Review of Leslie Sansone NEW Just Walk 5 Mega Miles and upcoming Leslie October Challenge

Posted on September 25, 2013 by EmpowerMoms

I bought this new Leslie Sansone dvd last month at walmart (it was released in August) and I did all the miles but at different times over a week period. So last night I decided to do the entire dvd from start to finish so I could take pictures and do a blog review on it.

The Dvd was released last month and is pictured below. It comes with one resistance band. I’m not sure what the weight of the band is but it doesn’t seem that “heavy”. 

Chapters of the dvd. You can play the full workout or pick individual miles. 
you can also choose to “play with music only” so you don’t hear Leslie talking. 
I personally don’t mind her talking so I just do the play full workout option. 

Mile 1-classic low impact. No bands used. 

Mile 2-walk and tone. The band is used for this mile. 
I did not wear gloves like they did in the dvd, but its always nice to have them. 

Mile 3-speed intervals. No band used. 
I like her dvds that use speed intervals because I like the jogging aspect and getting my heart rate up a little more. 

Mile 4-strength intervals. Band is used for this one. 

Mile 5-ab walk. No bands. 

My Overall thoughts: 
  • The music is good (not great)-just music though, no words. I’m glad they have updated their music selection for the past couple of years of dvds. Her older ones (which I do love also) have more “elevator music”. 
  • Price is good-check out walmart or amazon. Love that they included the band even though I have a million bands already. 
  • I got a time of 81:35 for the dvd. 3 min warm up, 15 min miles for mile 1-5 and 3 min cool down. She has a timer on the screen counting down from 10 minutes for every mile, which is helpful so you know how much longer you have for that mile. 
  • She has all her basic moves and some new ones including the Cha cha, shifting and skater. She has alot of hand movement which is great to keep the heart rate up. If you can’t do all the shifting around or new moves, just walk in place instead of hurting yourself or trying to keep up. This is a faster pace walking dvd. 
  • I did not feel like there was enough stretching at the end during or after the cool down so I had to do more stretching on my own.  


I got an email last night that Leslie is doing a 30 day twitter challenge. See the email below. 
Will you be doing this too?? 
My twitter name is Rdevaughn4 if you want to do participate in this challenge with me. 
Join us!  Leslie is leading a 30-day Walk it Off Challenge!  Kicking off on TwitterTues. Oct. 1st…don’t miss!
***No Fans excluded***
We’ll follow up on the Walk at Home blog and Facebook with all the challenge details, though you won’t want to miss Leslie live on Twitter every step of the way!
“Hey my walking friends…part of this 30 Day Plan will be to include Walking sessions and Strength Training exercises! All you need to do is plan for approx. 30 to 40 minutes each day through October.  I will TWEET weekly workout details every Sunday so we can plan our week together! I will be on Twitter coaching you every day!
 
***Please friends, always know, you Do NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE anything, just follow along and have fun!
 
However…if you choose to use the DVD’s, I will offer suggestions for our Walk DVDs and Strength Training accessories.”
 
***This Sunday the first weekly assignment will be posted!”

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Oral I.V. product review and GIVEAWAY!!! :-)

Posted on September 24, 2013 by EmpowerMoms
Last month I was mailed (2) 4 packs of Oral I.V. to try during my race training. I hadn’t heard of them, but after looking at their website and reading more about their product, I was excited to try it!! It came at a PERFECT time because I was training for my first half marathon. 
The first time I tried it during one of my race training days, I drank it straight without adding it to water or drinking alot of water afterwards (I had forgotten my extra water bottle during running). I DO NOT RECOMMEND doing this!! I ended up having stomach cramps because my stomach is really sensitive to things and I didn’t drink enough water after having the Oral I.V. sample. (why do I do stuff like that??!!)
The next time I tried it was a couple days later during a long 10 mile run. I ended up using 2 samples and mixed it this time in a 16oz bottle of water and a smaller bottle. It worked perfectly for me!! I didn’t feel tired or fatigued during running like I had been feeling. There is no taste so I was happy about that!! and the bottle is the perfect size to fit in my running pack or in my hydration bottle pack.
I tried 2 other Oral IV samples during my half marathon 1.5 weeks ago and also gave a sample to my husband to try. Again, I was really pleased that it helped keep me hydrated, helping with my leg soreness and overall energy levels. My husband liked his sample too!! 
I only have one more bottle left and I’ll probably use it for my upcoming womens obstacle race this saturday in Richmond. I tried to win the Oral IV facebook contest to get more Oral IV samples and a tshirt but I came in second place. 🙁 I definitely need to buy some more!
Here are some pictures! 
and you can check out more on my instagram page (rdevaughn4)


