Category: Products I Love

Products I love!

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It’s spring time in New England. I feel like I am finally coming out of my winter slump, slowly but surely. I wanted to share with you some of the products that keep my going these days. Enjoy.

  1. Champion Shape Too High-Impact Sports Bra. THIS is my go-to bra for any athletic endeavor. I have about 6 of them and I hoard them whenever they go on sale. They are pricey at $48.00 but so worth it because they keep the girls comfortable and in place. I can run, jump, do yoga, and Olympic lift thanks to this bra. Kohl’s sells them but I have also found them at the One Hanes Place Outlet stores in Kittery and Merrimack. **Champion may have discontinued this bra, but sometimes you can find them with huge mark-downs online. PIL bra
  2. ACURE Dry Shampoo. I love this dry shampoo because it is all natural, it works, and allows me to go an extra day without having to wash my hair. It’s got ingredients like corn starch, white clay, and essential oils and comes in some awesome packaging. Unlike other dry shampoos it does not come in an aerosol can or contain alcohols. You simply twist open the top and squeeze the container. Puffs of the powder shoot out and then your brush it through your hair with a brush or fingers. It adds volume to my hair and is affordable at under $10.PIL acure dry shampoo
  3. Young Living’s Breathe Again Roll-On. This roller has saved my life a few times with seasonal stuffy nose and sneezing from all the pollen in the air. I love being outside, but it’s rough this time of year. The essential oil combo in this pre-mixed roller helps to support the sinuses and the eucalyptus is refreshing and makes breathing a breeze! PIL Breathe Again
  4. Sunbeam Candles. I really love the light and ambiance that candles create. Most candles, however, are made from paraffin wax which is terrible to breathe in on a regular basis. Most contain artificial scents and perfumes and can give off carcinogenic chemicals when burned. I began to use an essential oil diffuser to create great-smelling air, but really missed the light that candles emit. Then I found Sunbeam Candles. This company creates beautiful candles using solar power, made with beeswax, soy wax, eco-friendly dyes and essential oils. Beeswax candles are great for air purification and may help with seasonal allergies and smells amazing when burned.

I hope you can get your hands on some of these products. Let me know if you have questions. Get out there and enjoy the sunshine!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

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This post is a bit of a ramble. I apologize for the lack of organization in my writing. I have allergy-brain today. That or I am dehydrated, but I’m working on that. Everything seems a little fuzzy.

spring

Last week was pretty cool. Kyle, my brother, was out of town so I felt a little more responsibility at the gym. It was an awesome week. I work with the best people and our members are just incredible. Anyway, I thought it would be hard and I would be tired, but I ended up feeling really good. I will admit I started feeling tired on Thursday into Friday, but it was nothing a 30 minute power nap couldn’t fix. I was definitely ready for a bit of R&R by Saturday. Something that definitely helped to keep me going last week were my essential oils. I have recently started getting into oils and I am really becoming a believer. The number one reason I like the oils so much is that they provide a natural, non-toxic alternative to chemicals, medications, and potentially harmful household products.

Diffusing oils makes your home smell amazing, but you also get the aromatherapy benefits. Here I diffused an oil blend called Stress Away with Peppermint for unwinding and uplifting after a long day.

Diffusing oils makes my home smell amazing, but I also get the aromatherapy benefits. Here I diffused an oil blend called Stress Away with Peppermint for unwinding and uplifting after a long day. I am very sensitive to scents so traditional scented candles and sprays give me headaches and make me feel nauseous. My oils are a refreshing ( and much healthier) alternative. 

This weather is just absolutely rockin’. We have waited a long time for it. The only problem is that during Spring the flowers and leaves are blooming, the windows are open, the dust us kicking up and my allergies are kicking in! I’ve been waking up feeling like a zombie. The allergy trio oil blend of lavender, peppermint, and lemon has really been helping me to stay on top of my symptoms. I carry a roller bottle around with me and also diffuse the trio when I am home.

It’s been so nice to have the doors open at the gym. It makes the space feel larger and we have the option of going outside. Plus…running! I am struggling to get back into running shape, but I know that with time it will come. It always does. My work over the last 6+ months has really paid off. Last year I completed “DT” in 12:48. Last week I did the workout in 8:46. I am psyched about that.

allergies

 

 

I am excited for what May has to offer. Each of my weekends is already pretty full which makes me feel blessed, but also kind of overwhelmed. I can do it – it’s going to be awesome. Do you have anything fun and interesting planned for the month of May? Let’s hear it!

The Product I’m in Love With!

