Find Your Fit | Wellness, Fitness & Nutrition

In episode #36 Jessica and Kevan talk about some of the things WE Fit Wellness has been doing over the last month including the NF-Be Healthy Fair, NFB 2017 Youth Slam, and the WE Fit 50. Jessica and Kevan thank the We Fit 50 sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Nikken Wellness

National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM)

AIRA: Visual Interpreter

Ski for Light

Silver Sponsors:

Blind Alive: Eyes Free Fitness

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Sports & Rec division

Jessica and Kevan welcome Anil Lewis from the NFB Jernigan Institute to Find You Fit . Anil was behind the 2017 NFB Youth Slam. He talks to Kevan and Jessica about what Youth Slam is and what the future might hold for Youth Slam. He and Jessica also reflect on the events of this year’s Youth Slam and the importance of it. Kevan also has Anil share about the podcast that he is a cohost for, The Nation’s Blind Podcast.

For Fit Chat Jessica tells us about how she did in the Pikes Peak 50-mile race and the WE Fit 50 fundraiser. There is still time to contribute to the Go Fund Me campaign here. They thank the sponsors of the WE Fit 50:

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

LaBarre Law

Yorkshire Veterinary Hospital

Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB)

Jessica tells how the WE Team worked to get her dad, Doug, to Colorado to surprise her at the airport. Here is a video of that surprise.

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 #35 Kevan is back. Jess gave a run down of the NFBe Healthy Fair. Jessica thanks our NFBe Healthy Fair Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:

Nikken Wellness

National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM)

AIRA: Visual Interpreter

Ski for Light

Silver Sponsors:

Blind Alive: Eyes Free Fitness

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Sports & Rec division

Jessica tells us about her upcoming 50-mile ultra marathon and the WE Fit 50 fundraiser. If you would like to support Jessica and WE Fit Wellness, you can do so by donating to the Go Fund Me campaign. She also thanks the WE Fit 50 Sponsors.

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

LaBarre Law

Yorkshire Veterinary Hospital

Colorado Center for the Blind(CCB)

Kevan congratulates Maureen Nietfeld of Breaking Blind on the scholarship she won at the NFB national convention.

WE welcome Erik Weihenmeyer of No Barriers back to Find Your Fit. Erik has a new book out, “No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon.” Erik shares about some of the things he learned while on his adventures.

For Fit Chat, Jessica and Kevan discuss TENS and eSTIM therapies.

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 #34 we welcome back Kevan Worley from his recovery from a brain surgery. He tells us how the first swim after surgery he bashed his head in the pool for the first time ever! Jess tells us about her upcoming 50-mile race. She tells us some of her favorite parts of training for this amazing adventure. She also tells us all how we can help support her in making this a great fundraiser by donating to the Go Fund Me campaign

Paul Gabias of Nikken Wellness joins us to tell us all about Nikken Wellness. He tells us what it is, what they offer, and how he came to be a part of Nikken Wellness. Paul gives us a run down of all the products he will be bringing to demo at the Healthy Fair. So, if you cannot find Jessica, you should try the Nikken booth where she may be napping. You can check out Paul’s website here or call 1-866-218-2953 for more details about Nikken Wellness.

Bonnie O’Dea and her colleague Bob, of Ski for Light, join us as a sponsor of the NF-Be Healthy Fair. They are also hosting a reception along with the NFB Sports and Recreation division. Bonnie & Bob tell us about the history of the organization as well as their upcoming programming.

On Fit Chat, we give all the details about the second annual NF-Be Healthy Fair happening July 10 in Orlando, Fl. There are going to be a number of door prizes and give-a-ways throughout the event so come on by and have a great time and maybe win some goodies. LuluLemon has donated an amazing gift. Stop by to see what that is! Trader Joe’s has donated a bunch of snacks and goodies. Elevate Yoga has donated several things like yoga mats free yoga sessions, and more. Then we list a bunch of the activities that will be at the Healthy Fair. We also want to thank our sponsors for the Healthy Fair:

Gold Sponsors:

Nikken Wellness

National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM)

AIRA: Visual Interpreter

Ski for Light

Silver Sponsors:

Blind Alive: Eyes Free Fitness

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Sports & Rec division

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 #33 of Find Your Fit Amber and Jessica tell us about their Memorial Day adventure in Boulder, Colorado doing the Bolder Boulder 10K as a part of the National Fitness Challenge.  Amber describes it as a 6-mile party and “her kind of race.”  Our co-host, Kevan Worley, used AIRA technology during the race so that he wouldn’t miss a beat, how cool is that?  Listen for details on this saucy adventure!