Read below for more info about this product!  
About Us
At ORAL I.V., we are driven by a passion to help people perform at their highest levels. Hydration is one of the fundamental drivers of human performance. Without proper water metabolism and function, dehydration and its associated adverse effects can occur. ORAL I.V. is a proprietary formula of crystalloid electrolytes that serves as a hydration aid without using sugars, caffeine, stimulants, or artificial ingredients.
After its development, ORAL I.V. was first made available to those who could truly put it to the test – members of the U.S. military and law enforcement communities. Since 2010, ORAL I.V. has been used by some of the world’s most elite fighting forces, whose standards for physical and mental performance are second to none. We are proud to continue contributing to the hydration strategies of the men and women of the U.S. military, law enforcement and first responder communities so they can perform at their best.
With our broad market release, the power of ORAL I.V. is now available to anyone who wants to perform optimally in life – whether on the field, at work or at play.
Our Mission
ORAL I.V.ÂŽ is a game-changing approach to performance. As a water-based dietary supplement, ORAL I.V. aids the hydration process for individuals who train hard, work hard and are committed to peak performance.
ABOUT ORAL I.V.ÂŽ
ORAL I.V. is a revolutionary hydration aid product based on a proprietary formula of crystalloid electrolytes and purified water. ORAL I.V. does not contain any sugars, caffeine or stimulants, additives, preservatives or artificial ingredients. It can be consumed directly or added to water. Individuals can use ORAL I.V. as an addition to their existing hydration methods and to support dehydration prevention.
ORAL I.V. is produced to the highest standards of quality under rigorous manufacturing controls. ORAL I.V. is manufactured in a facility that follows current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements according to ISO 9001 standards.
HOW SHOULD I USE ORAL I.V.ÂŽ
ORAL I.V. is intended to assist an individual’s existing hydration strategy. We recommend using ORAL I.V. as a hydration aid with other liquids (such as water) prior to, during and after activities of exertion or as a supplement to daily activities that can contribute to dehydration. Depending on your level of activity and personal fitness, it is recommended to take one vial of ORAL I.V. along with other liquids for every 4 to 6 hours of strenuous activity. Because ORAL I.V. is a hydration aid, you can also include it in your rest and recovery methods.
ORAL I.V. does not replenish volume of water, nor is it an electrolyte replacement. Along with ORAL I.V., you should also drink fluids of appropriate types and volumes for your individual needs. The benefits of drinking water are universal, so we recommend it as a primary hydration source. Maintain the hydration strategy that is right for you, and use ORAL I.V. to assist it.
IDEAL APPLICATIONS FOR ORAL I.V.
As a hydration aid, ORAL I.V. can be used in any environment, condition or situation where physical exertion or the possibility of dehydration exists. This ranges from everyday recreational activities to the most demanding jobs in the military, law enforcement and first responder communities. Continue to drink water and fluids, and use ORAL I.V. to assist hydration strategies in applications and activities such as:
§  Crossfit
§  MMA/Martial Arts
§  Running/Marathons
§  Triathlons
§  Cycling
§  Adventure Challenges/Races
§  Outdoor Recreation
§  On the Job
§  Daily Fitness and Exercise
§  Climbing/Hiking
§  Professional Sports
§  Weight Training

 BENEFITS OF ORAL I.V.ÂŽ
We continue to receive glowing testimonials from ORAL I.V. consumers who train hard, work hard, and are committed to peak performance. ORAL I.V. provides benefits such as:
§  Natural Ingredients
§  No sugars or stimulants
§  Aids existing methods of hydration
§  Lightweight and portable
§  Contributes to peak performance*
§  Improved focus and concentration*
§  Shorter recovery times from exercise and exertion*
§  Increased endurance*
* Based on reports from actual ORAL I.V. consumers. This statement has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

You can purchase this product at:
4 pack is $11.99
(10) 4 packs is $109.90

use code “fitness” for 10% off entire purchase on the Oral IV site
GUESS WHAT??!!  
ORAL IV said that I could do a giveaway for a 4 pack for one of my readers to try!!
Good luck!! Giveaway ends on Sunday!! USA only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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ELLIE contest to win an outfit and YOGI dvd set!!

