Have you ever eaten insects?

If you're from the States, I'm guessing that's a no.

But somewhere around 2 billion people, worldwide, eat insects every day.

And there's one in particular, that's nutritionally dense and has a more palatable taste.

The cricket.

"Your Paleolithic ancestors ate crickets long ago as a primary source of protein. The human body has grown accustomed to cricket protein over the millennia and can process it efficiently without any unnatural strain on your bodily functions caused by many other synthesized proteins. Cricket protein is a sustainable source of high-quality protein that uses exponentially less water and energy to grow while keeping it NATURAL. It’s naturally packed with micronutrients like calcium, iron, B-vitamins, fiber, and Omega Fatty Acids for superior nutrition. It’s better for the environment and better for you; it’s old school nutrition - modernized."~Lithic Nutrition

Today's guest is Cofounder of Lithic Nutrition, Lars Baugh.

Lars runs Lithic with his twin brother, Dave.

Together they've created Colorado's first cricket based foods company.

In this episode, Lars talks about how Lithic Nutrition came to be and why they chose the name "Lithic".

"Insects have been consumed by humans since the dawn of time, mainly because they are an easy-to-capture source of protein and nutrition. Even throughout the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic eras, insects were a dominant source of nutrition that was globally accepted in different cultures. We have chosen the word 'Lithic' to reference these time periods in hopes to effectively resurrect the acceptance of eating insects as a dietary staple. We also thought it sounded pretty cool."

Some questions I ask:

What was it like going all in on a cricket protein company?

What did your friends and family say?

What have been some of your biggest challenges with Lithic?

Most importantly, you'll learn why crickets are the super protein that could change your life and save the planet.

Ready to give cricket protein a try?

For a limited time, Lars is giving you a 15 percent discount at lithicnutrition.com when you use the code "exploreyourfitness" at checkout.

I'm told there will be a cookbook in the future, but until then, here are some great recipes for your cricket flour.

Have more questions about Lithic and cricket protein?

Check out their Fireside Q&A.

Also, check out Lars and Dave on Colorado's Best!

Resources mentionedDenver Metro Small Business Development CenterBodybuilding.comThe 4-Hour Workweek by Tim FerrissBefore I go, I just want to say thank you to all of you who listen and support the podcast and to all of my guests. Thank you! November 29th was the one year anniversary of Explore Your Fitness, and I’ve had lots of fun, learned a lot and hopefully made some friends in the process.

I want to continue doing the show next year and keep supporting the Colorado fitness community. But I’d like to hear from you. What would you like to hear on the show in the future? Let me know if you’re a fitness or nutrition business owner who’d like more insight on growing your business or are you someone looking for ways to improve your fitness.

Email me at [email protected], or reach out on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Hope you all enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones, and I’ll talk to ya soon. Until then, get out there, have some fun, and Explore Your Fitness!

Cheers,

Jason

Today's guest is Ryan Henderson.

In his younger days, Ryan struggled with drugs and alcohol. While in a halfway house, Ryan met a former competitive bodybuilder who took him under his wing.

He taught Ryan the basics of everything he needed to be successful in fitness. But more importantly, Ryan's life had a new direction. He no longer had to turn to self-destructive habits. Instead of tearing himself down, he started building himself up.

Now Ryan's taking others under his wing and building them up through lifestyle coaching and training at ryfitcoach.com.

RyFit Coach is like no other fitness company. I provide more than just workouts and nutrition to clients, I provide a sorely needed education for the understanding of how fitness works and inspire people to be the best that they learn that they can be. The most important factor of health and nutrition that people miss and thus never hit their goals is education. If you decide to surf you don’t just buy a surfboard and go out to the ocean. One needs to learn about the ocean, rip tides, reefs, and then technique and practice. But with fitness most trainers do just that. Here’s the technique, now go practice. Now you don’t need to become a PHD, but if you understand the science behind nutrition & exercise, and understand “the why” behind it and not just do things because you are told, then you will have a high likely hood to do it, and do it right, thus have success. I’m here to do just that, teach you the science and the why, then the technique and practice. Most importantly, as my clients say…….”Ryan does it with the most fun, and with the best personality to be around”

Takeaways

Everyone struggles with self doubt. Don't compare yourself to other people.

The reasons people give for wanting to get fit are seldom the real reasons. Dig deep and find the true reasons.

Weight lifting will help you lose fat.

"What gets measured, gets managed."

