Find Your Fit | Wellness, Fitness & Nutrition

In episode #47 Jessica and Kevan give us an injury update.  Kevan is finally injury free! Jessica has started running again, so she will let us know as soon as she picks her next race. Jessica and WE Fit Wellness will be coordinating the National Fitness Challenge in Colorado with USABA. You can check out if your state is participating in the National Fitness Challenge on the USABA Facebook page. Kevan recommends that people get their medical records because it can become difficult to gather them all. Jessica & Kevan congratulate our good buddy, Joe Turcotte, on his trip across the USA.

Jessica and Kevan welcome back Kevin Brousard from the United Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). Kevin just returned from Judo competition in Kazakhstan. He gives us an update on this year’s National Fitness challenge. USABA just had their first blind soccer camps this past year! They are trying to build a program to be ready for the Paralympics in L.A. in 2028. They also celebrated the first annual National Blind Sports Day! It was created to promote and educate everyone about sport opportunities that are available.

For Fit Chat Jessica tells us about how to use walking or running to meet health goals other than just weight loss.

Got questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.

In episode #45 Jessica and Kevan talk about the 3rd annual NF-Be Healthy Fair at the National Convention of the NFB. They also give an update on Joe Turcotte from episode #43 of Find Your Fit. He will be in Colorado mid week on his way running from Boston to California. Kevan and Jessica congratulate Mel Scott and Blind Alive on the 100th episode of their podcast. Many will remember Mel from previous episodes of Find Your Fit. Check out her first appearance here. Jessica also tells what USABA is up to recently. Kevan tell how much he likes the new Aftershockz headphones he got from JJ of The AT Guys at the NFB convention.

Jessica and Kevan welcome Kim Morceri. Kim is a nutrition and health coach at Natural Grocers. Natural Grocers offers this Nutrition & Health Coaching services for free at almost of their locations. She details the process of how the nutrition & health coach sessions go. Natural Grocers were supporters of our national Federation of the Blind of Colorado 6 Dot Dash.

For Fit Chat Jessica tells us some tips to improve your sleep hygiene. Many of these tips are detailed at The National Sleep Foundation’s website here.

Got questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.

In episode #44 Jessica and Kevan inform us about the upcoming NF-Be Healthy Fair coming up at the 2018 NFB national convention. Kevan tells us why he is going to Baku, Azerbaijan and how he plans on staying healthy and active while there. Kevan also tells about a company in Australia that is trying to add a powdered broccoli in coffee. Jess talks about the NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5k coming up on June 24th.

Jessica and Kevan welcome Randi Strunk. Randi is a Blind athlete. She recently completed her first Ironman Triathlon! Jessica & Kevan chat with her about how she got started running as an adult and how her guide talked her into doing triathlons. Her guide for the Ironman was Caroline Gaynor, who was a guest on episode #42. Randi also tells us all about how she competes in triathlons as a blind person. She talks about nutrition, training, clothing, transitions, swimming, utilizing a guide and much more!

For Fit Chat, Jessica and Kevan update us on Joe Turcotte’s adventure across the U.S. Check out what Joe is doing either on Facebook here, or on episode #43 of Find Your Fit. Jessica tells us all about one of her favorite new apps, AAPTIV.

Got questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.

In episode #43 Jessica and Kevan start with an injury report, this time it’s not Kevan’s! Jess is in a boot from a stress fracture in her foot. Kevan talks some about Blind Hockey. Jessica tells us that USABA will be starting a blind soccer (5 aside soccer) team. The WE Team tried out adapted Curling for the first time. Thanks to the Broadmoor Curling Club for showing us that. The NFB’s 6 Dot Dash races are coming up. If you want more information about the 6 Dot Dash in Maryland click here. If you want more information about the 6 Dot Dash in Colorado click here.

Kevan welcomes Joe Turcotte to the Find Your Fit podcast. Joe is preparing for his fundraising event, 6 Million Steps of Gratitude, in which he we trek across the United States. You can follow his progress and support the organizations he is passionate about at his Facebook page here.

For Fit Chat Jessica tells us about the Ketogenic Diet, which is a low-carb and high fat diet, where the body turns fat into ketones for use as energy. There are several sources to find out more about the Keto diet on the internet.

Got questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.

In episode #42 Jessica and Kevan welcome everyone to another Find Your Fit Episode. Jessica lets us know about how the National Fitness Challenge went his year as it wrapped up. They discuss Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition including a female athlete with a prosthetic leg, as opposed to Vogue UK last year airbrushing able bodied models as amputees.

Jessica and Kevan welcome Caroline Gaynor to Find Your Fit. Caroline guides blind athletes from all over the world in triathlons. Learn how she got into guiding and how you can get into guiding blind athletes. In swimming, running, or tandem bike riding.

For find Your Fit, Jessica and Kevan talk about the Winter Paralympics in Korea. There is going to be the most coverage of the Paralympics aired on television in the USA than ever before. This is great, but the US is still far behind many countries in recognizing their Paralympians and the amount of the Paralympics covered on live television.

Got questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.

In episode #41 Kevan welcomes “Intern Amber” back to Find Your Fit. We get the scoop on what’s happening in her life like the business she just started, which is an affordable health and wellness consulting company. For a low monthly fee you get access to weekly live webinars, coaching, and personal consulting from Amber. She has also accepted a position with the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco. We wish her the best n her future.

