Why I Left Nike+

For those who haven’t seen it, I did a review of the Nike+ FuelBand when it first came out.  Don’t read it.  I’ll save you the trouble.  That’s not to say the review wasn’t good, but it’s not relevant anymore.  I’ve decided to move on from the FuelBand and Nike+ (not quite 100%), and it seems like Nike has sort of decided the same thing.

For background, the FuelBand was a sought-after piece of wearable fitness tech.  It tracked your daily activity in units called NikeFuel that weren’t as direct as steps or calories (though it could track those, too) like other fitness trackers (FitBit, Jawbone Up, etc).  It was on the more expensive side, but had a great, fun app and large ecosystem since Nike+ had been around for years and was a thriving community of runners (mostly).  Nike+ devices were all over the place since many iPods, iPhones and Nike shoes were ready to track activity right out of the box (or with a $20 footpod inserted into them).  Nike partnered with TomTom on a GPS watch, too.  Basically, you had an existing community to add NikeFuel and the FuelBand to, unlike competitors who were starting from scratch.  That was attractive.

Nike+ website at 6:20am on 10/25/14

Fast forward two years, and Nike had iterated the FuelBand once (with the SE), yet didn’t add anything revolutionary to the mix (ok, much better battery life, BTLE, activity session tracking – which is both good and bad), and had basically stopped developing the Nike+ platform.  In fact, a key part of the FuelBand at launch was the little motivational mascot named Fuelie who you would unlock videos of based on how active you were.  He was hokey yet fun at the same time.  Fuelie videos disappeared from the app and site, and you basically started getting these weird badges and awards for odd things (you were active twice today), and often a different badge was awarded for the same thing (or seemingly the same – it was more confusing than it needed to be).  The site also became increasingly slow and unresponsive, or wouldn't load at all (see what it looked like the morning I posted this blog entry).  The performance issue seemed to be mixed for various users, and seemed to be tied to those with higher NikeFuel scores (I am at about 5.2 million right now).

The sessions functionality was perhaps the most maddening since you need to tell the FuelBand that you are working out.  Well, you don’tneed to, but you should so you can get more credit for your activity.  See, I am very active and typically earned 8-9k a day with my first gen FuelBand.  When I switched to the SE, I’d struggle to get to 3,500.  When I did 30-45 minutes of high intensity intervals on the elliptical, gen 1 would give me 1500 (or so) NikeFuel and the SE would give me 200-300.  They changed the algorithm supposedly to be more accurate (I brought this up to Nike and they kept telling me I was wrong and this was more accurate).  No way.  A 10 minute run was worth the same as 45 minutes on the elliptical?  Not possible.  And, yes, I use my arms on the elliptical.  They said I should use the Session feature since some activities get higher NikeFuel scores.  Great.  Well, only three activities do – running, swimming and cycling (I might be wrong on swimming).  Running is only slightly higher.  Cycling lets you assign an intensity rating that then dictates how much NikeFuel you get.  The problem there is in the descriptions.  Low intensity sounds like you basically are coasting, doing nothing.  Medium says you barely break a sweat, if at all.  High is hard work.  Well, I don’t do low or medium often since I generally sweat and make myself pant now and then, so everything is high for me.  But that high score seems too high relative to – again – what I do on the elliptical or running.  30 minutes of high cycling effort is over 1,000 NikeFuel, versus 600-800 for running and 200-300 for the elliptical.  No way.

And that would be lovely if I could actually set the parameters of each session, but I couldn’t do that online since the Nike+ portal would never load the session for me to edit.  I would have to sync the device, and then go to my iPhone and edit the session (I couldn’t do it all on my iPhone since I was testing iOS 8, and there was a Bluetooth issue that Nike had to fix, so you couldn’t sync the device via an iPhone – they’ve since fixed it).

Then the biggest let down, and the straw that broke the camel’s back for me came when I was doing the Canary Challenge.  103 miles of cycling with some very intense efforts.  I set a session to start as I left the start of the ride.  I shut the session down when I came through the finish several hours later.  I synced my device expecting to get like 20-30k NikeFuel.  I went to edit the intensity, but was told that you can’t edit intensity for sessions over 6 hours.  What?  Why?  Who decided that and for what purpose?  Net result – I got 11,311 NikeFuel for the entire day, with about 10,000 for the ride

.  Looking at my Strava account, I burned 5,262 calories on the ride.  Do you think I really only did 10k NikeFuel over 7ish hours?

So, I was left with something that wasn’t accurately capturing my efforts and took a lot of effort to deal with.  I realize these aren’t major life problems, but the issue is that this is meant to be a motivational tool.  Not only was it not motivating me anymore because of what was taken out of the system (both the reward of points and of videos and encouragement that made sense), but the effort you had to put into dealing with it was too high and getting higher, which was demotivating.  I had to retire my FuelBand (and actually sold it).  I wish it had worked out differently as I liked a lot of things about it (built in USB plus is BRILLIANT).  I made a switch, and am rocking a Garmin vivosmart, and really liking it.  It actually tells me to move if it senses that I’ve been inactive for certain amounts of time, and it seems to be fairly accurately tracking my steps regardless of what activity I do (not to mention it’s quasi-smart-watch feature set).  More on that in another post, but I wanted to update you on the FuelBand since I gave it such a glowing review early on.  With our health, we have to keep moving ahead and not lose focus or drive.  I feel Nike did that with the FuelBand, so I can’t recommend it as a tool to help you enlighten.your.body.

So Long, 35

A selfie on my final 35 year old morning

As I sit here on the last night that I'm 35, I thought it would be appropriate and a bit nice to reflect on the past year of my life.  It was a year filled with lots of trials (mentally and physically), tremendous growth, and was overall a great year.  Some people look back on a year of their life and are thankful it's over.  Some wish it wouldn't end and are sad to see it go.  I can't feel either way about 35, not because it didn't have reasons to make me feel either way, but because feelings like that don't set me up for positivity and success.  No, I'm leaving 35 feeling invigorated, glad to have lived this particular year, and excited for how it's prepared me for the years still to come.

This year saw the toughest year of my professional career, with politics at work getting the best of me, and my having to make a tough call to leave a job I truly loved and saw myself in for the long haul.  As they say, the toughest decisions are often the best.  Sure enough, I am in a new role with a new company that I'm extremely excited about, with lots of opportunity in front of me, and the power to make things happen.  I miss my old job and colleagues, but also know what I missed wasn't what it was anymore, and am feeling blessed to be where I am now.

My first (but not last) half marathon

I took on a physical challenge I never expected to do with a half marathon the week after my 35th birthday.  I never used to run, and even when I picked it up, I didn't expect to do more than 5K or 10K races.  In fact, the 10K I did a few months before turning 35 was so tough and unenjoyable, I figured I wouldn't do anything but 5Ks again if I even raced at all.  Not only did a I do a half, but I beat the goal time I had set for myself, and would have definitely beat my dream time if I didn't have a damaged tendon and broken bone in my left foot.  I have another one two weeks from my 36th birthday, and am feeling much better about my preparedness and injury status.

