New favourite thing…
March 22, 2010 by Alison · Leave a Comment
Every time I travel and go on training camps where I have to prepare all my own meals I always pick up new tips and discover new things. I was recently down in very sunny Tucson Arizona for a three week, intense training camp. The things that elite athletes always need to watch out for during these crazy training blocks is enough healthy nutrition to keep them fuelled up to recovery properly and get ready for the next workout. Well this training camp I discovered coconut oil! Yes you may think that it’s high in fat and wouldn’t strike you as “healthy” but it actually has many health benefits and tastes amazing. I am not really a person who uses a lot of butter, margarine or even olive oil but I think coconut oil is worth adding to stir-fry’s and eggs simply because of the great taste. I don’t use a lot and the flavour really adds to my meals, enough I would suggest buying some at an organic food store. I also used it for my skin because I got so dry when I was training in the desert.
Long, Hard fight.
As training becomes more intense leading into race season I am on a constant battle with my body to stay healthy and injury free. I have tried many things to avoid a reoccurring injury and the secret is massage, stretching, physiotherapy and rest… all the time. Love your body and treat it with respect is the basic motto I stick by. Even if you are not an elite athlete, your body can get over-tired and you can get injured. Doing that extra ten minutes of running or those extra two push ups might not be worth it, believe me, I would know. I felt a little pain in my hip and kept running, and running and running and then had to take 6 week s off. Had I stopped when I first felt pain maybe would’ve only had to take a week off and I have learned from that mistake.
I have been told my famous coaching from across the country that recovery is just as important as training hard. No normal person can be on and training hard all the time, it is impossible! Good sleep, nutrition (elevate me bars!) and proper recovery for your body (stretching) is key.
First race is in a month in Mexico…I’m sticking by my coconut oil, elevate me bars and recovery regimens!
Alison Hooper, Athlete Ambassador
Spring is closing in fast and what that means is LONGER DAYS!!!! Yipeee…
March 5, 2010 by Nicola · 1 Comment
I wrote a blog a while ago about how to stay motivated during the dark winter months. Today, I will talk about all the amazing things you can do OUTSIDE! Really, nothing is better than getting some exercise in the fresh air, rain or shine (it’s still Vancouver after all).
I have found myself more motivated than ever and perhaps that is because it isn’t dark out when I wake up and when I get off work. I feel like I have more energy as well as time. There are a lot of activities you can do outdoors, for example, hiking, biking, running, walking, skipping, roller blading, and the numerous team sports that exist out there (soccer, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, tennis).
For those of you who want to strength train but have been hesitant because you don’t like being inside, take your workout to the streets. Here is a simple beginner workout which can be done in less than 45 minutes. All you need is yourself, a band, and the great outdoors. Always warm-up/cool-down with some light cardio (5 min) and dynamic (before) and static (after) stretching.
Circuit 1: repeat 2-3 times
- Push-ups (modified- bench push-up), as many as you can or 10-15 reps
- Tubing row (wrap tubing around a pole, fence post etc), 10-15 reps
- High Knee’s, 30 seconds
- Front bridge (modified on bench), hold as long as possible
Circuit 2: repeat 2-3 times
- Squats, 10-15 reps
- Tubing shoulder press, 10-15 reps
- Step up’s on bench or high step side walk, 10-15 reps
- Side bridge (modified from bench), 10-45 sec/side
Circuit 3:
- Walking lunges, 10-15 reps
- Tricep push-ups (modified: on bench) narrow arms, 10-15 reps
- Stair run or sprint, 30 sec-1 min
- Bird Dog, quadruped opposing limb raise, 1 minute.
Working out can be fun, especially when you are in your natural environment.
Until next time,
Nicola Gildersleeve, athlete ambassador
What are you doing for the 2010 Winter Olympics?
February 12, 2010 by Nicola · Leave a Comment
I remember the day I heard that Vancouver was going to be hosting the 2010 Olympics. It was way back in High School and I was still in my teens. I remember thinking how crazy it was going to be because I was going to be 25 years old when the Olympics came to town!!!!! That was so old, I thought. I have to look back and laugh because being 25 years old feels incredibly young. I wish I could remember what I had imagined myself doing at 25 back when I was only 16 yrs old.
People keep asking me what I am going to do during the Olympics. I honestly have not put too much thought into it. I had pondered the idea of Volunteering, and then at least I could see some of the games. But, that involved time off work and I didn’t want to give that up. I fantasized about going away somewhere exotic and warm, but that also involved taking time off work. I concluded that I was just going to watch the Olympics live on my T.V with everyone else who could not afford to buy tickets!
