health

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Coping With A Miscarriage

We have a bit of a more serious topic today for the podcast episode, but one that both Nick and I wanted to share.

Before we get into the main topic, we check-in on our current training and diets. Nick has been training three times a week at Title Boxing Club in South Tampa where his current and past clients are starting to attend, including Spanish and Carmin from 102.5 The Bone.

He is also choosing to focus more on nutrition and diet. The latest challenge? Currently he’s doing a 14-hour daily fast, mostly during the night. His efforts have been the result of a ton of research he’s collected from individuals like Dr. Jason Fung and Dr. Rhonda Patrick which states that intermittent fasting can help you lose weight and allow your body to clean up damaged cells which may cause detrimental health conditions like cancer. Click here to watch a video from Dr. Rhonda Patrick explaining the benefits of intermittent fasting in more detail.

Meanwhile, while I have not been participating in the fasting, I have been more aware of my food and am working on looking at food more as fuel for my body versus just something to consume. I also got back on the Peloton bike this week, despite not having yet completed the recommended 6-week waiting period after Ella’s birth. Don’t worry, I’m taking it easy so that I can get some regular, low-impact activity into my routine. I performed a 20-minute session and I’m happy to report that it was a success!

Screen Shot 2017-10-28 at 6.17.44 PM

Now, we move on to the main point of our episode today. As October is Miscarriage & Infant Loss Awareness Month, it felt like the appropriate time to share an experience that we’ve kept to ourselves for over a year.

It may seem surprising, but miscarriages happen to 10%-20% of known pregnancies (depending on the study you read). You would definitely be surprised if every person who has experienced one came out and shared the info, but few actually do. There’s not a great deal of information about miscarriages out there beyond the info about them mostly being caused by an incompatibility issue with the chromosomes during development at some point during the first 20 weeks.

When you’re looking for how to cope with one though, there’s very little info. Furthermore, there is even less info about what a person or couple goes through.

I recently blogged about our experience with a miscarriage that we experienced last year on A Dash of Sparkle.

Daddy & Ella

In the podcast though, we discussed a bit more about how both Nick and I felt during and after the miscarriage.

As personal of an experience it is to go through, the lack of conversation about it has led to women/people going through this tragedy in silence in many instances. Only recently have more public figures (celebrities and such) come forth and admitted to having gone through one (or more).

I was lucky enough to follow some bloggers/vloggers who shared their experience and thoughts on the their personal situations, which provided me with information. It was still a very difficult time in our lives, however, no matter what we read.

Screenshot 2017-10-30 at 7.46.21 AM

We hope us sharing our story and feelings connect with those in need in a positive way.

Don’t forget to please support the sponsor of the ATF podcast, The Hemp & Coffee Exchange by visiting their site, hempcoffeeexchange.com, and get 20% off your purchase by using the code ATF at checkout.

We always encourage you to reach out to us via email (elementaltampa@gmail.com) or on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter). Whatever your health questions or comment may be, we’d love to hear it. Thanks for listening and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2#episodeGuid=82d09804b5168ddd1e91882bdb6cb393

Android: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/leaky-gut-the-benefits-of-probiotics

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/coping-with-miscarriage

Addicted To Fitness Show Notes – Leaky Gut & The Benefits of Probiotics

Welcome back! This week’s show notes are brought to you by Shannon…

Both Nick and I had training updates for the first time in a bit (I have been a bit lighter on the training as of late).

I am slowly getting back into adding some activity, but am holding off on real training since my doctor mandated I not do any strenuous exercise for at least six weeks after childbirth. So I’ve been settling for daily walks with our dog and the baby, as well as some “slow flow” yoga, both of which are still making me sweat.

I’ve been super excited to get back to a prior-to-childbirth workout routine, especially since I’m getting back to regular clothes (no more maternity clothes!).

