What Type of Runner are You?

If you know me, you know running is my therapy, and lately I've been needing more than usual! Good thing for me the stars have aligned and the weather has cooled and at the same time, my new Mizunos arrived! Glory hallelujah! 

I was long overdue for a new set of wheels for my feet so these couldn't have arrived at a better time! Whether you're a beginner, novice or advanced runner, you have to pay close attention to the shows you wear, whether you run indoors or out. You have to replace your shoes every 6 months or so and/or every 300-500 miles. 

You also have to make sure you're wearing the RIGHT shoe. Did you know that there are 3 main types of running shoes that correlate to the way your foot strikes the ground when you walk or run? Wearing the wrong shoe and not paying attention to your foot strike can hinder your progress and even lead to pain and injury. 

So, what are the 3 types of runners and foot strikes? They are pronation, supination and neutral. 

Probation is another way of saying you have a very low arch and/or have flat feet. This means your feet tend to roll in towards the center when you run. If you experience ankle pain and/or shin splints often, you may be pronating and not wearing the right shoe for support.

Supination is the opposite of pronation. It's when you roll your feet outward excessively and your feet never make full contact with the ground when you strike. Supinators have high arches and without the right support shoe, most likely suffer from plantar fasciitis and ankle sprains.

Neutral runners are the other. This is where I fall in and it means I don't pronate or supinate. I have a normal foot strike and this why I can run up to 35 miles a week and not feel any pain. 

So, how can you tell what type of strike you have? It's easy and you don't have to go to a speciality store to figure it out. First look at your walking/running shoes. If they're more worn on the inside, you pronate. If they're more worn on the outside, you supinate. If they're evenly worn, you're w neutral runner. 

If you don't have a pair of shoes you can clearly see wear on, try the cardboard test. Place a piece of cardboard on the ground. Make sure it's evenly flat. Wet the soles of your feet and stand on the cardboard. Look at the foot imprint. If it's evenly wet and you can see the balls of your feet, full heel and your arch, you're neutral. If most of the wetness is on the outer portion of your foot, you supinate. If most of it is on the inside, you pronate. 

Once you've determined the type of strike you have, you can research the best shoe for you and hopefully find a good fit. 

My favorites, as a neutral runner, are the Mizuno Wave Riders. It's my 3rd pair of Wave Riders, my current pair is the Wave Rider 21, and it's been my go to shoe for the last year. 

I need a stability shoe since I'm a neutral runner and after trying several Saucony, Asics, Nike and Brooks models, I have to say I'm happiest with these.

They're the perfect balance of comfort, support and weight. They're lightweight, breath really well with their mesh upper and they're ideal for anyone with medium to high arches like I have that require more of a neutral shoe.

I've had them only 2 weeks and they've already conquered the beach, pavement, grass, rocks, trails, the gym and even a friendly game of racquetball! 

So, if you're in the market for a new neutral running shoe, these Mizuno Wave Rider 21 are definitely worth a look! 

For other styles more suitable for those that pronate or supinate, head over to Mizuno.com and look at their entire line. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mizuno. The opinions and text are all mine.

The Mizuno Wave Sky: I've Been Converted

So I’ve been converted, officially this time!  I received my 2^nd pair of Mizuno running shoes about a week ago and after running with them on concrete, sand and dirt for upwards of 30 miles in the last week, I am pretty happy with them and will be sticking with Mizuno for the long haul!

In the past, running in other shoes I've tried for long distance in a short time span, I've definitely felt the backlash of pushing my mileage. I experienced pain in the midsole and having a high arch, I also experienced pain after running.  This was not the case this past week when I tested out the Wave Sky.

The Mizuno Wave Sky is the shoe you see pictured above and the one I’m referring to!  It’s a shoe built for neutral runners that don’t need support for pronating. For YEARS I was wearing the wrong shoe.  A shoe that wasn't neutral and instead pushed my feet out, giving me pain along the side and almost convincing me that I needed to give running a break.