Take some time to count your calories and learn how much is in the food you're eating.

With challenge comes growth.

Resources

Les Brown

 DotFit

WEIGHT LOSS with ANY FOOD by Neven Corak

If you're interested in Ryan's coaching or looking for a great resource on fitness and nutrition, head over to his site, RyFit Coach.

Thank you all for stopping by!

If you know anyone who could benefit from this episode, please share it out.

Have an awesome day, and I’ll see you next week!

Cheers,

Jason

 

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi – MACH III – Hip Hop Beat / Instrumental

Today’s guest is Phil Stern, Vice-President of Growth at Zen Planner, a technology company based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Zen Planner is an all-in-one software solution that helps fitness businesses such as gyms, yoga studios, and martial arts schools become wildly successful by streamlining their administrative tasks. It also gives fitness trainers tools to interact in meaningful ways with their customers. In this episode, you’ll learn what to look for when evaluating business software, the types of features Zen Planner offers gyms and their customers, and how fitness businesses can attract and retain customers by creating meaningful connections.

Zen Planner Helps Fitness Businesses Build Better Client Relationships

Phil Stern, Vice-President of Growth at Zen Planner, has the background to grow a company that’s passionate about fitness. “I’ve been an athlete my whole life,” he says. “I grew up playing soccer and basketball, and when I got to high school I focused on lacrosse. After college, I turned to outdoor sports: backcountry skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing. Now I train CrossFit, yoga, and trail running — but really, everything I do is to make me fitter and to be in the mountains.”

That makes Colorado a perfect fit for Stern. He originally moved there after college and stayed three years. He moved back East but returned to Colorado with his wife to raise a family. “We love living here,” he says. “We’re in the mountains all the time. It is therapy for me, it is my sanctuary — if I don’t get out there at least once a week with a significant adventure, I really feel it.”

The Zen of Client Management

Zen Planner was founded in 2006 by Ben Pate, a martial artist working toward his black belt. The school where he was training didn’t have a solution in place for billing, tracking attendance and progress, or business promotions — and being a software developer, Pate saw an opportunity to help his school and build his business. Ten years later, Zen Planner now offers their 5,000 customers — primarily CrossFit, martial arts, and boutique fitness studios — an all-in-one solution for managing administrative tasks and building client relationships.

“Our purpose is so important that we literally have it painted on the walls of our office,” Stern says. “We’re here to help the small fitness business owner become wildly successful to transform the hearts, minds, and bodies of their communities. The service that fitness businesses provide to their communities is such a value that we want to build tools to make them successful, so they can make people fitter and healthier and rehab injuries.”

Zen Planner’s features include member management, workout tracking, mobile apps for staff and clients, belt tracking for martial arts, and more. The software also includes a native email program for contacting customers, and it integrates with MailChimp for communications that require more robust text and graphics.

Business owners tell Stern that Zen Planner helps them achieve success by reducing their administrative burden so that they have more time to spend coaching, training, and building relationships with clients. “That’s the passion that drove them to start their business,” Stern says. “We want to facilitate more time for them to work on their passions and less time to be managing their books, billing, and tracking attendance.”

Building Client Relationships

Sales is a relationship business, and clients want to be coached by a trainer who takes the time to get to know their deepest needs, Stern says. “The advice I give to trainers is ‘Stop pitching and start listening.’ What tends to happen is the coach or instructor will take for granted that the first words out of a client’s mouth — I want to lose weight, get stronger, whatever — are the actual goal. Then they’ll start pitching their equipment and trainers. That’s the wrong approach.

Nick's top tips for functional training and nutrition:

Start small and build on it.

Change one or two things at a time.

Consistency is key.

Consider keeping a journal and track your progress.

Don't beat yourself up over small setbacks. If you stray from your plan one day, follow it up with something positive the next.

Today we have Brandon Terry, Co-owner of Moov Vital in Louisville Colorado.

Like the name implies, movement is a huge focus at Moov Vital.

Moov is more than a Crossift gym. They combine functional fitness with functional therapy through strength training, powerlifting, olympic lifting, speed/agility, sports conditioning, gymnastics, massage, acupuncture, and nutrition.

Moov wants to help you move better, now and for many years down the road.

In this episode you’ll  learn about Brandon’s personal struggles with an inactive lifestyle and weight gain, why he and his wife started Moov, and what you can expect from the team at Moov and should expect from coaches and Crossift gyms wherever you go.