Meanwhile, Nick has been spending more time at home with the baby, which means he’s doing more at-home workouts. He puts them on his Instagram Stories, so be sure to follow @ETTampa and check them out! He’s also been getting some training leading the classes at Title Boxing, since he has to demonstrate the whole workout versus simply coaching like he does for personal training. He now teaches three classes a week (at noon, Monday-Wednesday).

In addition to the training, Nick has also made the decision to clean up his diet by focusing on nutrition. Diet has been a challenge for both of us since childcare has really minimized the amount of time we have to prepare food.

Whether we have time or not, we’re always fascinated with nutrition. One topic we wanted to get more in-depth on was one we have mentioned previously – leaky gut.

So what is it? Leaky gut is simply defined as increased gastrointestinal permeability. It’s commonly a symptom of conditions like Celiac and Crohn’s disease.  Interestingly enough, though it’s a term that is used more often these days, many medical sites and professionals reporting on this “condition” also call out that it is not one that can be diagnosed accurately.

Even medical celebrities like Dr. Oz are somewhat skeptical of the cause/origin of leaky gut, mostly since it’s not yet been determined whether it is the cause of other conditions/illnesses, or simply a side effect/symptom of something more serious.

Some research states that inflammatory foods (e.g. refined sugar & carbs, fast food, etc) may damage the function of the small intestine and thereby allow undesirable substances such as bacteria, viruses, un-digested food particles, and waste products to leak into blood stream. Nick mentioned a podcast episode by past ATF guest, Vinnie Tortorich, which discussed a recent study on the damaging effects fast food specifically can have on an individual’s gut health.

IMG_8780

Symptoms often associated with leaky gut include: bloating, cramps, fatigue, food sensitivity, achy joints, rashes – which are also symptoms for many other conditions.

The book, Practical Paleo claims that grains and seeds are the primary inflammatory foods, calling them anti-nutrients. Since many of our feel-good hormones and antibodies ( e.g. serotonin) are produced in our gut, it’s critical to focus on gut health. The best course of treatment for leaky gut is eliminating inflammatory foods from your diet for 30, 60, 90 days or longer. Practical Paleo offered up details on how to repair leaky gut, summarized nicely in one page (see above).

One of the ways to repair, the book calls out, is by taking probiotics. And this leads us to our discussion on the power of probiotics.

One of the few supplements we both take on daily basis are probiotics daily. Probiotics are the good bacteria that help keep the bad bacteria in check and maintain gut health.

IMG_8781

Recently Nick saw a study by ATF favorite, Dr. Rhonda Patrick (find her on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram @foundmyfitness), who also just had a baby, about the effect probiotics have on breast milk. The study found that mothers who take probiotics during the time they’re breastfeeding produce milk that seems to improve gastrointestinal functional symptoms and decrease incidence of infantile colic and regurgitation in their infants.

So we looked further into what the best probiotic foods are, as supplements are not the only place to find this gut-health-helpers. Healthline.com highlights the “Top 11 Probiotic Foods,” which includes some of our favorites like pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut and yogurt. Check the full list here.

We finish our chat with a friendly reminder; don’t forget that antibiotics can kill beneficial probiotics in your gut in addition to the bad ones, so be sure you take a medicinal dose of probiotics after you finish your antibiotics to restore your supply.

Screenshot 2017-10-22 at 8.22.16 PM

That’s it for this week’s episode!

Don’t forget to like & follow the Addicted to Fitness podcast page on Facebook, give us a rating & review in iTunes and please take advantage of your 20% off discount on coffee from our new sponsors, The Hemp & Coffee Exchange, at hempcoffeeexchange.com.

Learn more about our sponsors in our previous ATF episode where we interview the founders and taste test this delicious coffee here.

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/leaky-gut-the-benefits-of-probiotics/id1121420986?i=1000393875009&mt=2

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/leaky-gut-the-benefits-of

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/leaky-gut-the-benefits-of-probiotics

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – How Having A Baby Changes Everything

Hi all! Shannon here.