Finally finding the RIGHT show changed that for me.  The Mizuno Wave Sky has a full length midsole and the most u4icX foam in any Mizuno shoe.  What is u4icX you ask? It's Mizuno's own proprietary midsole material. It's a soft, light, cushioned material that gives a soft underfoot feel, as if you're running on a rubber track vs concrete.  

The new Wave Sky provides max cushioning and gives you a more plush feel than any other shoe Mizuno has made.  As they say, you feel as if you float through your run. And for someone who primarily runs on pavement, this is a vital feature I need in my shoes.  The Wave Sky also has a sock liner that provides a secure, comfortable fit hugging your foot.  

If you're in the market for a new running or walking shoe, I highly recommend the Mizuno Wave Sky. It's available in men's and women's sizes and three different color schemes for each.  I have the blue/silver/safety yellow combination. I love it because it's unlike any other shoe I own.....not pink for one! Haha! It retails for $150.00 and is currently available in stores nationwide. 

For more information, go to Mizuno's website and look over the various options available for women and men.  Please note that I received these shoes at no cost in exchange for a small fee compensation, review and social media shares. All opinions and photos in the post are my own and not in any way influenced by Mizuno.  I am an avid runner and want to provide feedback, whether positive or negative, to other runners out there so they too can find products and gear that can benefit them and keep them on the road longer.

Planet Box: The Environmentally Friendly & Fully Functional Lunchbox!

So, as a mom, I'm always looking for family friendly products that make life easier for myself and my kiddos! And as a fitness and nutrition coach, I especially love finding products that help in that arena!  We must have 10+ lunch boxes and I don't know how many plates, cups, to go containers and tupperware but they're ALL plastic and none are something I considered environmentally friendly.  And that's another one of my big concerns, in addition to avoiding plastics because it's toxic, especially when you place hot food inside a plastic container!

So, with that said, it led me to seek out new options for packing and taking my kid's lunches! That's when I came across Planet Box!  Planet Box is a smart lunchbox that helps you pack well-balanced meals quickly for your kids AND yourself! I've used it and I use it for their lunches too!  AND it fits perfectly with my 21 Day Fix meal plan! The compartments are ideal for the serving size and I can keep my multiple little plastic containers at home!

PlanetBox comes in a variety of segmented stainless steel containers warrantied for 5 years. This means they can pretty much survive anything your kids will put them through and make it home in one piece.  There's a size for every type of eater and they're all non-toxic, non-leaching and free of BPA, phthalates and lead!

They're also fun to pack too! And my kids love swapping out the magnets on top. Some days we go for the jungle theme, other days they're more into marine life and sometimes we go plain!  I'm sure we'll be ordering more magnets in the future too!

Planetbox is also really easy to clean.  They're dishwasher safe and the stainless steel doesn't hold onto color or tastes left behind by foods such as pasta sauce, peanut butter, etc.  Eeeeww! Who wants that?

So, go check them out!  They have 3 different types of lunch boxes available.  I have the Rover, which has 5 smaller compartments, and there's also the Shuttle with two large deep compartments and the Launch with three large compartments.  Compare them here and see the differences side by side.

 They also have tons of other accessories you can water bottles, tons of bag choices, dipper containers, utensils and more!  They range in price from $39.95 to $59.95 and come with dipper containers too!

This Scale IS My Friend!

 So, most of you know I'm NOT a big fan of scales but the bottom line is, to keep your goals in check you NEED one. And hello.....New Year's Resolutions are around the corner so I'm sure you're all thinking about those goals too!

I don't weigh myself every day but I do weight myself a few times a week to monitor myself and stay on course.  Up until a few months ago, I've had a regular scale that just read weight.  

Weight is fine and all but it's best to have the big picture! Weight PLUS body fat, muscle mass, bone density, water and BMI truly define your progress and give you an accurate picture of your fitness.  The number on the scale when it comes to weight alone is NOT a good representation of your progress.  That's where the EatSmart scale comes in!

