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A New Snack to Try!

9/17/2015

Post-run snackage is a hot topic with runners. We have our dietary routines and tend to stick with them. I keep a favorite protein powder, a favorite flavor of chomps, and the one preferred electrolyte beverage all in stock. And I’m not a fan of running out of my favorites. Runners also love to try new things. There are always new options becoming available, so why not check them out?

We were recently given the opportunity to try Anytime Crisps by Extend Nutrition. The company advertises these as “all natural” snacks to curb hunger, provide protein, and control blood sugar for up to 9 hours. All of these are ideal attributes for a runner’s go-to snack.

We tried the White Cheddar and the Cinnamon Crunch. The White Cheddar flavor resembles a cross between a rice cake and a baked cheese puff. It had a very powder-dry texture. Not my favorite, but tolerable, and warranted a glass of water. The Cinnamon Crunch, however, was quite a nice snack. Perfectly sweet, clean cinnamon flavor, and crispy (I’m a sucker for sweet and crunchy). I found the snack to be filling and satisfying (I used them post-run along with my usual chocolate milk and also used them as a between meal snack). Overall, these seem like a great option for post-run snacks. When that long-run hunger monster rises, you want to eat everything in sight, and you will if the hunger is not tamed. For me, the Extend Crisps can subdue the hunger monster when added to my usual routine. I also enjoyed having them on hand for a different option for the between meal snacks. It’s a good alternative to the usual junk food I would reach for.

If you’re interested in checking these out for yourself: http://www.extendbar.com/

Have you tried these before? Let us know what you think.

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Why we Love Stroller Warriors

9/3/2015

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Some of the amazing friends I've made through Stroller Warriors

I am currently a member of my 3rd Stroller Warriors chapter. While I was incredibly excited to start up Stroller Warriors again after my PCS, do you want to guess who was equally excited, if not more so? My husband and my children! Let me take a minute to tell you why each of us loves Stroller Warriors.

Why I love Stroller Warriors

I love Stroller Warriors for a multitude of reasons. The friendship and support I have found in like-minded women, the play dates for my kids, and the opportunities to set and reach new goals all while having FUN are of course some of my many reasons.

The main reason I love Stroller Warriors, though, is because of a little life analogy I call the bucket theory. Bear with me as I explain this all to you.

Imagine you are a bucket of water. Your friends are buckets. Your children, pets, siblings, parents, husband, and everyone you know in life are all buckets. Each time that you do something for someone (whether it is making a lunch, doing a load of laundry, making a meal, giving a ride, etc, etc.) you are taking water out of your bucket and putting it into his or her bucket. Eventually as you keep taking water from your bucket and putting it into someone else’s bucket, what will happen to your bucket? Your bucket will be bone dry. You will feel depleted, run down, depressed, and anxious. The needs around you will still be screaming to be met, but your bucket will be empty.

Now imagine instead you take one drop of water and add it to your bucket. A drop of water could be a shower, or brushing your teeth, or going for a run, or meeting up with the Stroller Warriors. A drop into your bucket is when you do something FOR YOURSELF. As you add drops of water into your own bucket what is eventually going to happen? Drip by drip the water level in your bucket is going to rise. Eventually the water level of your bucket is going to over-flow into the buckets of the children, siblings, husband, family and friends around you.

Stroller Warriors helps me to dump huge amounts of water into my own bucket. In one swoop I can get a run in. I talk to friends. I am guaranteed to shower after a sweaty run. I often meet new goals and have opportunities to volunteer or raise money for a charitable cause. Stroller Warriors helps me to take care of me, and the benefits from that ripple into the buckets of the friends, family, and community members around me.

Me and my mini warrior are ready for a SW workout!

Why my Husband loves Stroller Warriors

One day while husband and I were discussing our upcoming PCS I asked him, “Would you rather have me start up my own home business again or do Stroller Warriors?” I thought his answer would require some thought but without hesitation my husband quickly exclaimed, “Definitely Stroller Warriors!” I’m not going to lie. I was a little surprised that he didn’t need to think about it and weigh the pros and cons or wasn’t the slightest bit tempted by the prospect of additional new money coming into our home. I told him I was surprised he hadn’t needed to think about it at all and asked him why he preferred Stroller Warriors over a home business. He said, “With Stroller Warriors you’re out of the house, meeting new people, making new friends. You get adult time and exercise and the kids get kid time and exercise. Everyone is happier and healthier. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

My husband is a smart man. He knows that when I have friends, when I take time out of my day to exercise I am less stressed, I am more able to juggle the demands given to a wife and mother. I am a happier me –and Stroller Warriors helps me to make that possible.

Mini Warrior fun run, hosted by Stroller Warriors Monterey

Why my kids love Stroller Warriors

When my kids hear that we are going to Stroller Warriors they get really excited. They LOVE Stroller Warriors, and I don’t blame them. Stroller Warriors is just as much for my kids as it is for me. They get to get out of the house and check out a cool running trail and a park (which varies every week). They have fun, exciting things to see while out on a run which may or may not include animals or beach views. They get to spend time with their favorite person (me of course!).

They also get to play with old friends and make new ones. They get to practice adult interactions with other parents. They get exposed to workout routines and often mimic the burpies, planks, and lunges they see the Stroller Warriors doing.

As an added bonus they’re going to sleep better because they’ve gotten some exercise in. Usually (but not always) they’re better eaters, too.

It’s unanimous in my house, we’re all huge fans of Stroller Warriors! So tell me, why do you and your family like Stroller Warriors?

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A New Snack to Try!

Why we Love Stroller Warriors

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