Find Your Fit | Wellness, Fitness & Nutrition

The first blind person to be certified as a CrossFit instructor, Bettina Dolinsek, and Tai Tomasi join Find Your Fit to tell us about CrossFit and the lifestyle that goes along with it.

Jessica and Kevan enjoyed a productive trip to check out Envision in Wichita, KS to do some health and wellness consulting. They met with the CEO, Michael Monteferrante, and talked about all the services they provide as well as all of the corporate wellness opportunities they provide to their employees and clients. They also met a summer intern, Charlie Wilkes.

Jessica tells us that her guide dog, Pippin, had passed away while in Wichita. He will be missed immensely.

Jessica and WE Fit Wellness produced a document that gives you tips on how to stay motivated to stick to your exercise routine. It is available for FREE at their website.

Tai and Bettina talk to us about their diets starting with the breakfast they had and the service, Beefcake Fuel, that provides meals to their CrossFit community. They each tell us how they got into CrossFit, what exactly CrossFit is and all the benefits that come from doing it. WE get to hear about what and inclusive and motivating community most CrosFitters experience. Bettina and Tai tell us how anybody can do CrossFit, no matter where they are at in their fitness journey. Bettina gives us methods to scale or modify exercises to make them fit anyone’s needs.

WE had a return engagement from Ron Brown and Garrick Scott of the National Beep Baseball Association (NBBA). The NBBA just had their World Series, so Ron and Garrick tell us all about how it went down. Spoiler, Ron was on the team that will be getting a ring this year! It sounds like a beautiful ring too. It is being made by the same company that makes MLB’s World Series Ring.

Jessica and Kevan close this episode with a chat about Zumba!

We want to thank our sponsors, partners, supporters, and listeners:

PUSH Beverages

The Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB)

The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)

Maureen Bassmaster (Breaking Blind Youtube Channel & Colorado Center for the Blind) returns to talk more with the WE Team about how she incorporates health and wellness into her work at the Colorado Center for the Blind CCB).

Jessica & Kevan talk about their experiences at the No Barriers Summit & NFB national convention.

NF-Be Healthy Fair & Try it Seminar was a huge success.

Jessica and Kevan mention using the Aira glasses (which will be featured on a later episode).

Jessica was elected as NFB Sports & Recreation division president.

Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired SAAVI’s Mike Armstrong hosted blind sword fighting.

Cardio drumming and other events put on by WE Fit Wellness.

Cody “Code Redd” Phelps aspires to be a pro wrestler. He talks about his routine and how he got into wrestling.

The WE Team closes with a discussion about accessible work out equipment.

This week WE welcome Leticcia Martinez. She is a paralympic swimmer preparing for Olympic trials.

She discusses what it’s like to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

If you would like to help support the Team US athletes, click here to go to their support page.

Mel Scott from Blind Alive returns with an update.

The team taste tests Core Power Chocolate Milk. It is a high protein chocolate milk. Then Jessica and Kevan talk about various nutrition and protein shakes and “The Genius” reads the ingredients of a few different ones:

Shakeology

Vega One Nutritional Shake

Arbonne Protein Shake

Jessica and Kevan discuss the NF-Be Healthy Fair and Try It Seminar at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) national convention in Orlando. It is put on by WE Fit Wellness and NFB Sports & Rec division

The team talks about getting ready to present at the No Barriers Summit.

And Kevan and Jessica remind you to check out some of WE Fit Wellness’s products and services like:

Total Fit Pack

WE Can Culture workshops

FREE Download on how to stick with exercise

WE thank our sponsors:

PUSH Beverages

United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)

Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB)

Prior to This Find Your Fit in Which WE Are Joined by Lisamaria Martinez, San Francisco Lighthouse, and Special Guest Mike Armstrong, Blind Sword Fighter from SAAVI, WE Offer Sober Reflection, Hope, Acceptance, and Love

LGBT Equality Sign

The chair of the Board of the Garden Ranch Y, Mark Hoffman, often quotes Martin Luther King, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”. Before this episode, the WE Team reflects on the horrific killing spree of Sunday morning, June 12, at the Pulse Night Club in Orlando.

