The Grid Foam Roller ($45.99) Forget everything you’ve ever known about traditional foam rolling, the Grid takes foam rolling to a whole new level. If you’ve ever had sore muscles you have to get one of these. Simply a must for runners or anyone who sits in front of a computer daily.

Raw Organic Vegan Chocolate Spread Gift Box ($26) Everyone deserves a little sweetness in their lives, and what’s better than chocolate? The Love Street Raw Organic Chocolate Spread Gift Box  contains its top-selling vegan chocolate spreads: Ecuadorian chocolate spread and Ecuadorian chocolate coconut spread. Both are great as a spread, dip, or mixed in a smoothie.

Valslides ($30) You will be among good company when using this new fitness tool, as numerous celebrity trainers are using the Valslides to whip their clients into shape for upcoming movies. Try using the Valsides for killer core exercises and sliding lunges that target your butt and thighs. Plus you can use them in in your home, or pack in your suitcase and travel with them anywhere!

SoyaPower Plus Soy, Rice, and Nut Milk Maker ($120.00) Here’s a gift that the vegetarian or vegan in your life will love – a (vegan) milk maker! They’ll be able to use the SoyaPower Plus Milk Maker to make soy, nut, or rice milk. Really easy to use, and the end result is a natural vegan milk product that is free of preservatives.

TRX Training System ($199) Not only do Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bundchen use the TRX, but so do high performance athletes such as Superbowl MVP Drew Brees. Designed by a Navy SEAL as a go-anywhere workout, this set of nylon straps creates resistance from two sources always at your disposal: body weight and gravity. Lock the straps onto any elevated fixture–a pull up bar, door, or tree branch–and you’ll unlock new dimensions in your training. This is a training gadget made our 2010 Holiday Fitness Guide and because it is such a great gift we had to list it again for 2011’s Must Haves!

Lululemon Triumphant Tote ($118) Not only is this bag waterproof but was designed to keep you winning at life, from the studio and beyond. Lulu has included lots of fun features to keep you organized and ready to take life head on in 2012. This bag even has a laptop pocket so it’s business and pleasure!

Lifefactory BPA-free reusable beverage bottle ($21.99) These environmentally friendly and health conscious water bottles were created to provide consumers a choice in safe and well designed essentials for babies and adults. Not only are they environmentally and safe, but look cool! This bottle is our favorite BPA-free bottle on the market, 2 thumbs up and a great gift for anyone on your list.

WHY THIS NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT IS GOOD FOR YOU:

• Increase energy and stamina
• Balanced carbohydrates for immediate and long-term fuel
• Energy is derived from two healthy and natural sources: yerba mate and green tea
• Support adrenal function and reduce stress
• Anti-inflammatory ingredients to assist with recovery after your workout

BACKGROUND ON YERBA MATE AND GREEN TEA:

Green Tea Extract has thermo genic properties which mean that it will increase your energy (calorie) burning, which is why its extract is a popular natural weight-loss product, or ingredient in combination formulas. Yerba Mate is native to subtropical South America and the leaves of yerba mate contain caffeine and are used as the main ingredient in numerous diet aids. Research on the effects of yerba mate in health and disease has confirmed its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and lipid-lowering activities.

HOW TO USE:

Vega Sport Performance Optimizer is a pre-workout beverage. Mix 1 scoop (18 g) of Vega Sport in 1 cup (250 ml) of water and drink prior to physical activity. Additional servings can be taken during prolonged exercise.

WHERE TO BUY: sequelnaturals.com Free Shipping with orders over $100

SOME HISTORY ON HEMP: Hemp foods come from the same plant species as marijuana (Cannabis sativa l.), but from a special variety that contains virtually no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the chemical that triggers marijuana’s psychoactive effects. Hemp Protein Powder is produced when whole hemp seeds are cold-pressed to expel the oil, leaving behind a dry “cake.” This cake is then milled at low temperatures to remove some of the fibre and produce a concentrated form of protein.

WHY THEY ARE HEALTHY: Manitoba Harvest Hemp Protein Powder can supply any diet with a vegetarian source of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fibre, chlorophyll and a complete, balanced gluten-free source of the essential amino acids.

Hemp protein supplies enough of each of the essential amino acids to contribute to the human body’s requirements. In fact, an important aspect of hemp protein is that it is a quality source of the amino acids arginine and histidine, both of which are important for growth during childhood, and of the sulphur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine, both of which are needed in the production of vital enzymes. Manitoba Harvest Hemp protein also contains relatively high levels of the branched-chain amino acids that are crucial in the repair and growth of lean body mass. These high levels of BCAA found in hemp are comparable to that found in meat, eggs, and dairy.