This week, we’re talking about our own “labor day” recap and how having our baby girl (whom we are madly in love with) has changed everything, including our sleep habits.

We know there are a number of listeners who have been following our pregnancy journey closely, watching when we posted to social media for any sign that we “popped.”

2017-08-13 10.52.00

Without getting into graphic details, here’s a quick recap of our labor story:

Our last doctor appointment was on a Friday and the doctor basically informed us that we were no closer to labor than the previous week’s appointment, but since we were overdue at that point (by three days) it really could happen at any time.

Well, our baby apparently was ease dropping and decided she didn’t want to wait for an induction, because less than two days later, contractions started. I powered through them at home for about 17 hours (they started around 4am on a Sunday) but we finally went to the hospital late that night in the hopes of being admitted (yes, they do frequently send you home if you’re not far enough along).

Thankfully, we got the thumbs up to stay and after another 11 hours of contractions, a number of which were seriously intensified due to a dose of Pitocin, I finally asked for an epidural. It had been a total of 28 hours of labor at that point – it was time. Things happened pretty quickly after that and about four hours later our doctor arrived to give us the go ahead to start pushing. Less than an hour later our little lady made her grand entrance into the world.

Story time with Ella

Some respiratory concerns resulted in a trip to NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), but thankfully, she recovered en route so that she didn’t actually have to be admitted. A couple hours of observation in the nursery later, she arrived to our recovery room healthy and hungry.

As new parents, we were terrified for those two hours, but we knew she was in the best possible hands. Finally getting to hold her and have her in our arms was the best feeling we could imagine though.

Two days at the hospital consisted of all the usual tests, check-ups, visits, baby care lessons, administrative chores, and sleepless hours, but we were still just so grateful and happy. Our baby’s nocturnal habits didn’t match up with hours though and he need to be fed every 2-3 hours was one of the more challenging aspects. We knew it was coming, had been warned in all our books, classes and by all our friends/family, but that doesn’t make it any easier to prep for. Regardless, our exact words on the whole experience were, “We are deliriously exhausted and deliriously happy.”

Sleepy with Ella

Deliriously happy & exhausted

Once we returned home with baby in tow, life continued to change. Likely because we were struggling with sleep, a recent headline on the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Medicine caught our attention, as this year’s went to three Americans for their work on Body Clock Studies.

Their study focused on the health effects that the circadian rhythm has on adult humans who are naturally diurnal (meaning we are wired to be up during daylight hours). The scientists discovered that a protein actually builds up in the body during sleep (at night) and then dissipates during the day, which is concrete evidence that explains how our sleep syncs up with our natural body clocks. The discovery of this protein could lead to future advancements in treatment for chronic conditions that cause or are caused by a misaligned circadian rhythm (that is HUGE!).

At the end of the day (literally), sleep is crucial to your health, so if you’re not getting enough (like us right now) it is really important that you try to get back to that natural sleep rhythm. Until more studies result in a way to counteract or alter the circadian rhythm, we’re all attached to that body clock!

Nick and I will be trying to encourage better sleep habits in our household as soon as we can so that everyone stays healthy. In the meantime, we’ll stumble a bit through our days, but the podcast will keep coming!

Podcast pic 10-16

In fact, we are making some big moves regarding the podcast, including a new sponsorship and a discount code for you listeners. Please make sure you share the podcast with a friend and give us a rating and review in iTunes and on our new Addicted to Fitness Podcast Facebook page.

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter) for loads of other updates and to see some proud parent pictures of our baby girl. We try to keep the posts balanced though, so don’t worry – they’re not all baby related.

Until next time, we hope you’re looking after your health and fitness and look forward to bringing you some new info in the next episode!

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-having-a-baby-changes-everything/id1121420986?i=1000393567380&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/how-having-a-baby-changes-everything

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – The Return of Combat Sports Historian, Dr. L.A. Jennings

This week’s show notes brought to you by the lovely Shannon

Thanks for checking out the latest episode of Addicted to Fitness!