Amber and Jessica are thrilled to announce just one of their many July extravaganzas, the 2nd Annual NF-BE Healthy Fair at the NFB National Convention in Orlando, Florida.  It’s going to be an event you won’t want to miss.  There will be a ton of activities to get your hands on including traditional Japanese sword fighting, aerial yoga, rock climbing, and an inflatable obstacle course, just to name a few!

Speaking of July extravaganzas, our very own Jessica will be running a 50-mile race as a fundraiser for WE Fit Wellness so that we can continue to bring accessible, affordable, and achievable wellness solutions to all.  WE Fit Wellness is truly the right “fit” for everyone and this race will help us to spread the word!  It’s going to be a blast and we are so proud of Jess for taking on this challenge, she is going to rock it!  Stay tuned for details on how you can get involved in the 50 Miles of Fun that is the Pikes Peak Ultra.  Jess also gives us a sneak peek at how her training is going, this includes a story of how she got lost in the mountains.  Thankfully Genius came to the rescue, gotta love him!

We interview Emily Harvey, a beautiful young woman who is an amputee, a blogger, a disability-rights attorney, and an all-around incredible athlete and human-being.  Emily shares her story on how she grew up as an amputee and what inspired her to get involved in various forms of athletics.   Accessible sports is a popular topic around WE Fit Wellness, so Emily gives us some insight on how she uses different legs for different activities.  This part of the interview excites Amber and Jess because there’s a small bet going on around the office to guess how many different legs Emily uses.  Can you guess?  Listen to find out!  While we’re playing the guessing game, can you take a gander at how much one prosthesis costs?  The answer almost brought me to my knees.  Thankfully, Challenged Athletes Foundation graciously gives out many grants each year so that athletes like Emily have the opportunity to live a life with no barriers.   Isn’t that spectacular?  Emily is also a model and ambassador for Skirt Sports, she has her own non-profit called Limb359, and she and her husband, Zach, are featured on She’s Got Grit.  Wanna hear a sweet love story?  Emily shares with us how she met her husband and its quite the Cinderella story!

On FitChat, we revisit the subject of Heart Rate and talk about how to use it to optimize your fitness.  Discover how to find your resting heart rate, maximum heart rate, and target zones.  This info is sure to give your fitness routine a boost, while helping you reach your goals.  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 32 of Find Your Fit Jessica and Amber open with excitement as usual.  Amber shares with us her experience of graduating with her Master’s degree last Friday and tells us about the exciting gift she received on graduation day!

Jessica welcomes Amber to the We Fit Wellness team as a full-time employee and we sadly say goodbye to her previous job title “the lowly intern.”

The NFB Healthy Fair is coming up on July 10th, so listen for details on content and prizes.

Jessica announces the start of fundraising for her 50-mile run called WE Run for Independence.  Stay tuned for details, we will keep you posted on our Facebook page!

Jessica gives us an exciting update on the National Fitness Challenge, hosted by the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and the Anthem Foundation.  We have an amazing Facebook page were participants share their stories of victory and success.  For fun pictures, stories, and updates on the National Fitness Challenge, search for the hashtag on social media outlets, #nfchallenge2017.

We interview Erich Manser, a blind marathon runner with 17 marathons under his belt.  He used AIRA technology with Google Glass to navigate the Boston Marathon this year.  AIRA uses a smartphone app that pairs with a camera mounted on Google Glass that is connected to a sighted-human assistant. Listen for details on Eric’s experience and learn more about this exciting emerging technology.  Find out how you can get involved and learn more here.