Speaking of injuries, while I did spend many months dealing with the injuries I mentioned above (I didn't really run consistently after the half for eight months, and was in an air cast for a while), this year marked the first in a while where I didn't have or wasn't recovering from surgery.  I've had some operation or recovered from one basically without interruption since 2008.  Two knee surgeries, back surgery and double hernia surgery over four and a half years, with a bout of swine flu thrown in the mix for good measure.  While I certainly had some injuries to recover from, my body did what it was made to do and healed and grew stronger.  My mind did, as well, as I learned a lot about smart training, evening out inequities in the body, and taking time when you need it.  I also learned about how much capacity I have to do things and do more of them - even when my mind tells me otherwise (the half had a lot to do with that learning).

My second, toughest century ride

I took on another century ride, and it was intense and challenging.  But I did it.  I don't get to train with real climbs, and this ride had a few very real, very long, very steep ones, but I powered through and passed those ahead of me.  My left knee was a bit of a victim, but I know what to do to get it back on track, and it's progressing nicely (and oddly isn't a problem when I run at all, so my next half is still safe).

With newbodi.es, I had a great year.  I got to do some really valuable continuing education. I coached an awesome young lady to a fantastic weight loss, but more importantly a new 'whole health' life that will absolutely endure.  I got to meet Dean Karnazes.  I became a FitFluential ambassador.  I also launched my video podcast and YouTube channel, and recorded 31 episodes, including doing a couple of great interviews of people I respect a ton (thanks again to Dai Manuel and Alex Hutchison for joining me).

On the home front, my family continued to deal with my wife's illness, yet also benefit from the learnings and health consciousness we've gained as a result.  Despite the hardships of it, we're also better off in terms of the food and healthcare choices we make.  I know I would be hard pressed to be as fit as I am if the woman across the table from me was eating junk, so my health is clearly benefitting from what my wife is doing to manage hers.

We also saw our son start elementary school, which was exciting and sad at the same time.  He's amazing, and loves school so much.  As a parent, it's hard not to be filled with joy and pride to see him so happy and thriving.

So, I'm not writing off 35.  I'm not lamenting or mourning its passing.  I'm thankful for the year I've had.  I'm excited for the years I will have.  I owe both of those feelings to what I lived while being 35 and how I grew while being 35.  My wife said it brilliantly when I told her about this post.  She said, "I see any year as a gift, and they all taught me things."  So true.  Be whatever age you are, be grateful for how you lived it and for what will come after it, and enlighten.your.body.

Review: Mizuno Wave Rider 18

the buildup

So for those who don’t know, I’m a huge Mizuno fan.  I never really thought about their shoes before becoming a runner, doing the typical American thing of paying attention to Nike, Adidas, Reebok and maybe New Balance.  Mizuno isn’t a big advertiser in the US, and I wasn’t into being other than sedentary for a good chunk of my life.  They’re actually pretty active in their specialist niches of baseball and golf, but still not hugely so in running (though they have some great grass roots campaigns like the Mezamashii Project and the “What If Everybody Ran” campaign where you run with their “baton” app and your miles translate into donations from Mizuno - 87,000 miles were run for charity in total this year!).

So if I wasn’t into or even really much aware of their products, how did I become a huge fan?  I follow the blog Runblogger (an absolute must-read for anyone even remotely interested in running), and I found that Pete, the owner/main writer, and I have very similar tastes in shoes.  He was a fan of the Adidas adiPure Gazelle, which I picked up based on his review, and was totally smitten.  So when he later reviewed a pair of Mizunos with similar kinds of things coming across in his description, I felt I needed to give them a try (my Adidas were wearing out much faster than I expected – the uppers were too loose at 40 miles of use, which is not cool at all), so I was keen to switch to something else).  That shoe was the Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris (just rolls off the tongue), which I picked up from Running Warehouse (great online retailer, by the way), and was really blown away.  Definitely read my review of the shoe – it’s one I continue to love on every run.  My one issue with it is that Mizuno discontinued the entire Evo line (their minimalist-style shoes).  They did a version 2.0 of two of the three Evo models, but never released it in the US, so I’ve been buying up whatever clearance stock I can find in my size of the 1.0 and 2.0 (found a European retailer that ships free to the US) in my size.  I prefer the 2.0 given some changes they made to the upper, but I literally can’t find it in my size at all anymore (I was able to get 2 pairs).

That’s enough background on why I love Mizuno, but I do.  So how did I end up reviewing this very traditional-looking shoe if I’m a minimalist kinda guy?  I’m a FitFluential ambassador, and was lucky enough to be chosen to receive a pair from Mizuno to review.  So here we are.  I’ve run in this shoe both inside on the treadmill and outside.  You can actually watch my treadmill run since I recorded an episode of my podcast doing a live review of the shoe.  I thought it would be a fun way to get my real first impressions of it as I was being firstly impressed upon by it.

Full disclosure: this pair of shoes was provided free of charge by Mizuno for the purpose of this review.  The views and opinions are my own.  And, as always, I’m never going to recommend something I don’t like or believe in, so know that what you’re reading is very real.

my impressions

The shoe is very nice.  It’s light(ish), very well constructed (seriously, I can’t imagine this thing biting the dust before 450 miles or more), stylish without being weird, and packed with useful technology.  The weight is just 9.2 ounces for a men’s size 9 (I sampled the 9.5, which is my typical size for Mizuno, but I generally wear a 10 in other brands).  In my video comparison, I talk a lot about the Saucony Kinvara.  I realized this isn’t a good comparison point (the Mizuno Wave Sayonara is probably more aimed at the Kinvara).  The Saucony Fastwitch is probably more accurate to compare the Wave Rider against.  In either case, the Saucony is lighter (the Kinvara is 1.5 ounces lighter – I’m not sure about the Fastwitch).  Saucony has done some pretty amazing things with the laws of physics to get their shoes sort of oddly light.  Mizuno did well enough, but Saucony definitely beats them on weight.  Still, I wouldn’t say I found the Wave Rider 18 to be heavy.  I’m about 6’2” and 180, so perhaps if I was a more, um, lithe man, I’d notice the weight more, but I don’t think that they’d ever be a problem.

Mizuno talks about Hado, a Japanese word that sums up their approach to the shoe.  It's about the vibrational life energy behind transformations.  What?  No, seriously, if you stop and think about it, this makes a lot of sense.  The technology and design approach all work together to give you a light shoe that transfers energy beautifully to move you through your run.  And running is transformative for your mind, body and soul.  Literally.  Seriously.  So the idea behind the design approach makes a lot of sense and it really shows in the shoe.  That said, I find that this shows in every Mizuno shoe, so this is really a case of the Rider not being an exception more than being some new breakthrough where Mizuno is hitting its stride (no pun intended).

As for the tech, the first thing I’d mention is the Wave plate.  But I’ll mention that second because we’re talking about weight.  A key tool Mizuno has been using to drive weight down is their U4ic (get it, “euphoric”?  Yes, I did look at it about a year ago, and say, “Huh?  You for eye see?”  I’m quick, apparently.)  U4ic is a foam Mizuno developed that’s thinner than traditional EVA, yet has similar (or better) absorption and energy return properties.  It replaced the AP+ foam they were using, and cuts 30% of the weight out versus AP+. The result is better cushion per ounce, allowing for the same cushion and spring with less weight.  Several brands have similar foam technologies employed.  They all have applied some marketing name to them.  I have U4ic on all Mizunos I run or have run in, and find it to be a really nice foam.