Please help us grow our audience by sharing the podcast and giving us a rating and review in iTunes or our new Addicted to Fitness Podcast Facebook page.

This week, we’re excited to bring you an interview with our first repeat guest – our good friend and Nick’s former coach, Dr. L.A. Jennings. L.A. and her husband Mike own a popular MMA gym in Denver, CO called Train. Fight. Win. (TFW), of which Nick was the first member over eight years ago.

TFW pic2

Let’s get into the interview.

Like many of the best places, the gym L.A. and her husband started, TFW, was born from humble beginnings. The start included days when no clients would even show up to train. Flash forward to today when TFW boasts its own competitive fight team along with a healthy crew of clients who participate in conditioning, striking and grappling classes.

Local fight organizations are even starting to feature TFW on highly publicized fight cards, exposing the gym to an even broader audience and helping to attract more individuals with competition experience to the gym.

Outside the gym, L.A. has an extensive list of achievements including becoming a published author of essentially the encyclopedia on the history of female combat sports called She’s A Knockout: A History of Women in Fighting Sports.

FullSizeRender 2

L.A. is currently working with the organization Wrestle Like A Girl to get girls wrestling sanctioned in middle schools and high schools around the country. Believe it or not, only six states currently have sanctioned girls wrestling at that level.

She had been writing for Vice’s Fightland, but decided she would rather focus her research and content creation into another medium. The chosen medium? Well, it turns out that our ATF podcast actually inspired L.A. to start her own podcast called The Warm-Up, which includes historical accounts of important sporting events throughout time.

It’s safe to say, we’ve already added the podcast to our must-listen list. Knowing L.A., it’s bound to be a hit!

Next, we discussed our thoughts and feelings on the hyped-up Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight. L.A. was particularly interested in the topic because McGregor really helped MMA fighters command more respect when it comes to negotiating contracts and demanding better pay.

We also commented on the most highly anticipated boxing event in recent history, Gennady Golovkin vs. Canelo Alvarez, which ended in a controversial decision and reignited the ever-present idea that boxing is a corrupt sport.

These topics really emphasized that even though combat sports have been around since ancient times, they are still evolving in modern times.

Finally, make sure you check out L.A.’s book and podcast, and if you’re ever in Denver stop by Train. Fight. Win. and tell them Nick and Shannon from the ATF podcast sent you. You can also follow TFW on Instagram (@tfw_denver) and L.A. on Twitter @Dr_LA_Jennings.

Podcast pic 10-9

As always, thanks for listening to this week’s episode. Send us an email (elementaltampa@gmail.com) or give us a shout on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter) if you have any questions or topics for future episodes. In the meantime, we’ll keep working to bring you exciting experts and timely info on health and fitness.

Links to this week’s episode:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2&i=1000393234960

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/the-return-of-combat-sports-historian-dr-la-jennings

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – The Pros & Cons of a Gluten-Free Diet

It appears that gluten has become public enemy number one in the world of nutrition. If it seems like more and more people are adhering to the gluten-free diet, it’s because they are. According to a 2016 Medical News Today article, around 1.6 million people in the United States follow a gluten-free diet without having been diagnosed with celiac disease. We dive into this stat and many more related to the gluten-free diet in this week’s Addicted to Fitness podcast.

Before we jump into our gluten-free discussion, Shannon and I recap our training for the week. Most of my exercise related activity was focused primarily on hurricane prep.  All the lifting, drilling, digging and carrying awkward loads mirrored a lot of the functional strength training I normally do at Tampa Strength (website link). It’s almost like I’ve been training for the hurricane.

Shannon on the other hand was participating in a much more structured exercise program. We’ve been talking about it a lot in the past several episodes and it has finally come to a culmination. Shannon has completed her Bella Prana yoga teacher training program. Eight months of immersion weekends, at home projects, leading & assisting her own classes and taking numerous yoga classes finally came to an end with a final “exam.”

