PROCESSING!!! There are literally less than a handful of companies that do this because it costs more. But the result means you are not only getting what the label says you are getting ... you get a quality product that won't give you stomach discomfort/bloat/gas, etc!

The BLACK FRIDAY DEALS they have going on are:

They also released a TON of new apparel and new products (new pre-workout, new Level 1 flavor, etc.) 

I have SO MANY staples and my "regime" changes based on if I'm in off season or on prep, etc.
But a FEW things that I CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT. You can find them all on www.1stphorm.com/stacy .. just use the search bar! This link gets you FREE SHIPPING and 110% money back guarantee! Also any of the HYPER LINKS above should get you those deals as well. Just look for my name "Stacy" in the top right hand corer!

LEVEL ONE - I use this in all my baking, protein ice cream, smoothie bowls, etc.

MicroFactor - Every single vitamin, mineral, probiotic, greens, EFA, etc., that you need all in a single daily pouch! This makes life SO EASY!

Glutamine - Not only good for recovery but AMAZING for GUT HEALTH!!

Creatine - I either use this alone or use one of their PreWorkouts which already has Creatine in it.

Pre Workout -- Any or ALL! It depends on what you are looking for in a pre-workout. FULL product discriptions are under each product!

GDA - this is NOT a "carb blocker" ... there is no such thing. Go to the product page to read details but essentially it just helps MOVE the carbs where you WANT them to go. I take this at my highest carb meal of the day (except post workout)

Adrenal Restore -- I do this TWO times a year. About to start it next week! If you feel like caffeine or pre workouts no longer "work" for you .. chances are you just need to give your adrenal glands a little reset. THIS is the product that will help with that!

BCAAs - One scoop in my gallon water jug a day. Plus ONE scoop post workout (or pre workout if I'm not eating before for some reason. This is a MUST for anyone that does "fasted" cardio.)

Phormula-1/Ignition - This is my FAST ACTING post workout carb and protein. Take the second you are done training and then have your normal post workout meal about an hour later!

VITAL PROTEINS

 One of my FAVORITE companies is GIVING AWAY a product with purchase! If you have always wanted to “Mix & Match” Vital Proteins collagen products like I do .... but didn’t really want to invest in more than one kind.. here is your chance!!

All you have to do is purchase $75 worth of VP products and you get a FREE 5oz container of Collagen Peptides FOR FREE. Also, If you want to purchase additional 5 oz. canisters of Collagen Peptides, they will be available for $15 on our website, while supplies last! SO basically .. STOCK UP!

I don’t blame you if you wanna keep the freebie for yourself .. but this would also be a great gift!
It even has a cute little “gift tag”  :)

THIS DEAL IS ONLY GOOD FROM NOW UNTIL CYBER MONDAY and you need to use THIS LINK (or any that I've hyper linked in this blog or the one on my Instagram bio.) 

These will take you straight to the 5oz Collagen Peptides that you get for FREE.  Add this to your cart, pick your $75 worth of other products and then enter the code "PEACELOVECOLLAGEN” at check out!!

Confused on WHICH Vital Proteins Collagen products may be best for YOU?! Please check out THIS blog I did or EMAIL ME! I'll be checking emails all black friday weekend! I’ll help you decide. But you should aim to get in 20g of Collagen a day from whatever product you choose!

My favorite are: Beef Gelatin (green lid) - Unflavored Beef Bone Broth Powder (or ckn) - Chocolate Coconut Water Collagen Whey - ANY of the peptides (the one you get for free, the flavored ones, etc.) I also use the BEAUTY BOOST pills daily! I mix and match these to get in a minimum of 20g a day! My favorite way is in my FROTHY GUT HEALTH COFFEE ... SWEET EGGS .. or my SMOOTHIE BOWLS (more recipes for these coming soon)

So just to RECAP .. here are the GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

*Use THIS LINK or the one on Instagram (this also gets you free shipping in US)


*Fill your cart with at least $75 worth of Vital Proteins products (including your 5 oz. canister of Collagen Peptides)
*Apply code "PEACELOVECOLLAGEN" at checkout. Code will deduct price of ONE 5 oz. Collagen Peptides in your cart.

