Fitness – Reliv Blog

Why Working Out with a Friend is Good for You

By Reliv Bronze Ambassador Joyce Holthaus

One of the things I love about having a fitness friend (or two) is accountability. I may not stick with my workouts on my own but when I know that someone else is counting on me, I am more likely to show up.

A Happy Distraction

I love a good distraction when I’m doing something challenging and when I’m working out in a class or with a friend I get distracted. Before you know it the workout is over and it didn’t feel like it went on forever and would never end.

As a fitness instructor who teaches a newer workout format (Pound), I’ve noticed that many times when people come to my class for the first time, they come with a friend. I think that’s because we are more apt to try something new if we have a friend to do it with us.

A Friendly Challenge

Exercising with a friend pushes me to do my workout to the best of my ability. I like the added challenge of trying to keep up with them and test my own limits.

My last reason for working out with others is because I like to laugh! I find that I laugh a lot more working out when I’m with others. We sing loud to the music playing, laugh at our mistakes (I’m uncoordinated and have balance challenges) and just have fun. Laughing definitely makes the workout less painful and go quicker!

Moving Forward Together

Whether I’m going for a walk, going to the gym or attending a class I love doing it with another person (or more). So go grab a friend (or a few) and get moving together! You’ll challenge each other, encourage each other and make the workout so much more fun!

Whether you’re working out with a friend or solo, check out free Fit3 Workouts online! You can do them on your own schedule and in the comfort of your own home. You can also use the Fit3 Daily Moves calendar, which is new each month, and invite your friend to become an accountability partner! This works great if your friend lives far away, or if you can’t get together in person.

Whatever you choose to do, incorporating a friend into your fitness routine is a win-win!

fit3, Fitness

Trainer Tina’s Perfect Workout Playlist

By Director of Product Development & Fit3 Trainer Tina Van Horn

We may not always feel like exercising, but the right playlist can really get you motivated and help you scorch calories like nobody’s business! So we got to thinking… what are those iconic songs that can really get you pumped up and ready to sweat? For this one we went straight to the source and our Head Coach Tina Van Horn hooked us up with her go-to playlist. Take a look at a few of Tina’s favorites then pop over to our Fit3 community and share your favorite workout music with us!

1. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey: The quintessential workout song! You can’t go wrong here.

2. “Her Strut” by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band: Well, because that’s just how I roll! This may actually be my theme song.

3. “Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga: Not only is this one the ringtone on my phone but also a motto as I prefer to walk on the edge of a lot of things in life!

4. “Love Runs Out” by One Republic: Such a strong beat, you can’t help but move your feet!

5. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor: For when you start to doubt yourself, this one will get your motivation right back!

6. “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins: Growing up in the 80s, this one is iconic!

7. “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins: Top Gun soundtrack! Still love that movie – beach volleyball scene, anyone?

8. “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson: The lyrics, the beat, the voice! Everything about this one makes it a great addition to the playlist.

9. “Livin’ On a Prayer” by Bon Jovi: For the days when a prayer is all that I have!

10. “Feel Invincible” by Skillet: The lyrics to this one definitely push me out of my comfort zone. A necessity for a strong workout!

11. “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down: This one helps me channel my inner super hero while I’m conquering big hills during a run.

12. “We Got the Beat” by the Go-Go’s: A bunch of girls just having fun!

13. “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees: Get ready to break out the disco moves!

Business, Business Builder Tips, fit3, Fitness, Healthy Living Tips, Nutrition

Simple Changes To Make This Your Year

tinaerin blog

By Director of Marketing Erin Koch & Director of Product Development & Fit3 Trainer Tina Van Horn

This is the year to better your health, boost your business and find the new you! We have collaborated to make a list of simple changes you can make in 2019 to make this your year!

Trainer Tina’s Health & Fitness Tips

Pack your lunch instead of eating out. This will not only be better for your diet, but also for your wallet!

Make a delicious dessert-inspired Reliv shake instead of sugary alternatives. There’s no better way to end a meal than with the best core nutrition available.

Walk while you talk. Get moving during your meetings and phone calls to minimize your inactivity.

Squeeze in a 30-minute workout during your lunch break. This solves your problem of not wanting to wake up earlier or being too tired after work. Lucky for you, the Fit3 workouts are all accessible on the Reliv Mobile App!

