XTreme XTraining's Top Spring Fitness Finds

Some new gear to help you get your game on this spring!

Warmer weather is finally here so if you are a weekend warrior, here are a few new items you might want to add to your fitness arsenal. Now is the time for an upgrade so that you can get the most from your workout.
Here are a few of my favorite fitness finds for spring training this year:

Gripad Cancer Awareness Edition

Gripads
Whether you use a weight machine or free weights, grip is everything. I've been using fingerless cycling gloves for years but finally got fed up with the lack of control I had on the lat bar.

Gripads alleviate that by providing a firm but flexibly padded bar grip. Slide in just three fingers with your thumb and pinky free. Excellent grip with just the right amount of cushioning from Gripad.com

Enduracool Towel & Eco Vessel
These two cool characters will help you chill out in a hurry:

Enduracool Instant Cooling Towel is made with special polymers which cools the towel down from 95-59 degrees in one snap. Reusable and easy to pack in your gym bag it also has a UPF of 45. Check it out at MissionAthleteCare.com

Eco Vessel is a stainless steel triple insulated water bottle which keeps water cold for up to an amazing 36 hours. Good idea since drinking ice cold water increases your metabolism by up to 30%. With two removable inner straws, it allows you to drink comfortably without tilting. Great non-slip powder finish and cool colors. Eco Vessel donates a portion of each sale to Water for People. Visit Ecovessel.com/waterforpeople

Enso Muscle Roller & Zim's Max Freeze
In the pain relief zone, I'm really liking the Enso Muscle Roller right now. After just one use I got almost immediate relief in my glutes and quads. You'll spend more days on the road and less recovering with the Enso Muscle Roller. 

Zim's Max Freeze Spray gets to those hard to reach spots often missed by creams and lotions. It has a quick vanishing scent so no one need know you're hurting! Made with arnica, tea tree and aloe, it's incredible for tense muscles and sore joints. Visit Zim's Online . 

Fits Sock Co. - Merino Wool Done Right
These ultra comfy, breathable wool blend socks are made right here in the USA. Fits have a Dynamic Toe Cup, Heel Lock and Full Contact Cuff for a custom fit (they also come in 5 sizes).

Just the right amount of cushioning and absorption, these socks stay put during running, walking or hiking. Very soft with no chaffing! Check them out at FitsSock.com



Time to Refuel

The Athlete's Cookbook by Corey Irwin and Brett Stewart (Ulysses Press) offers deliciously healthy menus such as: Mussels Marinara for increased glycogen. Walnut-Parmesan Chicken for maximum protien and Peanut Butter Crunch Bars for healthy fats.
This book also offers a meal timing schedule and lots of recipes with a twist on flavor and ingredients such as Red Beans and Black Rice. This substitutes the usual brown rice with a Chinese black rice which is very rich in antioxidants. Another favorite of mine is the Hot Quinoa Cereal which is a powerhouse of nutrition and protein. Available at Amazon.com & other top book sellers.

Pro Bar Selections - My favorites from this line of delicious energy wonders are the Meal and Fuel Bars. Made with natural ingredients and sweeteners (organic date paste is used a lot), the Fuel Bar offers a full serving of fruit per bar. Their Meal Bar is just that, made with real whole foods and raw ingredients like grains, fruits, seeds and fiber. These offer 10 grams of protein while their Core Bar has a whopping 20 grams. Absolutely delicious and very easy to digest on the road. See more varieties at ProBar.com 

Corazonas Snack Bars - These are SO good and made with heart healthy oatmeal giving each at least 15 grams of whole grains, 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per bar. Oatmeal has been found to lower cholesterol so these are a no-brainer to include as par of a heart healthy diet. Corazonas means "hearts" in Spanish so these are appropriately named! My favorite flavors? The Banana Walnut for sure. See more delicious varieties at Corazonas.com

FitTea offers a pretty painless 14 Day Detox in loose tea form. One teaspoon steeped in hot water per day and you're good. Contains organic green tea, Oolong Wu Yi, organic Rooibos, ginger and pomegranate.
Can be enjoyed hot or cold and taken every morning before a workout. It's really delicious and needs no sweetening as it has honey powder and Stevia added to the mix. See more at FitTea.com

Walking Into Spring

Getting back into shape this Spring? Some hot fitness ideas!

Where I live, there's still a bit of ice and snow on the ground with more to come. So I've had to get a bit creative in my outdoor workouts. As an example, when it snows (and it has a LOT!), I go snowshoeing at a jogging pace or cross country skiing. Right now I want to put my snow gear away and break out my running shoes. However, due to the ground conditions, I've found it better to walk and run at intervals. Likewise, since I haven't done either (not on pavement anyway) for a few months, here are some tips on easing into a comprehensive spring workout without sidelining yourself with soreness or injuries.

1.) Walk Don't Run - If you are like most people, being a bit less active over the winter months means putting on a few extra fat pounds. This can cause knee and quad pain if you start off with too much intensity. Do a brisk pace to the point that your heart-rate is increased and you are nearly breathless while speaking. Make sure your walking/running shoes are in good shape to help cushion your joints. I'll be checking out the New Vionic Orthoheel Zen & Rhythm Walkers. They claim to offer great support with heel orthodics and stabilizing. Can't wait!

Zen Walkers by Vionic Shoes

2.) Invest in a Foam Roller All good plans of mice and athletes can go awry when soreness and injuries strike. The first few days of my morning walk-hike left my quads a bit tight. I just received the Enso Muscle Roller after seeing similar ones being used by some of the top professional cycling teams. After walking, I was able to roll and stretch my quads and hamstrings very easily and quickly with the Enso. To start out, I'd recommend taking a warm shower when you come back from your walk or run. Stretch your quads, calves and glutes with the Enso Muscle Roller and apply a good amount of Topricin Homeopathic Pain Creme. You will be pain free and totally ready to roll the next day!

Enso Muscle Roller

Enso Muscle Roller
Although I've just started using the Enso Muscle Roller, I am receiving a lot of relief after using it. I simply sit on the floor at a 45 degree angle, supporting my weight on my hands. I roll over the Enso a few times and viola! Very easy to use and very quick results.  Here's the Enso Muscle Roller specs:

Features

• Elongates muscles, relaxes tight muscles and aids in breaking up scar tissue, increases circulation and flexibility
• Customizable design supports and works targeted areas without pressure to surrounding muscles and bones
• 8-disc design can create a one-of-a-kind fit for your body shape and training needs
• 13in proves to be the most versatile length for most body types
• Rollers are constructed with a lightweight EVA foam and are supported by durable molded plastic discs and an anodized aluminum core
• Grooved notches on tube position rollers to not slip out but adjust without friction for a micro-tuned disc arrangement
• Weighs 2.13lbs

3.) Try A New Walk Related Activity - One of the things that keeps my morning walks and runs from getting stale is doing something different on the weekends. Try a new route or a destination walk in the park. You can also try geocaching. Find a local group online and use your phone's GPS to locate the geocache "treasure". I've done this and it is a lot of fun while getting a good amount of walking / running / hiking exercise.

Take a Historic Walk - Contact your local park system and see if they offer horticultural or historic walks in your area. I love these because you get to hike with a group and stop at intervals to see various sights.

Sign Up for Vionic Shoe's Walkabout for the Month of March
This coming March 2014, sign the pledge to walk every day of the month. I've already started, having begun on February 21st. Come on and sign up. You can do this!

What is Walkabout?

A Walkabout is an Australian journey for well-being, during which one seeks to clarify his/her life purpose. Our version of Walkabout is inspired by the Aussies and aims to improve physical and mental wellbeing, while creating healthy habits over the course of 28 days.