Jessica and Kevan love participating in the National Federation of the Blind 6 Dot Dash. Ever thought about running for Braille literacy? As always, our team is so fortunate to have nurturing, accepting communities like Achilles International of the Pikes Peak. Why does Kevan get lower back pain when doing some yoga moves? The expert, Jessica, reveals the answer.

In the News – the list of five kitchen essentials for the summer includes an infuser bottle, a delicious way to incorporate the taste of fruit without any extra added sugar. Erraid Davies, a bronze medalist, no longer meets the criteria to participate in para-swimming because of a change in the review process. And US Goalball announces their men’s and women’s team members who will compete in the 2016 Rio Paralympic games.

The team is proud to welcome martial arts expert, Mike Armstrong, Blind Motivation, and member of the faculty of Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired (SAAVI). Can the blind sword fight? Find out from Mike.

Are you old enough to remember cigarette commercials promoting the fact that many doctors smoke cigarettes?

In this episode, Lisamaria Martinez and Jessica Beecham share the excitement of the upcoming NF-Be Healthy Fair and Try-It Seminar to be held on June 30 in Orlando to kick off the Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. Lisamaria is President of the NFB Sports & Recreation Division.

On this week’s Fit Chat, Kevan returns to one of his favorite recent books, Scott Jurek’s “Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness”. The vegan recipes are great. The book includes this inspirational quote by philosopher William James: “Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and stress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own. Sources of strength never taxed at all because we never pushed through the obstruction”. Jessica chats with us about reasons for, and ways to avoid cramps while working out.

Your job – love your neighbor, even those with barking dogs. Wait. That’s my job. – Kevan Worley.

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.

The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination. – Humanist Psychologist Carl Rogers

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members … a heart of grace and a soul generated by love. – Coretta Scott King

We did not produce the music in the beginning of this podcast (Obviously). We would like to thank Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (w/ Mary Lambert) for writing, performing, and producing this wonderful song with the title “Same Love” off the album “The Heist” available on iTunes.

Matt Simpson and Joseph Hamilton of the US Men’s Goalball Team Join the Find Your Fit Team to Discuss Their Road to Rio

The group returns from BLAST! While there, they enjoyed various healthful snack and drink options; Jessica’s favorite is the sports drink from Body Armor. The Find Your Fit team also saw our good friend J.J. Meddaugh, the tech guru of Blind Bargains. Check out some of the great deals available for accessible technology, as well as their great podcast!

Achilles Pikes Peak celebrated their 2nd Birthday with a Huge Bash at the Colorado Running Company. Check out Achilles International to find a running group near you.

Relentless Romero finished his Run Across America, completing over 3,000 miles in 60 days, making him one of the fastest pacers for ultra-marathoners. Our own Jessica Beecham talks about how Jason and other blind marathoners have been inspiration for her in her own quest for running greatness.

In the News – Don’t forget to register for the No Barriers Summit, set to take place in Copper Mountain, CO from June 23-26! Achilles Pikes Peak, a program that pairs athletes with disabilities and volunteer guides to help them train, celebrated their 2nd Birthday Bash!  Learn about Trevor Thomas, a blind hiker, who has hiked some of the United States’ toughest trails, including the Appalachians. And last, did you know it’s better to run 200 miles rather than stop at 100?

