Silk Meatless Monday Night - Take the Challenge! #MeatlessMondayNight #SidelineMeat
Hey Everyone! Its Alicia Bell here from Train It Right! This post was sponsored by Silk but the opinions are solely my own and do not represent those of Silk. It has been a long wait but it is finally football season! Get ready for NFL Monday night football with your family and friends by hosting a Meatless Monday Night. Myself and Silk are inviting you to take the challenge along side of me. You can use this to kick start a family tradition, and you also can win a giveaway from www.silk.com when join the challenge.
Why join the #MeatlessMondayNight Challenge?
My personal reason for trying the Silk #MeatlessMondayNight Challenge is this football season is because plant based foods keep you active during sports, fitness events and day to day living. There are many benefits of plant based foods but some of the most interesting benefits have been known to include:
1. Lowering your blood pressure
2. Helping with blood sugar levels
3. Lowering your risk of developing cancer
4. Lowering cholesterol
5. Linked to weight loss
And I think those are all good reasons to increase the amount of plant based foods in my diet and so should you. For my very first Silk Meatless Monday Night #MeatlessMondayNight I plan on making a smoothie. You can make your own Silk #MeatlessMondayNight recipe or make mine. Make sure to post your photo and recipe and hashtag #MeatlessMondayNight
Train It Right's Silk Meatless Monday Night Smoothie
Ingredients:
2 Cups Silk Almond Milk (unsweetened) Or Silk Product of Choice
1 Cup Kale
1/2 Frozen or Unfrozen Banana
1 tsp Matcha Powder
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein of Choice (I use Sun Warrior)
1 Cup Ice
Instructions:
Pour Silk Almond milk in first and add in all other ingredients with protein being last. Blend all ingredients into a blender until smooth. And serve with or without a straw!
Happy #MeatlessMondyNight Challenge
Use our store locator to find Silk products in your area.
This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
How Jadakiss And Styles P Are Bringing Juice Bars To The Hood [INSIGHTS] I Elite Daily
You don’t have to be a legendary rapper in order to help your community, but it certainly helps.
Jadakiss and Styles P are bonafide hip-hop heavyweights whose careers have spanned three decades, but their legacies may be solidified by something other than their music.
Through their chain of juice bars, Juices For Life, The LOX members are looking to provide a much-needed place for people in low-income neighborhoods to consume something good for them. These neighborhoods are often referred to as “food deserts,” since access to nutritional food is virtually nonexistent.
Styles P said, "In the poorer communities, mostly, the money gets invested in liquor stores and the kind of things we don’t need."
Jadakiss and Styles P are leading by example and looking to put an end to food deserts through their Juices For Life locations, but they aren’t alone.
Jeff Brown, the founder and CEO of Brown’s Super Stores, a chain of grocery stores that offers high quality and nutritional food at affordable prices, said, "What Jadakiss and Styles P are doing, they’re successful, and they don’t need to be concerned about society... They’re deciding to use their success to make a difference for people. I think if we all did that, we’d fix a lot of our country’s problems."
With its three locations, Juices For Life is giving people unprecedented access to nutritional options in the Bronx and Yonkers, New York, with hopes of expanding in the near future.
Producer: Max Grunner
Associate Producer: Shawn Hazelett
Director of Photography: Terence MF Thomas
Camera Operators: Sean H. Horan, Kevin Losani
Editor: John Stish, Kevin Losani
Motion Graphics: Oliver Dudman
Senior Producer: Kevin Losani
Music Courtesy of Extreme Music:
“Mild Shine”
Written by James S. Levine
“Busted Ya Grill”
Written by Matt Smith and Daniel Carl Holter
“Labored Rebirth”
Written by Matt Smith and Daniel Carl Holter
“Hoes Before Bros”
Written by Daniel Suett, Billie Ray Fingers and Bruce Fingers
“Play Your Cards Right”
Written by Daniel Suett, Billie Ray Fingers and Bruce Fingers
What is Elite Daily?
We proclaim ourselves to be the voice of Generation-Y and never disappoint.
As the premier online destination for aspiring men and women alike, Elite offers a forum of peer-to-peer interaction in an increasingly digitalized world.