As for the Wave plate, that’s Mizuno’s thing, like Air is Nike’s (or Lunarlon, too).  It’s a plate that runs from the heel, then has two arms extending the mid-foot area (a Double Fan Wave, in Mizuno-speak - see the grayish area coming from the back through the middle of the shoe).  There's also a forefoot Wave plate.  The purpose is to provide a springy pop and transfer energy effectively through the shoe to aid your stride.  The version in the Evo line is in the mid-to-forefoot area of the shoe since they’re meant for toe striking, with no Wave plate in the heel.  I have found the Wave plate to do what it’s meant to do, and do think it’s a useful piece of technology.  I can’t say for certain since I have no way to run in the same shoe with and without the plate, but energy transfer on Mizunos has always felt great to me.  I describe my Cursoris as disappearing as I run faster – it’s like they come alive as you move quicker.  I think the Wave plate has a lot to do with that.  Here, it’s present in the heel, and visible when you look at the bottom of the shoe.  I felt a good energy transfer and a lively movement with the Wave Rider (and I did in the Wave Sayonara, which also has it in the heel).

The shoe also features Dynamotion Fit, which is Mizuno’s approach to shaping the shoe so that it stays with you through the entire stride, including striking and lift off.  It's more than just shaping, but also building the shoe to deal with the stress of striking so that it doesn't deform, and thus stays with you through the stride.  I don’t know what they’re doing specifically here, but I do know that I’ve never had an issue with Mizunos shifting around, slipping, etc.  I definitely have experienced that with other shoe brands.  So, whatever they do to make Dynamotion Fit a thing, it's working very well across their line, and the Wave Rider 18 is no exception.  Also, there’s no heel counter on this shoe, nor does it need one.  The heel is really nicely designed and shaped, and was super comfortable.  At least for me.  Overall, the shoe fits really well and that fit was maintained throughout the strike, meaning less chance of blisters or hot spots.

The upper features a good, breathable mesh.  I found my toes to be really comfortable in them, as in other Mizunos.  The mesh isn’t as open as in the Evo line (you can see your socks inside in Evos).  One major ding I gave the Gazelles and other adiPure shoes is how hot they get due to being closed lycra (or lycra-like) material.  Not an issue here.  My feet were nice and comfortable all around.  This is a bigger deal than you may think – hot feet are more likely to develop blisters and aches due to the sweating.

The last thing I’d mention is that the Wave Rider 18 was very forefootstrikable.  Yes, that’s a word.  OK, no it isn’t.  But I mean I could very easily toe strike in them.  That can be tough for a shoe shaped like this with such a big heel-toe-drop (12mm is what they’re reported to have, but it seems far less than that in person or when running).  For comparison sake, I had trouble toe striking in the Kinvara 4, and that is softer and has a much lower drop.  I had no trouble in the Wave Sayonara, either, so I’m thinking kudos are in order to Mizuno for building a traditional shoe that can accommodate different running styles so well.

So, essentially, you have a very nice shoe that fits well, has a good neutral approach (not over-built, not minimalist) that should do well for many runners, and is packed with features that really seem to benefit the performance while not adding a lot of weight.  Good stuff.

my depressions

The one thing that stuck with me through both the indoor and outside runs was how firm the shoe felt.  Now my comparison point may be a bit unfair since I generally run in minimalist shoes.  And by, “generally,” I mean, “exclusively unless I’m reviewing something.”  And my favorite shoes (anything in the Evo line) are so compliant that most traditional looking shoes are too firm to me.  The one exception I can think of is the Saucony Kinvara, but that’s known for being a pretty mushy shoe (that’s usually the main thing people don’t like about it).  If you like a firm shoe, then you probably would have no issue with the Wave Rider.  I don’t, so it bothered me a bit.  I ran fine, but it just didn’t feel as natural to me as I wanted it to.  My Achilles tendons also hurt quite a bit within about an hour of running in the Wave Rider.  Don’t read too much into that – this is because the shoe is a departure from what I put most of my miles in, so my body needed to adjust to it.  I didn’t do that, so I ended up with some pain I probably could have avoided by slowly adding distance starting with a casual mile.  I didn’t run a ton in them (2.2 and 2.6 miles), but I ran them fairly fast for me (especially the 2.6, but I finished the 2.2 at 10 mph or a 6’ pace versus my typical 8’ish pace).

Why do I think they’re so firm?  Well, I mentioned the Wave plate above.  It’s possible that the Wave plate being in the back is meant to aide heel strikers, and for a forefoot striker, it’s creating higher levels of firmness in the shoe.  It’s possible I’m wrong, too – I’m speculating here.  The other reason I would guess is part of why the shoe is going to last so long.  It has full rubber coverage of the strike area, and that rubber has good thickness to it (part of why it’s heavier than the Kinvara, which has a lot of EVA+ on the sole to save weight). Rubber is stiffer than foam (I know, shocking, right?), so the shoe is naturally going to be firmer.  Mizuno solved for this with the sole of the Sayonara a bit by designing the rubber application differently.  But the Rider's rubber is definitely creating a stiffer shoe than if it was thinner or less pervasive.  I’m not knocking it, just noting it.  It’s a choice – what do you want in a shoe?

to buy or not to buy

So what do I think in terms of recommending this shoe?  I was very impressed by it.  I think it’s a great shoe, for sure.  I would recommend it in a heartbeat.  But not for everyone.  I would want to know what you prefer in your shoes in terms of firmness.  I have a friend who tries to get the firmest shoe she can find.  She would probably love these.  I have a friend (ok, me), who doesn’t really take to firm shoes so well, so I would not buy them myself.  If you want a firmer shoe that will wear really real, be very comfortable, breathable and light enough, it’s pretty hard not to recommend the Mizuno Wave Rider 18. If that's what you want, then they can be a key tool to help you enlighten.your.body.

Podcast Episode 031 - review: Mizuno Wave Rider 18

See a live running review of the new Mizuno Wave Rider 18. We take you and the new Mizuno Wave Rider 18 on a run to review the shoe in real time. Lots of sweat and lots of live insight on this great shoe to help you enlighten.your.body.

Full disclosure - these shoes were all provided to me by Mizuno USA for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts contained are my own, though.

Watch this blog to read a full review, including thoughts after an outdoor run with the Mizuno Wave Rider 18.

If you enjoyed this video, subscribe on YouTube or get the podcast on iTunes and spread the word. It's one more tool I'm giving you to help you enlighten.your.body.

Race & Place or Ride with Pride?

I just got back from a truly epic charity event out in San Francisco.  It's called the Canary Challenge, and the purpose is to raise money for the Canary Foundation at Stanford.  The Foundation is trying to develop a blood test for early detection of cancer.  The idea being that early detection means less extreme intervention and higher cure rates.  If you are familiar with the phrase 'canary in a coal mine', that's where their name came from.