Posted on September 24, 2013 by EmpowerMoms

Enter to win an Ellie Outfit and The Ultimate Yogi DVD Set

A top and bottom from any Ellie collection and a DVD set with a 108 day yoga program valued at $200

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER! 


Then go to the link below to shop with ELLIE and see their awesome fitness clothes selection: 

Also below is the link to read more about the Yogi dvd program that you can win!!
You can click on this link to get 20% off your first month subscription (making it $39.96) or you can click on my side toolbar as well.


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Pretty Muddy race giveaway-enter by tomorrow!

Posted on September 18, 2013 by EmpowerMoms

Go check out Pretty Muddy’s women obstacle race facebook page!! They are giving away a family entry pack but you MUST go to their facebook page to like and share their picture by TOMORROW!! so don’t delay!! GO GO GO!! 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/PrettyMuddy

Our Pretty ‘Lil Mudder’s had such a blast getting Muddy with Mom and Dirty with Dad at our first ever Pretty Muddy Family Edition this year! Share this picture for YOUR chance to win a FREE entry for you & your family at a Pretty Muddy of your choice! The winner will be announced tomorrow night at 5PM!#PrettyMuddyFamilyEdition

This race is the next one on my calendar. Hope to see you in Richmond. I will be at the 1pm wave! 🙂

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“Run like a Diva” race training and expo race weekend-Part 2