If you’re new to Crossfit or just interested in moving better and feeling younger, you’re going to love this episode!

Brandon's tips for Crossfit:

Take it slow.

Practice good form and check your ego at the door.

There should be a good warm up.

The coach should ask how you're feeling, and if you're dealing with any aches or pains.

If you are, the coach should gear the workout down for you and give you some alternatives.

There should be an introductory class to learn the different movements.

A big part of crossfit is community.

If you go to a gym for the first time and nobody introduces themselves, take that as a red flag.

Resources mentioned:

Food Inc.

Kelly Starrett

Carl Paoli

Yoga Tune Up

Nourishing Traditions Book

Takeaways:

Being able to move better into your eighties is more important than how much you can deadlift when you're twenty.

Focus on how you move, not how much you can move.

Check out Moov's yearly fundraiser, Kettlebells for Charity, on December 10th.

Connect on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thank you so much for stopping by and for all your support!

Whether you leave a comment, iTunes review, or share the show, every little bit helps, and I appreciate the love!

Cheers,

Jason

This is a bonus episode with Xero Shoes Cofounder Steven Sashen.

Thank you for tuning in. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the whole barefoot scene, wearing minimalist shoes, wearing no shoes at all and even working out and running barefoot, you’ll love this interview.

Steven’s a funny guy who’s very passionate and excited about the company that he and his wife, Lena started called Xero Shoes.

Xero Shoes® started off as a modern spin on the traditional barefoot running sandal and now they’ve officially become a footwear brand with the release of their new Ipari Hana shoe!

Steven talks about how the company started and how he considers most of his success to be luck. I also asked him about the controversy around the barefoot movement which he squashed right away.

From being the fast kid in school to rediscovering running in the master's track & field, Steven has alway loved running.

But what he didn't love was the constant injuries.

"My 45 year old body didn't match my 18 year old brain."

One day a friend of his suggested running barefoot.

The first time Steven ran barefoot he says that he was so transfixed on how great it felt that he ended up running 5k without even realizing it!

He says that running barefoot helped him change his technique and really feel how he was running.

I asked Steven to talk about the science behind barefoot running because I wanted to address the controversy.

I think that struck a chord.

But he makes some good points here:

The controversy was created by large companies who want to sell their shoes.

People have been barefoot for a long time before shoes came around and still go barefoot today with few problems.

Most of the anti-barefoot running studies either don't include actual barefoot runners or they're actually wearing minimalist shoes which are not the same as barefoot.

Steven's tips for barefoot running

Take off your shoes. Find a nice, hard, smooth surface and go for a short run (30 seconds/200 yards). And if you feel a little sore the next day like you went to the gym and did a little too much, rest a little bit and then do it again until you don't feel sore. Then add ten seconds to your run each time. It's progressive training just like anything else.

You want to do something different until you're having fun.

Don't reach out with your foot and land with the breaks on.

Get your foot underneath you more.

Experiment with where you land with your foot and see what feels good.

Pick up your cadence a little. Think running Fred Flintstone style.

Relax and keep a tight core.

Think about placing and lifting your feet instead of pulling and pushing the ground.

Think, what can I do to make this more fun?

Consider videoing yourself running to understand what you're actually doing and make corrections.

If it hurts, you're doing it wrong.

Check out xeroshoes.com for all the latest updates and a ton more info on running and being barefoot.

 There's a limited supply of the Ipari Hana. So don't miss out on the sale going on until October 31st!

Thank you for stopping by!

If you liked this interview, share it out and help Steven get some traction (see what I did there) with Xero Shoes.

Talk to ya next week,

Jason

Music Credit:Valesco - Cloud 9 [Argofox]

"Xero Shoes® are a modern spin on the traditional barefoot running sandal — durable, stylish and affordable — and so light and low-profile it’s like you’re not wearing anything. Yet, you get a strong layer of protection, your feet and legs work the way nature intended, your posture can naturally realign, and you awaken your senses and stimulate your brain as you Feel The World™."

Our guest today is Susanne Menge.

Susanne lives in Boulder, Colorado and her business is  Clear Fitness where her goal is to help bring you back to the brilliance and strength that’s inside of you.

It's an inner adventure, she says.

In this episode you’ll learn about Susanne’s journey from competitive swimmer to Ironman competitor to what she’s passionate about today.