The site consistently delivers diverse content with a fresh, relevant voice that appeals to the divergent perspectives represented within our ADD generation.
For all video inquires contact: VideoContact @ elitedaily.com
Float Stress Relief and Wellness Centre
Last weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to go float at the Float Stress Relief and Wellness Centre 3477 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N 2M2. My friend and photographer extrodinary Ajani Charles has been talking about it for months so I had to try it for myself. He kindly invited me to go. Upon arrival I loved the calm atmosphere. The owner was very knowledgable and friendly and talked me through the whole process. He even offered me tea. 10/10 for welcoming atmosphere and knowledge about the idea of floating for stress relief.
The multi-purpose facility features float rooms, which measure 8 ft long x 4 feet wide x 8 ft tall, registered massage therapy and naturopathic doctor services. Each room offered a beautifully laid out area with a shower, towels I even got to choose the nature sound I wanted to float off into relaxation and meditative space. I think its great to be able to choose because what I may find calm and soothing someone else may hate. I also loved that it was an enclosed tank. I wouldn't recommend this if you were clostrophobic. Although you always have the option to leave your door open. The talk starts off with a light that slowly softens and eases you into a good darkness. There were times when I was floating that I fell asleep and when I woke up I would be on the complete opposite side of the tank. Speaking of tanks the tanks are filled with pounds and pounds of epsom salts. So much so that you just float in them. The salts help extract toxins from your body, exfoliate your skin and tons of other good things for you. The water contains close to 1000 lbs. of medical grade Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate), giving the water a relative density of 1.25 (regular water is 1.0, so it’s 25% denser than regular water). But what is the best part of this experience is the pure stress relief that you get from relaxation caused by floating. I have been in the dead sea but in now way was it relaxing with the bright light, heat and other visitors.
Thank you so much for the great experience and I definitely will be implementing floating into my regular Train It Right routine.
Check out the pictures of my experience below. All photos by: Ajani Charles
Toronto Celebrates Etsy: Made in Canada on Saturday, September 26
Cross-country pop-up marketplace taking place in two Toronto locations, joining 32 other cities nationwide
Toronto, ON – On Saturday, Sept. 26, Etsy: Made in Canada returns, with 33 Canadian cities hosting a one-day marketplace celebrating the Etsy community. In Toronto, be sure to visit MaRS Discovery District (101 College St.) and OCAD University (outdoor market at 100 McCaul St. and indoor market at 49 McCaul St.) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to shop your favourite local Etsy sellers.
Toronto’s Etsy Teams are excited to be hosting Etsy: Made in Canada again, with 170 local Etsy sellers at two downtown locations ready to showcase the area’s handmade wares and vintage goods. Visitors to the MaRS marketplace have the chance to shop favourites like sustainable fashion designs from Vespertine; children’s wool toys from Little Bellwoods; and quirky laser-cut wood broaches from Sous Sous. For a full list of sellers that will be featured at the MaRS marketplace, see the vendor lookbook. Stop off at OCAD for screen-printed paper and stationary from SCTING; colourful hand-dyed wool yarn from Better With Yarn; and minimalistic leather accessories from Aunt Rae.
“This year we're planning an even bigger and better Etsy: Made in Canada pop-up market than last year’s resounding success,” said Ele Willoughby, Team Captain hosting Toronto’s event at MaRS Discovery District. “Our teams are really excited to be hosting this marketplace yet again, and to show off some of the amazing local Etsy talent - artists, artisans and vintage mavens who live and work right here in Toronto. Check out our free DIY workshops and come join us for an amazing show!”
Across Canada, from Salt Spring Island, to Whitehorse, to St. John’s., each market is powered by an Etsy Team, a self-organized group of like-minded sellers, and key partners Moneris, Canada Post and Airbnb. Etsy Teams and their Team Captains ensure each event reflects the city’s individual style and culture, in addition to providing support to members and newcomers looking to start an Etsy shop. Through sharing advice, experiences and resources, Etsy teams help spark inspiration and encourage collaboration among its community.