I got this scale, the Eatsmart Precicion Body Fat Scale Bathroom Scale w/ 400 lb Capacity and Step Off Technology, and now I don't even care what the number says when it comes to weight!  I'm  more concerned with muscle mass, fat percentage and my BMI.  And I can see that every time I step on it and every time my husband steps on it as well.

Below are a few shots of the scale and the different screens and information it shares.  The scale can hold up to 8 different user profiles and will recognize users as they step barefoot on the scale.

So, if you're on a weightloss or weightgain journey of your own, this is definitely a good investment.  It retails for over $59 but it's on sale now for $24.95 so jump on it!

Mizuno Running Shoes? Heck yeah!

If you know me, you know I'm an avid runner! Borderline addicted to it and it's most definitely my preferred form of therapy!  With that said, I go through running shoes QUICKLY and have tried pretty much every shoe out there in the last 10 years since I've been running.

This month I was finally able to try out a pair of Mizunos again!  I've had friends that swear by them but, for some reason, I hadn't tried another pair of Mizuno Wave Riders since the Wave Rider 16! I've received running shoes for birthdays and holidays and just settled for whatever others chose for me!

Well to my surprise, I think I have a new favorite...again! I remember loving my Wave Rider 16s but this latest model is AWESOME!!  I've worn my Mizuno Wave Rider 20 running shoes A LOT in the past two weeks and was able to use them on all different types of terrain.  I ran trails, streets, sidewalks, the beach and even on rocks for part of the way while running a trail/beach combo.

I'm happy to say the shoe gave me tons of support and stability and I didn't even have to wear the insoles that I've had to wear in the past with other running shoes that didn't seem to offer as much support as I needed.  The Wave Rider 20 is definitely more responsive and much smoother than the first pair I had years ago.  They're

The Mizuno Wave Rider 20 is lightweight, super flexible and fits perfectly around my foot.  I've had an Achilles tendon surgery in the past so some shoes just do not work with the way the scar tissue from that surgery formed afterwards but these fit just right.  They weren't too high on the back but and were just right when it came to hugging your heel and fitting snug.  The triple layer of mesh was great too, especially since many of my runs were on hot afternoons.

Mizuno outdid themselves by improving this shoe so much! If you're an avid runner that has yet to give Mizuno a shot, I'd highly suggest you try out the new Wave Rider 20s.  Worth every penny and you'll be pleasantly surprised! To check them out and get yourself a pair in any of the 3 color combos available head over to Mizuno's website!

This is a sponsored post. I received a free pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 20 in exchange for this blog post. Although it is sponsored, the opinions reflected here are my own.

Two of my Favorite Al Fresco Sausage Recipes

Sausage!  One of my family's favorite food to grill and have for dinner because there are SO many different ways to enjoy it! You can grill them, serve them over pasta, pair them with veggies, have them as a sandwich! Now... the KEY is to find a sausage that is not only tasty but is also clean and preferably chicken.

As a health and fitness coach, I want to feed my family only the best and I was pretty excited when I was asked to try Al Fresco's Sweet and Smokey BBQ sausages!  They are made with lean, skinless chicken meat, 30% less sodium than all pork sausage and gluten free!  Plus they're already fully cooked so they're ideal for a quick and easy meal!

When we have sausage, they're usually grilled on the BBQ, whether they're raw or fully cooked, because it gives them an extra yummy flavor, but when we had these, we just tossed them for a few minutes in a skillet and they were ready to eat!  I've made them a few ways in the past week and below are two of the recipes that were a hit with the family! One is over salad and the other is over clean and healthy carbs!

Sausage Summer Salad

• Al Fresco Sweet & Smokey BBQ sausage
• Spring mix salad blend
• Sliced grape tomatoes
• Sliced cucumbers
• Sliced peppers

Slice the sausage and saute in a skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, then set aside.  Add the spring mix salad blend (spinach, arugula, baby greens, etc) in a bowl.  Add tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.  Add the sausage on top. Toss in balsamic vinegar, a hint of olive oil, lime juice and enjoy! Pair with a baked sweet potato if you'd like to add some clean and healthy carbs to your meal!