It’s Susanne’s hope that by listening to this interview, you’ll remember your potential, and know that you’re more than what you do, and you’re more than what you’ve done.

Susanne grew up being a competitive swimmer and always loved sports and adventure.

But she struggled with eating from an early age, dieting when she was just eight years old.

Having coaches tell her that she would never be skinny or that she could stand to lose a few pounds, Susanne found herself going to extremes and suffering the side effects.

She says it was like a game that she didn't know how to stop playing.

 And then she met someone who asked her, what if your eating disorder is just a coping mechanism, and you can drop that right now?

It was a light bulb moment as they say, and she knew from that point on that she would share that simple piece of advice with everyone.

"These ways we are in the world are just coping mechanisms and everything we need  is inside of us. And we have to come back to accessing that to then be our best self."

Susanne’s made her Mindful Movement training available to you all online. This is an 8 week series delivered straight to your inbox and when you purchase this, use the code "explore” to get a 15 minute coaching session with Susanne.

Thank you for stopping by!

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Cheers,

Jason

Sponsor

POPARUBA recreates traditionally decadent and indulgent carbohydrate and sugar based foods, like cake, to be not only gluten and grain free, but extremely low in sugar, completely comprehensively nutritious and every bit as delicious as their traditional counterparts.

POPARUBA Cake Bites are chocolate covered miniature cakes, traditionally known as French 'petit fours' which have received a complete nutritional makeover. Our Cake Bites help to balance your blood sugar and energy levels, curbing your carb cravings and taming your sweet tooth, without any of the unwanted side-effects from traditionally flour and sugar based cake. In fact, Poparuba Cake Bites are designed keep you in fat-burning mode ( and out of far storage mode) all while tasting like you are being totally 'naughty!'

Want to have your cake and eat it, too? Welcome to Poparuba, home of the worlds only good for you cake bite!

Music Credit: Valesco - Cloud 9 [Argofox]

Today’s show is a bonus episode with Marie Borquez, Christie Sloan and April Garton for an upcoming event called GOAL.

GOAL (Girls on another level) was created and designed with women in mind.

This program is led by Coach Marie Borquez who you might remember from episode 24. 

Goal offers a high energy, motivational, safe and effective metabolic interval workout program.

When you walk into a GOAL session you can look forward to an encouraging, full of life energy where you will not only sculpt your body and burn fat, you will be connected to an incredible circle of women working towards the same goals that you are.

GOAL welcomes you to be yourself, and come as you are.  “Don’t limit yourself.  You are stronger than you think.”

If you are ready for a change, today is the day.

The Girls on another level event kicks off Saturday October 29th from 12-4 at Project Move in Littleton. They have several classes for you including Zumba, Nutrition, Circuit Training, Mindfulness, Yoga, Gut Health and Mobility. And all for only $15 or $20 at the door. For more info head over girlsonanotherlevel.com and check out the GOAL Facebook page.

Availability is limited. Don't miss out on the fun!

Thank you for stopping by!

Please support the event and this podcast and share on the social!

Much love,

Jason

Music Credit: Mickey Valen - Meet Me (feat. Noé)

Thank you so much for being here!

For those of you who are new to the show, Explore Your Fitness was created to support and grow the Colorado fitness community. Each week I’m interviewing local fitness experts, sharing their stories and advice and giving you fuel for your fitness journey.

Today’s guest is Emily Schromm. You’ve likely seen her on Instagram, heard about her Superhero Challenge or seen her at one of her workshops.

(Use code "explore" and get 50% off!)

I’m really excited for this interview because Emily is someone many of us look up to not only for her level of fitness but also for the success she has with her clients and everyone she impacts on a daily basis.

Sometimes we forget that people at Emily’s level face some of the same challenges or fear that everyone else deals with.

Emily tells me that, yeah she gets scared and intimidated but the thing is, she does it anyway.

Sometimes the things we fear most are exactly what we need to do. Sometimes you just have to take that leap and be your own superhero!

Today you’re going to hear about Emily’s personal fitness journey from playing sports as a kid to what she’s doing today. She talks about her love for strength training and her passion for nutrition.

I always like to hear the "how it all started" stories from my guests and what their biggest, personal challenge has been.

Because it's often what drives them to help others.

Emily says that there was a point where the body she was in didn't fit what was in her head.

She got tired of her own shit, and it was time to make a change.

She knows what it's like to go through a mental transformation, and that's something she wants everyone to experience.