“Etsy: Made in Canada is our biggest event of the year, taking our online experience offline, to connect sellers, communities and buyers in person,” said Erin Green, Managing Director, Etsy Canada. “With Toronto and 32 other cities participating across the country this year, we couldn’t be prouder of Canada’s commitment to shopping local and supporting its maker communities.”
Made in Canada is just one of Etsy’s recent offline markets and experiences, having participated in Pride Toronto, Calgary Stampede and WayHome Music & Arts Festival this year alone, allowing sellers to engage in their community and meet customers face-to-face. Throughout the year, Etsy helps local Etsy Teams and Captains organize the event by offering a two-day “boot camp” training session for all team captains in Toronto; supplying a PR tool kit on how to locally promote the event; providing tips on how to secure a venue and attract local sellers, in addition to ongoing marketing and public relations support.
This year’s second annual Etsy: Made in Canada event is sure to demonstrate the vibrant communities to be found in every pocket across the country.
For more information about Toronto’s Etsy: Made in Canada, visit the MaRS Discovery District vendor lookbook or Etsy Local for MaRS and OCAD University.
Etsy fans unable to visit a nearby Made in Canada marketplace can shop participating vendors from across the country on Etsy.com/madeincanada and year-round on Etsy.com.
About Etsy:
Etsy is a marketplace where millions of people around the world connect, both online and offline, to make, sell and buy unique goods. The Etsy ecosystem includes creative entrepreneurs who sell on our platform, thoughtful consumers looking to buy unique goods in our marketplace, responsible manufacturers who help Etsy sellers grow their businesses and Etsy employees who maintain our platform and nurture our community. Our mission is to reimagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling and lasting world, and we’re committed to using the power of business to strengthen communities and empower people.
Etsy was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.
Sacred Lifestyle is a new online community which helps awaken one's spirit, helps enlighten and inspire us while we continue on our journey. They profile Gurus, Spiritual Guides, and Bon Vivants around the world to share their experiences from healing our bodies to enriching the food we consume to personal utopias and sanctuaries + fashion, products and travel. They featured a a bit of our interviews with Julian Lennon, Gotham Chopra, Pamela Anderson to Brigitte Bardot, to Denise Mari from Organic Avenue, etc.
They are also creating an extension to their Magazine, that will be a market called "The Sacred Lifestyle Market."
The Sacred Lifestyle Market
When: Sunday, August 30, 2015
Where: Ashbridge Estate (1444 Queen Street East)
Time: 12Pm to 6pm
The Market includes Vendors of various parts of Lifestyle - Food, Beauty Products, Fashion, Home etc. We will also have Yoga Studios including Union, Lotus Girl and 889 Yoga hosting Yoga classes throughout the afternoon.
Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)
Cook + Learn with Zespri Kiwifruit - Media Launch #Zespri4Life
Back on June 16 I was given the opportunity to attend an amazing event: Cook + Learn with Zespri Kiwifruit. The event was hosted at Nella Cucina on Bathurst St in Toronto. I honestly had no idea that there were so many ways that you could use kiwifruit in cooking. We even had a celebrity chef! We started the lunch off with kiwi cocktails or juices. I obviously chose the alcoholic version as my pre workout hah. It was delicious. Followed by soup, tacos and finally dessert. All were made before our eyes by the talented chef. We all definitely left with a renewed love of kiwifruit and just how healthy and delicious Zespsri is. We also learned it can be used in cooking and not just as a separate fruit. Thank you Zespri for such an amazing event. I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and I definitely left with my tastebuds feeling satisfied. I really enjoyed learning more about the nutritional benefits and versatility of Zespri Kiwifruit.
* All photos curtsey of Ryan Emberly.
Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)Zespri Kiwifruit Media Lunch. Toronto, ON, Canada. June 16, 2015. (Image: Ryan Emberley)
Hey Guys! Below is my Beretta Farms Smart Snacking Review:
Smart snacking can be a tricky endeavour. Whether you are hitting the gym mid-day or going right after work, eating for your workout can be difficult to fit into your schedule. This is why responsible snacking is so important! To avoid resorting to sugary granola bars or worse nothing at all, having an arsenal of portable snacks full of protein is key!
