Resolution: Exercise!
Something about a shiny new year makes you want to do better. Getting more exercise is a popular resolution, with good reason. You don’t need us to tell you that exercise is good for you in tons of ways (weight control, mood lift, energy boost, and sounder sleep, anyone?).
So hitting the gym should be a no-brainer, right? In theory yes. But as anyone who’s ever lived in a human body can attest, it’s not always that easy. Sometimes you just don’t have the energy or the motivation — especially during the dark and dreary days of winter. And Netflix isn’t going to watch itself. You’ll be more likely to stick to your resolutions if you follow a few simple tips:
- Be Specific. Instead of embracing the vague notion of exercising more, resolve to go to the gym three times a week, swim a certain number of laps, or gradually build up to lifting a specific weight.
- Be Realistic. Consider your current activity level (be honest!) and aim to exercise a little more often, a little longer, or a little harder. There’s no shame in agreeing to walk a mile a day or do YouTube dance aerobics for 15 minutes a few times a week. You can raise the bar again when you reach your goal.
- Make a Plan. What do you need to achieve your goal? A gym membership? Athletic clothes or equipment? An exercise buddy to keep you accountable? Set yourself up for success, by putting it in place before you begin.
- Have Patience. Be patient with the process. It can take time to get faster, stronger, or more limber. And be patient with yourself, too. If you skip a day of your cycling routine, don’t beat yourself up. Just get back on the bike tomorrow.
If you need little extra boost, we’ve got your back, with our selection of sports nutrition products.
If a consistent lack of energy is holding you back from working out, you may be low in iron. This is a common complaint for women of child-bearing age, but the fellows aren’t exempt. It’s hard to hit the gym, the pool, or the track when you feel exhausted before you start. Get your iron levels tested, and if you’re low, reach for Ferritin+, our highly absorbable, plant-based, non-constipating iron.
Beet juice is a perennial favorite among the sporty set. Why? In a word, nitrates.
When you eat or drink something with nitrates, your body converts them to nitric oxide. And that magical little compound helps your blood vessels relax, open wider, and let more blood flow through them. The end result? More oxygen and nutrients reach your hard-working muscle cells.* Numerous studies (including a review of 23 studies — 23!) have shown beet juice improves the speed and stamina of runners, cyclists, swimmers, and kayakers.*[1],[2],[3]
Flora makes beet juice easy. No expensive juice bars or messy home juicing. Every jar of our Red Beet Crystals contain 5.7 pounds of organic, vacuum-dried beets, pressed fresh from the fields. Just scoop and mix with water. The crystals dissolve into a sweet juice, with all the goodness of fresh beets and no added sugar. You can also get creative and add them to fruit or vegetable juice, soups, smoothies, and protein shakes or sprinkle them on a salad.
If you’re looking for a good all-around sports supplement, Omega Sport+ is it. Omega-3 fatty acids have well-documented benefits for cardiovascular health, muscle recovery, immune response, and cognition — all of which are especially important for athletes.*[4]
Omega Sport+ provides:
- A balanced, plant-based blend of omega-3, -6, and -9 oils
- Medium chain triglycerides, which deliver fuel your body can use for rapidly available energy*
- Turmeric to promote a healthy inflammation response and better digestion*
- 75% of the RDI of vitamin D for bone, muscle, and immune health*
Here’s to a happy, healthy, active new year!
Code EXERCISE15 will save you 15% off Omega Sport+ and Red Beet Crystals now through 1.24.2022 at florahealth.com
References
[1] Wylie LJ, et al. Beetroot juice and exercise: pharmacodynamic and dose-response relationships. J Appl Physiol. 2013 Aug 1;115(3):325-36. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23640589
[2] Thompson C, et al. Dietary nitrate improves sprint performance and cognitive function during prolonged intermittent exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2015 Sep;115(9):1825-34. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25846114/
[3] Domínguez R, et al. Effects of beetroot juice supplementation on cardiorespiratory endurance in athletes: a systemic review. Nutrients. 2017 Jan;9(1):43. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5295087/
[4] Lewis NA, et al. Are there benefits from the use of fish oil supplements in athletes? A systematic review. Adv Nutr. 2020 Sep 1;11(5):1300-14. https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/11/5/1300/5834649