Emily's tips on strength

Remember that it's not just about a heavy barbell or going for a max weight.

People tend to miss the mobility component and making sure they're dialing in flexibility.

Check out Kelly Starret's blog and really try to find out where you're tight, where your weak points are.

A lot of the times when you're trying to get stronger, your mobility will end up being your limiting factor.

For strength exercises or moves, Emily recommends squats, deadlifts, pull-ups and presses.

Emily's tips on nutrition

Eat real food.

Don't under eat. Make sure you're getting enough of the right foods.

Nutrient density (quality) comes before quantity.

Consider cutting out grains.

My Fitness Pal is a great tool for monitoring how much you're eating.

Takeaways from Emily's interview

There's never a one size fits all. Find out what works for you. Don't let it be stressful. Let it be a journey. If you've wanted to do something for a long time, get rid of your excuses and just do it.

Hips Don't Lie is this Friday at Fitness in the City from 6-8:30pm.

Emily and Dr. Missy come together to blend human performance with nutritional therapy in this dynamic, comprehensive workshop. Addressing hip positioning and its connection with adrenal dysfunction and tissue longevity, this workshop will have you leaving with a beautiful understanding of your body and how to heal from the inside out.

Emily's Superhero Challenge started on October 3rd, but you can still jump in at 50% off by using the code "explore" at checkout.This is a 3-week informational challenge to improve your health, fitness, & habits.You can find Emily on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.Thank you to our sponsor Poparuba!

POPARUBA recreates traditionally decadent and indulgent carbohydrate and sugar based foods, like cake, to be not only gluten and grain free, but extremely low in sugar, completely comprehensively nutritious and every bit as delicious as their traditional counterparts.

POPARUBA Cake Bites are chocolate covered miniature cakes,

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the demand you put on yourself?

Many of us hold ourselves to such high standards that we feel defeated if we don't reach our goals.

It's easy to be so focused on the end goal that you don't take the time to celebrate the small wins along the way.

Ali knows all too well about being a perfectionist.

She's been fighting that battle for most of her life and still struggles with the urge today.

That's why she's created RetiFit ~Progress over Perfection.

In this episode, Ali talks about the sports she played as a kid, how she got into the fitness industry, and she shares some success stories as well.

Ali's tips for all you perfectionists out there:

You have to give yourself grace and realize that it's ok to make a mistake.

Allow yourself to let go of your restrictions.

Know that overcoming perfectionism is a process, and that you may always have to deal with it. But you can build your awareness and learn how to control it with the right tools.

Recommended book:

What Ali wants you to remember from her interview:

Get clear on whether or not the decisions you're making for your fitness and nutrition are best for you.

Don't make your decisions for the wrong reasons.

When you make your decisions for your own reasons and not someone else's, you'll always be successful.

What's going on:

Check out Ali's podcast, Progress Over Perfection.

If you're a trainer or looking to work with someone who has a different approach to fitness, very holistic and mindset driven, then send Ali an email at [email protected].

Ali will be offering training which will give you the opportunity to get CEUs.

She wasn't ready to release full details yet but stay tuned. There might be a follow up interview.

Be sure to subscribe to Ali's newsletter for her latest updates and follow her on the socials.

Facebook|Instagram|YouTube|Twitter|LinkedIn

Upcoming event

The 2016 Do More Charity Challenge

Taking place on October 1st and 2nd at Front Range Crossfit in Denver.

The Do More Charity Challenge is the only event in the CrossFit world where you can earn money for your charity of choice with your athletic performance.  Last year they raised $105,000 in sponsorship dollars for the prize purse.  Their goal for 2016 is to raise that prize purse to $150,000. They'll be awarding that prize purse to the top 10 teams Charity of Choice.

Featured Companies

Foursee Apparel is a family owned shop located in Littleton, Colorado. They design their clothes to be comfortable and functional whether you are at the studio, gym, or looking for casual wear. And right now until October 3rd Foursee Apparel is doing a giveaway on Instagram with prizes from over 20 different shops.

One of those being our next featured company, Pogamat.

Pogamat out of Denver, Colorado makes high density, anti tear workout mats and yoga mats for intense cardio workouts, exercise, and personal fitness. These mats always lay flat and don’t bunch up and they’re big which is nice for a taller guy like myself. Check them out at pogamat.com

Thank you for stopping by and for all your support!

I'll see you next week.

Much love,

Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi - MACH III - Hip Hop Beat / Instrumental