Yoplait freebie!

Yoplait is offering coupons to get one free cup of their Yoplait original style yogurt. Visit the web site HERE to fill out a form and get your free cup!

Enjoy!

Emergen-C Blue free sample

It's winter and that pretty much means it is cold season. I try my hardest to fight getting sick by loading up on vitamins C and D and by sticking to my running program (I really believe in sweating out the germs!). I've used Emergen-C to get my vitamins and I like it.

Now, you can get a free sample of Emergen-C Blue HERE. You just fill out one easy form and that's it!

Enjoy!

Coolmax/EcoMade socks winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the socks giveaway. One of you will have some pretty happy feet, with a week's worth of cool socks. And that lucky person is . . .


Stacie at Impossible is Nothing!



Congratulations, Stacie! Email me at felicehalf at yahoo dot com with your address to get hooked up with your fancy socks :-)


Thanks to Coolmax EcoMade for this giveaway!

Giveaway ending tonight!

The Coolmax/Ecomade socks giveaway ends tonight at 11:59pm EST. If you haven't entered yet, go to the giveaway page and enter now! This is a great giveaway for SEVEN pairs of socks!

Good luck!

MIO review and promotion.

I have never been a big heart rate training person, in part because I've never wanted to wear a strap across my chest as I run. I recently learned, though, that a chest strap isn't the only way to measure your heart while exercising, making the task more appealing.

I was sent a MIO Motion Original Strapless Heart Rate Watch to try out.


After setting it up with my age, weight, gender, etc. (which was easy) I wore it for a few runs. The idea behind the watch is that it allows you to get your heart rate reading very easily, without wearing a chest strap. You simply put on the watch and, as you're working out, touch anywhere on sensor that surrounds the face of the watch to get your reading. It is super easy. As I was running, I touched the sensor several times to get my heart rate. I didn't have to stop, didn't have to even look at the watch because it doesn't matter where on the sensor you put your finger. And, as you can see from the image of the watch, the sensor (the steel area around the face) is fairly large and that makes touching it to get your heart rate easy.

Here are some details about the watch, from the MIO web site:


  • On demand, ECG accurate heart rate without a chest strap
  • Multi-function activity monitor uses accelerometer technology to accurately count steps, estimate speed and distance traveled as well as calories burned.
  • Percentage of maximum heart rate
  • Get results faster with the MIO 3500 Calorie Club program
  • Programmable target heart rate zones with upper and lower heart rate zones
  • Resting heart rate: measures and displays your resting heart rate
  • Exercise timers
  • Water resistant up to 50 M
  • 2 level pedometer sensitivity
  • User accessible battery hatch
  • Compact design for those with smaller wrists


Overall, I liked the size, feel and usability of the MIO. However, I have a Garmin Forerunner that I normally wear when I run and I can't see wearing both the MIO and the Garmin on my wrist. That seems a bit like overkill! But, I would like to wear it for training runs on the treadmill when I am trying specific workouts. Giving heart rate training a try seems like it could be a good thing for me. If you're interested in learning a little more about your heart rate and the benefits of monitoring it, MIO has some information HERE.

The watch retails for $99.

MIO Promotion

Now through the end of the year, though, you can get MIO products at a HUGE discount! MIO is offering 40% off some of their key monitors and 25% off all other products. Check out their special promotion site to see all of the products and discounts. But, hurry, because the promotion only lasts through December 31st.

Review disclosure: I received one MIO to review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Cranberry Naturals winner!

I'm a little late in getting this posted but, yes. We do have a winner of the two bottles of Cranberry Naturals cranberry juice. And that winner is . . .



Jenna Z of CorgiPants!




Congratulations, Jenna! Email me your address (at felicehalf at yahoo dot com) and I'll send you the coupons for the juice. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Shrinkx Hips review

The first change that I noticed when I was pregnant was that my hips had expanded. Seriously. My hips widened a lot right away, making my pre-pregnancy pants too small before I was even sporting much of a belly. It's one of the annoying parts of pregnancy, in my opinion. Sure, you expect to lose your waist -- you're carrying a baby after all -- but you don't expect to expand your hips. At least I didn't.