Matt Simpson and Joseph Hamilton, members of the US Men’s Goalball Team, join us in studio to talk about the Turnstone goalball training facility in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, as well as their own accomplishments within the sport of goalball. Matt, who previously worked for USABA, has been at Turnstone since it opened October 2015. Joseph, who was a member of the men’s World Championship Teams in 1998, 2002, 2010, and 2014, as well as a member of the team at the 2000 US Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, talks goalball basics. Goalball, which was originally designed as a sport for blinded World War II Veterans, has become the go-to sport for the blind and visually impaired. Joseph says, “the game sells itself”; the introduction of Turnstone has made it easier to share goalball with a wider audience. Although the US Men’s Team has been included in the “Pool of Death,” the Find Your Fit Team believes they can go all the way! Don’t forget to watch and cheer on the Men’s Team when they participate in the Goalball Nationals from June 23-25. The games will be livestreamed, courtesy of Disability Sports Network.

If you’re going to be in Orlando, Florida on June 30th, make sure to stop by the National Federation of the Blind’s National Convention, and check out the NF-Be Healthy Fair and Try-It Seminar! You’ll be able to donate blood, participate in cardio drumming, and get a body analysis from 10-4pm. Contact [email protected] for more information!

On this week’s Fit Chat, Kevan talks about his continuing training for the NYC Marathon, including his first 10 miler at the Colfax. Jessica, of course, ran another marathon at the Colfax races. Both Kevan and Jessica will be running the 6 Dot Dash race in Baltimore, Maryland on June 5 to support the National Federation of the Blind’s Braille Literacy program. Visit the NFB’s webpage to sign up to be a part of the WE Fit Wellness Team! Plus, Jessica talks about her hydration blog, where she discusses the health benefits of starting your day with 1.5L of water. Kevan got through 24 ounces before he’d had enough!

Your job: Make sure you stay hydrated with Push 2.0 Water!

Fat Guy in a Little Coat: You Will Love Listening to Mark Matteson, Author and Coach

Download your free tip sheet for sticking to your personal exercise routine.

Kevin Kovacs is the producer/engineer of Find Your Fit. He’s also training to roll with us at the NYC Marathon. You’ve just got to hear one of his training stories. Let’s just say, he showed off his ass-pirations to the neighbors.

Kevan just loves his new Hoka shoes. Wow! More cushion for the pushin’. Forward, always forward. “Run, Kevan, run!”

The team sings the praises of Achilles International and sends love to Achilles of the Pikes Peak – Brandon Stapanowich, Anne Fleming, and Karen Kantor.

Kudos to the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for the work they do with blind youth.

Om. Huey, Dewey, and Louey.

Skip the diet soda. Keep hydrated with PUSH 2.0 Water.

In the News: Mind over body – the Nutrition Action Newsletter from the Center for Science in the Public Interest suggests mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques. Plus, Singapore plans to increase sports participation among the disabled. And, can drinking diet soda during pregnancy result in childhood obesity for newborns?

Relentless Romero continues his amazing journey.

Underlying much of the training Mark Matteson does, is his commitment to living the healthy lifestyle. We’re proud to endorse Freedom From Fear and It’s About Time. Coming soon, his allegory, or is it a parable? Hmm. Fat Guy in a Little Coat.

Mike Vacanti, writer and strength coach, works with older Americans. His work inspires. You will enjoy this short video.

Maryann Migliorelli is a great friend. A few months ago, she was so ill, she couldn’t even walk. Last week, she walked a 5k. Hear about her journey. She credits the Total Fit Pack as part of her solution.

During Fit Chat, Jess talks about some very cool apps which can help us have fun and keep going! Charity Miles, Zombies, Run!, and Gym Pact.

Your job – check out the product page. We’ve listed the products, services, books, and documentaries we use and enjoy.

Legendary Pioneer, Blind Mountain Climber, and Best-Selling Author Erik Weihenmayer Brings His Insight and Inspiration to the Find Your Fit Team

Free, free, free! Get Jessica’s Tip Sheet for sticking to your exercise commitment. Download it for free.

Have you seen the documentary, Murderball? Our team loves wheelchair rugby. Listen for a feature on an upcoming episode (warning: the MTV documentary is a little more than risqué).