Anyway, back to the subject of this post.  I do both races and charity events.  Some charity events are races (Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, for example).  Most are not.  Charity cycling events are often called 'rides', while the Canary Challenge is called, well, a 'challenge'.  That's definitely due to the grueling nature of the course, which ascends 8,455 feet over 103 miles, including two climbs that last longer than 30 minutes (the second comes at mile 78, so you're just a bit tired at that point!), plus another in between them that's nearly as long (only you also have headwinds and it was raining a bit).

Anyway number 2, back to the subject of the post again.  So what am I talking about today?  I believe in the value of racing.  I also believe in the value of not racing.  What's that?  Hipocracy, you say?

Well, let's take the racing part first.  I have found that I am not pushing myself as much as I can when I run.  It's not to say I'm not tired at the end of a run, but my pacing is never what it is in a race.  When I did my first half marathon, I was injured, and my training runs were in the upper half of the 8-9 minute per mile range.  When I did the race, I was at 7'50" until mile 10 when the really steep hills hit, and I finished with an average of just over 8'.  My injuries were hurting a lot, but I was fine energy-wise and endurance-wise.  If I wasn't in pain, I would have easily been able to keep going for a while.  So, for me, getting into a race is a fantastic way to push yourself and learn more about your limits.  Was I going for a top 3 finish?  Was I trying to pass everyone?  No.  I was racing for my own goals and treated it as a personal event.  But I was being egged on by the 1,000 other runners around me, and definitely had little bouts of being more competitive and passing people when I felt the power to pick someone off. It feels great.  I also learned that I'm really good at running up hills relative to most other runners.  I never would have known that without doing this race.

I got a lot out of that race, and others I've done, mainly around what I'm actually capable of.  Setting successive PRs in 5Ks each time I do one feels great, and they're all times I never imagined whether as an overweight kid/teen, or as a fit 30-something father and husband.  Physically and competitively, it feels great.

But as great as racing is, I also see value in events that aren't races.  The Canary Challenge has a kinship across riders that made it amazing.  I was exhausted by it, and my left knee is still in bad shape from the long climbs (funny since my right knee was the problem going in, but that's been fine).  But I didn't care.  I loved it.  Really loved it.  I rode with some friends, though we weren't together too much. The time we rode together was great, and I made a point to meet up with them and visit for a bit at the aid stations, which brought an even tighter feel of community.  I started recognizing jerseys, and chatted some of the familiar ones up as we were grinding up the mountain together, or when stopped at an aid station.

Where did I place?  I have no idea - no one was tracking it.  How many riders were in my age group?  I dunno - a bunch, maybe?  Maybe not?  What was my final time and average speed?  I know both of those, but they don't matter.  What I got out of it was a grueling event that definitely worked my body, but also worked my mind and soul.

So, my point is hopefully clearer and less hypocritical-sounding.  Racing can be incredibly good for your development in whatever sport you do.  So can events that aren't races.  Do them both.  Don't lose sight of the value of either, and enlighten.your.body.

To Apple Watch or Not To Apple Watch

Apple Watch Sport Collection
Photo Courtesy of Apple

Before I get into this, I need to disclose that I am a huge Apple fan.  Not quite a fan boy, but not not a fan boy. And for those posts where people say I was compensated to share this or the product was provided for free - that's not the case here. It's kind of the way around.  Apple was compensated by me. Several times over. A lot. And then some more. Yeah, I have lots of Apple stuff. And I like it.

OK, that said, I'm torn about the Apple Watch. It's very cool and all that. No doubt. It does some really neat things. For sure. It's gorgeously designed. As with all Apple gear. Will I buy it? Not so sure.

I expected to see the thing and be like, "When can I preorder?" But I didn't feel that way.  I may still get one, but I'm not rushing into it, and wouldn't get it because of a clear need or use case (kind of how I felt about the iPad).  The reason for me is that the fitness tracking part of it doesn't really work for my needs.

Nike FuelBand SE

I have a Nike+ FuelBand (that I'm planning to stop wearing at the end of the month since I don't find it impacting my behavior anymore, and can't stand Nike's website given the molasses-based speed and constant issues/downtime). It tracks steps, calories, general activity, and provides awards and motivation, just like Apple intends to do with the Apple Watch. Nike has really stepped back from how involved and invested they were in the Nike+ ecosystem, with less investment in the ramification side. You used to get these little videos with a character called Fuelie, but they stopped doing that. Now they have all these random trophies that I don't fully understand the point of and seem to win far too easily (I win more than 1 a day, and don't know the difference between them, nor do I care). Their site is also painfully slow, down far too often for maintenance (that doesn't seem to be for any benefit in functionality), and parts of it just don't work (you have to tell the SE version of the FuelBand when you're in some sort of workout session and then go tag that session with the proper activity on their site, only the tagging page stopped loading about two weeks ago, and still isn't working. I can tag things from the iOS app, but it means syncing via USB (Bluetooth syncing stopped working on my FuelBand for some reason), and then going to the phone to tag).  I would rather an activity tracker be smart enough to know that I'm being active, and not need me to tell it as much.  Apple seems to have done this better as they claim the Watch knows if you're biking versus running.  But this will be something to watch for and judge after its released since it's all a bit unclear and untested now.

Garmin Forerunner 620

I have a fantastic running watch (Garmin Forerunner 620). I don't usually run with my phone, or at least I prefer not to. I won't hold it due to the impact on gait, and don't want to bring a bag or pouch just for my phone. I find arm bands uncomfortable, and I sweat a lot, so my phone invariably ends up wet - that can't be good for it in the long term.  But I need that GPS tracking that the Apple Watch can't do without a phone.  I'm a total data junky, and want everything recorded.  Without my phone, the Apple Watch can't track my run beyond simple step measurement.  I need pacing, and it can't really give me that.  I also get some awesome advanced metrics from my Garmin as I pair it with their FirstBeat-enabled heart strap, so I get cadence, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, training effect and VO2 Max data.  The Apple Watch can't do any of that (with or without a phone), and I have come to appreciate it.

There's talk about why Apple didn't put GPS in the Watch. It's likely due to price and package size for something that isn't a common need (even if you cycle or run daily outdoors  as I usually do but the majority of people likely don't (or do it in a gym on some machine), you still don't need it a lot of the time of the day). And GPS does drain batteries, but running watches don't keep it on unless you're in a run. And then you can just charge it when you get home - that's what I do, and I don't get mad at the watch or decry its battery life since I knowingly did something that is a power hog.

I think size, cost and battery considerations are part of the story, but I think it's also about making the phone more valuable to watch buyers and vice versa. Remember, the Apple Watch only works with the iPhone (and only models since the 5). Smart business decision, despite any annoyance it may cause. I'm just saying that including a GPS receiver in the Watch could actually fuel more sales for people like me.

So, would I buy a smart watch to take it off and wear a different smart watch for runs? That's the question. For me, I don't think I can answer that until the device is out, more of the features are known, and I think about what is missing that I'd really want before buying it. That's what happened with the iPad - I knew I needed a front facing camera to do video chats with my wife and son when I travelled for work, or it wouldn't be valuable enough for me to buy.  So I waited until they added that feature, and bought an iPad 2. For me, it could be a question of waiting for the Apple Watch 2. Or maybe the 2S. Or 2C.  Or 2 Plus. Or whatever. We'll just have to see.