Carry a water bottle everywhere you go. Ideally, you should be consuming at least nine glasses of water a day, but this can also depend on your weight and activity level.

Meditate for five minutes. Whether it be in the morning or during the workday, or even at night, taking the time to reflect on your day and just being present makes a big difference to your overall mood.

Set a kitchen curfew. Don’t eat after a specified time you have set for yourself. For example, I try not to eat past 8 p.m.

Tweak a favorite recipe by replacing or reducing added sugar and unhealthy fats, even if that simply means drinking your coffee black or using dates to sweeten your favorite treats.

Track everything you eat for just one day. Keep a notebook and you’ll be surprised by the amount of “just one bite” or samples sneak into your day.

Use a smaller plate at meal times. This classic trick will help you train your brain to be better at controlling portion sizes.

Marketing Expert Erin’s Business Branding Tips

Be the brand. You represent your business, so wear or carry gear with a Reliv or Fit3 logo on you when you’re on the go. You will be amazed at the prospects you get who will ask you “What’s Reliv?” or “What’s Fit3?”

Define who you are. Write down 3-5 topics that you are passionate about and use that to write your online bio and one-minute story. Your story could be about the Reliv products, the Reliv business or both. But it has to be authentic to you and your brand. If you don’t know who you are, your prospects won’t either. And remember that people only buy from those they know, like and trust.

Get the Reliv Mobile app. If you’re in business in today’s world, you need technology that goes with you. This is the EASIEST and FASTEST way for you to share videos and websites with prospects, place orders and signup someone on the go. Plus, who wouldn’t love to get instant notifications with every new order, new customer or new Distributor?! We have seen our Distributors who use this app take their business to new heights! Plus, they are the FIRST ones to hear about a new sale, promotion and exclusive videos.

Use professionally designed marketing materials. As a Reliv Distributor you have the benefit of having an entire marketing team who has done all of the hard work for you! Using beautifully designed presentations, brochures, event signage and more makes you look like a pro, plus it gives you more time to build your business! We want people to look at you and know right away that you’re a Reliv Distributor. Get logos, beautiful product photos, incredible before and after weight loss photos and so much more at flickr.com/reliv. Just click the “Albums” tab and click the down arrow to download the images. Then you simply email the images to your local print shop. You can also click the right arrow to share images online with your prospects – so easy!

Host a Shake Bar. Invite your friends and their friends over for a fun shake bar and watch your product sales grow! We have delicious recipes on Flickr that you can send to your local print shop, so you look like an expert! This is such a fun way to introduce someone new to our products… and they will always remember how delicious it tasted. Just be sure to have plenty of product on hand for purchase.

Start a Fit3 workout group. Pick one or two days a week to get together and do one of our Fit3 workouts. Invite new people each week, encourage your team to do the same, and watch your team and business grow! Public places like a park or community center are even better and you should have a sign that welcomes new people.

Host a Girlfriends’ Getaway. This does NOT have to be complicated. The point is to get your girlfriends and their friends together to have fun and to show them how they can get healthier and live happier! Serve shakes, have a dance party, host a clothing swap day, meet for a walk in the park…there are so many ways to get together and have fun. We were amazed at the turnout at our Girlfriends’ Getaway last summer and plan to do more in 2019. But why wait for us when you can host your own! If you need tips, check out our Reliv Facebook Page and click the “Videos” tab. You’ll see our Shake Chat on Shake parties, which has tips to get you started!

Go to Reliv Live. Pick a city, but make sure you get there! Why? Because you are investing in YOURSELF. Going to Reliv Live is telling yourself that you’re worth investing in – and you are! You’re going to leave with inspiration, a notebook full of new ideas and motivation that will give your business a push forward in 2019. Plus, let’s not forget that there is nothing more fun than a Reliv event with all your friends! Invite at least two new people to go with you and let them catch the spark of inspiration they need too! Check out the fun cities and start planning your getaway now at reliv.com/events.

Tell someone new about Reliv today! All the other tips listed will help you do this. That is the first step in truly building your business.