Her exam consisted of constructing and leading another student through a 1-on-1 yoga session. The other student happened to be pregnant, which allowed Shannon to use the prenatal techniques that she has grown so fond of throughout her program. She passed her final and is now a 200 hour certified yoga teacher and couldn’t say enough good things about the program and the relationships she developed with her fellow classmates. Click here if you’re interested in learning more about the Bella Prana teacher training program.

Upon completing our training recap, we jump right into our gluten-free diet discussion. The vast of the majority of the info we refer to in our discussion comes from that 2016 Medical News Today article I referred to earlier (link). For those that are unaware, gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale (a combination of wheat and rye).

Gluten-free foods are especially important to individuals who have celiac disease, which is an autoimmune response that attacks the lining of the small intestine. This can lead to celiac sufferers to be unable to effectively absorb nutrients into their bloodstream, which can lead to anemia, delayed growth, and weight loss.

no-gluten-bread-1905736_1920

Almond meal frequently used in gluten-free recipes

It appears that individuals with celiac disease aren’t the only ones suffering due to gluten. There is an estimated 18 million people in the U.S. that have some form of gluten intolerance – referred to medically as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). The symptoms associated with NCGS include bloating or gas, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, “brain fog,” and itchy skin rash.

However, eating gluten-free isn’t without its pitfalls. Shannon and I present the benefits & disadvantages of eating gluten-free for those with NCGS. You’ll have to listen to the episode to hear the full list of pros and cons, but if you’re interested in learning more about celiac disease and gluten-free cooking, I’d suggest you listen to the past ATF with gluten-free cookbook author Anna Vocino (episode link).

We wrap up this week’s podcast describing several gluten-free grain substitutes including quinoa, flax seed and buckwheat. FYI – many foods are naturally gluten-free, including fruits and vegetables, fresh eggs, fresh meats, fish and poultry (not marinated, breaded, or batter-coated), unprocessed beans, seeds & nuts, and the lots of dairy products, which conicide with Shannon and I’s proclivity to whole, unprocessed foods.

screenshot-2017-10-01-at-6-18-31-pm.png

If you follow a gluten-free diet and want to add any pros or cons to our list, feel free to send them to us via email (elementaltampa@gmail.com) or by reaching out to us on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter). We’d also really love, Love, LOVE it if you gave us a rating & review on iTunes (link) OR our brand new Facebook page (link).

We’ll be back next week with an interview episode featuring our first repeat guest. Thanks for listening and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2#episodeGuid=486bb77f8f4f0f6d4e74e0c8e1ffe155

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/the-pros-cons-of-a-gluten-free

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/the-pros-cons-of-a-gluten-free-diet

Addicted To Fitness Show Notes – From the Vault: Jiu Jitsu Training & Nutritional Benefits of Grassfed Beef

Even though Shannon and I are busy preparing for the arrival of our first little one, we still wanted to give you all your weekly dose of health & fitness info. Which is why we reached back into the ETT wrap show vault to pull out a throwback episode for this week’s Addicted to Fitness podcast.

As you’ll hear, this old school episode features the first cohost, Tyler Knox. That name may sound familiar to you all because he returned to the ATF podcast recently to discuss how being a new dad affects your fitness, which you can listen to by clicking here. Can you see the connection?

Screenshot 2017-09-24 at 5.32.11 PM

Former co-host Tyler Knox and he’s little man Henry

Tyler and I kick off this throwback episode discussing my recent jiu jitsu training. Before I took ETT full-time I was heavy into jiu jitsu and even got to take a seminar from the recently crowned 194 lb Abu Dubai Combat Club (ADCC) champion (link). If you have NO idea what ADCC is, just think of it as the olympics of jiu jitsu. With that said, Gordon Ryan is a beast and I was fortunate enough to receive his tutelage. Our jiu jitsu convo led to us discussing the shocking results of UFC 196.