But, it's what happens and it is also the thing that new moms would like to fix after giving birth.

Enter Shrinkx Hips.

No, that's not a picture of me. Although, that would be nice . . .

Shrinkx Hips is a hip belt that, when worn in the first 8 weeks after giving birth, helps narrow your hips. Here's a little information on the belt from the web site:
The Shrinkx Hips belt works thanks to the hormone Relaxin, which loosens pelvic joints & ligaments for childbirth. Relaxin then stays in your system up to 8 weeks before joints and ligaments harden in place. Wearing the Shrinkx Hips belt during this time gives you the opportunity to permanently narrow your hips. Shrinkx Hips
  • Provides constant, even pressure to gently guide your hips back to their pre-pregnancy position
  • Must be worn in the first 8 weeks after delivery
  • Easily worn under or over your clothing
  • Comfortable and made of soft Nylon & Spandex materials
Shrinkx Hips is exclusively designed with multiple levels of compression so you can control the amount of pressure on your hips & work towards the best possible results. 
I was sent a belt to use after I had my second son. I started using it about 2 weeks after giving birth and used it until I reached the 8 week mark. To determine how well Shrinkx Hips works, I measured my hips before I started using it and then again afterward.

The belt was surprisingly easy and comfortable to wear. I admit that I felt self-conscious wearing it out in public, so I only wore it at home. But, I could easily wear it under jeans or any regular pants and it wasn't really noticeable. And, it didn't slip around, which was something I worried about. So, if I hadn't been so self-conscious I could have worn it all the time and no one would have been the wiser, I'm sure.

Since I only wore it when I was at home and forgot to put it on some days, I wondered if I would see results.

The answer: I did!

When I measured my hips at the end of the 8 weeks, they were TWO inches narrower. Woo hoo! That's pretty significant, no?

Now, that's great and proof that Shrinkx Hips works. BUT -- and this is a definite but, here -- you don't see full results just by using the belt. I'm very active (started running two weeks after my son was born) and I have been fairly good about eating well. To date, I've lost about 25 of the 34 pounds I gained while pregnant. So, some of my smaller size is due to my weight loss. Because I still have some weight to lose, though, I can see the extra padding around the midsection, right above where Shrinkx Hips has narrowed my hips. So, for the full effect of the product to be realized you need to lose all the extra weight.

However, I like that my hips are back to where they should be. I can get rid of the extra padding (I hope!) and then I'll be all set.

Right now, you can purchase Shrinkx Hips from Upspring Baby for $43.99. That's 20% off the regular price. You can find other online retailers HERE. If you're pregnant, I recommend this for after you give birth. If you're not, it would make a good gift for a friend -- just be sure you don't make her feel like you've noticed her wider hips!

Review disclosure: I received one free Shrinkx Hips belt for review. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Giveaway ending tonight!

The Cranberry Naturals giveaway (coupons for two free 64oz bottles of juice) ends tonight -- 11:59pm EST. There are super low entries so your chances are good! Don't forget to enter.

Good luck!

Good deal on Barney Butter!

Check it out: Now though 12/20, you can get 20% off all orders on barneybutter.com.

Barney Butter is an all natural almond butter made with Premium California Almonds. It is craveably delicious, with a texture just like peanut butter. Made in an almond only facility, it is peanut free, ideal for those with peanut allergies. Barney Butter is naturally no-stir and does not need to be refrigerated. Gluten free, no trans fats or hydrogenated oils, and half the saturated fat of peanut butter make Barney Butter a healthy and delicious treat!
 Just visit the web site and use the code Holiday20 to get your discount.

Enjoy!

Cranberry Naturals review and giveaway.