I hiked up to Grouse Mountain this morning via the BCMC Trail. The BCMC parallels the grind and is approximately 10 minutes longer on average. I prefer this route because it doesn’t feel like a stair master and is less crowded. However, at this time of year, neither trail is crowded. Once I got to the top, I ate my Elevate Me Energy Bar and boarded the gondola to get down the mountain. On the way down, the gondola conductor (as I named him) told us about the plans Grouse Mountain has for during the Olympics. He told us that Grouse Mountain will be open 24/7 for the entire duration of the Olympic Games!!!!! That’s not all, NBC is going to be taping live from the top of the mountain (or the chalet area)
This means that you can literally ski everyday all day for 2 straight weeks! The gondola and restaurants will be open for 24 hours. You can snowshoe, hike, and even zip line at night. They have been planning this for 3 years and it sounds like it will be an amazing and entertaining adventure. I can’t wait to be a part of it.
My couch and television may remain empty during the games as I plan on hiking up the mountain to listen (to NBC reporters) and watch the games live (on big screens). Come try something different this year and experience something you will never forget!
Nicola Gildersleeve
Power to Climb 2010 Mt. Kilimanjaro Expedition
January 28, 2010 by prosnack · Leave a Comment
This past month Elevate Me! donated some of our bars to the Power To Climb 2010 Mt. Kilimanjaro Expedition. We were very happy they chose to take our bar with them on this incredible journey:
Hi!
Hope your 2010 is off to a fabulous start! We’re back safely from Africa, and I’m happy to say that our whole team made it to the summit of Kilimanjaro! I’m also happy to say we exceeded our $150k fundraising objective! These funds will directly drive the program expansion of Power To Be and reduce waitlists, helping hundreds more underprivileged youths and families in our communities.
I wanted to thank you for all your support and providing us with the Elevate Me bars. I can say with certainty now that nutrition played a critical role in helping us all get to the summit, and your bars provided us with the nutrients and protein we needed to get to the top! You may also be interested to know the porters seemed to enjoy them as well. With a few bars left over, we decided to donate them to an orphanage in Moshi, which we visited after the climb – the orphanage appreciated the bars very much. This journey was a major life experience for each of us, and we were glad that Elevate Me was there every step of the way.
We’ll be sure to keep you posted on our next adventure, and please feel free to continue to check our site for updates
https://www.powertoclimb.ca
Best,
Mike Schauch
Expedition Leader, Power To Climb 2010 Mt. Kilimanjaro Expedition
Resolutions… Really?
January 12, 2010 by Alison · Leave a Comment
So this time of year many people are trying to follow new “fads” to quickly reach their new-year resolutions. I find with resolutions you have to be very careful because many people do crazy diets or workout regimens that are so out of the ordinary. If your new workout plan is so far from your regular schedule it makes in close to impossible to stick with it because life will get in the way!
What works best for me is changing the little things in my daily routine to reach my ultimate goal. If you want to lose weight try not to have ice cream in your freezer all the time or make sure that you eat small portions every two hours- none of this crazy dieting! This year I really want to become more flexible. It will help me with racing and training and be another defence against injuries! What I have planned is to go to workouts 10 minutes early 3 times a week to get in a little extra stretching. I am also looking into another yoga class that is scheduled on my day off so no conflicts will happen. The more conflicts this resolution causes within your life means the harder it will be to accomplish.
Baby steps in changing over time will work better than huge change all at once. Plus your body or lifestyle won’t have to go on a roller-coaster ride some resolutions can send you on!
So one thing I love doing is having smoothies after my workouts. My favourite is banana, 1/3cup milk, chocolate protein powder (I use Genisoy) and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons almond butter. Or if you’re not a chocolate person- vanilla powder and then instead of almond butter add different types of berries and orange juice. This seems to gets me through the morning and provides me with the protein and fruit I need for my routine.
I have also come across these new microwave egg cookers- you can find them as freebies at most Running Rooms. It is really simple and takes about a minute to cook an egg! Tastes great and is perfect for a good addition of protein to your breakfast even if your in a hurry like myself.
Here is a link about the egg cookers-
http://blog.getcracking.ca/microwave-egg-cookers-cooking-tips-and-recipes
To sum up this post: SIMPLE=ACHIEVE.
Thanks,
Alison Hooper – Canadian Junior Elite Triathlete
How to Eat Well on the Road
November 23, 2009 by Nicola · Leave a Comment
How to Eat Well on the Road
As an athlete, travelling to different race venues is common practice. As an athlete on a budget, getting to these places can take days, depending on mode of travel. Lucky for me, my boyfriend loves to drive; therefore it usually takes us a couple days to get to international events in the U.S.A.