But You Don't Have The Body of A...

I hear comments like this all the time, whether from someone about themself or about others.  "Oh, but I'm not built like a runner."  "You don't have a cyclist body."  "I'm too skinny to lift weights."

The thing is, if you do it, you are it.  You have the body for it.  For example, I have a bigger build than the stereotypical runner.  But I'm a runner (notice I didn't just say, "I run," but actually said, "I'm a runner.").  And I have a build.  Hence, I have the build of a runner.

Same for cycling.  I don't look like top cyclists.  Yet, I have a body, and I'm a cyclist.  A+B=C.

This isn't to say if you do X and have a body, then you have the typical/ideal/professional body type for it.  But does that need to matter?  I'm not trying to be a world class runner.  I'm just running because it's amazing - for my body, for my mind, for the example I set for my son, etc.  Do I need to have a body like Usain Bolt or Steve Prefontaine?  Does not having their body mean I'm not a runner, can't run, or shouldn't run?  Somehow, I ran to work this morning, doing 7.5 miles, and didn't burst into flames or anything.

I am big for a cyclist.  Not huge, but big.  I'm more muscular in my upper body, carry more mass in my legs, and generally weigh about 40-50 pounds more than the elites.  Yet somehow I did 50 miles the other day at just a hair under 20 mph.  Is that elite speed?  Naw.  Is it good?  Did I feel great?  Heck yeah.  Did I burst into flames then?  Nope.

Granted, the amount of sweating I'm doing may be helping to keep me from spontaneously combusting despite lacking the archetypical body for these activities, but I think it's more than the comments people make and the sentiments underlying them are what's flawed.  Not my body (or yours, or that guy running down the street).

So, don't look at yourself in the mirror and presume you can't ___ (fill in the blank).  Look yourself in the eye, and realize that you absolutely can. Go on. Get out there, create your potential, and enlighten.your.body.

Health Is Not a Mid Life Crisis

Today, I ran to work. I love doing that. I call running and cycling to work "CUYOP" - commute under your own power - read more in my blog post on it, and check the hashtag activity on Twitter). It's a great way to start the day because of how it can recenter your mind, give you a chance to think through a few things before the clutter of email, meetings, fires, etc get in the way. CUYOPing home is also great to clear out that bombardment before you are home with family so you can be a whole person for them.

But that's not what this post is about. It's about health and the idea that it's a mid-life crisis (by the way, if you haven't heard it, listen to Faith No More's song Midlife Crisis from their album Angel Dust). I spent today's CUYOP run thinking about this idea, and felt compelled to write out my thoughts a bit.  For me, I was an obese child and teenager who lost weight starting when I was 17.  While I was never obese again, I regained too much of it and too many unhealthy habits as I crested my 20s and passed into my early 30s.  When my wife became chronically ill, I looked at myself hard, and was very unhappy with what I had become again and what my son had as health role models in the two of us.  July 1st, 2011 marked my change.

Someone looking from the outside could say that this was some sort of mid-life crisis.  I was almost 33, so it might not have been quite at the mid-life mark, but then again, with several factors in how I was living, what I was eating, and how I was handling stress, it may well have been the mid-point of my life.  Putting that detail aside, I'm just past 3 years into this new way of living, and have no desire of turning back to my old ways. I've not tired of being healthy, and have the same drive and profound reasons behind choosing health that I did before. I got healthy for my son, for my wife, and for me. I wasn't happy, and wanted to be. My son needed a better example, and will continue to need that his entire life.  My wife needs a husband who can be there for her until the end of time - just as I vowed to be when we got married. Those aren't fleeting drivers, nor are they temporal, tied to being roughly half the age I'll be when I die.

Now, there are two more reasons why health isn't a mid-life crisis. First - and this is the MBA in me putting numbers first - is the math.  While you could feasibly argue that I was at the mid-point of my life given how things were going, you can't argue that anymore. That's point is behind me. It's not behind me beacuse I'm now over that mid-point. It's behind me because it's actually in front of me. I have complete confidence that my natural life expectancy (that is, my life expectancy without some catastropic event prematurely ending things for me) is far longer than it would be had I not made the shift. So, if I'm not at the mid-point of my life, then I can't be in the midst of a mid-life crisis.  I fully believe that I'm still pushing that end point out as my body does the amazing work it was built to do to care for and heal itself, righting many of the wrongs of earlier choices I had made. As evidence, during a recent physical for a new life insurance policy, my resting heart rate is now in the 40s. There's evidence that living things have a natural number, if you will, of total heart beats they can have in a lifetime, and the number is surprisingly similar across species. When you account for speed of heart rate, you see that fruit flies have about as many beats as humans, bears, fish, etc. So, by lowering my heart rate (and not going too low, of course), I have extended the amount of ticking my clock has left to do.

The second reason is that mid-life crises are usually fleeting. You buy a car you shouldn't buy to get in touch with your youth (though the car eventually is sold, traded or rots in the driveway). You quit your job (though you find another). You leave a relationship (but find another eventually). You go on some wild vacation (yet still return home).  See? Fleeting. Temporary. You 'return to sanity' after getting the crisis out of your system.  I'm over 3 years in, and have learned so many things about the choices I've made and the new choices I'm making that I can't go back. "Can't" is a bad word. How about "I don't want to go back." Or, "I couldn't sanely go back knowing what I know now." I don't want to eat GMO foods. I don't want to be over-exposed to pesticides. I don't want to eat processed foods and feel miserable. I don't want to sit around and do nothing active and feel tired, depressed and unhappy with my body. I don't want my back to hurt from muscle degeneration. I don't want my son to look at me and see me in anything but a positive, inspiring light, nor do I want him to look at me in a good light and follow my example when that example will result in health issues for him.

You could argue the impetus for such a change is a mid-life crisis. It wasn't for me, but I could see how it could be for some. What I would say is, let's ignore whether the impetus is fleeting, and find a lasting path of health. If it is fleeting, find one that endures (like being there for your children or loved ones - or yourself!), and stay on the path.

Like I say, people don't change, lives do. Change once, for the better, and then maintain. That's how you enlighten.your.body.

Review: ViSalus - Fixing Quickly?

The buildup
Someone I follow on Twitter asked me to check out a product he was marketing called ViSalus.  I'd never heard of it.  Apparently, I've been living under a rock. It's a multi-billion dollar weight loss program, featuring shakes, etc.  It's also a very successful multi-level marketing company (MLM).  Two things about this really didn't jibe with me - the quick fix nature of meal replacement shake programs and the MLM aspect of it.  There's actually a third thing, but I didn't know up front (see 'My depressions' below).  But, I respect the source, and know that he has very high standards and ethics, so I thought it was worth trying.