Amber’s new graduation gift got her thinking a little more about her resting heart rate.  She got a bit concerned, so she asks Jessica a few important questions. What should your Resting Heart Rate be and how do I lower it?  Listen in for this week’s Fit Chat as Amber and Jessica hash out the topic of Resting Heart Rate.

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 31 of Find Your Fit, Jessica and Amber interview Jim Gump, an ultra-runner from England who has been running every single day since January 1, 2013 and is doing it in a way to inspire adults, children, and families around the world to get out and get moving.

He was inspired by the 2012 Olympics in London.  He and his dog, Alfredo, began running an average of 7 miles a day and raised money for several great charities while doing it.  Alfredo even became an official hero of their local city!  Running each day allowed Jim to become stronger and faster than he had ever been before! Each year Jim increased his daily commitment.  In 2015 he committed to doing a triathlon each day and since then has been unstoppable.

Jim has been inviting people to join in on the fun through an amazing campaign called Kx365.  Find out more about this life-changing opportunity in this incredible interview!

Jim quickly became inspired to do more to contribute to the world, so he began traveling all around the world visiting schools to inspire children to get moving.  He has ran across the United States and visited hundreds of kids.  He tells us several exhilarating stories from running on dirt roads in the deep south to being chased by a pack of wild pigs!  Jim is still on his journey of inspiring adults, children, and families to participate in physical activity each day.  Listen to this podcast episode for a dose of inspiration that is sure to be life-changing.

Want to get involved and join in on the daily fun?  Think about what form and how much physical activity you can commit to each day to improve your health, let us know for your chance to be featured on Inspiration Thursdays or Find Your Fit.  We would love to hear from you!

Sign up for Kx365 here.

Learn more about Jim Gump here.

Donate to the campaign here.

We would like to thank our generous sponsors for supporting the production of the Find Your Fit podcast, National Federation of the Blind, Colorado Center for the Blind, and Push Beverages.

In this episode of Find Your Fit we begin by wishing Kevan Worley (our co-host) well as he recovers from surgery.

Amber and Jess are excited because Amber will start teaching yoga at a new studio called UpRise Yoga here in Colorado Springs.   We love UpRise Yoga because once a month they partner with our Pikes Peak Chapter of Achilles International and teach us an invigorating yoga class that supplements our workouts.  How awesome is that?  If you need help finding a yoga studio near you, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know!

Jess did her 50K race last weekend and gives us a full report.  Telling us that she went in super excited and mentally prepared, but quickly discovered that it was a lot more technical than she thought.  Jess learned valuable skills through this new experience and gives us insight on overcoming mental challenges through tough physical activity. A video that outlines Jess’ 50K nutrition plan is available on our Facebook page.  She is now training for the Pikes Peak Ultra, 50-mile race.  Let’s wish her luck as she gets ready to race, go team!

We happily congratulate all the participants of the National Fitness Challenge, as well as athletes with disabilities who competed in the Boston Marathon.  Then Jess gives us riveting updates on several National Fitness Challenge groups across the country.  Amber is so pumped from her first race in the National Fitness Challenge that she decides to get serious about her running journey, find out what she is doing to get started.  Need tips on getting started in your own fitness journey?

Reach out to us by sending us an email at [email protected]  We would also love to hear your stories of success and victory in your own journey, send us a message for your chance to be featured on Inspiration Thursday!

We interview Patrick Standen of the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association (NDAA).  He tells us about the exciting opportunities available for those interested in adaptive sports from sled hockey to chair soccer, and even Adaptive Sailing!  Patrick shares with us some defining moments and success stories that he’s experienced through NDAA, so amazing!  Find out how you can get involved with the NDAA and get moving!  Check out their website at disabledathletics.org or give them a call at (802)-862-6322.  They are always looking for participants, volunteers, and contributors.  Find out how to donate here.

This episode’s Fit Chat is all about stretching. Why should we stretch? How often and when she we do it?  What’s the difference between Dynamic and Static Stretching?  Find out on Fit Chat.

