Posts Tagged ‘giveaway’

3 New Ways to ‘Map Your Run’ {Giveaway!}

“What’s the app that you use to track your run workouts?”

Oh, if only I had a nickle for every time someone asked me that question.

Not that I’m annoyed that it gets asked so frequently (especially when I post images like the one above on Instagram), because I’m not. I’m not annoyed at all. Just that I’d have a lot more money than I do now if that were the case.

On Instagram, I’ve answered this FAQ dozens of times, but let this be my official, for the record announcement: The iPhone app that I use to keep track of my running workouts is MapMyRun. Oh my gosh, I sound like some sort of celebrity athlete endorsing a sports drink or something. That is totally not the case here, though. (I am neither sponsored nor endorsed by Map My Run.) I just genuinely love this app because it does exactly what its name says, and it does it well.

You turn it on at the start of your outdoor running workout and it uses your phone’s GPS to track your route and distance. When you record a run it will also track your speed and log your average pace when you’re finished and the results are finalized.

When I first started running I downloaded almost every “run tracking” app I could find and one by one, tried them all out. MapMyRun was the one that stuck for me. The interface is simple and self-explanatory and to my knowledge, its GPS tracking is the most accurate. (Yes, I’ve tested it using my car’s speedometer.)

Even though I knew that the app had features beyond simply tracking your distance, speed, and route, up until recently I had only been using the app for those three basic functions. But over the past few weeks I’ve taken the app’s MVP upgrade out for a few test ~~drives~~ runs, and it’s basically turned my phone into my very own, personal running coach. In particular, there are three specific features that have really helped take my workouts to the next level.

3 New Ways to ‘Map Your Run’ (With MapMyRun’s MVP Upgrade)

1. Pace Coaching: Before you start your run, you can set a goal pace. As you go through your workout, the “coach” will chime in to let you know if you are on, ahead of, or behind your pace. You can also choose how often (every 2,3, 4 minutes etc.) you’d like for her to update you. This feature is especially great for speed training outdoors. If you are training for race and have a goal time you are trying to achieve, you can set the pace coach to the appropriate level to ensure you’re working at the correct threshold.

2. Split Data: At the end of each run, along with your distance, route, and speed stats, the MVP package provides you with information regarding how long it took you to complete each mile of your run. This is especially helpful for negative split workouts where the goal is to achieve a faster time with each mile completed.

3. Route Planning: Planning out your route ensures that you get exactly the kind of workout you’re planning on. Too many times have I skimped on a workout because I didn’t plan my route or think about where or how far I wanted to run. Don’t get me wrong, heading out the door and just “winging it” is great for a leisurely weekend workout. But the new advanced mapping feature is almost a necessity for me now while I’m training for races. You can pick a recommended route by entering the area and distance you would like to run or plan and customize your own route.

Those are just my top three, personal favorite features, but some of the other features that come with the upgrade include:

Heart Rate / Power / Cadence Analysis – Improve performance by tracking data and peaks during your workout using your Polar watch, Nike+, Adidas, FitBit, CycleOps, Wahoo, Garmin and other compatible equipment.
Advanced Leader board Filters – Compare your stats with the competition and friends
Training Plans
Live Tracking – Live social media updates about your workout

You can upgrade to the Map My Run MVP Package for $5.99/month or $29.99 for a yearly subscription.

I’m also giving away one MapMyRun MVP Package Upgrade here on hungry-runner.com! Here’s how you can enter to win:

1. Use MapMyRun to track one of your upcoming workouts.

2. Use your phone to take a screenshot of your run results when your workout is done. (Like the example shown below.)

3. Follow HungryRunner on Instagram.

4. Post your MapMyRun workout recap screenshot as a photo on Instagram with the caption, “I want to win an #MapMyRun MVP Upgrade from @hungryrunner and @mapmyfitness” Be sure to include @HungryRunner in your post so I am notified that you’ve posted it.

5. Bonus Points: Feel free to personalize your post (like I often do, example below) using a photo editor app like Picframe!

This giveaway will be open until Midnight on Tuesday March 5th. I will use a randomizer to choose a winner and announce it here (within this post) and on my Instagram profile on Wednesday, March 6th, so be sure to follow me and MapMyFitness on Instagram and to check back here to find out who won. If the chosen winner does not reply within 48 hours of being notified, a new winner will be chosen.

Which MapMyRun MVP feature do you think would be most helpful or would you be most excited to try?

White Chocolate Chip, Cake Batter Protein Bars + a Pure Protein Prize Pack Giveaway! {Closed}

It’s actually sort of bizarre that before this week, I’ve never owned or used protein powder.

I mean, I’m really into the whole health and fitness thing (it’s my job!) AND I come across dozens of protein-powder-based recipes from some of my favorite fellow foodies and fit-bloggers everyday.