Let it be known that I lo-o-o-o-ove cranberries. Cranberry juice, cranberry sauce, cranberry bread, dried cranberries, oatmeal cranberry chocolate chip cookies? I love it all.

It was no hard sell, then, to get me to try out the new Old Orchard Cranberry Naturals juice. In fact, I jumped at the chance and I'm glad I did.


I was sent two 64oz bottles of juice: One of Classic Cranberry and one Cranberry Raspberry. The juice contains NO high fructose corn syrup (very important to me) and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. But it is reduced calories, using Truvia as a sweetener and reducing the per serving calories to 70.

Reduced calories and all, this juice tastes great! I was worried that the juice would have a fake taste, because it is reduced calories, but it doesn't. It has the right balance of sweet and tart and there is nothing fake tasting at all. I definitely give it a thumbs up -- and so does my 3-year old son. He loves it!

You can check out the Old Orchard brand promotions and download coupons on their web site

The giveaway

Would you like to try some of the Cranberry Naturals juice? I have TWO coupons for a free bottle of juice to send to one winner. To enter just leave me a comment letting me know that you are interested!

The giveaway will run through Monday, December 20th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be posted on Tuesday.

Good luck!


Review/giveaway disclosure: I was sent two bottles of juice for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are my own.

Coolmax EcoMade giveaway!

I have some good, good, goodies for you today! Well, not all of you. Just one, actually. One lucky winner!

What are the goodies, you ask? Socks! And what runner or otherwise active person doesn't need more socks? Exactly. Well, thanks to Coolmax EcoMade, I have seven days of socks to give to one winner.



Coolmax EcoMade socks are -- ahem -- pretty cool. They are made from 97% recycled resources such as plastic bottles, which keeps a lot of plastic out of the landfills. Here's some information on the "bottle-to-sock" process:
The process for making COOLMAX® EcoMade socks begins with post-consumer bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, being cleaned and converted into polymer flakes. The flakes are then converted into chips, melted and extruded into fiber designed to provide high-performance, permanent wicking benefits. This fiber is then spun into yarn for legwear.


Made with a 4-channel cross section for outstanding moisture movement, COOLMAX® EcoMade socks dry quickly, help keep the wearer cool and comfortable, maintain a natural feel that’s soft, lightweight and breathable, and are permanent and effective.
It's quite interesting, if you ask me. Light-weight wicking socks made from waste. What's more, Coolmax EcoMade has expanded into several well-known performance sock brands: DeFeet, Injinji, Dansko, Fox River and Sports Tuff.

Have a look at some of the socks:






Fun, right? Yup. Personally, I'd like to try out those Injinji socks but I any of the socks would be great because they seem like they would be good for me as a runner while also being good for the environment.

So, what about this giveaway, huh? OK, check it out:

The Giveaway!

One winner will receive SEVEN pairs of Coolmax EcoMade socks, a value of over $100.

To enter:

Be a follower of this site and leave me a comment telling me that you are and that you want to win the socks!

Additional entries:

As always, you can gain a few additional entries (leave one comment per entry for the additional ones to count):
  • Visit the Coolmax EcoMade site (www.coolmaxecomade.com) and let me know something that you learned (leave a comment)
  • Follow my other blog, or let me know that you already do (leave a comment)
  • Become a fan of The Happy Runner on Facebook, or let me know that you already are (leave a comment)
  • Link to this giveaway from Facebook or Twitter (do as often as you'd like, just leave a comment  each time)
  • Link to this giveaway from your blog (leave a comment with the url)
This giveaway will run through Monday, December 27th at 11:59pm EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

Thanks to Coolmax EcoMade for this giveaway!

Good luck!


Giveaway disclosure:  I was not compensated for this giveaway.

Genesis Today review and contest.

I had never heard of Genesis Today until I was contacted to review this new "superfruit" juice. Superfruit? Yup, superfruit. Genesis Today makes superfruit juices, which are, according to founder and CEO Dr. Lindsey Duncan, "beverages with purpose -- juices created with more antioxidants and vitamins than ever before and made with unique fruits and natural compounds like Acai, Goji berry and Resveratrol."

