Last month, we checked in with Kara right after qualifying for the Olympic marathon team with a great, third place finish at the Trials. This month, we asked you on Facebook what you would ask Kara if given a chance. Below are several of those questions that I recently sat down with Kara to ask…
How did change coaches affect your running this year? It was very difficult at first to leave my coach because I had been with him for 7 years. But after I made a decision which coach to switch too, I felt totally rejuvenated and excited about the future. I had been feeling stale and not really sure iF I wanted to keep running at such a high level, but switching coaches totally refreshed me and I’m feeling the most passionate about my career that I ever have.
How do you balance being a wife and mother with your training?
I try to be 100% committed to whatever it is I am doing at the time. When I’m training, I am focused on being the best athlete I can be. When I am with Colt I am completely focused on being the best mother to Colt and not having any distractions from spending time with him. My running makes me happy, which makes me a better and more focused mother. Being a mother gives me better perspective on running and therefore I appreciate it more than I did before.
What is your favorite post-race food/drink? After a hard workout I eat pretty normally, and Nutrilite Quick Recover shake or Protein Shake followed by a sandwich or big salad. After a long run I love to have brunch. After a race I crave a burger or nachos.
What is your go-to song when you hit the wall while racing? Well, when I’m racing I don’t listen to music. But sometimes when I’m training on my own I listen to music. I listen to a ton of different stuff, but The Black Eyed Peas – Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night – always fires me up a bit.
How are you preparing for London this summer? Everything in 2012 is based around a hard, aggressive marathon at the Olympic Games on August 5th. Right now I am going through a phase where I am trying to hone in on my closing speed. April will be all about mileage. And then May, June, and July will be all marathon workouts. It’s a very disciplined year with one big goal.
What motivates you to keep going on those long distance runs?
There are times when I want to stop and feel tired. But I always think about what my goals are. I remind myself that it is my choice to be out there. There have been times when I have been injured and could not be out running and I hated it. I am on a journey to see what I can get out of myself. Everyday is a chance to get closer to my goals. I just have to remind myself of that.
If you really don’t like to run, what process would you suggest to include it in your workouts? If you really don’t like to run, make sure that you aren’t forcing it. Only run as much as you can stand. It shouldn’t be punishment, it should make you feel empowered. Focus on your weight training or cross training and only supplement in as much running as you feel comfortable with. Keep it light, no need to do something you really don’t want to do!
Thanks Kara for your great insights! We’ll chat again next month. If there is something you want to ask our star runner, comment on the blog.
During Amway’s three year sponsorship of the Miss America Organization, I have been blessed with meeting a ton of amazing and inspiring women! One of the many things that never stops amazing me about the women of this organization is their commitment to health. You couldn’t pay me enough to be seen on national television in just a swimsuit. But, after spending multitudes of hours and meals with the pageant participants, I can tell you that they have worked for every minute of abdominal baring glory.
One amazing contestant in particular, Bree Boyce, Miss South Carolina 2012, even lost a whopping 110 pounds before winning her state pageant. Bree struggled most of her childhood with obesity, weighing 234 pounds at age 17. Her key to success? A complete lifestyle change that included committing to exercise and a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Miss South Carolina, Bree Boyce, onstage at the 2012 Miss America Pageant
Some time ago, I was fortunate enough to visit Nutrilite Health Institute’s Center for Optimal Health. During my visit, I experienced a number of tests to gauge the current state of my health including a bone density scan. While I’m happy to say the results of my tests were largely positive, I was able to identity and area for improvement I would have never suspected – Bone Health.
(The Nutrilite Health Institute Center for Optimal Health)
Like many men, I’d assumed that bone health was more of an issue for women than it was for men. But as I sat in the Doctor’s office with my test results I got a bit of a wake up call. While I don’t have a specific bone condition, I was stunned to know that my bones fell outside the target levels for a person of my age. I can still recall the Doctor’s direction – shape up or run the risk of my (future) children asking “what’s that crackling sound daddy?”