We would like to thank Push 2.0, the Colorado Center for the Blind, and the National Federation of the Blind for helping to make this podcast possible.

In episode #29 of Find Your Fit, each member of the WE Fit Wellness Team, including special guests Joe Shaw and Nijat Worley share with us their latest health and wellness obsessions.

Kevan explains the nickname “Genius.”  Basically, Genius (who’s real name is Kevin Kovacs) is the brains of the operation, anytime anything goes wrong, the Genius comes to the rescue.  He is also the lead producer of our podcast, we could not do it without him!

Amber tells us about a new initiative called the Weekly WE Fit Tip, where each Monday the WE Fit team releases a short video on their Facebook page that helps to keep you healthy, fit, and well.  Got tips or questions you’d like covered?  Let Amber know by emailing [email protected]  or by calling 866-543-6808. Check out our Facebook page to see this week’s video tip.

Ever wondered how to exercise your brain and keep it sharp as a tac as you age?  Give this podcast a listen to find out, as Amber tells us about her new favorite health topic, “Neurobics.” Buy a book on Neurobics, “Keep Your Brain Alive” and learn more and play free games here.

Returning special guest, Joe Shaw, leads us in a great discussion on confidence in the gym as a person with a disability.  We all chime in with tips and tricks related to our own gym experiences and how we can exercise with confidence in a variety of fitness settings.

An exciting announcement from Jessica about our new business venture in Los Angeles leads to her telling us all about her new favorite fitness obsession.  Apparently, you can “hoop” your way to health with the new fitness trend of using a Hoola-hoop to stay in shape.  Jessica tells us about a company based in LA called Hoopnautica.  She plans on taking some hoop fitness classes in LA and is encouraging us all to get involved in “hooping for health.”  Find out more about how you can use the hoop to lose your pooch! Tips on hooping and a link to buy weighted hoops.

Need a little extra motivation or tips to stick with your workout plan?  Jess, Kev, and Joe give us several great tips for staying motivated before and during a workout.  From packing your gym bag the night before to listening to your favorite tunes, these tips are super helpful for both newbies and oldies in their fitness journeys.

Kevan shares with us his latest favorite superfood, the acai berry.  He tells us how to buy and use this amazing superfood in fun ways, including smoothies and yogurt bowls, yum! Acai recipes (Kevan loves Ola’s in downtown Colorado Springs http://www.olajuicebar.com/

Jess tells us all about her new Inov-8 shoes and their initiative to get people healthy and active.  Learn more about Inov-8 here.  Jess has an awesome pair of Roclite 290 Trail Running shoes by Inov-8, that she will use for her first 50K (Behind the Rocks Ultra).

Finally, Nijat gives us tips and tricks for spending money in a way that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.  Studies show that using cash makes you less likely to spend unnecessarily or make impulsive purchases.  Find out how to keep your wallet full and your waistline trim.

Check out Erik Weihenmayer’s new book “No Barriers.”  It is available on  Amazon, Audible, and wherever books are sold.

This week we congratulate fitness partner, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. (Please also check out their Facebook page!)

We would like to thank Push 2.0, the Colorado Center for the Blind, and the National Federation of the Blind for helping to make this podcast possible.

With gratitude for Achilles International of Pikes Peak and United States Association of Blind Athletes. Do good. Be well. Find Your Fit!

In this episode of Find Your Fit, Kevan and Jessica give us exciting updates on their Plank Challenge journeys.  Kevan gives the injury update we have all been waiting for, he is finally injury free, feeling good, and ready to run again!

Speaking of running, Jessica, Kevan, and Amber are gearing up for the St. Patrick’s Day Lucky Laces 5 & 10K Race. This is the first of three races in the National Fitness Challenge in Colorado presented by WE Fit Wellness, United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and the Anthem Foundation.  Go team!

Kevan mentions Michal Kapral from episode #27 of the Find Your Fit podcast.  Michal raises money for charities when he joggles in races. Joggling, as in running and juggling at the same time!  Apparently, joggling is a popular skill in the running community. Most athletes who joggle, including Michal, are very giving of themselves, their talents, their resources, and their time.