Sausage, Quinoa and Spaghetti Squash

• Al Fresco Sweet & Smokey BBQ sausage
• Small spaghetti squash
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1/2 can Italian chopped tomatoes
• favorite seasoning

Slice the sausage add it to a skillet along with the chopped tomatoes.  Saute the sausage and tomatoes in the skillet for 5 to 7 minutes.  Remove and set aside.  

To make the spaghetti squash, slice the squash in half, take out the seeds and loose interior as you would a pumpkin, then place face down on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool when done, then scrape out the "spaghetti" with a fork.  Set aside.

While the spaghetti squash is cooking, make your quinoa.  Place the quinoa in a skillet with 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water.  Bring it to a boil, cover and simmer until all liquid is absorbed.  When done, set aside.  

After sausage, spaghetti squash and quinoa is done, it's time to make your dish! First place spaghetti squash on a plate. Top with some quinoa and blend slightly.  Then top with sausage and tomatoes, then serve and enjoy! 

These are just two of the many recipes you can enjoy with Al Fresco sausages!  If you'd like to see more, head over to the Al Fresco Summer Sweepstakes and vote for your favorite one! You'll find lots of grilling recipes using the Sweet & Smokey BBQ variety I used above in my recipes and if you vote, you'll be entered to win $500 PLUS a high quality grill valued at $500 as well!  If you have a recipe of your own, you can also enter it into the contest!  Click HERE to see the recipes, vote and enter! Contest runs from June 20th through July 31, 2016.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of al fresco. The opinions and text are all mine.

Mamma Chia Giveaway!

I've been telling you guys about my love of Mamma Chia products for some time now and I'm SUPER excited to announce a Mamma Chia giveaway! I am OBSESSED with their granola clusters and vitality bars! The kiddos and I love the Squeezes and my hubby is addicted to the beverages!  All good stuff and good stuff for you!  AND all stuff you can win!! 

One lucky winner will receive OVER $100 in delicious Mamma Chia treats!

You'll get a variety of:
--Mamma Chia Granola Clusters
--Mamma Chia beverages
--Mamma Chia Squeezes
--Mamma Chia Vitality Bars 🎉🎉🎉 

To enter, do each of the following as often as you'd like to be entered:

1. Like this photo

2. Tag as many friends in the comments as you'd like who you think would love Mamma Chia & who inspire you to be healthy

3. Follow @Fit_Fluential_Mom on Instagram

4. Follow @MammaChia on Instagram

5. Repost this photo and tag me (@fit_fluential_mom) & @MammaChia in it on Inst

6.  Get bonus entries for liking the Mamma Chia Facebook page and FitFluentialMom's Facebook page.

You must follow each account, repost, tag friends and repost in order to win

This giveaway ends on Monday June 13th at 12pm PST, winner announced by Wednesday June 15th at 12pm PST. Good luck!

Now for the legal mumbo jumbo! Valid for US residents only. This contest is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's term of use

My Latest Favorite Gadget! The Foreo Issa Hybrid!

If you know me, you know I love my gadgets! Gadgets for the kitchen, the RV, my workouts and especially beauty gadgets! Not much of a make up kind of girl but I enjoy trying out new gadgets that help with hygiene, skin care and dental care! White, clean, healthy teeth are a must and I've been on the hunt for a really good electric toothbrush since I bought my first one about 10  years ago.

In that time span, I've tried pretty much every type of Sonicare, Oral B and Phillips electric toothbrush and I haven't been too impressed with any of them.  One of my biggest pet peeves is the battery life. It only lasts a few uses and I always had to keep the charger on my bathroom counter tops which, for this OCD girl, is not a good thing!  Other pet peeves were the head softening up in just a few weeks and needing replacement and water and mold collecting between the head and the base no matter how much I rinsed it.