HOW TO EAT THEM: Toss 2 tablespoons of the seeds into your oatmeal, stir-fry or salad. Also, try adding Manitoba Harvest protein powder to your breakfast, or post workout smoothie for an extra dose of muscle-building protein.

WHERE TO BUY THEM: ManitobaHarvest.com

Use the Promo Code: Goop2011 to get 15% off your order on any hemp products!!

Now at the vibrant age of 46 years old (metabolic age: 27), I realize the many advantages and benefits of being physically fit, and how it helps design the amazing life I am living today.

Maintaining Well-Balanced Physical Fitness: 1). Gives me the self-confidence in my ability to succeed in Life 2). Modulates my response to periods of stress 3). Allows me to consistently meet optimistic, driven, positive, kind, mind-like individuals 4). Develops and maintains sensitivity and intuition to initiate and recognize opportunities 5). Reveals every day how much I can transform my life, by taking one smart actions at a time 6). Allows me to take on challenges I never even considered 7). Teaches me discipline, humility, perseverance, and patience 8). Teaches me how to set short & long-term goals to reach objectives, and motivated by measuring and celebrating all successes 9). Shows me that exceed even my own expectations 10). Proves to me, every day, that Health and Fitness can never be taken for granted.

With specific needs for Efficiency & Practicality, training in a gym would rapidly become my mantra, leaving competitive sports for others. Leaving the traitorous EGO in the locker room, each workout involved two only players: The Iron and I.  In a gym, there should be no one to impress, deceive, challenge, and conquer. It is a place of rituals, where concentration, respect, focus, intensity are your guides. Some of the most important decisions in my life were made while working out.

Today, I realize how maintaining health and staying fit was instrumental to the creation on my Present. I believe Health is a gift, one that requires consistency, respect, accountability, integrity, and discipline. I also believe that the smallest daily health-related decisions we make and actions we take can most impact on quality of current and future Health.

My life is a great life because I prioritize Fitness and Nutrition.  I believe that everyone can achieve Health. Any transformation begins when thoughts are put to Actions, and is entirely controlled by each individual.

My Beliefs:

• Never give up QUALITY for QUANTITY
• Make each Rep, Each Set, Each workout count.
• Nutrition is as important as Exercise: Eat as hard as you train.
• Health is spelled W.O.R.K.
• Pursue Health and Performance will follow.
• LIFE IS A SPORT. TRAIN FOR IT.

“To fast track & elevate my career in the Fitness Industry, I sought for the Elite in Fitness and Sport Nutrition. I am blessed with strong alliances with Andre Noel Potvin & Dr Cory Holly, two great guys, taking under their wings, and generously opened their knowledge vaults for the benefits to each individual i strive to inspire. (Thanks A & C!)”

Sylvain Cyr in a Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutrition Advisor

If you would like to be featured on Fitness Goop, please send your answer to the question, “how being healthy and fit has changed my life?” along with a recent photo of yourself to… getgooped@fitnessgoop.com.

Simmerling recently returned home to Vancouver from Aspen, Colorado where she had taken a fall injuring both her knees, along with her fourth concussion. When asked if she was in pain, Georgia replied, “no not at all, I just want to get back racing.” Her comment personifies this world class athlete, from her passion for the sport of alpine racing, to her contagious smile and electric personality that is combined with a fearless nature, and strength on the hill that is awe-inspiring.

Skiing is in the blood of the Simmerling family. Growing up in West Vancouver, Georgia’s parents had a vision for the entire family to ski together. Georgia’s three older brothers were put into the Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club, and Georgia soon followed at the age of six. This resulted in a family that loved to race down the mountain together, and were very good at it.

Georgia knew from a young age that ski racing was her life, but there have also been some major decisions along the way. She had to choose between University in Kinesiology studies, or making the national team. With only one opportunity at this time in her life at downhill racing, Georgia headed out for a life similar to that of a rock star – minus the unhealthy habits – with goals and a determination to excel and reach her full potential on the World Cup circuit.