Posted on September 16, 2013 by EmpowerMoms

PART 2-see previous post for Part 1
We woke up around 5:30 to leave the hotel by 6:30. We were only 20 minutes away from the Race location so we planned on getting there at 7am-30 mins before the race and before the race officials closed the roads at 715. Ali had sent me an email to meet her at 7am at the starting line, so I figured we would have plenty of time. 
I was so wrong!! We sat in traffic for TWO HOURS!! I was so worried when I missed meeting Ali was 7. Then I was worried they had closed the parking lot and roads when it was after 715. Then I was worried they would start the race without me. Then I was only worried about finding a bathroom before I peed myself. I had prepared for the race by drinking a big blender cup of water, ice and pre workout ARO concentrate, which generally means I have to use the bathroom 45 mins later. Sigh. It is so painful to have to go to the bathroom while sitting in standstill traffic for 2 hours. 
We eventually made it to the parking lots and they started the race at 9am (it was originally supposed to start at 730) I have no idea how they are going to fix the traffic issues for next year. I feel badly for the few women that did get there by race time and had to wait around for 90 mins. I read some facebook comments about some ladies being really upset about it and i totally understand and I would have been too! BUT I’m glad they waited because there were ALOT of us still waiting in traffic and it was NOT poor planning or my running late which caused delays. It was very poor race planning and small country roads with thousands of people all trying to get to the same place at the same time. 
Anyway-after parking I went over to find Ali at the starting line. I took a couple more pictures and we chatted for a few minutes. Then the race started!! I ran with Ali and two other girls for about 5 minutes or so, but then lost Ali so I quickly ran to the right side so I wouldn’t get trampled by all the hard core runners. I had to make my own running walking pace since I forgot my garmin watch at home. Which was fine because I had my ipod with my free Runkeeper app to help track my pace and mileage.
The course was nothing like they had described on the website:
Half Marathon Course Overview
The Divas Half MarathonÂŽ & 5K in DC’s Wine Country is set in Virginia’s picturesque countryside, just a few miles away from historic Leesburg and just 40 miles northwest of metropolitan DC.  The race will begin right outside Tarara Winery and will meander thru quiet country roads where you will be able to enjoy sights such as vineyards, horse ranches, old country churches, farmhouses full of character, babbling brooks and vast fields of green.  The route starts and finishes downhill and is softly rolling in between with only 2 areas of uphill running where you will gain less than 90 feet over 2 miles in each of these two sections.  As a true Diva run you will enjoy our “Diva stations” along the way, with entertainment spots and our famous Boa and Tiara station.  And the finish will be like no other in the Diva Half Marathon Series where you will finish inside Tarara Winery, a 435 acre farm stretching along the Potomac River, with the vineyards on one side and Shadow Lake on the other, creating the most romantic Diva finish line experience.
Sounds beautiful doesn’t it? When I previewed the elevation map I felt confident that I would be fine with the courses “softly rolling hills” since I’ve been training on pavement, trails, gravel and hills. The reason why traffic was so bad with parking and arriving was because this location was out in this small town with single country roads-which also made it pretty impossible for spectators to cheer or even watch the racers since the roads were narrow and only big enough for the racers. I didn’t see any vineyards, farmhouses with character or babbling brooks while running. (where did this person run-because it wasn’t where I was??!!). Half the course was in and out of “ritzy” developed neighborhoods and the other half of the course was up and down gravely roads. I would never have described this course as “rolling hills”. 
After reading comments on facebook ALOT of runners were really angry because they were not prepared for the course elevation and gravel roads and several people got hurt. Personally since this was my first half marathon I wasn’t going for a PR and these were the type of roads I have trained on here in Roanoke-I wasn’t bothered by them and didn’t get injured at all. (GO me!!) If I had only trained on flat paved roads and was expecting the Diva race to be like that-I would have been pissed off too. I was also surprised and disappointed they only had three bathroom stops during the race and 2 “entertainment stops” which was a person playing music over a loudspeaker. There were some people cheering us runners on throughout some of the neighborhoods so that was nice of them but I really wished there had of been more spot for spectators and family. I felt like I was doing race training by myself. This race was definitely not the hype they made it out to be!!
But personally-aside from the SERIOUS lack of bathrooms and spectators and getting started late-it was a good first (and last!) half marathon race for me!!
The first 5 or 6 miles started pretty easy for me. My race was around 14 something which was great for me! However, my ab area hurt almost the entire race though-like stomach cramps-which has never happened during any of my race training. I can only guess it was because I didn’t have any food on my stomach-being super nervous-and only having water with supplements in them for over 6 hours. After mile 8 I was so ready to be done with running. My lower back was hurting, I had a horrible sinus headache, I started to feel blisters, and my stomach hurt constantly-worse when I started to cough because of my cold. I kept drinking my water, blowing my nose, using my inhaler and my hylands legs cramps. I concentrated on my ipod music just to get me through. 
I was so proud of myself because I kept up with my pace and momentum up and down the gravel or paved “hills” –even running up some of them. I didn’t have to stop at all for any leg pain-honestly I was SHOCKED I didn’t have any shin splints or knee pain AT ALL this entire race-a first for me!! The course was pretty though-I loved seeing our VA Mountains and fields, and the neighborhood houses were very nice. The weather was PREFECT!! I had been so stressed about that for the past 2 months. Not a drop of rain, in the 60s, and slight wind almost the entire day which cooled my body down and I didn’t sweat as much. I couldn’t have ordered more perfect running weather so that was such a blessing!! 
My parents and 11 year old son met me on the course around marker 8.5 and 11.5 which was fun! They helped give me fresh water, Kleenex, stomach medicine, etc. When I saw them the second time, I was ready to just fall over and stop but they told me to keep going and that my husband and toddler were only half a mile up the road waiting for me. I kept telling my body to keep going because I was awesome, I had been training hard for this, and that I would never have to do this again!! J whatever works, right? 
It was such a relief to see my husband because I knew I was towards the end. I got closer and closer to the finish line. Can I just tell you I felt like killing the next person that said “keep going ALMOST there!” “Almost there” does not mean ½ mile or 1 mile further. “Almost there” means like a couple more steps in my opinion. Hehe. 
I went through the crown and feather boa station and thru the picture section and FINALLY to the finish line. It was SO COOL to hear them announce my name and city as I was about to cross! 🙂 then I got my awesomely huge heavy diva medal, a rose, and a little glass of sparking apple cider. The food section was super disappointing since they only had bottled water, green bananas, cookies and half bagels-but at that point I didn’t really care about food. 
I was so done with moving after I crossed the finish line. My stomach pain was so severe at that point I just wanted to lay down and never move again! I was so exhausted I didn’t care about stretching out or staying hydrated. I finally got up enough energy to use the bathrooms one last time before slowly making my way back to the parking lot which felt like a million miles away. So depressed I didn’t have my fitbit because I know I walked over 15 miles with going back and forth to the car before and after the actual race. Plus my runkeeper said I actually went further than 13.1 miles for the race.  
I met up with my parents and other son-changed my clothes in their van in preparation for the 4 hours back home-got my son and his belongings in our rental car and headed back up the road. (my parents had picked my oldest son up from school on Friday and brought him to the race since we left earlier on Friday for the expo) This time it took over one hour just to get out of the race event area. At least we had food, drinks and activities for the kids in the car so it wasn’t a big deal to us to be sitting in traffic again.
We stopped off in Harrisonburg VA which is 1.5 hours from Roanoke to have a special treat at Panera bread after we all rested (except for the driver-LOL) in the car for awhile. My coworked had given me the sweetest Good luck card and some money before the race, so going to Panera Bread was my special treat for surviving my race. I got a broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl which was AWESOME!! It was perfect for my upset tummy and I felt 100% better after eating it! We also got a huge cookie and bagels with cream cheese which we planned on eating throughout the weekend. I got the special pumpkin bagel and oh my it was good!! We eventually got home and relaxed and unpacked from our trip.
I am pretty sore as I’m writing this blog post because I haven’t taken any ibprofin (we ran out at my house) and I didn’t stretch properly after the race but frankly I’m glad I didn’t have an asthma or panic attack or kill my knees. I met my goal of finishing the race before getting swept off the course, not hurting myself or having to go to the medic tent-so good for me! I was hoping to get under 3:30 but I was pretty darn close! Placed 2428/2533 overall with time of 3:33:04. I can only rush so fast having to use a porta potty and get sweaty clothes on and off….
I am so very grateful that I had this opportunity and that I was able to be online at the right place and time to win a race entry through Ali Vincent’s facebook page. It was such a blessing to be able to participate in this race without spending a lot of money. I was blessed to have a strong healthy body during race training and during my race. I was blessed with perfect running weather. I was blessed with a supportive family and an EXTRA SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING husband who has gotten me through these past 2 months and during my race weekend. I can now say I successfully did my race training and completed a half marathon and frankly I never feel the need to ever, ever, ever do it again!! JI think I will stick to my family walks and an occasional 5k or 10k race! 
   