I recently had the opportunity to try Beretta's Last Rep Clean and Jerky and their Protein Puck Power Cookie! I totally loved them. ESPECIALLY the Last Rep Clean and Jerky! GRASS FED JERKY! WHEAT?!?! OMG! I love meat. Especially jerky. And this is healthy! What a great healthy snack! The bag was actually packed full and air sealed. I used it for a couple of different times I was running low on energy and needed some protein. It was a lot of servings and stayed very fresh. It also was delicious! By delicious I mean ADDICTIVE. I wish I had more 🙁 You can buy it on their site by the case... I would love a case....HINT HINT. http://www.berettafamilyfarms.com/shop/65-last-rep-clean-and-jerky
Beretta'sLast Rep Clean and Jerky and Protein Puck Power Cookie are great on- the-go snacks made with all-natural ingredients. These snacks provide you with the energy you need to get through your workout or even just your day. I used the puck as my last snack after coaching track and it re-energized me.
Who is Alicia Bell? She is a Toronto based Social Media Influencer, Kinesiologist, Strength Coach and Track and Field Coach who has devoted her life to helping people reach their goals in fitness and sport. She is a nationally recognized track and field coach who coached team Canada at the Maccabi games in Israel in July of 2013. She lead the team to 13 medals. Alicia has over 10 years of practical and educational experience and is a published Fitness model for Zenzation with her pictures gracing their equipment and she leads their product DVD instruction.
Alicia has experience working with many types of clientele. She has worked as a Kinesiologist and an Exercise Rehabilitation Specialist. She is also experienced at weight loss, strength training, toning and athletic conditioning. She has worked with clients such as Dwight Howard (NBA), Rashad McCants (Former NBA), Geoff Harris (Olympic 800m runner), Lil Jon (Rapper/Dj), Karla Moy aka HustleGrl, Hill Harper (actor, author) and even the mother of the Toronto rapper Drake.
Alicia Bell and Telus Present - Living Better With Samsung S6
I have such a busy schedule! Not only am I a personal trainer in busy downtown Toronto, Canada, but I also work for a water company (GP8 Sportwater) and I am also an athlete who trains to compete in the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) bikini category.
My life is filled with fitness, nutrition, travelling and social interactions. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of not only my own goals and activities but also my clients and other business adventures. I have to keep a very tight schedule, so for me timing is everything.
Since getting the new Samsung S6 from Telus I have been living better! I love to take pictures and video of my clients training, my own workouts, the food I eat and the day to day activities and events that I attend. I have found that the Samsung S6 really captures these moments. Its dynamic, ultra-responsive camera captures the true-to-life brilliance of any moment throughout my day. It also has a quick launch camera so that I can pull out my phone and quickly (under a second) launch the camera to take an in the moment photo.
Another convenient feature for me is the quick unlock finger print option. Instead of keying in a password (which you can also do) you can use your very own finger print to quickly unlock your phone. It was very easy to set up and when I need to open my phone fast to read a message it only takes a quick second to unlock from being secure.
Another one of my favourite features is that it has a super charger. What does this mean? It means that because I am always on the go I can plug the S6 in for just 10 minutes and get up to 4 hours of battery life!!!! When you take as much photos as I do and you are constantly travelling from one place to another and listening to music this is crucial. I don't have the time to leave my phone plugged in for hours at a time.
The apps that I have found useful on the Samsung for my busy and active lifestyle are:
S- Health: This app you can personalize and sync your health data with your Samsung account. You can choose your personal units of measurements and receive notifications of events in the status bar. Within the app you can download extra things. I use the Workout Trainer (if I need a quick workout for myself), Recipes & Nutrition(for finding healthy recipes) and the Hydro Coach (for recording my water intake). There are so many useful apps to help with staying on track and these three are just a few. You can completely personalize the S Health and the apps that you use within it for whatever your goals are.
The phone can also counts your daily step count and allows you to adjust your goals for the count. I have it at 10, 000 steps per day. The only downfall is that if you don't have the watch to go with the phone you have to have the phone in your hand or in your pocket for it to keep track.