What it is & how it works
I decided to try their shake product in Sweet Cream flavor.  I start my day with a protein shake
and an omelet, so I figured I could replace my shake or cut back on it and mix in this stuff.  I feel strongly about eating whole foods and having the stomach digest real stuff, so I didn't want to ditch the omelet. I bought one bag for just over $50 shipped. It claims to have about 30 servings, so it's not too expensive per serving vs. what you'd pay at GNC or somewhere for a competing product. You have to do an auto-purchase plan, but you can cancel or delay anytime. I did notice it's available for a touch less on Amazon and don't have to do the auto-order, but you don't get any support with that.  If the person you're buying from provides meaningful advice, that may be worth the $7 per bag difference to you, so you'll have to figure that out for yourself.  I tried to cancel my auto-order after getting the first bag, but they shipped a second bag instead of canceling.  It wasn't the end of the world, but that's why I don't tend to like these auto-sign up things.  They have a way of auto-sending you more than you wanted (and charging for it).

The shake is a mix of soy protein and whey, plus a number of other ingredients (vitamins, minerals, etc).  The soy is non-GMO, which is great, but it's not an organic product (which the whey shake I use, love and recommend is).  It has 12 grams of protein per serving (2 heaping scoops), which isn't enough for me since I try to get 30 grams within 30 minutes of waking. My whey shake has 24 grams, the casein shake I have with dinner has 20 grams, and my omelet is between 8 and 15 grams (depending on size and whether I throw other stuff in it that has protein, like edamame or lentils). Still, it's not too bad, and could definitely be mixed into other things to get me to 30. Being a protein shake isn't really what it's positioned as, so I can't hold that against it.

My impressions
As far as taste goes, it's delicious. It's seriously sweet (I think it's too sweet - see 'My depressions' to understand why). I've had some terrible fake vanilla flavored shakes (when I was a fat teen, I tried Slim-Fast...ew), and this ain't one of them. It's really good.

They also include quite a bit with the purchase despite me getting the cheapest option they sell. I got a booklet that has a lot of tips and tools that mirror my 10 Principles quite a bit (setting goals, going public, tracking, etc). They also include these little flavor packs that add both flavor and some other benefit - e.g. strawberry with phytonutrients, banana energy burst, etc. They actually sound tasty. I haven't added any of them, so I can't comment on the taste or whether the claimed benefit is legit, but I'd at least guess the taste is good given how great the Sweet Cream tasted.

In addition to what came, I got a series of really helpful tips and ideas from the person who asked me to try it. They may be exceptions in terms of their commitment to helping, so I can't speak for others selling ViSalus, but it was really helpful. They offered guidance on usage, creating goals, plans, etc, and gave me a number of recipes for how to make different shakes from the base product I bought. Like getting all the extra flavor packets, this was a surprising commitment given I bought the cheapest option I could get.

I should add that the product is lactose and gluten free. Some people see whey as an ingredient and assume that, since it comes from milk, the product must not be ok for lactose-intollerant people.  Whey is one of the two proteins in dairy, while lactose is the sugar.  Having an issue with one doesn't mean you will have an issue with the other per se. I'm lactose-intollerant, and it's fine for me. There's less than 1 gram of sugar per serving, and lactose is a sugar, so there really isn't anywhere lactose could hide anyway.

The company has a ton of hype associated with the products - testimonial videos, ginormous checks they give people for losing weight or selling a lot of their product, competitions for weight loss, etc. That's fine. It's not me, but it's fine. Sometimes, paying people to lose weight helps get them over the hump and then they are just interested in being fit. The approach just isn't really my style, so I sort of ignored it.

They are very into the auto-purchase approach, so if you just want to try it, be careful and ensure you've canceled any auto-shipping options you've been signed up for.  As I mentioned above, somehow I screwed that part up, and ended up getting a second bag when I only wanted to try it with one.

My depressions
Once I checked the product out, I saw one particular ingredient I didn't like - sucralose. You probably know it by its brand name, Splenda. It's not the worst thing in the world, and definitely the best artificial sweetener out there. However, like all artificial sweeteners, it does cause an insulin response in the body in the same way sugar does. This is the trick with a lot of 'low glycemic index' or 'low GI' items. They get the green light for diabetics and for weight loss, but insulin spiking is a key contributor to fat accumulation in the body. To fully understand this, you must read Gary Taube's incredibly powerful book Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It.

Aside from the inclusion of sucralose from a body chemistry standpoint, sucralose also tends to be extremely sweet. I definitely have heightened my sensitivity to sweetness since cutting almost all sugar from my diet, and I find this product way too sweet. It's like a dessert to me. Don't get me wrong, it's super tasty as a result, but I'd prefer something maybe half as sweet. You can deal with this to an extent by diluting it more, or including competing flavors (I put cinnamon and cayenne in most drinks I mix up, which helps, but you could also mix it into coffee or mix cacao powder in to help tone down the awareness of sweetness. The bitterness of cacao and coffee would be a nice balance to tone down the sweetness, for sure).  Generally, I advise people to cut back on things that enhance sweetness to make you more sensitive to it, and thus less likely to go for it (or do so in lower quantity). If you satisfy your sweet tooth with less sweet for your tooth, so much the better. The high sweetness of this product on a regular basis will lower your body's sensitivity to sweetness, so you'll crave more before satisfaction is reached. Again, this goes back to the body chemistry of sweetness, whether from sugar or otherwise. Your body is easily fooled into thinking it's getting sugar, and acting like it did. That's not good. Stevia is currently the only non-sugar that doesn't do this (and it's not artificial - so much the better).

My bigger issue, though, is with the approach at play here - the quick fix diet. I don't advocate anything quick (except intervals or speed work). To me, you really need to work at and for something for it to change your life such that your new normal is health. I'm not into the idea of losing X pounds for some event (high school reunion, ex's wedding, etc) because as soon as the event is over, you have nothing driving you to be fit. The same goes for meal replacement shake approaches. At some point, if you're lucky, you will reach your goal and come off the program. What happens then?  You haven't learned about healthful eating sufficiently (if you disagree, then explain why you didn't lose weight without drinking a shake instead of eating food?) to maintain health. You haven't changed your life priorities and values to have the health you deserve for yourself or set the right example for your friends and family. The approach this product is driving isn't something I can really get behind.

I'm also generally very weary of multi-level marketing. Those three words are usually followed by one of the following three words - scam, scheme or ploy. This is MLM. That in and of itself doesn't make it bad. Given the person who brought it to my attention, I set this part aside. I'm not looking at it to make money, so it's really neither here nor there for me to care about it being MLM. I just need to evaluate the product itself, not how it's marketed.

To buy or not to buy?
Diet isn't 'a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch and a sensible dinner' (to quote the old Slim-Fast line). Unfortunately, this has become the American way. We can't wait for our results, and we don't want to work for them. Fitness and health are worth working for because it is that work itself that is the source of health.  They journey is the destination. ViSalus is diet in the shake sense, unfortunately. I can't get behind that part of it. Using it as a protein shake is more up my ally as part of my morning protein routine.  In that respect, ViSalus is ok but not great. It's definitely good at getting the results it aims to get for those who want to treat it as a quick fix weight loss tool. If that's what you're looking for, then I'd say you're looking in the right place with that product (but I'd want to discuss what's lacking in what you're looking for). If you're looking for a protein supplement, it works, but I'd recommend something less processed like Garden of Life's vegan Raw Protein line (my current protein of choice - I mix it with a scoop of raw cacao powder to enhance the flavor), or, if you want whey, go with Jay Robb's products.