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If you’ve read my blog before, you may have read about my adventures in going the all-natural route with my underarms. The first two underarm products that I tested were not too great. I mean, they kind of masked odor, but didn’t do anything as far as wetness goes. I decided to ditch those and not use anything on my underarms all together. This lasted for about a month. I was really sweaty most of the time and I had smelly pits by the end of the day. I think that I was the only one who noticed how I smelled, but it’s still not a great time. A couple of ladies on Facebook mentioned that they use the Primal Life Organics Primal Pit Stick, so I decided to order some and try it.
It first sniff I knew I loved it. I bought the lavender scent. It’s true lavender essential oil – calming and earthy. I typically apply the pit stick after I shower and it lasts and lasts. I stay dry and stink-free for days. It’s really nice to spend money on “natural” products that actually work! The pit stick contains coconut oil, aluminum-free baking soda, arrowroot powder, and beeswax. It’s pricey at $12 per stick, but well worth it in my opinion. Kudos to Primal Life Organics for creating this product. I cannot wait to try some other their other goodies.
#Obsessed

#Obsessed

Arm Pit Update

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A while back I posted about how I bought two types of “natural” deodorant. I’ve been using both of them. If you missed the original post, here’s the link…Chemical-Free Pits. So the first test for the Crystal Essence was an all-day CrossFit competition. That day, I participated in four workouts and did quite a but of sweating. I applied the roll-on liquid about four times. It didn’t keep my armpits dry, but it kept the body odor at bay. I’ve been reading up about what conventional deodorant actually does and how it works. It turns out that the aluminum in most antiperspirant is meant to clog the sweat ducts in your armpits. Voila! Less sweat. While a definitive link between cancer and aluminum has not been discovered, there is concern about aluminum’s effect on health. The thought of my armpits being clogged up by aluminum and other junk is just not cool.

On a daily basis I have been using the GeoDeo. I apply it a couple times each day. Like the other one, it doesn’t prevent wetness, but it has a fresh scent and it seems to keep body odor at bay. My armpits have definitely gone through a detox. I think that changing up the deodorant routine is something that you have to be committed to. I’ve tried to do it before, but was never committed to making the change. My armpits used to always be very bumpy and dry. Now the skin of my underarms is very smooth and it actually looks like skin, not a chicken with all its feathers plucked. I’ve been a bit sweatier than usual, but that is normal and to be expected since I’m no longer clogging my pits with junk. Luckily, I’m not really concerned about some pit stains since I work in a gym where sweating is the norm. I could see where this could be uncomfortable if you had a job public speaking or something like that. But sweating is normal, and natural, and it’s a process that helps us to rid our bodies of toxins. So, sweat on with your bad self.

For now I am going to continue on with my deodorant detox and see what happens.

Since I’m not going to post photos of my armpits (sorry), here are some winter pics. 
I’m in the mood for snow!
 My back yard.
 Lake Sunapee from Mt. Sunapee. One of my favorite views.
 View from the top lodge at Okemo.
Okemo. Maybe the last time I skied?

For the Ladies…Underwear Review

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Wearing spandex pretty much every day of my life is fun, but finding underwear that works with spandex and also stays in place while working out is not so fun. Finding the right undies for CrossFit is a daunting task. For years I have searched high and low for the perfect unmentionables for working out. In this post I will focus on the bottom half. I hope to also do a review on sports bras in the near future. I have found a few items that work well. When I find something I like, I stick with it. In no particular order and at the risk of sharing too much information, here goes…

1) Lululemon Light As Air Thong
I love this thong. I wish I had one for every day of the week. I love to wear it with spandex. It feels like you’re wearing nothing at all. I generally cannot stand working out in a thong, but I have worked out in this one and it stays in place, especially if you’re wearing a tight layer over it. I wear a size medium, but I could probably even get away with a small. It’s very stretchy and laser-cut for a seam-free fit and no visible panty line (VPL)! These are $16 a pair and worth it if you’re a thong-wearer.

Lulu Light As Air Thong

2) Lululemon Premium Technithong
This thong is my second favorite for working out. It’s a little bit more snug in the waist than the Light As Air Thong, but it still works really well under spandex. I wear a medium. These are $16 a pair and if I had to choose between the two, I would choose the Light As Air Thong, not this one.

Lulu Premium Technithong

3) Maidenform Microfiber & Lace Boyshort
If you’re the type that doesn’t like to wear thongs while working out (like me), these are a great option. They fit well under tight-fitting shorts, they stay in place, and there’s no VPL. I have worn these through day-long competitions and they are very comfortable and work well. These are definitely my go-to undies when it comes to working out and not worrying about what my underwear are doing. I think you can buy these at Kohl’s for $21 for three pair. Great buy.

Maidenform Boyshort

4) Jockey Modern Micro Boyshort
I bought a pair of these because they looked really hot on the mannequin. Doesn’t everything look good on mannequins? Gets me every time! They feel nice and fit okay, but they are very visible through pants and shorts, especially on the front of the thigh. I bought a size 7 and that seems to fit well in the waist. I think I would end up with a muffin top if I went any smaller. I haven’t worked out in these yet, but I probably only will if they’re my last clean pair of undies. This rarely happens since I have so many. Probably a waste of 10 bucks.