For example, Savannah’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Sludge. Or Sally’s Chocolate Covered Cherry Protein Smoothie. Or Katie’s Cake Batter Energy Bars. All of these protein-packed homemade snacks I’ve been dying to try, yet I kept tossing them to the side because of a lack of protein powder. Ridiculous!

Today I have good news, though! My protein-powder-less days are finally over.

Pure Protein recently launched a new line of products, and in addition to a few protein bars and shakes, were kind enough to supply me with my very first tub of protein powder. That means I’ve finally baked up a batch of my own homemade protein bars! (And that their will be plenty more protein-packed snacks coming out of the Hungry Runner kitchen in the very near future.)

The importance and benefits of including protein in your daily diet is not a topic new to Hungry Runner. I’ve certainly written about it here in the past. But just to reiterate, some of the best benefits of a protein-rich diet include enhanced transportation of nutrients throughout the body, hormone, fluid, and acid-base balance, and muscle growth and maintenance. (Source: ACSM’s Resources for the Personal Trainer.) The best way to include protein in your diet is through whole foods like lean animal meat and plants such as beans, quinoa, lentils, and nuts. (Read more about how a protein-rich diet can help you lose weight.)

Buuuuut, even I’ll admit that when you’re on the go, sometimes a bar or shake is simply more convenient. Like with almost any packaged snack, Pure Protein Bars and Shakes are something that I choose to include in my diet as an every now and then snack because they aren’t completely “clean.” However, as long as the majority of your nutrients come from natural, whole foods, there’s no reason to completely avoid anything and everything that is not considered a “whole food”. In fact, completely restricting yourself can sometimes lead to an unhealthy mindset about food. No one will ever have a “perfect” diet, which is why indulgence and convenience are OK on occasion.

What I love most about these bars is that they are only 180 calories and they are low in sugar (only 2g). I was pleasantly surprised at the taste of both the Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chocolate flavors for still tasting sweet despite having not much added sugar. (Read more about why it’s important to keep your daily added sugar intake to a minimum.)

I’ve found that the bars are a new favorite post-strength-training snack of mine because I can stash them in my bag and chow down on one while I’m on my way out of the gym. (Read more about the importance of post-workout protein consumption for gaining muscle and losing fat.)

Dessert Dilemma

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before but, I sort of have an ugly sweet tooth that likes to rear it’s head when the sun goes down. It’s really hard for me to turn down dessert after dinner. And not only is it hard for me to pass up dessert, but when there are sweets around, whether I baked my own healthy version or it’s the real deal, it’s hard for me to eat only one serving.

However, last night I supplemented “dessert” with a Pure Protein Vanilla Cream Protein Shake. To my surprise, it turned out to be a perfect after dinner “sweet-tooth-satisfier.” I’m usually looking for some kind of chocolate cake or banana bread to nosh on after dinner, but when I’ve got stuff (usually homemade) like that lying around, it’s really easy for me to overindulge because breads and cakes are not all that filling. I’ll easily go for seconds and thirds without thinking twice about it. The Pure Protein shakes have just 170 calories and 15g of protein. By the time I finished it, my sweet tooth was fulfilled and I felt full and completely satisfied all the way up until it was time for bed.

And the same thing can be said for these cake batter bars. Adding the protein powder to them makes a whole world of a difference. Without it, I would probably eat 2 or 3 and still feel like I could dig in for more. But one of protein’s greatest powers is that it keeps you feeling fuller for longer, which helps prevent overindulging. Not to mention, the vanilla cream flavor of the protein powder is to die for and totally enhances the “cake batter” flavor of the bars.

I adapted this recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie’s Cake Batter Energy Bars. But before you head off to bake up your own batch, you can first enter to win your own Pure Protein Prize Pack. Just follow the instructions below to enter!

Pure Protein Prize Pack Giveaway

The Prize Pack includes:

5 protein bars
1 tub of Vanilla Cream Protein Powder
12 Vanilla Cream Protein Shakes

3 Ways To enter:

Mandatory: Leave a comment with a link to your favorite protein powder recipe. (Or one that you’d really like to try!)
Follow Hungry Runner on Facebook
Follow Hungry Runner on Instagram

Each task is equal to one entry. Leave a separate comment for each completed form of entry. (Total of 3 entries per person.)

The giveaway will be open until Midnight on Tuesday, February 26. I will use a randomizer to choose a winner on Wednesday, February 27th. The winner will be announced here on that day. If the winner fails to reply within 48 hours of being contacted, a new winner will be chosen. This contest is open to U.S. residents only.

White Chocolate Chip, Cake Batter Protein Bars

(Adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie)

Ingredients:

1 cup rice crispies (I used Erewhon’s Crispy Brown Rice Gluten Free Cereal)

1/4 cup oat flour

1/4 cup Pure Protein Vanilla Creme protein powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons all-natural, creamy peanut butter

5 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

handful of white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the rice crispies, oat flour, protein powder, and salt.

2. In a separate larger bowl, mix together the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla.

3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix together well until evenly coated.