Since that experience, I’ve kept an eye out for foods that would support my bones and added bone health supplements to my routine. While many of these foods were a surprise to me (thanks in part to years of milk commercials) I’m happy to share my favorite bone-boosting foods (in order of preference) below:
Kiwis:Like bananas, this fuzzy fruit is high in bone-protecting potassium. They’re also rich in vitamin C and lutein, a carotenoid that can help reduce the risk of heart disease. I frequently blend these into my post workout smoothies and you can even freeze them for a refreshing energy kick. Try these without peeling the skin: It’s edible and packed with nutrients.
Artichokes: This fiber-rich plant contains more bone-building magnesium and potassium than any other vegetable. Its leaves are also rich in flavonoids and polyphenols—antioxidants that can help cut the risk of stroke—and vitamin C, which helps maintain the immune system. Ripe ones feel heavy for their size and squeak when squeezed.
Bok Choy: Bok choy is rich in bone-building calcium, as well as vitamins A and C, folic acid, iron, beta-carotene, and potassium. Potassium keeps your muscles and nerves in check and can even help lower your blood pressure. Shoot for a cup a day.
Dried Plums:Also known as prunes, they’re rich in copper and boron, both of which can help limit the risk for osteoporosis. They also contain a fiber called inulin, which, when broken down by intestinal bacteria, makes for a more acidic environment in the digestive tract that facilitates calcium absorption. Enjoy four or five a day to strengthen your bones and boost your energy.
Oysters: Shellfish, in general, are an excellent source of zinc, calcium, copper, iodine, iron, potassium, and selenium. They aren’t my favorite, but they’re loaded with powerful nutrients.
Good health starts with what we choose as fuel for our bodies. Fresh, whole foods can make all the difference and supplements like the NUTRILITE® Ultimate Bone Health Solution can help to fill the gaps to ensure you’re getting the key nutrients you need.
Stay healthy my friends!
Matthew Darin is married and looking forward to growing his family in Ada, MI. He is an Assistant Brand Manager for Amway’s Nutrilite brand with past experience in Weight Management, Fitness and Children’s Nutrition. He enjoys living a healthy and active lifestyle, outdoor activities like running and camping and is an avid professional football fan.
If you’ve read the John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, it clearly is not about mice at all. But rather that the characters George and Lennie were like mice caught in a maze of life.
There have been many, many studies on mice and I prefer to think of these hairy creatures as rodents benefitting scientific advancements rather than as merely uninvited house guests. They say that mice are genetically similar to humans, which is probably the reason for being the model of choice for experiments. They are used for testing safety of chemical ingredients, used in education and biological research to name a few.
Studies in the news have shown the remarkable effects of mice and vitamin supplementation. Research at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, found that a concoction of vitamins proved very beneficial to a test group of mice. One group of mice was fed a cocktail of supplements while the other group was not, and the difference was clear.
It was not just the statistical data presented, it was more so the astonishing video taken of two mice who were said to be the same age. In human life they would be approximately 75 years old. The one that had not taken supplements looked “old” with a rather hunched back, loss of greying hair and moving rather slowly. The other was clearly acting half its age or, as the article suggests, “like restless teenagers.” It looked younger. The fur was soft, brown, full and it had more energy as it squirmed about. Other evidence of the mouse’s brain showed less generation of free radicals causing aging making them “get smarter”. While it could take years to go to clinical studies in humans, the same test on crickets has shown to double their lifespan.
Still not a believer? Experience the benefits of supplementation yourself. Try one of Amway’s Nutrilite supplements and feel the benefits. Amway has a 180 day 100% customer satisfaction guarantee and has been rated the #1 overall brand based on customer satisfaction. So what have you got to lose?
Joan is the Health & Beauty Marketing Supervisor for Amway Canada. She is a wife and proud mom of two wonderful teenage daughters. Joan enjoys exploring new healthy recipes, photography and working out to funky tunes while on her elliptical.
Rather than give a timeline that paints a blow by blow of our recent two-day production session with Amway’s Nutrilite brand MVP Kurt Warner as I have done in the past, I decided to tote my own flip camera around both days. Mind you, I am no James Cameron or Steven Spielberg but between being the guy who had to make sure we were getting exactly the content we wanted, spending 30 minutes of the shoot as an off camera interviewer of Kurt, and schlepping props and products around in Sun Devil Stadium, it was the best I could do.