So, with that said, I've been on the search for a solid electric toothrush for SOME time now and I was elated when I came across the FOREO!  It  has a unique design that's much more compact than the typical electric toothbrush and they make different versions of it for every member of your family! I have the ISSA Hybrid but they also carry a standard Foreo ISSA and even an ISSA Mini for kids that I can't wait to check out too! That's next on my list of gadget purchases!

So, why do I love this toothbrush so much and plan on getting one for each member of my family? Here are just a few of the reasons!

SUPER Long Battery Life
1.  One of my favorite aspects is the battery life and charge time!  Where as most electric toothbrushes have to be charged up every few days, the FOREO ISSA lasts for up to 365 uses!  If you brush two times per day, this means you only have to charge it twice a year! Say what???? That makes this girl SUPER happy. Charger is put away beneath the sink and I can keep my toothbrush in the medicine cabinet until it's next use!  Another perk to this is that I can travel with it without having to worry about bringing the charger and cord with me. We travel often so this is a big bonus!

Silicone and Standard Bristles
2.  The combination of silicone and PBT polymer bristles in the ISSA Hybrid is something I've never tried in a toothbrush before and at first, I wasn't too sure how I'd feel about it. But after trying it, I love the way it feels and cleans my teeth and so do my kids after trying mine.  The silicone bristles are not as abrasive as standard bristles on electric toothbrushes yet they're effective in cleaning teeth without damaging the gums. The silicone bristles are also a better choice hygienically when compared to standard bristles because they aren't porous and harbor less bacteria due to their natural properties.

Sleek Design
3. The ISSA Hybrid's design is another favorite.  It's much smaller than the other electric toothbrushes on the market today and easier to hold.  It is also designed in a similar fashion to dentist tools where the top comes off easily with a pull and there's no gap or area for water or mold to collect.

Vibrations
4. One of the main reasons to get an electric toothbrush is for the vibrations.  They help reach deeper around teeth and inside crevices and help loosen plaque. With most standard electric toothbrushes, there are just one to three settings at most.  The ISSA Hybrid has 8 levels of intensity so you find your level of comfort easily with the + or - buttons on the base.  The ISSA Hybrid will even remember your preference for the next time you use it! Another bonus, especially for those of us that can brush our teeth for an hour if I don't pay attention, the ISSA Hybrid shuts off after 3 minutes to prevent overuse.

Waterproof
5.  Last but not least, I LOVE that it's completely waterproof unlike my last 2 electric toothbrushes. All you do is seal the charging port and you can keep it in the shower since you don't nee do charge it for up to 6 months!  Now that is something that really sold me on it since I brush my teeth in the shower 90% of the time!

So, for those of you looking to check out a new gadget and especially if you care about your dental hygiene (and really, how can you now???) give the FOREO a try!  You'll save a lot of time and money too since the heads only need to be replaced once or twice per year where as the others need replacing every few months, if not more often!

For 15% off PLUS free shipping to check out any of the Foreo ISSAs or ISSA Minis, use ISSA05BB through June 30, 2016!

And if you have babies in the home, you can take advantage of a special promotion that won't be available for long! You can get an ISSA toothbrush + a Hybrid head + an ISAA Mikro AND 2 chargers!  All for $169! Check out the micro and get the deal here ===>>> ISSA Micro

Baked Zucchini Chips: 21 Day Fix Approved & Paleo Friendly!

I love chips but they aren't the healthiest things out there to eat. So, these are a good substitution for me!  Try them out!

Baked Zucchini Chips

Ingredients

• Zucchini (sliced thin)
• Olive oil or melted coconut oil 
• Salt or no salt seasoning

Instructions
1.  Slice zucchini as thin as you can with the knife but avoid the mandolin slice (too thin)

2. Toss zucchini in a bowl and mix all ingredients together gently.  Avoid using too much oil so you don't make them soggy. The more slat you use, the more they'll shrink.