This episode, we gave away 2 FitBit Flexes and 2 Total Fit Packs.

Jessica and Kevan ran in the Cherry Creek Sneak. Thanks to Deb Conley at Lending Sight. We can’t say enough about the great guides of Achilles. Kevan extends appreciation to guide, Brandon Stapanowich.

Here’s to PUSH 2.0 Water for keeping us nice and hydrated! They are supporters of Braille literacy, Randolph-Sheppard concessionaires, and the programs of WE Fit Wellness.

In the News – Come join the WE Team at the NF-Be Healthy Fair and Try It Seminar, this year at the National Federation of the Blind’s National Convention in Orlando, Florida! Contact Jessica at [email protected] for more information about the NF-Be Healthy Fair. Next, a genetically edited mushroom that isn’t a GMO? Plus, the Mary Free Bed YMCA in Grand Rapids, Michigan is the first facility in the world to receive Universal Design Certification. And don’t forget to register for the 2016 No Barrier’s Summit, to be held June 23-26 at Copper Mountain, Colorado. Lastly, Relentless Romero Update – he continues his run across the United States of America. Track his progress, cheer him on!

Experience the WE Can Culture Workshops for yourself.

It was an honor to have Erik Weihenmayer with us. We enjoyed a wide-ranging ramble through Erik’s inspiring career, from mountain climbing to breaking through life’s many barriers. Kevan took the No Barriers Pledge. He’s going to run in the NYC Marathon? You will love Erik’s pledge: “Dinner at 5?” Erik spoke of the memoir he’s now writing. It will be released this coming winter. This is the 15th anniversary of his Mt. Everest summit. He speaks of his thrilling visit to the National Federation of the Blind Convention after being the first blind man to stand on the top of the world. The Find Your Fit Team highly recommends both of Erik’s books, “To Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See,” and “The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles into Everyday Greatness.” They’re available on Audible and BARD.

Do blind runners run with their guide dogs? Some do. Hear Amelia Dickerson’s comments in this episode’s short flashback from Episode 4.

Fit Chat – Jessica talks about strategies to reduce anxiety when using workout facilities.

Boston Lager? Boston Cream Pie? Boston Baked Beans? Kevan says it’s hard to eat healthy on the road. The WE Team went to Boston last week to cheer on Jessica’s marathon run. She took 5 minutes off of her previous personal best.

We highly recommend Eyes-Free Fitness®. It’s a great tool. Our listeners tell us that these are audio programs they buy and keep using.

Your job – Take The Pledge! Share your pledge with us, too, if you want. We’d love to hear from you.

“Surely, the apple is the noblest of fruits”. – Henry David Thoreau

Learning About Beep Baseball from a Hall of Famer. Might Still be Time to Register to Win Your FitBit Flex and Total Fit Pack.

Jessica, Find Your Fit host, and Executive Director of WE Fit Wellness, gets ready to head to Boston for the Marathon. She is certainly not the first blind woman to marathon in Boston. But, she’s our first blind woman to run in the Boston Marathon. Jessica compliments Team with a Vision, sponsored by Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Team Director, Andrea Croak. Jess challenges Kevan and Kevin to run in the New York City Marathon next November. They currently work out with Achilles International, Colorado Springs Chapter, on Monday evenings. The team always recommends Achilles chapters for guides and blind and disabled walkers and runners. Special shout out to PUSH Beverages for keeping the WE Team hydrated and offering best wholesale pricing to blind operators in Randolph-Sheppard (you know who you are, so tell your buddies). Thanks, PUSH!

The man that we got our intro to the “In the News” segments from is Ed Bassmaster. He has been a YouTube star for almost a decade and will have a TV show on CMT starting April 14th called “The Ed Bassmaster Show”.

In the News – Steve Baskis, blind Army veteran and founder of Blind Endeavors, continues to explore and give back to the community by helping others learn about the array of available adaptive equipment. Insurance company John Hancock will give you a discount on your insurance for eating healthy, and for working out?! And the Paralympic ski team parties in Vail.