*Add any additional Collagen Peptides for only $15 each while supplies last!

PREBIOTIN PREBIOTICS 
Get a FREE box of Prebiotin Stick Packs with any order online (www.prebiotin.com)

Also I'm not sure if it will work with this promotion .. but it's worth a try!! You can use the code BODY17 for 25% off ANY day .. ANY time!

Check out my blog THE OTHER BIOTIC for why I use this product DAILY and how it works hand in hand with your PROBIOTICS (for probiotics I use the one in the MicroFactor pack by 1st Phorm)

FOXY ATHLETICS
MY FAVORITE APPAREL COMPANY just released the version two of their popular CARLA leggings! Of course they are called ... CARLA II :) I love these because they fit is PERFECT but also because of the CELL PHONE POCKET(s), the fact they are SQUAT APPROVED and just so dang comfy and flattering!!! They are having several deals ... free t-shirt with some purchases, up to 40% off some items and FREE SHIPPING .. but only if you use MY CODE (STACY) at checkout!
www.foxyathletics.com --- If you have questions hit me up. But they do fit true to size!
SALE goes LIVE 6pm eastern on Black Friday! Do NOT wait to order because sizes always sell out fast!!




 

Pot For Pets - How CBD Is Helping My Fur Family

CBD isn't only for humans.

CBD is also healing for our four legged friends

Okay ignore the title. DO NOT GIVE YOUR FUR BABIES POT!!! The journalist in me just makes me a sucker for a good play on words, ha!

It's not really POT that is healing my senior cat at all. It's a chemical component within marijuana (well actually HEMP in this case) that is helping my fur child and may help yours too!

Of course I'm talking about CBD.

I did a very long blog with all the details explaining the difference in THC and CBD, the difference in CBD extracted from the HEMP PLANT .vs. the CANNABIS PLANT, etc. Please check it out if you want to know more in depth detail.

For those that don't want to read a long blog .. here are a few very brief bullet points to clarify A FEW of the biggest confusions when it comes to CBD, how it differs from THC, how Hemp is different than Marijuana, etc.

• BOTH plants (hemp and marijuana) can make/produce CBD products (like oils, drops, tinctures, balms, vapes, etc.)
• This is not a "one and done" type treatment. It's like a flower that needs watering daily. You can't try it once, use it here and there, or use it a short time and be like .. well forget it .. it didn't work. Or even more .. you can't use it ONE day and get benefits the next day. This is something you will need to take and keep taking to see the benefits. You also may need to play with your dosage and the WAY you use CBD (drops, vapes, etc.)
• CBD (short for cannabidiol) acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system, creating physical changes in the body, which can be beneficial in MANY ways.
• CBD is only ONE of the components of the Marijuana and Hemp Plant. There are actually 60+ compounds in the plants. But let's be clear..... CBD is not THC. THC is a separate component of the plant.
• Both Marijuana and Hemp plants actually have THC. But they differ in the levels of naturally occurring THC that they contain. Hemp pants are naturally high in CBD and VERY low in THC. The reverse is true of marijuana plants. The are HIGH in THC. Hemp plants contain only about 0.3% – 1.5% THC. Marijuana plants contain 5% – 10% or more THC.
  This means that the levels of THC and CBD will be different in a CBD product pending if you get CBD produced from marijuana or hemp. If you get CBD from a marijuana plant it CAN have higher levels of THC (but you can get low thc/high cbd that is still derived from marijuana.) But if you get CBD from a HEMP plant it will have very low legal amounts (some even zero) levels of THC (making it legal in all 50 states)
• THC (in higher doses) can make you high. But CBD DOES NOT MAKE YOU HIGH.
  Even CBD sourced from cannabis that has very LOW levels of THC .. will not make you high. Interestingly, research has shown that CBD acts to reduce the psychoactive effects of THC, separating hemp further from marijuana.
• You can only get Marijuana based CBD from a Medical Marijuana Dispensary in a state where it is LEGAL. But ... HEMP CBD is legal in all 50 states and available for purchase (and cab be shipped) from MANY companies! Please read more about this below because YOU MUST BE CAREFUL where you purchase hemp based CB!!! ALL CBD IS NOT EQUAL and many companies are BOGUS and dare I say even DANGEROUS!! This industry (just like the supplement industry) .. is NOT regulated! So you MUST USE CAUTION!