Most fight fans may remember UFC 196 because it was the first and only time that Conor McGregor lost in the octagon. Conor was submitted by Nate Diaz by rear naked choke and the woman who dethroned Rhonda Rousey, Holly Holm, was defeated by Miesha Tate with the same move. It was an excellent advertisement for the power of jiu jitsu.

Screenshot 2017-09-24 at 6.12.53 PM

Image courtesy of mmaweekly.com (link)

After our UFC recap, Tyler and I discuss the nutritional benefits of grass-fed beef. Shannon and I have talked about grass-fed labeling on a past ATF podcast (link), but this was the first time I ever discussed its nutritional superiority. According to the Primal Blueprint podcast, which is essentially a narration of blog posts from Mark Sisson’s website (link), grass-fed beef has an optimal omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratio. It also contains higher amounts of specific vitamins and minerals, not to mention its animal welfare implications. Click here to read more about its nutrional benefits in a recent What’s on the Menu blog I wrote.

Even though grass-fed protein may take more raw resources to produce, it allows us to be more connected to our food supply. It can also help us rejuvenate the small farm industry that once thrived in this country. Another industry that we mention in this throwback episode that could help reduce our reliance on livestock protein is insect production. We allude to a cricket protein bar taste test, which we were able to accomplish in a future, or is it past episode? Either way, click here to listen.

Screenshot 2017-09-24 at 6.32.45 PM

I love looking back on these throwback episodes, not only to see how we have progressed as podcast, but also to see how the topics we’ve discussed have evolved. I hope you all enjoy these time capsule episodes as much as I do. If you do, we’d really appreciate it if you gave us a rating and review in iTunes (link) or on our new Addicted to Fitness Facebook page (link).

We’ve got a lot of great podcasts lined up for you all, including a possible delivery room episode. You’ll definitely want to subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t done so already, and please rate, review and share Addicted to Fitness with anyone and everyone. Thanks again for all the support and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to the Addicted to Fitness podcast

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2#episodeGuid=6204d2cb139eb4c3ab18f279673a80db

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/from-the-vault-jiu-jitsu

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/from-the-vault-jiu-jitsu-training-nutritional-benefits-of-grass-fed-beef

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Protein Powder & Protein Water Taste Test

This was the Addicted to Fitness episode that you were suppose to hear before Irma rolled through our neck of the woods. Sorry it took a few weeks longer to deliver it to you all, but we’re very grateful that we even get the opportunity to share it at all. Many areas affected by Irma are still recovering and I encourage everyone to continue supporting the relief effort by donating to credible organizations like the American Red Cross (link) and Save the Children (link).

Now that the über important stuff is out of the way, we can jump into this week’s protein filled episode. Shannon kicks it off recapping her recent training, which is limited to walking and yoga because, according to her, she’s “big time pregnant.” Both those forms of exercise are conducive to her current condition but she’s also doing a ton of yoga because she’s coming to the end of her yoga teacher training program.

Screenshot 2017-09-18 at 5.49.37 AM

In the final months of her program, Shannon has taken, assisted and even led several yoga classes. She comments on how much she’s learned in this program and how she’s developed a love & appreciation for prenatal yoga. Shannon was exposed to numerous yoga disciplines that few people know about and she’s eager to share information about these mostly unknown forms. Stay tuned for a deep dive into lesser known yoga disciplines on a future ATF podcast.

My training recap isn’t nearly as eventful. I’m still making it to my weekly jiu-jitsu class and doing strength training at Tampa Strength (link), but what I’m really excited about is the addition of Title Boxing Club (link) classes to my personal training schedule. The group dynamics of the Title classes are a pleasant departure from the 1-on-1 or semi-private training I provide.

After our training recaps, Shannon and I discuss the non-perishable food items we purchased for our hurricane preparedness kit. We wanted to make sure we had food that was essentially ready to eat but also very nutrient dense. We both knew that items high in protein & fat would keep us fuller, longer than items made primarily of refined sugar and grains. You’ll have to listen to find out whether or not the food items we purchased matched the hurricane checklist from Delish.com (link).