It should provide a cool look behind the scenes. A lot goes into these shoots. For example:
Weather. We were shooting outside, and had to get a great day (of course we did, it was Phoenix in January!).
The elements. Not the weather elements, but things like being in the glide path for Sky Harbor International, or people ignoring the signs and walking through the stadium (the backdrop for our entire shoot).
Adjustments. Scripts and scenes and wardrobe… all of it changes a lot and fast to stay on a schedule.
Crew. There were a lot of us. Everyone had a role. Mine is to ensure we captured the essence of the partnership and Amway and Nutrilite brands within the personality of Kurt and for the target audience for each piece.
Despite the work, you’ll see that there is time for fun – catch with Kurt between set ups, or even being the off camera receiver of some of his bullets. By the way, there is normal, former pro zip to each pass and then when promoted there is “you better have receiver gloves on or you will drop the pass AND get blisters” zip!
I’ve narrowed this video down to the first day only as day two was on location and for viral video purposes. Trust me, there was great stuff catpured there, but I can’t spill the beans and share any of that right now. You’ll just have to wait!
For now, enjoy this sometimes bumpy, low quality, can’t really hear anything but can see a lot version of a day on set with Kurt Warner.
As my son turns 16 next month, I have spent the past year on many short and long driving lesson excursions. During these “lessons” I give a lot of driving tips to my son. Now that Winter has finally hit West Michigan – my son is experiencing the slips and slides of driving on snow and ice. My most common tip for him this winter has been to “slow down” (over and over).
Driving in the winter is a new experience for all of us until after the first few snowfalls – like riding a bike. Here are a few tips that serve me well as I go about life on the wintery roads of Michigan!
Buckle Up! I like to think that everyone does this every time they get into a car – but all you have to do is read the paper and accident reports state otherwise.
Keep both hands on the wheel! As I tell my son – this is a good driving habit (and why his car has a driving console).
Check your windshield wipers and washer fluid! There is a reason that gas stations stock that stuff all over the place in the winter. Also, this a good job for a new driver (and something they can figure out how to do on their own when Mom doesn’t have a clue but pretends to).
Scrape Ice and Snow from every window of the vehicle. I brought my son up to never call anyone stupid – it is just not a nice word. However, during the past year – I have used the word to describe some drivers we have seen on the road. After a good snowfall, there always seems to be a few people on the road that couldn’t find their scraper, a broom, or even an old fashioned hand to clear off their windows.
Move a night trip to daylight hours. My parents live 2.5 hours North of my house. We try to drive up during the day to avoid deer, travel on better road conditions, and drive with more alertness. As I get older – I don’t have the stay awake brain I used to have for night driving. Thankfully, I always have XS Energy Gum with me – it has the same caffeine as a small cup of coffee and B vitamins to give me that extra kick when I need it! And, XS Energy Gum is convenient and easy to carry anywhere so I can get that quick boost I need for night driving or my niece’s dance recital.
Have a safe winter full of energy!
Jennifer is the proud mother of an active teenage boy and enjoys watching his sporting events, spending time with family and friends and doing anything outdoors. She is an Associate Brand Manager in Health Marketing and has been with Amway for 10 years.
I really enjoy a good night’s sleep and in my lifetime I’ve always been able to sleep easily. They say you should indulge in good habits of getting to bed at the same time each night, even on the weekends. To get the best sleep it is also suggested to sleep in a cool, dark room. This means lowering your thermostat in your house at night which also has heating cost saving benefits too. The curtains should be closed to avoid those moonlit nights or street lights beaming through that may cause you to stay awake. The clock, you know, the ones with a digital light display that could land planes, should be dimmed or better yet turned around. Of course your mattress should be one of quality and suited to your needs. After all, you spend a third of your life here. And despite doing all these things to promote an environment of relaxation your partner could be the culprit to sleepless nights if they snore or steal the blankets as my husband claims I do.