We hope these tips will help you make 2019 the best year ever! Try one at a time and you’ll reach your personal wellness and business goals in no time.

fit3, Fitness, Healthy Living Tips, Nutrition

How To Boost Your Mood In The Winter Months

By Director of Product Development & Fit3 Trainer Tina Van Horn

As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, you may find your workout motivation waning, too. It’s not just your imagination—there really are biological and physiological reasons our moods tend to change with the season!

Seasonal Mood Shifts

Seasonal mood shifts often include the following:

Having less energy
Being less social
Craving carbs
Losing interest in your favorite activities
Changes in your quality of sleep—you might be having trouble sleeping or wanting to sleep more than usual!

The primary culprit of these symptoms is the lack of daylight hours in colder months and how it affects hormone production, temperature regulation, metabolism and mood.

Beat the Winter Blues

Darker days combined with the demands of new goals in the new year may lead to some serious internal conflict when it comes to making good Fit3 choices. The best solution is to take advantage of as much natural sunlight as you can and follow the the Fit3 program. Fit3 workouts and good nutrition are great strategies for beating the winter blues.

While you probably feel like curling up with a blanket and a warm pan of brownies, simple carbs and sugars can spike your blood sugar levels and then send them crashing down. Your mood will fluctuate with this sugar roller coaster, as well. To avoid this spiral, stick to your Fit3 nutrition plan. The vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients in your Reliv products are also essential to keeping your seasonal mood swings from getting the best of you. This is not the time of year to be skipping a shake!

Exercise promotes the production of endorphins, and endorphins make you happy! When you really don’t feel like fitting in a workout, you need to ditch your excuses and just get moving. You may have to play some mental games with yourself, but that winter workout is worth it!

No matter what you do during this changing season, take care of yourself and listen to what your body needs. Drink your Reliv shake every day and keep moving to beat that seasonal mood shift!

Fitness, Nutrition, Weight Loss

The Truth About Holiday Weight Gain

By Director of Product Development & Fit3 Trainer Tina Van Horn

In the chaos of travel, family, food, and shopping, it’s hard to feel like yourself! After Thanksgiving and Christmas, I could feel the extra water weight from the heavy meals and treats. However, by making smart choices after those days, that water weight became a distant, sugar-laden memory. I did not really gain 5 pounds during the holidays and neither did you!

Most of us have been led to believe that holiday weight gain is inevitable. This is a myth! We are so sold on this notion that we significantly overestimate the amount of weight we can actually gain. By the time January rolls around most of us think we have put on 7-10 pounds when in reality the average holiday indulgences add up to around only 1 pound. That’s pretty good news, but the flipside is that most of us don’t lose that pound after the holiday season, and it contributes to the “weight creep” that occurs over months and years.

Fit3 is your post-holiday recovery plan! Dig out your weekly tracking sheet and pick a couple of things you CAN do today! You CAN take your Reliv shake and drink lots of water. It’s also the time for resolutions, so start now by hitting the gym! You don’t have to do anything crazy or dramatic. Just do something today to get yourself back on track to making better choices.

My other strategy is to get rid of the leftovers! Yes, throwing them away will be a little painful, but not every day is a holiday. We will go back to our busy lives and stay on track!

Remember this through the end of this year and as you enter 2019. Make a choice today that you will feel good about tomorrow!

Fitness, Nutrition

Workout Moves To Get You Through The Holidays!

BLOG holiday workout

By Product Marketing Specialist & Fit3 Head Coach Tina Van Horn

The holiday season is busy for everyone, but that’s no excuse to completely abandon your workout plan. Travel and family gatherings may disrupt your usual routine, but if you are willing to be creative, you can sneak in some exercise right in the middle of the holiday festivities.

Check out my favorite moves for maintaining your fitness through the holidays:

Walk! Walk! Walk! – Go for a walking tour of the Christmas lights. Participate in a Turkey Trot or Jingle Bell Walk/Run. Get some extra steps in while shopping by parking farther away from the store. Invite the family to join you for a stroll after your big holiday meal. Get the kids outside to burn some energy. Tromping through the snow is a great workout. Strap on your fitness tracker and try to hit your step goal every day! Little bursts of activity throughout the day add up to big benefits.

Pushups – Of course this one will be on the list. Do 5 pushups every time you eat a Christmas cookie. Make the kids do one before they open a gift. If you are watching one of your favorite holiday films, knock out a few every time a bell rings. Make it a game!