For me, I gave it the two months I bought product for. Because I have put the work in and know what I need to do to be healthy, I think I can use this product effectively. But I also believe I could be as effective without it and would at least prefer something 'cleaner' (fewer or no chemicals and organic).

Either way, I did the work to enlighten my body. Will you do the work to enlighten.your.body?

I Got Some Time with NOW Sports Products

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of NOW Foods. 

We have used NOW Foods products in our home for a few months, and really like them for their quality and focus on what goes into their products (and, equally, what doesn't go into them).  As a FitFluential ambassador, I had the opportunity to try some of their NOW Sports line of products and write a review of what I think.  Full disclosure - these products were all provided to me by NOW Foods for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts contained are my own, though.

You can find all of these products on NOW's website (products are linked below), use the "find a retailer" link to find where to buy (they're sold nationwide by health food retailers), or get them from many online retailers like Amazon.com.

What did I get?
I got five products - two protein powders, and three dietary supplements:

1. Sprouted Brown Rice Protein
   
2. Vanilla Pea Protein
3. Liquid Carnitine
   
4. MCT Oil
   
5. Extreme Men’s Multi

The only one that was a new idea to me was the MCT oil, but I've used all the other products in the past, though never from NOW.  I've also never used a liquid form of L-Carnitine.

Product by product, let's see what my month with them has shown.

Sprouted Brown Rice Protein
This is a basic, staple product.  If you haven't seen how I feel about protein, then you need to (check out my YouTube video or read the various blog posts I've done on it). It's important, and you should be starting your day with it. A great way to do so is via a protein shake.  There are lots of options out there, including dairy and egg proteins, and vegetable proteins.  This is a vegetable protein, and it's in a very pure form.  How pure?  There's only one ingredient, and it's the thing that it is - sprouted brown rice protein.  That's it.  That means this is vegan, soy free and gluten free (though some people don't take well to rice protein even though it isn't technically gluten).

Here's what NOW Sports says about the product:

This GMO-free vegan protein powder is ideal for those with allergies or sensitivities to the natural compounds found in whey, egg, soy and other protein sources. Natural and pure with no added ingredients, each tablespoon offers four grams of protein and mixes easily with a smooth texture.

It's easy to use - just dump a table spoon into water, almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, hemp milk, coconut milk, goat milk, sheep milk, milk milk, etc.  You get the idea.  You can also mix it with coffee, though I'd suggest you only do cold beverages for a variety of reasons.  Hot or warm protein shakes are gross.  Unfortunately, NOW doesn't include a scooper, but I have like 50 laying around, so I just reduced/reused/recycled a solution.  I rarely find a protein powder that lacks a scooper, so this was kind of surprising, but not a deal breaker.

For me, the taste is horrible, but I expect and accept that.  I've never liked the taste of rice protein, and because this is just straight rice protein powder with no added flavorings, you get that full on rice protein taste.  It's strong and maybe the best way to describe it is bitter, but that's not quite it either.  So I tend to add some things to calm it down.  I add cinnamon, cayenne, turmeric, stevia, shredded coconut, vanilla extract (1 tsp) and a mix of 50/50 water/unsweetened coconut milk.  All of those additions are organic, by the way.  The cinnamon is for sugar regulation in addition to flavor, the turmeric is for inflammation (definitely not for flavor - I don't care for it, but it's hard to taste if you add about a half a tablespoon), and the cayenne is for a lot of things, including metabolism boosting.  I then add a few ice cubes and blend it into a smoothy.  It's still gross, but not too bad, and definitely drinkable.  Coffee would probably be a nice addition to help overpower the strong brown rice protein flavor.

Another way I've been using it is adding a half a tablespoon to slow-cooking oatmeal.  You can still taste it a bit, but it's not too bad.

One other issue I have with it is that, as a protein supplement, it doesn't have much protein.  Four grams per serving.  Protein supplements should do something for your protein intake, and 4 grams isn't doing much.  For someone who is looking to add a bit more protein without looking to amp their protein intake, this might be the kind of thing to look for.  It isn't what I would use as I generally want more protein in my shakes, and I'd probably eat some nuts or a bowl of lentils to get the same or more protein instead.  For comparison sake, a serving of cashews (1/4 cup) has five grams of protein.  Gram for gram, the powder wins (a serving is five grams, four of which are protein, vs five out of 28 grams in a serving of cashews), but I think eating a handful of cashews is easier and tastier.  You might have other dietary concerns that mean you are in need of something that's basically pure, vegan protein without the fat of nuts or fiber of lentils or beans.  Or you might just want a different protein if you're already heavy on beans and nuts.  This might be a good choice then, but the protein is so low, and the taste is so strong (and unenjoyable) that I'd personally look for something else (like Garden of Life RAW protein).

So why bother?  Well, you may be allergic to nuts.  Or you may be vegan/vegetarian, and want to diversify your protein sources.  I think that's what NOW Sports is going for here.  They suggest adding it to a relatively small amount of liquid (six ounces), and don't talk about using it as a sports supplement.  That is weird since it's part of their Sports line.  I think it would fit better in their NOW Foods line instead.  I think it's really about rounding out or diversifying your protein sources and getting a bit more into your life.  For that, I think this is fine, but I'd think about non-drink ways to add it, too - like my oatmeal idea.

I would mention that it isn't organic, which I wish it was.  It is, however, GMO-free, which is awesome.  I'm very much against GMOs and the engineering of our food supply, so a big thank you to NOW Foods for caring about that, too.  The question is just one of fertilizer and pesticides keeping it form being organic, but at least the crop wasn't created in a lab bent on profits over safety and health.  There are organic options, so if that matters to you (it does to me), this is a brand to skip.  If not, I'd definitely give a thumbs up to NOW Sports Sprouted Brown Rice Protein for those vegans looking to have a more diverse protein profile in their lives.  If that's not you, maybe the next product is more up your ally.

Vanilla Pea Protein
If my issue with the taste of brown rice protein turned you off of vegan proteins, don't swear them off yet!  There are other options, and this is one that blew me away.  Other common vegan proteins are  hemp and pea protein powder, and this one is pea-based.  I've generally found pea proteins to taste other than good, so I was concerned.  Here, NOW Sports has added flavor via natural ingredients to create a sweat and delicious protein powder.  It's sweet thanks to a mix of stevia and xylitol.  No sugar, no sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Nutrasweet), sugar alcohol (stomach pain), etc.  These ingredients will also not cause a spike in insulin production, which is great (whereas the other sugar substitutes do).  Xylitol also has an added benefit of tricking bad gut flora into thinking its sugar.  When these bacteria eat the xylitol, they can't process it, and explode.  Seriously.  Xylitol is administered by some naturopaths as a treatment for overgrowth of bad gut flora for this reason.