The team welcomes Sabrina Simmons to the podcast. Jessica met Sabrina at an NFB seminar and was motivated and encouraged by her health and wellness journey and invited her to share her story. Sabrina lost her sight due to diabetes. She gained about 70 lbs. after she became blind and decided she needed to make some changes to lose the weight. Sabrina shares with us about the many styles of group exercises she takes regularly and how she succeeds in these classes as a blind person.  She also found fun and unique ways to exercise during normal daily activities and she shares these tips and tricks with us.  Sabrina didn’t stop there; she has also made significant changes in her diet. She tells us how a plant-based diet, which has increased her energy level, while helping her to reach her health and wellness goals. One of the books that inspired her to change some of her habits was Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes without Drugs.

For Fit Chat, Jessica, Kevan, Amber, & the Genius tastes protein bars made with cricket flour. We have two different flavors of Crobar protein bars by Gathr. Jessica is allergic to shellfish, which are arthropods just like crickets, so check out the episode to see if her head blows up like a balloon and how the WE team reacts to this tasty treat!

Also, below is a recipe from Sabrina for a Quinoa Lasagna. Give it a try and tell us how you like it.

Ingredients:

Directions

We would like to thank our generous sponsors: Push Beverages, the Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB), and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).

Kevan Worley welcomes Jessica Beecham, Amber Sherrard, and all of you to episode #27 of the Find Your Fit podcast. Jessica begins the program by running in place to get her steps in for the fitness challenge that she and WE Fit Wellness are helping to organize. WE Fit Wellness is partnering with United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and the Anthem Foundation to organize and implement this program in Colorado. Anthem is partnering with other organizations in 13 other states and doing other activities. In Colorado, we are doing a race series. We will be providing Fitbit Flex 2s and encouraging people to increase their steps. Kevan, following the Find Your Fit Tradition, gives us an injury update. This week he discusses how he got his latest injury, a concussion. Jess reminds us of SuperBetter by Jane McGonical, which is both a book and games to reduce symptoms of a concussion. Kevan also wrote a blog about it and you can find it at this link.

Jessica Welcomes Michal Kapral to Find Your Fit. Michal is a joggler. The sport of joggling combines juggling and running/jogging. He holds world records in running both marathon and half marathons while juggling. You might have seen him in this commercial for Fairfield Inn & Suites. You can also learn more about Michal on his website by clicking this link or searching bloggling joggler. He has completed 8 marathons while joggling, and he finally accomplished one of his goals of a no drop marathon in Chicago. For each of the marathons Michal runs, he seeks out a charity to raise money for.

Jessica, Kevan and Amber talk about a detox tea (also known as “paint thinner”) that Amber has brought to the WE Fit Wellness office. The tea is made primarily from coriander seeds and fennel seeds boiled. You can also add any kind of fruit, cinnamon, or tea to add more flavor or sweetness.

Kevan thanks our sponsors: Push Beverages, the Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB), and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).

Kevan also promotes one of our latest blogs about essential oils.

For Fit Chat, Jessica, Kevan, & Amber talk about fitness trends for 2017. The number one trend is wearable technologies. We are currently using Fitbit Flex 2’s around the WE Fit Wellness office. Number 2 is body weight training. Jess tells us about a plank challenge that she is currently participating in. There is a Facebook page for the group. Jess also tells us that planks are one of the exercises described on the Total Fit Pack available on our WE Fit Wellness website. Number 3 is utilizing fitness professionals like trainers, life coaches, etc. Number 4 is strength training. Number 5 is group training classes like yoga, pilates, Zumba, etc. Number 6 exercise as medicine, so not just exercise to look good, but to prevent chronic diseases. Number 7 is Yoga. Jess says she has recently heard of different trends like goat yoga where people do yoga in the goat pin, metal yoga where people do yoga to heavy metal music. Number 8 is to become a fitness pro/trainer. And number 9 is using fitness for weight loss.