She is fearless and has been willing to pay the price for the risks she takes. Simmerling has a theory that skiers get injured in one area of their body, and hers just happens to be her face! Although she feels exceptionally lucky that she has never been out of racing for more than 8 weeks, Georgia has had some serious injuries. Her worst fall was in 2005, when she was recreationally skiing in Chile and accidentally skied off a cliff due to poorly marked trails. This resulted in a compound fracture to her jaw, multiple teeth broken and her mouth wired shut for a month. In another serious fall in Germany, she bit her tongue seventy-five percent off and needed fifty stitches to sew it back on. It was this particular injury that made it mandatory for the Canadian team to wear mouth guards. Since then, Simmerling has fallen twice and contributes wearing the mouth guard to protecting her jaw. With injuries being so common in the sport, Georgia considers herself lucky that she has not had more and contributes this to good genetics, as well as being one of the strongest and fittest members of the team.

Georgia is a great example of an athlete with amazing dedication to her strength and conditioning. At 21 years of age, not only is she one of the strongest athletes on the team, but she actually loves spending hours sweating at the gym! A typical training day in the off season for Simmerling would be hitting the gym at 8am, where she completes a lower body workout which may include a lower agility and core focused session, or a lower plyometric and agility session for two hours. This is followed by a short rest with time to eat, and then a two hour bike ride in the afternoon. Four hours a day of intense training, five days a week is what an Olympic alpine skier such as Georgia Simmerling needs to accomplish, so that her body can handle whatever the mountain may challenge her with during a downhill race.

Simmerling also incorporates yoga into her fitness regime – which she credits her mom with for introducing Georgia to the practice five years ago. “Yoga not only helps me with flexibility in my tight hip flexors and glutes, but has done wonders for my skiing.” If you ask Georgia her favorite exercise, she will answer with “olympic cleans”. Her most hated exercise – which is probably the same for a lot of downhill skiers – is pull ups.

Not everything has been smooth running for this Canadian athlete. Simmerling has had her share of frustrations and setbacks during her young career in this sport. One of the toughest that she has had to face, was when she was unable to compete in one of her race days during the Whistler Olympics. Extremely poor course conditions, as well as several other athletes falling led Georgia’s physiotherapist and coaches to pull her from the race 5 minutes before the start. “I was extremely disappointed with that decision” says Simmerling. “I ski best when I am faced with challenges, so when things get tough, I get going.” Georgia has also been faced with making the World Cup team and also being cut. “The criterion to make the full World Cup team is extremely difficult” says Simmerling.

When discussing the topic of fear – a natural curiosity for someone who watches these elite athletes move down the course, sometimes reaching speeds of 130+ kilometers – Simmerling explains,

that the only moment of fear that a downhill skier should ever feel in a race is when they have already made a mistake and are about to fall and are now thinking, how can this be corrected? How can I protect myself? Or, this might not end so good.”

After capturing a ­­­NorAm win just weeks ago in Aspen Colorado, this young gun will mend her recent injuries and continue to set her sights on getting back on the mountain and chasing her dream of becoming an Olympic Champion. With the next winter Olympics being held in Russia in 2014, Simmerling should be at the peak of her career and hungry for glory.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Today, buying chocolate for a lover is one way humans traditionally celebrate Valentine’s Days. Why chocolate is connected to romance could simply be because chocolate is so tasty. But it’s not only romance that chocolate is now used for on Valentine’s, it’s also become a gift that is given from people to others they care about.

It can be tricky trying to find the perfect chocolate to show someone special that you care about them this Valentine’s Day, especially if you are searching for chocolate that is not packed with unwanted ingredients. There are however, several companies that are making chocolates with sensitivity to our health and environment. Zazubean is a local company which makes several wonderfully unique flavored chocolate bars.

All ingredients in Zazubean chocolates are 100% organic certified by USDA, this ensures consumers that all ingredients in the chocolates are grown, processed and handled in a way that is consistent with the national organic standards.

Why Organic?
Cocoa beans are one of the most pesticide intensive crops in the world. Because Zazubean cares about health, all the beans in our chocolate are organically farmed using traditional shade grown agriculture that is pesticide free which protects not only your health, but the species living in these organic cocoa producing areas.

Good for you
We’re not sure if 2 ounces (56g) of chocolate a day can keep the doctor away, however, dark chocolate with a minimum cocoa content of 70% may protect against heart disease and high blood pressure. Because it is full of antioxidants rich in flavonoids, which are potent plant compounds found in tea, red wine and some fruits and vegetables that reduce bad “LDL” cholesterol.

The opening game was a hard fought match with the US team finding the back of the net in an 8-2 victory. Team Canada head coach Peter Crosby commented,

Although the third period score didn’t go our way, the first half of the third period we dominated the play because we went to more of an aggressive style. When we went to more of a Canadian style of play and we had some chances, we missed out on some great opportunities”

Team Canada was focused on several important goals going into the first match as the Canadian captain Stephanie Allam stated,

We all have just met this week for the first time so we need to communicate and get to know each other”

Rossi Thomas from Vancouver B.C scored Canada’s 2^nd goal and in an interview with the Vancouver Sun, gave this feedback on the game of floorball.