4. Line a medium-sized baking dish or Tupperware with waxed parchment paper and pour the batter into the dish. Fold the sides of the paper over the batter and use a flat-surfaced heavy object to press the batter down until it is flat and fills the entire bottom of the dish.

5. Freeze for about 20 minutes.

6. Unfold the parchment paper, cut the batter into bars (I got about 9 small squares) and serve immediately or store in a sealed Tupperware in the fridge of freezer.

This post is sponsored by Pure Protein. Check out great ways to Eat Good and Look Great.

Balance Bar® Protein Bar Review & Giveaway!

Watch to hear my thoughts on Balance Bar Protein Bars and to find out how you can enter to win your own Balance Bar Prize pack!

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Wheat Germ: Giveaway {CLOSED}

At the risk of sounding like a health food newbie, I’m going to start off by saying that up until a week or two ago, I actually didn’t even really know that wheat germ was a thing. I mean, I guess I had heard of it before, but I definitely didn’t have any idea what it was or what you could do with it.

But now, thanks to some new friends at Kretschmer, that has all changed. And since my job is to inspire and empower all of you to be healthier and happier, I’m going to fill you in on what wheat germ is, how adding it to your diet can be beneficial to your health, and how to make some super awesome dishes using it. That is, unless you already know all about it. In which case, way to go! You’re so ahead of the Healthy Curve.

So far, I’ve only tested out this newly discovered super-food as a topping for my oatmeal at breakfast (pictured above) and a Greek yogurt mix-in for an after dinner snack. (Creative, I know!)

Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt with raisins, crumbled graham crackers, and of course, wheat germ.

Usually, I mix my yogurt with granola and almonds or fruit, but after trying this out for the first time a day or two ago, I’m totally sold on wheat germ. It added a perfect not-too-sweet crunch to the yogurt and now I’m just dreaming up all of the other ways I can make use of it.

Like say, in a roasted vegetable dish or a batch of pancakes!

But before I start testing out a dozen new recipes (which, you know I will), first let’s find out why this stuff is so good for you.

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Wheat Germ

1. Wheat Germ is the part of a wheat plant that sprouts and grows into a new plant and though it’s actually teeny tiny, it’s packed with protein and a ton of essential vitamins and minerals.

2. It contains vitamin E, an antioxidant, and folic acid, an essential B-vitamin. Both help protect and make new cells so that your body can fight off disease.

3. It’s full of magnesium, which works to keep your heart, bones, AND your immune system strong.

4. Wheat germ contains the B-vitamin Thiamin, which helps the body convert carbs into energy. Necessary for runners and all athletes alike!

5. It’s packed with phosphorus too. An important mineral that aides calcium with building strong bones and teeth.

6. Keep counting the minerals! Wheat germ is also filled with Zinc, which has many functions, like healing wounds and fighting off viruses.

7. Protein punch! That’s right. Bet you didn’t know that wheat germ is an excellent source of plant-based protein. Plus, it only contains healthy polyunsaturated fats.

Wow, can you say, SUPER-FOOD? I’m a little bit upset that I’ve only just been introduced to this powerhouse of a food. If you’ve never had a chance to try it before, I don’t want you to have to wait any longer. So, I’m giving away a jar of Kretschmer Wheat Germ + one Organic Oikos Greek Yogurt to one lucky Hungry Reader!

Continue reading to find out how to enter!

4 Easy Coconut Oil Recipes + Win a 32 oz. Jar of Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil {Closed}

If you don’t have a jar of coconut oil somewhere in your kitchen, then let me just tell you, there is something seriously wrong with your kitchen. Don’t feel bad. I used to be one of the unlucky ones. One of the outsiders who didn’t know that coconut oil is not only a great replacement for butter and other oils in so many recipes, but also, how divinely delectable it tastes.

If you’re in love with coconut oil as much as I am, then you’ll most definitely enjoy my Four Favorite Coconut-oil-incorportaing Recipes below. If you’ve yet to be welcomed into the wondrous world of this fragrant and flavorful cooking staple, well, what the heck are you waiting for?

(Continue reading below to find out how you can enter to win your very own 32 oz. jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil.)

1. Vegan Coco-nutty French Toast

2. Chocolate Swirl Brownie Cookies

3. Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

4. Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Cranberry Muffins

Enter to win a 32 oz. Jar of Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil

Here’s how to enter:

1. Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions newsletter and then leave a comment below letting me know that you did so.

2. Bonus entries include: Following Tropical Traditions on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest, then tweet: “@Hungry_Runner I’m ready to cook with #CoconutOil! I connected with @troptraditions to enter to win a 32oz. jar! (+ the link to this post)”

Entries will be accepted until Friday January 4th at Midnight.

Good luck my lovely Hungry Readers! What are some of your favorite recipes that incorporate coconut oil? Share them with me in the comments below!

Win 1 quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

You can also watch the video they produced about Gold

Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h6eycjf29M]

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

Disclaimer:
Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.