Beep baseball is an adapted sport for the blind with 24 teams across the USA. In one form or another, the sport has been around for generations. Ron Brown, a member of the Beep Baseball Hall of Fame from Indianapolis, and Garrick Scott, beep baseball athlete, tell us about the history, the rules, the excitement, and the competitive spirit blind folks can find in the game. Ron Brown also serves as second vice president of the National Federation of the Blind. You might want to check out highlights from the 2015 Beep Baseball World Series. This year’s Beep Baseball World Series will be in Ames, Iowa in July. Contact us, or visit nbba.org to form a Beep Baseball team in your community. Perhaps WE Fit Wellness could sponsor your team. Play ball!

The Soundbite before the interview was from a show on ESPN called E:60.

Fit Chat! As this episode is posted, Relentless Romero is on Day 21 of his Run Across America. He’s averaging over 50 miles a day. Jessica speaks as only a fellow runner can about Jason’s fighting, yet gracious spirit. She also speaks with tremendous admiration about Rhonda-Marie Avery’s When the World Found Barkley. What a crazy race! You really do want to check out this documentary on Netflix. It’s pretty incredible. Wow! We continue to seek performing artists. If you are a singer, song-writer, musician, comic, impressionist, voice-over artist… send an email to [email protected], and we will send you info. If you “find your fit, episode 9” prior to midnight, April 15, then you still have time to enter to win a FitBit Flex activity tracker, and our WE Fit Wellness Total Fit Pack. That’s a $90 value. Send name and contact info to [email protected], or call the Fit Phone and leave your info: 866-543-6808 ext. 104. During Fit Chat, Kevan talks about the challenges and opportunities at the Y. Jessica shares tips and tricks for success at fitness centers and gyms.

Your job – share and recommend Find Your Fit. Help us grow a community around exercise, sports for people with disabilities, nutrition, positive outlook, and total well-being. We appreciate you. Till next time, do good, be well, find your fit!

Still a Chance for you to Win a FitBit Flex. Bill Kociaba of Kociaba Fitness Joins the Team in the Gym for this Empowering Episode

We ease into this episode with Jessica still in a relaxed state following her visit to R.E.S.T. Float Solutions. Before proceeding with these show notes, I really want to thank PUSH Beverages for keeping our team hydrated with Push 2.0 Water. It’s available at deep discount to blind operators of Randolph-Sheppard in 40 states.

In the News: How much does it really take to burn off a big mac? An online fast-food calculator reveals just how much activity is needed to be guilt-free. Next, there is still time to register for BLAST! Kevan makes note of the fact that the President of the National Federation of the Blind will be in attendance at BLAST. The WE Fit Wellness team is set to announce their 2016 Try It and NF-Be Healthy programs at the NFB National Convention, to take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, FL this June 30th. The United States Association of Blind Athletes’ rowing camp application deadline is April 15th. And lastly, people with disabilities can find numerous exercise options locally; the idea is to get moving.

There’s still time to enter into the drawing for a free FitBit Flex. Deadline is midnight Mountain Standard Time, April 15, 2016. Leave a message with your contact info on the Fit Line, 866-543-6808, extension 4, or send your contact info to be in the drawing to [email protected].

Bill Kociaba with Real World Fitness joins the team to talk about a forty-year career as a gym owner, trainer, podcaster and enthusiast. A blind powerlifter, Kociaba actually has some fun leading Kevan and Jessica through a few simple exercises. Kevan has trouble standing on one foot, urges people to read the kernel book story by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, “Standing on One Foot”. Bill is the only blind, certified kettlebell trainer in the world. Bill speaks about the impact he’s making on the lives of blind and visually impaired students at the Lighthouse of Broward County.