Jockey Boyshort

5) Lululemon Run: Speed Short
These are the best shorts. EVER. With these shorts you do not need underwear because they have a built-in brief that stay in place. I wish I had five pair – one for each day of the week I work out. These are $54 and worth every penny. They are my go-to short and what makes it even better is I don’t need undies to go along with them. One drawback might be that they are fairly short with a 2.5 inch inseam. I guess they could be considered booty-shorts, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The price is steep, but Lulu makes amazing high-quality workout clothing that’s meant to last a long time.

The list could go on, but I have whittled it down to those products I feel are worth discussing. If you have any tested and true picks to share with the rest of the ladies, please do so by posting to comments or on Facebook. Let’s help our sisters out on the quest for the perfect CrossFit underwear.

Sites I LOVE

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I am constantly online, searching the Paleo-sphere and CrossFit community for articles, blogs, and websites to expand my knowledge, answer questions, look for tasty recipes, and find solutions to issues. I want to share some of my favorites with you. 

First of all, let’s talk about food. If I could pick a blog to be in love with it would be PaleOMG because when I visit it I laugh, I salivate just looking at the food, and I can definitely relate to many of Juli’s thoughts and feelings about food, CrossFit, and life. She creates absolutely amazing recipes, particularly the SWEET ones. Elana’s Pantry is also a place to find really nice, simple recipes for treats. Elana has many years experience with grain-free baking and cooking and the Paleo Diet, so this website is a must-see. She has stolen my heart with her chocolate chips cookies and banana bread. I have tried many recipes for both of these, and hers are the best by far. 
Another food blog I love is Paleo Table. This woman knows her stuff, is a CrossFitter and even goes so far as to create Meal Plans complete with shopping lists! How great is that?! Another spot for quality recipes is Paleo Mama’s Cave Chick Cuisine. Check out the Infamous Chili and the Cottage Pie. They are BOMB!
I get asked about supplements a lot. There are only a few supplements that I take and my opinion is that supplement overkill is unnecessary in most cases. On a daily basis I take one gram of high-quality fish oil and 2,000 units of vitamin D3. I also take 1/4 cup of egg white protein mixed with almond milk post-WOD. Occasionally, I will use Natural Calm if I am having trouble sleeping or I am experiencing a lot of stress. I took this while I was in grad school and it was amazing. I buy all of these supplements online at iHerb. I find their prices to be very reasonable, they have super-fast shipping time, and they always send extra little goodies in the box. Also, orders over $40 ship for free and you get discounts of 5% off your order when you order over $60. You can set up an account at the site so you don’t need to type in your shipping/billing information every time you order. iHerb is a great resource for natural products of all kinds, including household items and beauty and hygiene products. Let me know if you’re going to order from iHerb and I will give you a coupon code for $5 off your first purchase! 

At one time or another every CrossFitter needs words of inspiration and motivation. I regularly read Lisbeth Darsh’s WODs (WORDS of the day) at CrossFit Lisbeth. She writes brief, to-the-point posts that will get you thinking about your CrossFit life and life in general. I find that her writing puts things into perspective very quickly. I also enjoy reading posts by Lauren Plumey at Shorline CrossFit. Lauren, a CF Games competitor, knows what she’s talking about, especially when it comes to competition and the sport of fitness, so heed her advice. 
For gear, like shoes, I head on over to The Shoe Mart or Zappos. Again Faster is where Kyle purchases all the gear for the gym and they also sell shoes, jump ropes, and some apparel. Their website just got an overhaul and it is badass. It’s not only a great place for gear, but also written pieces from some great CrossFit minds, tips for nutrition, and the Mic’d Instructor Series which are some of the best tutorial videos you will come across. There are some quality people over at AF, so use them as much as possible.  
If you want to get all sciency about Paleo and need answers to your “Why?” questions, my suggestions are RobbWolf.com and Mark’s Daily Apple. Robb Wolf is a genius, he tells it like it is, and has an awesome podcast that is funny and informative. Mark Sisson, who is more “primal” than paleo, also knows his stuff and has an amazing website full of interesting information about food, exercise, and life in general. Loren Cordain, the God Father of the Paleo Diet movement also has a website. The FAQ section is great. 
Lastly, but in no way least, there is movement. Like I mentioned previously, the Mic’d Instructor Series from Again Faster is amazing. Then there is the Mainsite, CrossFit.com. The Exercises & Demos tab is great for looking up movements. If you haven’t visited MobilityWOD with Kelly Starrett there is something wrong. Please go there NOW! KStar is a physical therapist/CrossFit Coach/pro athlete/genius who is unmatched (in my opinion) when it comes to looking at human movement, analyzing it, and helping us make it better. Like Kelly always say, “All human beings should be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves”. I couldn’t agree more. Stop moving in bad positions!
I hope I didn’t leave out any of my favorites, but if I did I’m sure I will mention them somewhere along the way. Please do not hesitate to post questions in the comments section or to email me directly (ashley.rochefort@gmail.com). I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful weather and are able to get outside for some vitamin D! 
I got some sunshine at the beach the other day with two of my favorite ladies.