The sleep tracker is also key. As an athlete and trainer I cannot express how important sleep can be. If you don't get enough sleep your body will be high in cortisol. A stress released hormone that can trigger your body to store fat. Keeping track of your sleep will help you with your fitness goals.
Another awesome feature with the phone is that it actually has a heart rate sensor that allows you to instantly measure your heart rate and record it. This is great when training because it allows you to check if you are working in the right zone for your goals when you are doing an intense training or cardio session.
I also use the food recording within the S Health application. This can let you see what you are eating and how many calories are in it. Its great to achieve your goals. Whats also really cool is that if you haven't recorded anything for the day it will ask you if you feel like tracking your food? It will also remind you. Which is great if you are as busy as I am and often forget.
Check out the phone for yourself in this video from Samsung:
GIVEAWAY CONTEST AND ENTRY INFORMATION
Two ways to enter:
1) Tweeting a contest-specific entry:
If I win a Samsung Galaxy S6 from @trainitright & @TELUS, I'll USE IT TO HELP ME REACH MY GOAL OF_____ #TELUSS6
2) Either sharing or commenting on my Facebook post for this contest on the Facebook page. www.facebook.com/trainitright
The contest is Canadian only, no Quebec entries, 18+
A random winner will be selected
Check out my fellow bloggers perspectives on how they use their Samsung phones as well. The phone is so versatile for whatever your life may bring. You can completely personalize the Samsung S6 and for me that is what makes it such a great phone.
Fitness isn’t all about working out hard in the gym everyday. It's a lifes It is much more than that. It not only includes exercise but diet and hydration. I call water, “liquid courage.” It gives your body life, regulates your core temperature, lubricates joints, gives your skin a healthy glow, and keep you from being bloated. “Liquid courage” is particularly important during exercise. Your body sweats to get rid of toxins and to cool off your body. However, you need to rehydrate yourself before, during and afterwards.
Dehydration can cause drops in blood volume that can cause muscle craps, extreme fatigue and/or dizziness. You should always have a water bottle close by when working out. I always say if your thirsty it is too late. This is because at this point you are already well on your way to dehydration. That means you need to make sure that you are drinking water all day long and not just during workouts. Stay away from juices they contain high amounts of concentrated sugar and no one needs those excess calories. Also note that the body wants to turn sugars to fat. If you are performing endurance exercises for long periods of time you my want to consider something that has electrolytes. I suggest more natural electrolytes such as coconut water rather than powerade or gatorade.
Follow these tips to stay hydrated:
1. Drink at least 2L-4L of water a day
2. Carry a water bottle
3. Avoid prolonged periods in the sun
So keep that “liquid courage” close because it will help you succeed in your health and fitness goals.
Your Sleep Patterns May Be Preventing You From Weight Loss
Did you know that your sleep patterns can effect weight loss and can even cause weight gain? Lack of sleep may increase your appetite, effect your metabolism, and cause weight gain. Follow these steps for sleep and nutrition to help you with your weight loss battles.
1) Try to get six to eight hours of sleep a night. Less than this has been linked to a slower metabolism and weight gain.
2) If you are restless and need better sleep eat foods high in tryptophan at night. Tryptophan acts as a natural sedative and is used in your body to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter best known for calming your body and making you sleepy. Foods like this cause what we know as (the itis) and include turkey, lentals and whole grains. Eat these with a carbohydrate source such as brown rice, broccoli, milk or honey. This works because in order for tryptophan to be used, it has to make its way to the brain. When you eat carbs, insulin is released, which transports competing amino acids into your muscle tissue and it then leaves tryptophan alone, so it can make its way to your brain.
3) Don’t drink caffeinated beverages late in the day because it will effect your sleep pattern and ability to fall asleep at night.
4) Don’t drink a lot of liquid late at night. This will cause interrupted sleep to use the bathroom.
5) Give tea a try. Chamomile tea is a natural sedative and can help you fall asleep at night.all asleep with ease.
So the next time you are having problems losing weight make sure to check your diet because it could be causing irregular sleeping patterns and in turn your ability to lose weight.