After our training recap and hurricane food review we FINALLY get into the taste test of two newfangled protein products. Shannon begins by giving her review of thinkThin single serve protein powder packets. She tried the strawberry raspberry flavor and commented on how much fruit flavor it possessed, which wasn’t surprising since the second most abundant ingredient according to the packet was dried fruit. The entire packet provided 15 grams (g) of animal & plant-based protein, 5 g of fiber and a whole serving of fruit. Shannon commented that it didn’t have any gritty texture or bad after taste and she looks forward to trying the other flavors. Check out the thinkThin website (link) for more nutritional info & ingredients.

My protein product was an item I’d been itching to try for sometime. Protein Water is produced in the Tampa Bay Area and I’ve been hearing a lot about it on local radio. I finally picked up a few bottles and saved one specifically to share on the podcast with you all. The protein filled water contains 15 g of animal based protein and numerous forms of electrolytes. It also contains 100% of our recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin D & vitamin B6 and 1250% of our RDA of vitamin B12. It not only provides protein & energy but it is also hydrating, which isn’t always the case when it comes to pre-made protein drinks. Check out the Protein Water website (link) for more nutritional info & ingredients.

Screenshot 2017-09-18 at 7.03.11 AM

We’re always looking for products to try on a future podcast. Please feel free to send your ideas for future taste tests to elementaltampa@gmail.com or connect with us on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter).

Also, we’d really appreciate it if you gave us a rating and review in iTunes (link) or on our new Addicted to Fitness Facebook page (link). Don’t forget to get enough protein in your diet and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2#episodeGuid=776d7f9661d18bc98a0d9ee4fb846a5f

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/protein-powder-protein-water

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/protein-powder-protein-water-taste-test

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Hurricane Irma Update

I want to apologize to our regular readers of the blog & listeners of the Addicted to Fitness podcast for being MIA over the past week. Hurricane Irma posed a real threat to my family’s safety, and Shannon and I had to dedicate all our focus to preparing for this potentially life altering event. Fortunately for us and other Tampa residents, Irma weakened as it approached our city. This led the storm to cause what I would consider minimal damage and allowed us to record an impromptu episode of the ATF podcast.

Shannon and I take a departure from our normal training recap and health news to fill you in on all that went into preparing for this storm. We discuss the emotional eating caused by Hurricane Irma, which I will say is definitely a reality. We were anticipating being without power for sometime, which is why we cooked everything in our freezer including 4 boxes of Trader Joe’s croissants. Shannon and I do a good job sticking to a low carb diet, but once we were faced with the threat of a natural disaster, we couldn’t get ENOUGH comfort food.

After recapping our “hurricane” eating, we go into the more important topic of providing relief to those severely affected by Irma. I know I plan on donating blood this week and I encourage all that can to do the same. Blood donations are always in demand, especially after natural disasters. You can also donate cash to reputable charities who have already set up Hurricane Irma relief funds like the American Red Cross (link) and Save the Children (link). If you plan on donating to another charity to help Hurricane Irma victims, please make sure they’re legit by researching them on Guidestar.org.

Screen Shot 2017-09-13 at 5.43.24 AM

We truly appreciate all our friends & family constantly checking up on us before and after the storm. It always feels good to be shown a little love, which is a perfect segue for me to ask you all to show the ATF podcast a little love by giving us a rating & review on iTunes (link) OR our brand new Facebook page (link). I also want to reiterate that if you’re able to donate to Hurricane Irma relief, please do so.

As always, feel free to send us your thoughts about this or any episode of the ATF podcast via email (elementaltampa@gmail.com) or by reaching out to us on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter). We’ll be back next week with a brand new episode full of all kinds or useful fitness info. Thanks for listening and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hurricane-irma-update/id1121420986?i=1000392192174&mt=2

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/hurricane-irma-update

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/hurricane-irma-update