In Fit Chat, Kevin Kovacs, the Genius, producer of the program, tells us the type and duration of exercises he would have to do to burn off the calories he consumed at lunch. Kevan and Jessica discuss tips and tricks for eating on the run.

WE Fit Wellness and our Find Your Fit podcast team congratulates Relentless Romero as he runs across America in only 66 days. Follow Jason’s quest at Vision Run USA.

Your job this time is to enter for your chance to win a FitBit Flex. And remember – the WE Team is looking for singers, song-writers, musicians, comics, readers, poets for other projects. To learn more, email [email protected].

Dr. Joel Kimmons, Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Joins the Team for a Wide-Ranging Discussion of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness

Win a FitBit Flex, compliments of WE Fit Wellness and USABA! Email: [email protected], or call our Fit Line at 866-543-6808 by April 15, 2016 to enter.

Worley hypes the book, “Always Climb Higher,” by Jeff Pagels. It’s available on BARD.

Episode 6 featured an interview with the star of the Breaking Blind channel on Youtube, Maureen Bassmaster. This time we feature a short audio clip from BB. MB uses her activity tracker on a walk to the grocery store.

In the News, Kathleen covers the book, Always Climb Higher. We learn about our USA Men’s Goalball Teams victories in Vancouver on their Road to Rio. From the Denver Post, we learn more about our blind colleague and friend, Jason Romero as he gets ready to embark on his Run Across America from Los Angeles to Boston, in 64 days. Really? Wow!

WE Fit Wellness seeks people with disabilities in the performing arts. Calling actors, singer/song writers, impressionists, comics, dramatists. Maybe you can find your fit on a future WE Team production. Call 866-543-6808, or email [email protected].

On Fit Chat, we talk a little Blind Alive, Eyes-Free Fitness. We thank Mel Scott for her contribution to the community of total well-being.

Jessica talks about the need for more research in the area of overcoming barriers to encourage recreation and exercise for people with disabilities. She cites Healthy People 2010 and Physical Activity Participation Among Persons with Disabilities: Barriers and Facilitators from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Send your ideas and solutions for increased exercise and activity.

Colorado Center for the Blind increases opportunity for recreation outdoors and indoors: rock climbing, river rafting, skiing, and yoga.

In this episode’s Two-Minute Flashback, Amazing Amelia Dickerson, highlighted in episode 4, tells us a little about her journey. She wants to run, she wants to run, she wants to run!

Our guest is Dr. Joel Kimmons, an expert on epidemiology and nutrition at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. We visited with Dr. Kimmons for a wide-ranging discussion over coffee, not far from his office in Atlanta. Joel says, don’t think so much about nutrition or the big, bad obesity; think about tasty, healthy food. He urges blind vendors in the Randolph-Sheppard program and other companies who manage concessions on government buildings to step up. He compliments the National Automatic Merchandising Association for their FitPick®, which, in some ways, exceeds the Health & Sustainability Guidelines. Kimmons says the Health & Sustainability Guidelines were based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The Doctor compliments many blind vendors and restaurant start-ups across the country that sell healthy food and make good money doing it. Worley slams the Monsanto’s, McDonald’s, and Coca Cola’s of the world, the marketing machine for conditioning people to eat bad, processed foods.

Tomatoes? Canned or fresh?

Lower calorie cookies and crackers are not really food. Kimmons says, what comes from the farm is good food. Plain ol’ good food. Kimmons says that access to exercise and nutrition for people with disabilities is a matter of civil rights. Worley asked Kimmons if he actually said, as has been reported, “When blind vendors sell junk food, it is the same as if they were dealing crack.” Kimmons says no, “I believe folks want a sweet pick-me-up snack in the afternoon.” We just have to find ways to provide fresh, nutritious food and many blind vendors are doing just that, and earning a good living doing it.

Your job: Enjoy these great songs: Home Grown Tomatoes by Guy Clark, and Farm Fresh Onions by Robert Earl Keen.