Now on to the real point of THIS blog entry...... Pot (cbd) for PETS.

This is my senior cat Hildi (and an OLD pic of us.)
She is 13 years old and has some unknown medical conditions.

Every "symptom" pointed to her thyroid but blood tests say she is all good in that department.

She is showing some very early signs of kidney disease and our vet also believes she has a gastro condition.
So for about 2 months now she has been on a VERY strict veterinary diet where she can ONLY have some rare proteins and very specific food(s).

With the diet alone, the only thing I noticed was she has seemed to gain weight and hasn't had any "flair ups" (she would get these every few months where she hid in the closet, wouldn't eat, was so frail and weak.)

But her vomiting and LOUD HOWLING (mainly post eating and all throughout the night) continued. What causes the howling? Not sure yet. It could be numerous things.. possibly high blood pressure or just the fact that she is old and may have dementia. We aren't sure yet.

I asked my vet about CBD. But because it's not "approved" by the FDA and not much research has been done when it comes to cats/dogs and CBD ... she could not recommend it.

However she said she wasn't opposed to me trying it either. So I decided to give it a go.

I discovered a company that has a line for pets. I did research, exchanged numerous emails and had numerous phone calls with the team (including the CEO.) I asked SO MANY questions and after a couple weeks I decided this company was a great fit for my fur family. The company that I CURRENTLY USE for ME doesn't have a pet line. But it's this one.



We started Hilid on THESE drops.

I give her 1/4 a dropper every morning when I take my drops (THIS is the one I've been taking.) After about a week ... I increased her dose to another 1/4 dropper about 5 hours later and on occasion I'll give her more before bed.

I'm happy to report that since using this CBD she has only vomited ONE TIME and her howling has been cut down by I'd say a good 80%!!

Annnnnd guess what?! Hildi isn't the only member of my fur fam that gets CBD.

My dog Stella gets CBD treats almost every day too!

Stella is only 6 years old and doesn't have ANY medical conditions (thank you Jesus) .. but that doesn't mean that CBD isn't good for her!

She often suffers from a little anxiety (especially if we are going on car rides.) I tested this out when running errands on two different occasions and she had ZERO panting (what she usually does) and was calm and happy as can be!

If you are a skeptic .. just google "CBD and Pets" and you will see NUMEROUS heart wrenching stories from people who had dogs and cats with a wide range of health issues (including cancer) who claim their pet was much better (and some people even claim "cured") by using CBD!

CBD is natural and it has literally SAVED ME! So, as long as I TRUST THE SOURCE, then there is no reason NOT to give it to EVERY member of my family!

Key words there ... TRUST THE SOURCE. I've preached this time after time but the hemp industry is NOT regulated. With it's sudden popularity there are probably more BOGUS companies out there than LEGIT ones. If you don't choose to use the companies that I suggest below .. please do your own research. I give some tips on how to do that in THIS blog. 

For now .. this is the only hemp based that I will recommend for my fur family. I know there are
A LOT more .. but if it's not broke?! Right?! haha! You can also check at your VET OFFICE. I've seen MANY carrying CBD products and I would trust that if THEY trust the brand you probably can too!

Urbal Activ 

There is a Urbal Activ code that gets you 10% off EVERY SINGLE ORDER (not just your 1st order). It is CBD10 .. so use it at check out each time and save money!

As always .... feel free to EMAIL ME or comment here on this post with any questions. I'm happy to help you or if I can't .. I'm happy to point you to someone that can!

** I am not a doctor. I am not an expert. I am not licensed. All information in this blog is based on my PERSONAL opinion and PERSONAL experience using CBD. I am not responsible for anything you all choose to do when it comes to THC, CBD, etc.**

**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not recieve commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use 
and stand by.**