Waking up early at the hotel. I’m still half asleep! 
Brushed my hair, made my drink-ready to go!! 

At the starting line!! 

Theres Ali in front of me.

Me and Ali Vincent!! 

Hubby and son off to the side of the starting line taking pictures. 

It was a little chilly for him. Waiting for his mommy to race. 

And we’re off!! 

Mile marker 4

My son and mom cheering me on! Dad was taking pictures and videos of me. 

Mile marker 10

Hooray!! Here comes my hubby and baby! I was so happy to see them! 

Lower back killing me!! I needed to stretch! 

Off running again!! 
Crown and boa station right before the finish line. 

THE FINISH LINE!!
Guys handing out medals.  

Girls handing out roses. 

Handing out apple cider. 

I SURVIVED!!!! 

He got a crown and boa too… LOL 

My very awesome supportive hubby! 
He hang around with our toddler and took pics for almost 4 hours for me. 
and then went the last mile of the race along side me. 
I EARNED THIS!!! It is so heavy! 

My polar ft7 watch results.

In the long line trying to get back onto the main road to go home. 

Random turkeys along side the road. He was showing off. 

We are so thrilled to be sitting in traffic… again… 

Poor baby was exausted!! 

PANERA BREAD STOP!! we love bagels!

SOOOOOOO GOOD!!
Our rental car! 
MY RUNKEEPER STATS from the race!

My diva shirt, bag and bib from race. 

Already put my items in a shadow box for display! 

My running medals and bib displays.  
    
Supplements I personally found helpful during race training and race day:  
-ARO pre workout concentrate
-Oral IV-mix with bottled water
-Nuun with bottled water, I prefer the berry flavor. Don’t really like the other ones.
-Luna bars
-Clif energy chews
Race gear I personally found helpful:  
-Handana, for my hand to keep the sweat off my eyes and face
-Victoria secret sport running pack, I have to carry so much stuff with me while I run!
-Ipod arm band
-Calf compression sleeves
-Asics shoes and running socks
-Rock tape, for taping my legs to help and prevent injuries (it stays on so much better than KT Tape)
Running tracks I enjoy on my ipod:  
-Best of Biggest loser workout mix (“Get ready for this” is the BEST song to get ready for a race)
-Chris Freytag workout mix
-Prevention magazine run top 40 hits
-Prevention magazine walk top 40 hits
-Shape power music walk top 40 hits
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