I am especially picky about the foods I eat the week of a race. I have a few sensitivities when it comes to food and I need to pay close attention to what I am eating. Any irritation inside my body could lead to poor nutrition results during the event.
Here are a few tips about eating well on the road:
- Pack snacks and staples with you, whether you are flying or driving. If flying domestically, you are allowed to bring fruit on the plane!!! Make sure to pack some cutlery and plates/bowls.
- Shop at local grocery stores versus eating out for every meal
- Be mindful of portion sizes. A restaurant meal is generally much larger than you would make at home.
- Pack your day of race food in your luggage. You might not be able to find it in your host city.
- Drink lot’s of water and avoid caffeinated beverages while flying.
- If you are staying at a hotel, try to find a room with a fridge so you can grocery shop and keep your foods fresh. If the room does not have one, try asking the concierge if they have one you can borrow. In the last hotel I stayed in, they had an extra fridge and microwave.
- If you have to eat out, don’t be afraid to be picky. Try to avoid fried foods. Look for meat that is grilled or baked. Ask for low-fat dressings and on the side if possible. See if the restaurant serves whole wheat pasta or brown rice instead of their white counterparts.
- Pack a box full of Elevate Me organic energy bars. They are loaded with quality ingredients and will keep you satisfied until your next meal. They were my life savior on my trip to Virginia last weekend!
There you have it, 8 tips to keep in mind when travelling. Remember, when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Always be one step ahead of the game and success is bound to follow.
Nicola Gildersleeve
Canadian Junior Elite Triathlete
November 13, 2009 by Alison · Leave a Comment
Hi, this is Alison and I am a Canadian Junior Elite Triathlete. I’ve been training for many years and often find good quality snacks hard to come by. When I was first introduced to Elevate Me back in early last year through one of my dad’s business partners I was excited and relieved because I finally found a bar that used whole foods and actually tasted good!
So what do I do? I swim, I bike and I run. However I also go to school, do yoga, lift weights, follow a proper nutritional diet and somehow manage to fit in time for fun and friends. Not saying that training isn’t fun, it is very fun and fun is partially what motivates me to train over 24 hours a week. This is just a quick summary of my life and it may sound crazy but with the right planning and drive anything is possible. How do I know this? Well because in one short year of training for the sport of triathlon I’ve gone from being a total Rookie to Junior National Champion to Canada Games Champion to 6th at Junior World Championships. A lot of hard and painful work was required but just putting in the hours doesn’t cut it. Believing in yourself and in what you’re trying to accomplish is key to any success. I have to admit I never believed I could even qualify for World Championships let alone place top 6. However, I did believe in myself, hard training and busy lifestyle regimen …and look what happened.
Starting the sport of Junior Triathlon racing at a later age than most (16, now 17) I had to motivate myself not to get discouraged by the fact that younger more experience athletes were ahead of me in many areas. I focused on my individual goals, such as learning how to properly corner while cycling. The simplest of things were what I struggled with the most. I just wanted to be out working hard on my bike with my teammates. But along with motivation you really need a lot of patience, which to tell you the truth I lack! My coach pushed me at my own pace and eventually I was out working hard on my bike with the other girls and I was even keeping up with them. The rest is history.
So I guess if I could sum up this post I would say the motivation of just doing my best is what pushed me through countless obstacles on my way to success.
My next race is in Mexico to qualify for Junior Olympics in Singapore, however this race isn’t until April and I am kind of in off season at the moment. I’m in the middle of working on my goals of reaching ultimately reaching the podium in the 2010 Junior Worlds in Hungary. I look forward to keeping you all up to date on my goals, and training and stories from the road. Training is something I’ve come to love and hope you too find the sport that drives your passion.
Until next time,
Alison Hooper
Junior Elite Triathlete
alisonhooper@blogspot.com
Elevate Me Energy Bars – Growth
June 2, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Wow 5 months of the year are done, when you do this for awhile everything is measured in yearly quarters and we’re almost done the second one.
Right now we’re balancing our growing family with growing the company. Our staff has been fantastic, especially Kurt, as we have adapted to balancing family and business.
So now we are planning to get back into the business mind-set with some big adventures: new staff to promote our beloved bar, new products that will be creative and excellent, and a new facility, because we’re busting at the seams in our current 2 properties. We need one big one!
Stay tuned for the next Elevate Me! Energy Bars whatever, its going to be good.
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