I love it. It’s not too hard on the body, which is nice. It’s a really good workout and a fast-paced game. There’s a lot of good stickhandling and a lot of good tactics, too.”

USA beat Canada 8-0 in the second and decisive WFC qualification match in the American qualification. With a total of four points from two matches, USA won the qualification and achieved a place in the Women´s WFC 2011 Final round played in Switzerland from December 4th – 11^th, 2011.

Although the history of Floorball is a recently young sport in December 2008, the IFF and the sport of floorball received recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IFF hopes that this provisional recognition will help allow floorball to become a part of the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo by Ginette Alexander 

Fitness Goop is excited to have Katherine as a contributing writer offering our readers a wealth of knowledge  on running as well as the practice of yoga. She feels fortunate enough to be coached by Olympian, Jon Brown of Victoria and sponsored by Saucony. Katherine began practicing and teaching yoga eight years ago. She feels that yoga is a beautiful balance with any sport. Katherine helps runners understand that balance, flexibility and strength are key components to staying injury free. She teaches that the breath and meditation that you practice in yoga will help calm the body and mind in tough training sessions. Look for her first articles to be published on Fitness Goop this February!

Natasha’s latest project is the creation of Peak 20 Workout which is a 20 minute / 6 week total body conditioning program designed for strength, core conditioning, cardio strength and fat loss all while designing a great looking body quickly.

Natasha’s philosophy for good physical and mental health is finding one’s unique individual balance. One program does not fit everyone; she understands and respects the diversity that exists in all. Furthermore, her individualized exercise programs guarantee results leading to high client satisfaction. Natasha’s clients range from high school students to busy executives, from ex Marines to busy moms and from models to actors. Fitness Goop is excited to offer our audience not only her extremely successful workout programs and fitness advice, but also interviews with industry fitness experts and high profile athletes.

My work requires that I travel and spend time away from home. I am finding it very difficult staying healthy while travelling from one city to another. I am feeling fatigued, having a hard time making good food choices and having a hard time working out without my own gym. What advice can you give for avoiding getting sick and keeping fit while travelling?”

Hi Jennifer, first of all congratulations on your commitment to stay healthy while away from home. Now to answer your question, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends several helpful tips for protecting yourself from the flu (and from other illnesses, if you are travelling abroad). Another option would be to travel with a “travel health kit,” which would be useful in case you do get ill while travelling. A travel health kit could include pain/fever medicine and an alcohol-based antibacterial hand gel.

I also recommend you try and eat lots of antioxidant-rich foods to boost your immune system before your trip, as well during your time away from home. Fitness Goop has written about some very popular remedies to try to prevent illness such as vitamin C and Echinacea. Another great source for boosting your metabolism is Why Not Give A Boost to Your Metabolism.

Now to help keep you fit while travelling. Even though it may be hard to stick to a normal fitness routine when travelling this does not mean you have to abandon your exercise goals completely. If you find yourself travelling use these helpful tips to ensure you’ll stay active:

1. Pack your gym gear. Make sure to put your workout clothing and fitness gear in your luggage. This will make it easier for you to stay committed to your fitness goals because having your gear with you acts as a visual reminder to workout. (Fitness Gear: Jump rope, resistance bands, yoga mat)

2. Inquire about guest passes at a nearby gym or yoga studio. Gyms will often provide drop-in or weekly guest passes at no charge! Also, most Yoga, Pilates, and Barre studios have a drop-in rate if you only want to take a few classes.

3. Bring a workout program with you. It is always smart to prepare for the worst circumstances while travelling i.e. no gym or poor weather conditions – if you bring your own workout all you will need is some space indoors. Hotel rooms can be the perfect back up option to jump rope, do a resistance band workout, follow a fitness/yoga download on your laptop or iPad, or use one of our printable workouts. A great resource for yoga videos and streaming downloads is My Yoga Online.

Finally, drink 17 ounces of water when you wake up to boost your metabolism 25% for 90 minutes (according to a recent German study), eat foods bright  in color, add yogurt to your breakfast or snacks, and minimize alcohol consumption (especially when you fly).

Hopefully with these tips, you will be able to try to prevent illness and stay fit if you are travelling!

Have a question for Ask the Expert? You can send it to us via info@fitnessgoop.com and we will forward it to the appropriate expert.

Source: Flickr user todd morris