Kevan welcomes Bruce Porter of BVA Sports in Virginia. He is helping to grow the sport of Blind Hockey in the United States. He and the Blind Hockey team members in Virginia travel the country showing blind people about the sport of blind hockey. Since the sport is only 4 or 5 years old, many have never heard of it.

Kevan also welcomes Jeff Vann of St. Louis Blues Blind Hockey to Find Your Fit. Jeff has helped to build a relationship with the St. Louis Blues to build and grow the blind hockey team in the St. Louis area. Jeff is also a volunteer with an organization working to build a theme park called . It will be a Six Flags type of theme park that will be inclusive, meaning it will be designed so that people with disabilities will be able to access and participate in the theme park experience.

For Fit Chat, Amber talks about talks to us about intermittent fasting and some of the benefits.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/BVASports/about/?ref=page_internal

Got questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.

In episode #40 we want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. In this special holiday season episode, we are welcoming back one of our favorite guests, Mel Scott of Blind Alive/Eyes-Free Fitness. Kevan checks on the status of their new Eyes-Free Fitness app. Kevan and Mel also discuss the development of the app, the making of her audio described programs, and any tips for the holiday season.

Got questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.

Kevan is out on an assignment, so The Genius is filling in for a few minutes. Jessica gives us the Worley injury update. He has sprained his ankle. It is the one-year anniversary of Jessica and Kevan with their guide dogs Prada and Onyx, which they got from Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation. The last race for the National Fitness Challenge is November 11th at the Celebrate our Veterans 5K. Achilles Pikes Peak will be supporting many athletes in this 5K.

Jessica and Kevan welcome Karen Kantor to Find Your Fit. Karen is a disabled veteran, an amazing running coach, and a wonderful woman. Karen was an Olympic qualifying trail runner while in the military. She suffered a spinal cord injury She tells about her journey from that injury back to being able to run again. Karen has also experienced numerous exciting endeavors. She was wrangled into playing sled hockey. She was also encouraged to participate in the 10 Island Race in Switzerland, which happened to be filmed for a reality TV show. Another cool event she participated in was the American Ninja Warrior where the show wanted to show of the wounded soldiers. Currently, Karen is making amazing things happen at the Independence Center in Colorado Springs.

For Fit Chat, Jessica share some tips how to manage or control or chose good eating options for this holiday season.

Got questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

In episode #38 Kevan talks about the wonderful people he met at the NFB of Iowa state convention. Jessica and Kevan tell us about a trip they took with their friends from Achilles of Pikes Peak up Pikes Peak to Barre Camp. Jessica updates us about the National Fitness Challenge. The last race of the series is coming up on November 11 to celebrate our vets.

Jessica and Kevan welcome Kyle Rector to Find Your Fit. Kyle is a Computer Science Phd. Learn more about Kyle at her website here. She tells us about a product she developed as a grad student called “Eyes-Free Yoga.” Eyes-Free Yoga uses a Microsoft Connect to assess the yoga pose or posture and tells you how to either correct your pose or if you are doing the posture correctly. She has Eyes-Free Yoga under a Creative Commons License so people can take the coding and add to it or use it to improve it. She would also like if other people that are excited about this to add more poses to the system. You can download the installer and get the code from her website at this link. Kyle has also developed ways for people who are blind to experience visual arts in a more accessible way. Learn more about this project called “Eyes-Free Art” at this link. Kyle is currently working on a project called ExerGames (short for Exercise Games), which allows both sighted and blind individuals to play the games together. If you would like to participate in any of Kyle’s research, you can email her here.

In Fit Chat, Jessica talks about some effects that music has on exercise and physical activity. Kevan has added another hobby, like he needs another. He has started drum lessons. Jessica talks about some research conducted by Dr. Costas Karageorghis. Music can help to get people into “the zone” or “flow.” It also helps with synchronicity and timing. Music has many positive effects for before, during, and after exercise.

Got questions?  Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.

In episode #37 Kevan talk about, well, himself. He also tells us about a new product created by a New Zealand company that we are excited about, an inflatable Goalball goal. This will make it significantly easier to help the sport grow. Kevanand Jessica remind everyone that there is still time to contribute to the WE Fit 50 Go Fund Me campaign here. She also talks a little about the Pikes Peak Ultra race, which you can read all about in her race report here. WE also thank the sponsors for the WE Fit 50:

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

LaBarre Law

Yorkshire Veterinary Hospital

Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB)

Jessica and Kevan welcome an amazing athlete, a wonderful person, and a great friend; Brandon Stapanowich. Brandon is a physical therapist and an Ultra Athlete. He has competed in many major events like many of the toughest ultra marathons, Nolan’s 14, a self supported run down the Colorado Trail, and most recently the infamous Barkley Marathon. WE recommend checking out the documentary about the Barkley Marathon on Netflix. Brandon helped to start a chapter of Achilles Internanional in the Colorado Springs area, which pairs able bodied individuals with individuals with various disabilities to encourage and motivate all to participate in various physical activities. You can find out more about Achilles Pikes Peak here. Brandon recounts his “15 minutes of fame,” in which he crawled across the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Check out “The Crawl” here.

For Fit Chat, Jessica discusses how to control inflammation with your diet. Here are links to both anti-inflammatory foods and foods that cause inflammation.

Got questions?  Shoot us an email at [email protected]

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support in the production of this podcast, the Colorado Center for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Push Beverages.