3.  Line a baking sheet with either aluminum foil or parchment paper.  The parchment paper works well because it sucks most of the oil out.

4.  Place zucchini on a baking sheet without touching and bake for 30 minutes.

5.  Take out zucchini and flip them over.

6.  Bake for another 30 minutes or so, depending on how thick or thin you sliced the zucchini.  Some ovens take longer than others so test them out and see how you like them.  They tend to over cook and burn fast so keep an eye on them!

7. When done, take them out, cool for a few minutes and enjoy! If you want to add some extra flavor, toss them in some parmessan cheese!

Super Cool Chore Chart for Kids!

If you have kids, you know how hard it can be to get them to do their chores. Money, toys, outings....it seems no bribe is enticing enough to get them to do them and do them regularly!  And not that we should be bribing them anyway right?! Well, I found an app that not my daughter not only looked forward to using AFTER completing her chores, she initiated doing them and asked if she could so more!!

Chore Monster is the app I'm talking about and I totally found it as a fluke! It popped up as one of those annoying Facebook ads and something told me I should click on it!  Glad I did! So, here's what it is and what it does!

You create the chores your kids need to do, assign a point value and then choose how often they need to be done. Your kids then have to check off when they're done (and you can choose to verify this and "accept" completion or not!).  Once the chore is complete, they get the points and, after earning points, obnoxious little animated monsters and rewards YOU create motivate your kids to keep going!

Best part...the app is FREE!! And it's available on Android and iPhone. So, check it out here  and if you'd like more information and a more extensive review, click here.

Top 10 + Benefits of Shakeology

Ok a little disclaimer first....I have to give credit to my friend Leslie who tried to get me to drink Shakeology for AT least a year and I was stubborn. I refused to give up my protein shake for Shakeology for a variety of reasons, the main one being cost.  I couldn't justify spending $3-4 per day on a nutrition shake when mine ended up only costing about $1 day.  I was happy with my protein shake and I don't like change.

Well, fast forward a few years and, after meeting an Elite Diamond Beachbody Coach, I became her social media manager and started helping her promote Beachbody and Shakeology. Well, this is when I started to really learn about Shakeology and see the many benefits it provides. So, I decided to give it a shot.  What can I lose? They offer a bottom of the bag guarantee so, if I'm not happy, even if I finish the whole bag, I can return it and get my money back!  So I tried it.....and so did my husband....and we are elated!! Not only does it totally justify kickin' my $4 per day Starbucks habit for this, the benefits far out weigh those of ANY other nutritional shake on the market!

The incredible difference it has made in our lives (and our kids' lives) is amazing.  Both of us have more energy, don't have that bloated feeling you get with a typical protein shake, we've each lost 4 lbs (after drinking it every morning for 2 weeks!) and (TMI alert) we are regular again after not being so regular due to the protein shake we used to drink!!  Now this is just the beginning.  Below you'll find another set of reasons that are CLINICALLY PROVEN and further explain why YOU should be drinking Shakeology.  And below that, you'll see some of my favorite Shakeology recipes! Enjoy and, if you want more information on Shakeology, contact me via this LINK.  By purchasing it through me, you get FREE fitness coaching, meal plans, grocery lists, recipes and much more!

1. Boost your immune system
2. Increase energy
3. Aids in digestion
4. Boosts metabolism
5. Curbs unhealthy cravings
6. Helps build and repair muscle
7. Support brain function to help improve focus
8. Promotes healthy skin, hair and nails
9. Help reduce anxiety symptoms
10. Low glycemic index food
11. Gluten Free and Non-GMO
12. Vegan options

In addition to the benefits it can provide adults, Shakeology has also been proven to improve mental focus and ADD/ADHD symptoms in children! How many nutritional shakes out there are even safe for children to drink?  Click on this LINK for a peek into an online forum of mothers discussing the wonders Shakeology has made in their kids' lives.  And Shakeology has even been proven to help improve focus in autistic children. 

Do you need any more reasons to drink it? How about the delicious recipes you can make with it!