Squats – Pick up your niece or nephew and start squatting! They will be squealing for more while all of the other kids line up to take turns! If the kids are too big, a frozen turkey will do for added resistance. Or you can just look around the house and find something heavy-ish to lift. If you are hitting the road, do some squats whenever you make a pit stop.

Planks – Start a new tradition on Christmas morning. For example: Whoever can hold a plank the longest gets to open the first gift. Just one minute a day and you’ll be ringing in the New Year with a super strong core.

Stretch – Sit in the glow of the lights with holiday music playing and spend a few minutes stretching at the end of each day. This is the perfect time to sip on a Reliv shake and focus on what’s really important to you during this season.

Fit3 Workout Video – Crank up the high-energy holiday tunes and press play on your favorite Fit3 workout! Just make sure you don’t get tangled up in tinsel when you do the kicks and punches.

The most important part of the season is to enjoy it and have fun! Make these moves part of your family activities.

Love & Lunges,

Coach Tina

fit3, Fitness, Nutrition, Weight Loss

Why Your Scale Isn’t the Be-All, End-All

By Fit3 Head Coach Tina Van Horn

There is this little device in my bathroom that appears very innocent and demure, but it can be a very powerful, deceptive, two-faced, no-good, lying hunk of junk! That scale just sits there—ready to ambush me and lure me into its lair where, inevitably, I will find despair and disappointment. Yes, I am being a bit dramatic, but you know exactly what I am talking about.

In my head I have an ideal weight for myself. In my head I also have a realistic weight for myself. Those numbers are about 15 pounds apart. So maybe I should rephrase the first part of the statement to say “In my head I have a fantasy weight for myself.”

There are all kinds of tools, tables and calculators available to give you a range of healthy weights for your height. While they might give you a reasonable range, they are also very arbitrary. Meaning: They don’t take into account all of the cool things that make “you” who “you” are. In other words, your scale only has the capacity to communicate with you in one language.

I have come to terms with the fact that I am not a Victoria’s Secret model (It has nothing to do with ice cream! I can’t do anything about being 5’5 ½” tall, but I have not come to terms with that). I have moved past my sixth grade aspiration to wear the same size jeans as “Christi C.” (Those jeans are out of style now anyway.) I know that I will never run fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I have even come to celebrate and appreciate that I have what’s been called “an athletic build” (i.e. not always what women want to hear).

Now that I’ve matured and had a couple of babies, it’s probably time to reevaluate my definition of ideal weight. I found an article that suggests your ideal weight is “the weight you’re at when you’re doing everything you can to promote good health.” What a great perspective! (Be sure to read the last page.)

When you started Fit3, you probably had an ideal weight in mind. This program has the capacity to get you closer to that goal. But the focus is more on helping you experience good health, in everything you do. We want you to be healthy, so you can enjoy life and not be limited in any way.

Your scale can’t measure that!

fit3, Fitness, Healthy Living Tips, Nutrition

How To Workout With Your Kids

WorkoutKids

By Fit3 Head Coach Tina Van Horn

Fitness friends come in all shapes, sizes and ages. I met a new walking buddy, Lilly, recently at a local 5K and we had an interesting conversation. I learned that her favorite movie is the original The Wizard of Oz and how much she enjoys studying the Revolutionary War, how she plays golf and volleyball and loves the dance exercise class at the YMCA. Lilly, who happens to be a very mature 10-year-old, even has two pesky little sisters who were in a wagon being pulled by her mom behind us. By the time we crossed the finish line, I had told Lilly some entertaining secrets about my sister, her 2nd grade teacher, and she told me how her dad turns every question into a history lesson (insert the pre-adolescent eye roll). I helped her forget that she didn’t want to be walking in a 5K and she helped me forget that my feet hurt. It was a win for both of us!

If you have kids or grandkids, it can be difficult to squeeze in a workout. But if you include them, you have a built-in fitness friend! Just keep the moves simple and find ways to interject a little competitive fun. For example, challenge them to see who can do the most jumping jacks in 30 seconds. You can even break a sweat together with one of the Fit3 workouts.

Kids and teens should get 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. I know it can be tough to tear them away from their electronic babysitters, but it can be done and you can still get in a good workout too.