OK, so enough about exploding gut flora.  This powder mixes very well in the same kinds of liquids as the rice protein (or other protein powders), but you don't need to worry about hiding the taste.  In fact, you'll probably want to relish the taste and ensure you don't mask it.  It is a bit strong, but it's good.  I love vanilla and I love toffee.  Put them together, and you get a really indulgent flavor that you swear is bad for you.  But it isn't.  No sugar.  25 grams of protein (that's the most of any vegan protein powder I've ever used, and gets you almost all the way to 30 in the first 30, as I recommend - 30 grams of protein in the first 30 minutes of waking up).

Here's what NOW Sports says about the protein:

Got allergies? No way you’re doing whey? NOW® Sports Pea Protein contains no soy or dairy, just 25 grams of easily digested, non-GMO vegetable protein. It’s pure and natural, hypoallergenic, has a smooth texture and mixes easily into your favorite beverages.

And it comes in Vanilla Toffee. We’re pretty sure all the best things come in Vanilla Toffee.

NOW Sports even remembered to put a scoop in there!  But the scoop is huge.  I mean humongous.  It's so big, I actually had trouble getting the powder into my blender bottle because of how wide the scoop is (it has a wedge shape that's wider in the front, which makes it harder to use but cool looking).  My preference would be to use a half-sized scoop and recommend people use two scoops per serving (as ViSalus does).  It just makes the logistics easier to deal with.  I know, I'm picky, but the little stuff matters.

My only other comment is that the taste is a little salty.  By 'a little' I mean 'very'.  A serving has quite a high sodium level - 540mg, which is 23% of the recommended daily allowance.  The unflavored version has only 330mg.  'Only' being used loosely here, but I will just say I really notice the saltiness and actually detracts from the drink.  If they could tone it down closer to 400mg, it would still be high, but not overpowering.  I'm not concerned with my sodium intake, so this doesn't matter to me beyond taste, but I would be uncomfortable recommending the product to someone who is hypertensive (I have a client with hypertension, and I couldn't suggest she use this), and I think they went a little overboard unnecessarily.

So, save for the sodium, I love this stuff.  Same deal as the brown rice powder in terms of being natural and not organic, but I like it.  If you're cool with the sodium level, go for it.  You won't be upset with the flavor.  I would suggest mixing in some coffee (if you drink it) as that might detract from the salty flavor a bit.

Liquid Carnitine
In high school, I used to take L-carnitine pills thirty minutes before eating (along with chromium picolinate), so I have had experience with the product.  It is an amino acid that helps your body make energy.


Here's what NOW Sports says about their L-Carnitine liquid:

L-Carnitine is carnitine in a highly absorbable liquid form. What’s carnitine? An amino acid that helps transfer fatty acid groups into the mitochondrial membrane to produce energy.* It naturally occurs in red meat and other animal-source foods, but for those who supplement NOW® L-Carnitine is the purest form (containing no sugar, salt, starch, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or artificial colors/flavors), clinically tested, and vegetarian. It comes in Tropical Punch or Citrus Flavor.

I can't really say a ton about how the product works or whether it works, but I've had good experience with L-Carnitine in the past, and have no reason to think this isn't working the same way.  I will definitely comment about the flavor.  It's awesome.  I was hesitant to go with a liquid approach as I tend to prefer to pop a pill (it's easier if you travel or are on the go a lot), but I've really loved this stuff.  They also make a tropical punch flavor, which I bought myself after running out of the citrus flavor I got for this blog review.  It's good, but I think I actually prefer the citrus - it's a little fresher tasting and less heavy-sweet.  They're both super tasty, though. I start and end my day with it (since you are best off taking it on an empty stomach), and love it.

MCT Oil
Medium Chain Triglycerides, which is what MCT stands for, are fats found in coconut and palm kernel oil (perhaps other places, but I don't know).  They're fats that are more easily digested than other types of fat. As a result, they are known to increase your body's ability to burn fats rather than store them (think of priming a flue in your fireplace to get a fire to burn better).  The idea is to substitute MCT for other fats so you do a better job of burning the fat you are taking in, and thus end up promoting leaning out your body.


You can add it to foods, but need to be careful with heat.  MCT oil doesn't do well with medium to high heat since it has a low boiling point, so it's better to be a replacement for oil in salad dressing, or perhaps in place of butter or olive oil added to bread or potatoes (I eat neither, so I feel funny recommending this).  I've been cooking with non-stick, ceramic cookware and then putting some MCT on the end product after it's plated to bring some richness back into the dish, and it's really nice.  I have also put some into quinoa, and would do it with rice (if I eat it, it's only brown), and like how it makes the dish taste and eat - smooth and decadent.  The dose is a table spoon, and they suggest using it about three times per day.  You can take a straight tablespoon of it, or add it to a drink, too, but then you're not replacing other fats with it, so that sort of defeats the purpose.

Here's what NOW Sports says about their MCT Oil:

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT’s) are fats that are naturally found in coconut and palm kernel oil. MCT’s are more easily and rapidly digested than other types of fats, as they require lower amounts of enzymes and bile acids for intestinal absorption. MCT’s are metabolized very quickly in the liver and are reported to encourage energy expenditure, and not fat storage. Numerous studies suggest that substituting MCT Oil for other fats in a healthy diet may therefore help to support healthy weight and body composition.

I like the product, but am not sure if it's doing anything.  Your mileage may vary, but I don't see any issues with it, and do like how it's made meals taste and feel richer - like I'm indulging - without necessarily being a bad thing.

Extreme Men's Multi
This is a multi-vitamin aimed at men.  It has a pretty good nutrition profile, including a little MCT oil.  The only things it doesn't have much of are calcium, magnesium and fat.  I wouldn't expect my multivitamin to have fat, but this one has a little bit (2.5g across three pills (the daily dose), which I'm sure is just due to the MCT oil).

There's not much to say here beyond it being a good looking (not aesthetically, but ingredient-wise) multi-vitamin.  It is a fairly big soft-gel-type pill, and you have to take it three times a day.  If I could, I would make it one pill you take once a day.  I have a feeling it's so large to accommodate the MCT oil, so I'd skip that ingredient and consider just using the MCT liquid.  The benefit of having the dosing split across the day is that you may do better absorbing the nutrients than if you got more of a dose all at once.  I don't know what bioavailability testing on these nutrients has been done, whether the doses are high enough in one pill that it's irrelevant, etc, but that could be a benefit.  Slow and steady wins the race, right?  Unless you're fast and can endure.  That's my question here.

So, a fine multi-vitamin.  A month's supply is about $35, which isn't terrible but isn't cheap, either.  The multivitamin I take (Rainbow Light Men's One) costs $20 for a 3 month supply and is a one-a-day option.  I haven't found any issues while on the NOW Sports multi, but I haven't noticed any clear benefits, so I plan to go back to the Rainbow Light product for just over an 80% savings.

About NOW Foods
NOW Foods, a family-owned company since 1968, is a leader in the nutritional supplements industry and dedicated to providing customers with a comprehensive approach to wellness by offering a variety of high-quality, natural and affordable products. Founded on the belief that natural is better, NOW Foods is proud to offer more than 1,400 natural products that are specifically formulated to help support optimal health through good nutrition. NOW Foods product offerings range from nutrient-rich foods and supplements to personal care and sports nutrition items.

Visit www.NOWFoods.com for more information on NOW Foods products and local retailers.