I know of friends who survive on 4-5 hours sleep while others claim 9 hours in their preferred norm. There are even studies to show that teenagers need extra sleep so parents, it’s not really that they are lazy, sleeping in till noon on weekends. At least that’s my daughter’s story. But so many things happen in your sleep that we are not consciously aware. Rest is what your body needs to recharge. When you sleep you’re taking in your day’s nutrients and your body is repairing itself. A single night without proper sleep can lead to the inability to mentally or physically function properly the next day not to mention you’ll look sluggish (hence the term beauty sleep) and let’s face it…we’re just plain cranky without our sleep. Research shows that chronic sleep deprivation leads to a whole serious of potential medical conditions including stress and heart disease. It can also lead to unnecessary spending on the home shopping channel late at night! So benefit your health (and pocketbook) by getting your sound sleep each night.
For the occasional times you need a little help, NUTRILITE® Sleep Health can come to your aid. It’s a safe, natural way to fall asleep faster and stay asleep. As I write this I am having a rather unusual sleepless night and thus opted to write this blog seeing as staring at the ceiling wasn’t helping and did I mention I was out of NUTRILITE Sleep Health?. As teens we used to boast about “pulling an all-nighter” staying awake, but as I look at the clock in the wee hours unable to sleep, an all-nighter is clearly not on my agenda of achievements this evening, or rather this morning. It’s 4:30am have a few hours to catch what’s left of my beauty sleep. Thank goodness for ARTISTRY® concealers!
Joan is the Health & Beauty Marketing Supervisor for Amway Canada. She is a wife and proud mom of two wonderful teenage daughters. Joan enjoys exploring new healthy recipes, photography and working out to funky tunes while on her elliptical.
Amway’s Nutrilite brand is proud to partner with Kara Goucher, one of the elite female distance runners in the U.S.. I took some time to catch up with her this week, fresh off of her solid third place finish and qualifying time/finish for the 2012 Summer Games. Kara will be stopping by once a month to provide her thoughts on the Nutrilite products she trusts and relies on to perform at her best.
Andy: First off, congratulations Kara on a great performance in Houston! For those of us who can’t imagine running a 5K let alone a 26.2 mile race with the Olympics on the line, what does it feel like to cross that finish line and know you’ve accomplished such a lofty goal?
Kara: It is always an emotional experience for me to finish a marathon. Not only does it take so much work and preparation, but you are completely exhausted when you finish. I am always emotional and Saturday was no different. This has been a particularly stressful year for me, so to be able to shut out the doubts, maintain my composure, and make my second Olympic team was a feeling of relief and joy.
Andy: What does a typical week of training look like for you?
Kara: I am on a 12 day cycle. I have two easy days where I lift weights and run twice a day followed by a hard workout day. I run three very hard workouts during the 12 day cycle but usually do a double run every day. I run a lot!
Andy: Does that training change when a race like an Olympic qualifier or say Boston is on the horizon?
Kara: This is my marathon training. I might do less recovery days and more up-tempo days when training for the track. But this is a very typical buildup for the marathon, no matter what marathon it is.
Andy: How do you incorporate Nutrilite products into your daily regimen?
Kara: I drink a LOT of ROC2O Sports Drink Mix. That is all that was in my water bottles in Houston, plain and simple good carbs to get me through the race. I also use the protein shakes after my hard runs to aide my recovery and sometimes use endurance cubes to help me get through longer training sessions. I also love taking my Nurilite supplements to know that I am covering any diet gaps I might have.
Andy: What are your favorite three Nutrilite products and IF you could only take one, which one would you take?
Kara: ROC2O is my favorite and most important being a marathoner. I could not train or race without it. I also love my Double X multivitamin, I know that my nutritional needs are being met when I take it. I also like all of the twist tubes. I drink a lot of water so I like flavoring my water with the Twist Tubes. It makes the water taste great and I get the added health benefits associated with the different varieties.
Andy: What’s next for you now that you have qualified for London?
Kara: Now I get to have some fun! I am looking forward to some track races and shorter road races. But I am also really excited about having the time to put in the proper training necessary to run my best marathon yet. This preparation was short due to an injury, but now I have my health and plenty of time to get myself in the best shape possible.
Andy: Any words of wisdom for someone training for their first marathon?
Kara: Enjoy the experience! Don’t hold a time goal over your head the first time. Get out there and get through it. It will change your life. Enjoy the journey!!!
Thanks Kara and best of luck as you train for the ultimate goal. We’ll check back with you next month.