Here are a few ideas to get the whole family moving:

Turn household chores into a game
Crank up the tunes for a dance party during commercials
Walk or run for a charity special to your family
Walk or run in a holiday 5K
Do community service or volunteer work together
Have a weekly sports night
Make up a playground workout
Use your kids as “weights” when you strength train
Run relay races in the backyard while picking up sticks
Compete to see who can rake the biggest pile of leaves

The possibilities are endless when it comes to helping your family stay active. Find out what works for your schedule and for your family’s lifestyle and you will end up having so much fun and making lifelong memories together!

Fitness, Nutrition, Science & Health

Power Your Workouts With ProVantage®

Womanworkout-web
By Fit3 Head Coach Tina Van Horn

There’s no better time than now to perfect your workouts with the optimal performance nutrition found in Reliv’s ProVantage®. Designed with a patented plant-based protein formula, ProVantage meets your nutritional needs for both immediate and long-term athletic performance.

“Whether you’re working out in the gym or your backyard, you need the right nutrition to perform your best,” says Dr. Carl Hastings. “ProVantage delivers that nutrition and the patent confirms the uniqueness of a formula designed to deliver real results.”

Walk into any fitness center or grocery store today and protein powders are in abundance. There are so many to choose from—it is overwhelming! So what makes ProVantage different? No other performance supplement harnesses the power of plant-based protein with the combination of powerful antioxidants and supercharged amino acids.

Let’s take a look at how this synergistic blend of ingredients works:

One of ProVantage’s key ingredients is lunasin. This cell-protecting protein and naturally-occurring peptide combats the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by strenuous exercise. Your body will feel the difference and thank you for this.

ProVantage also has medium chain triglycerides, or MCT’s, which work to help reduce body fat and increase muscle mass. MCT’s also improve muscle repair and muscle quickness while providing more energy than carbohydrates. So your workouts will be fueled all week long!

Say goodbye to your midday slump. The CoQ10 and grape seed extract promote energy production, combat free radicals and support the immune system.

So how do these superior ingredients translate to everyday performance fuel?

Work harder. From adding extra reps at the gym to hiking further up that hill, discover the stamina to power through fatigue.

Recover faster. Don’t settle for sore muscles. A precise balance of nutrients can shorten recovery time.

Get stronger. The right protein helps you build higher-quality muscle than you ever thought possible.

Simply mix 1-3 scoops daily with water or your other favorite beverage, depending on level and intensity of training.

Bottom line: ProVantage delivers a performance edge that is unparalleled! See for yourself how ProVantage outperforms all the others….the proof is in the powder!

Business, Fitness, Uncategorized

5 Things We Learned From The Winter Olympics

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By Social Media Coordinator Michaela Bukaty

The Winter Olympics have come to a close and Champions have been rewarded, but we are still in an Olympics state of mind. There is so much that we can learn from these inspiring athletes beyond their health and fitness routines. It’s easy to overlook the nontangible characteristics and strengths held by Olympians, but it takes so much resilience, patience and motivation to do what they did. Anyone can watch the reruns of figure skating or ski jumping and see the looks of determination on each competitor’s face. These incredible people had a mission and put themselves out there to succeed.

Upon reflection, there is a lot we can learn from Olympians that translates to our business:

Follow Your Dream. Dreams can be intimidating, but don’t let your fears get in the way of pursuing them. Also, don’t let others belittle your dreams. I bet every single Olympic Champion faced someone in their life that didn’t believe in them—and look where they are now!

Live Your Passion. Once you follow your dream you can truly live your passion and enjoy the life you want! Do you want to stay home with your kids and provide for them? Find a job that fulfills both passions. With Reliv, you can work anywhere and at any time while also providing essential nutrition to your whole family.

Always Persevere. At points, you might feel like giving up, especially in the beginning. Don’t! Always persevere and you will be your own version of an Olympic Champion. You will see your success by working hard and sticking with it.

Encourage Others. Find your support system and build them up! Always be encouraging others to live their dream and passion. If you encourage your customers and your downlines to be successful, they will be motivated to succeed. Others’ success is your success.

Have Fun and Keep Going! Like Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Tom Pinnock always says, “If you’re not having fun, you’re done!” Have fun with what you do and always keep going.