(Learn more about superfruits on the Genesis Today site.)

Here's a little bit about Dr. Lindsey and Genesis Today:
Dr. Lindsey Duncan is a Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Nutritionist, who has been a trusted leader in the natural health products industry since 1983. After leading a successful nutrition practice in Santa Monica and logging over 40,000 hours of clinical experience, Dr. Lindsey wanted to do more. Dr. Lindsey has brought the superior, customized nutrition he had given his celebrity clients to everyone in America because he believes that no matter what your financial situation or your exercise routine, you deserve to be healthier, now.


ANTI-OXIDANTS. PRO-NUTRIENTS. Every Genesis Today product is packed with so many nutrients, minerals and antioxidants that just one serving a day is all you need to start meeting your health goals. Genesis Today’s Superfruit juices are available in three flavors: Acai Berry, Cranberry Goji, and Pomegranate & Berries with Resveratrol. Genesis Today wants you to switch out your morning glass of orange juice for a healthier option. Try it now and feel the difference.
Sounds pretty interesting, yes? I thought so. I mean, I'm all about the healthier option. I tried the Cranberry Goji juice, actually my son and I tried it. If there is juice around, my 3 year old wants in. So, I shared the taste test with him.

I have to be honest -- I don't think I like the flavor of goji. Cranberry is one of my favorites but, for some reason, the Cranberry Goji juice tasted a little odd to me. I blame the gojis!

My son, on the other hand, loved it. His take: "It's delicious! It's sour just like cranberry juice!"

And he was right. It had a distinct cranberry flavor, but it was marred (to me) by the goji. Now, having said that, I decided to drink the rest of the bottle of juice after a tempo run and really enjoyed it. It tasted refreshingly tart and it was . . . well, it was refreshing. So, maybe for me this would be more of a recovery/post-run type of drink.


The juice contains tons of vitamins including 200% of the daily value of vitamin C, 100% DV of vitamin B6 and 1000% DV of vitamin B12 per serving. It also contains 100mg of sea minerals, 10,000mg of goji. So, it packs a healthy punch!

Genesis Today juices are available at Walmart, Sam's Club and on Amazon.

Genesis Today Contest

If you'd like to try out the supefruit juices, you can enter to win a 3-month supply of Genesis Today products, along with a personal health consultation from Dr. Lindsey Duncan. Yeah, I know. Pretty cool! Here are the details:

ENTER TODAY FOR A HEALTHIER TOMORROW!
Genesis Today will choose one lucky Grand Prize winner to receive the “Ask Dr. Lindsey – Prize Pack.” This will include a personal health consultation from Dr. Lindsey Duncan himself suited to your specific health and nutritional needs and will include a three (3) month supply of Genesis Today products – a $600 value. Second Place will receive a three (3) month supply of Genesis Today Superfruit juices, and 25 Runners up will receive a free bottle of Genesis Today Superfruit juices.

Enter now at: http://genesistoday.emgpromotions.com/

The contest ends December 20th so go now! Enter away. And good luck!

Review disclosure: I was sent one bottle of juice for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated and the opinions expressed are my own.

Free sample of Solgar Whey To Go Protein Powder.

Here's a quick freebie for you! Solgar is giving away free samples of Whey To Go Protein Powder. Here's some info:


• Solgar Whey To Go® offers a complete essential amino acid profile, with L-Glutamine and free-form branched chain amino acids (BCAAs).

• Gluten-free Whey To Go® features easily absorbed, cross-flow micro-filtered whey.

• Whey boasts the highest biological value (BV) of all natural proteins.

• Solgar's New and Improved Whey To Go® formulas offer 25% more protein ? 20 grams per serving.

• Available in chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, Whey To Go® is 98% lactose free. For health and fitness, it's the ultimate whey to go!

And here's the link to get your sample. Enjoy!