When we look back at our unique journeys through life, the path is often marked with a flow of “Firsts” – First day of school, First car, First child, and so on.. Many of these “Firsts” conjure up positive, life changing and exciting, if not a little awkward, events (…if only I would have tilted my head to the right instead of the left, perhaps my first kiss would have been more magical and less of a collision…).
Some “Firsts” are not always positive experiences and I had one with my doctor. I have always been active in my life and, at some level, held inward pride in my ability to seemingly stay in reasonable shape and keep weight off through most of my 20’s and 30’s. The thought was, “two double cheeseburgers and a large fries please”…and I’ll run it off later. As I hit 40, I had my “First” bad meeting with a doctor – “You have high cholesterol levels and it wouldn’t hurt you to lose a couple pounds…”
“What!” My precious ego sank to my gut with the cheeseburgers and I had the realization for the “First” time that exercise was not enough. It was time for me to focus on my nutrition.
To start I began to do research on what is truly good nutrition. Eating more fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and fiber while reducing animal fats and sweets seems like common knowledge now (should you choose to follow it is another story). However, it is amazing what even a small shift in diet to include more of these good foods can do for your health. You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference, just start heading in the right direction.
The other big areas to consider making a huge difference in your health with little sacrifice is drinking more water and taking supplements you need to fill gaps in your diet. In my case, I “First” began taking a multivitamin everyday, as well as, an Omega 3 fish oil supplement after my wonderful meeting with the doc. After one year of making these small steps in improving my diet, and taking some basic supplements I lowered my cholesterol almost 40 points and significantly lowered my LDL (“bad” cholesterol) while raising my HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels.
As Marketing Director of Nutrition for Amway’s Nutrilite brand, I have a great platform to help others with their health goals through good food education and the best supplementation options. If you are looking to start with supplementation, I recommend Nutrilite Double X and Nutrilite Heart Health Omega. I take both and feel it has made a real difference.
See what some nutrition “Firsts” can do for your health!
Mark Nelson is a proud husband and father of two very active children. He is the Marketing Director for Amway’s Nutrilite brand in Ada MI. He enjoys living a healthy and active lifestyle, working on ’69 GTO’s and learning more about Gen Y social media habits.
As the temperature outside plummets (at least here in Michigan) parents are doing all they can to bundle up their children to protect them from the elements. Even without the change in weather, January represents a spike in the cold and flu season making hand washing and proper supplementation critical for both children and parents alike.
While most parents do all they can to protect their children on the outside (e.g. jackets, hats, mittens, scarves, boots, umbrellas, etc.) many miss easy ways to protect their little ones from the inside out. Thankfully the experts at Amway and Nutrilite have put together some great products that can fill the nutritional gaps that could otherwise leave our kids feeling less than optimal.
The essentials for every season:
A daily multivitamin: this is essential for both children and adults and establishing a healthy supplement routine early in life can yield great benefits as children grow. The NUTRILITE® Kids MultiTarts Chewable Multivitamin is a great option for kids – they taste great and are packed with 19 vitamins and minerals, plus four all-natural fruit concentrates
New! NUTRILITE Kids SEASONAL STRENGTH™ Probiotic is a natural way to support your children’s immune systems through every season. You may not immediately think of immune health and your child’s digestion as partners, but the fact is that the digestive tract, airways and lungs are the first line of immune defense! This product delivers a natural probiotic strain encourages the growth of naturally healthy bacteria and unlike other probiotics, it contains 12 mg of vitamin C from one of nature’s most concentrated sources: acerola cherries grown on Nutrilite certified-organic farms.
For more information on this exciting new product, check out the informative product placemat or video!
BODY SERIES® 2-in-1 Foaming Hand Sanitizer: washing hands is critical for staying healthy and the patented formulation of this 2-in-1 foaming hand sanitizer is designed to kill 99.99% of harmful germs in 15 seconds! It’s safe for kids and will leave the whole family’s hands soft and healthy.
Resolve to keep your family healthy through this New Year!
Matthew Darin is married and looking forward to growing his family in Ada, MI. He is an Assistant Brand Manager for Amway’s Nutrilite brand with past experience in Weight Management, Fitness and Children’s Nutrition. He enjoys living a healthy and active lifestyle, outdoor activities like running and camping and is an avid professional football fan.
