The Official Fluid Blog

Okay, not totally naked. What we meant was, FLUID promotes naked feet! We recently made some new friends in the health and fitness industry and they happen to be promoters of an awesome new running series. They (Scott and Lauren Jones) call their invention The Naked Foot 5k.

Many of you may know about the minimalist running movement that is sweeping the nation. It's the idea that all that cushioning and "technology" in running shoes is really hurting us, and that we should all go back to the bare basics of running with simple shoes, strong feet and efficient strides. Well, The Naked Foot 5k Series has nothing to do with all that. Instead, "this run is all about having fun and feeling free. Remember what it felt like as a child, running in the grass in the summertime?  Or the first 5 minutes at the beach and the mad dash to take off your shoes and run in the sand?  This is what the Naked Foot 5k is all about."

So with this dream, Scott and Lauren have taken to the road. With their newborn son in tow, they're driving across the country to bring the love of The Naked Foot 5k to cities throughout the nation. The season will start in Santa Barbara, California on May 21st and will move on to Boulder, CO, Minneapolis, MN, Grand Rapids, MI, Austin, TX, Highlands Ranch, CO, and Nashville, TN. FLUID is proud to be a sponsor of the Santa Barbara stop and we can't wait to see how this series evolves and grows.

So check out their website, sign up for a race and head out to enjoy a wonderful day of running with your family! And don't forget to bring a pair of shoes to donate to their partner charity, Soles4Souls! In the meantime stay healthy, run free and Live FLUID!

Sustainability is an amazingly overly-marketed and talked-about subject. Even talking about its "over-discussedness" is talked about too much. How can anyone know whether a company is really sustainable or not? What are the guidelines? At Fluid, we're not totally sure. Regardless, we know it's about time to start making an effort. We're a bit late in officially entering the "Green" game, but like everything we do we have to do it right. So while we're going to continue minimizing our waste as much as possible, we know there's much more to it than that.

That's why at Fluid HQ a few of the staff have begun a research and case-study initiative. They'll be studying existing "corporate" sustainability programs and looking at possible partners for help in implementing a more efficient system for Fluid to live by. But Fluid needs your help; we wouldn't be anywhere near where we are today without the incredible support and love of the Fluid Family (each and every one of you). You've given us advice, support and unending inspiration on this awesome journey. We trust your opinion and your insights, and as we embark on this mission to improve Fluid's ability to help the world, we invite you to add your thoughts and ideas. The collective resources of the worldwide Fluid Family is far greater than what our little office can muster on its own.

So if you have experience (or just ideas!) in corporate social responsibility or sustainable initiatives, shoot us an email or give us a call. We'll be happy to hear from you and we'll take your words to heart. In the meantime, stay tuned for updates on how the project is going! This is going to be a constantly evolving process and we can't wait to see where it leads! We hope you're as excited as we are!

Cheers!

Team FLUID

Hey Fluid Family! Welcome once again to the blog of never-ending Fluid Love! Today, we acknowledge The Economy. I know, it can be an ugly subject and we're all pretty tired of hearing about it. Unfortunately the impact it can have on our lives is undeniable, but have you ever noticed how a good workout can turn a bad day completely upside down? It's just proof that exercise provides us humans with a fundamental happiness, happiness that can't be trumped by less important things like stress.  So today we celebrate the freedom of fitness while paying due respect to something we'll call "monetary efficiency." 5 tips for frugal fitness, because no matter what the bank says, you should be healthy and happy. Enjoy!

1. Don't buy music (breathe and focus)

So you're tired of your playlist for the 85th time. No matter how many new songs you add, you keep getting worn out from the same 1000 ballads over and over. You'd think that after 637 songs you'd be homefree (lost in sustained musical bliss), but no! So it's time to break the habit. No more itunes searching, no more "it's only 99 cents!", and no more ipod. There are two things that should more than fill up your mental capacity during a workout: breath and form. Instead of spazzing around to the latest techno beat, try staying calm. Focus on full breaths, making sure to expel all the air in your lungs with your stomach before bringing more in (much of your lung's oxygen intake capacity rests in the bottom)! As you perfect your breathing, also try to relax. Tensing every muscle doesn't make you faster but it does use up more oxygen (and builds more lactic acid stores)! By focusing on these simple steps instead of letting your mind wander to the troubles of the day, you'll finish your workout pleasantly refreshed. So who needs music?! You've got everything you need right up there between your ears.

2. Commute alternatively

You've heard this one before. "Ride your bike," "take the bus," "run to work." Maybe you got inspired and tried it for a week. You liked it, but things progressed and you started driving again. Before you knew it, things were back to normal. Understandably, some folks are prevented from trying out new transits. Maybe they have a very long commute, inclement weather or a lot of stuff to carry. But more often than not, our excuses are not that good (and even with those excuses we can find ways to make it work). So what can we ALL do to stay motivated and avoid grabbing the car keys? First: make goals. Start with something manageable; for instance, "this year I will ride my bike to work twice a week," or, "this year I will commute 500 miles by bike." Then, write your goals in marker on a big official-looking piece of fancy paper. Use your best handwriting and post it on the inside of your front door where you (and everyone who visits) will see it everyday. There's something about a fancy sign that makes us feel accountable (especially when our friends see it)! Seriously, do this and you'll be riding like crazy. And remember to update your goals (with a fresh new fancy piece of paper) once you accomplish them!

3. Buy from craigslist

So you've got a plan. Congratulations! You decided to do the home workout gig and use a bit of self motivation to reach your goals. You're definitely on the path to fitness frugality! But hey, you've come this far, why not take it a little further? Before you head to muscle warehouse to deck out the garage with the latest weights and contraptions, click on over to craigslist or your favorite local classifieds. Somewhere in your neighborhood is a three year old complete weight set that's been used seven and a half times. It's dusty, but with a wet cloth and about an hour, you'll have a brand new setup for hundreds (or thousands!) less than what you would have paid. It does take some patience and a little searching (and maybe your neighbors scare you), but hey, that just makes the process fun!

4. Wear out your gear before you upgrade

We've all done it. Emotional buying. It's who we are and it's what we like to do. Sometimes when it's cold and windy outside, we get our workout fix by buying those sweet new goggles we saw the Olympic team wearing (instead of jumping in the pool to crank out intervals). But just remember, you have the power! You control what you do. So next time those consumer emotions begin to creep over you like a werewolf in the shadows on a bright full moon, harness those emotions, throw on your worn out old clothes and put in the toughest workout you've ever done. When you get back, the inner rationality will have returned and you'll be proud of yourself for resisting.
Please note: sometimes new gear is warranted and even necessary to avoid injury! But we're confident in your ability to tell when you need it and when you want it.


5. And finally, pump up the veg!

Sorry carnivores, but this one is so cost-effective I just couldn't resist. I love a big juicy burger as much as anybody. But have you seen the price of meat these days?! Despite some misconceptions, there are a lot of alternative ways to get the protein you need (just look at Scott Jurek, a vegan and arguably one of the best ultrarunners ever). Now, I'm not saying you need to sell off the cows, buy a prius and stop wearing closed-toed shoes. But do some research online for tasty recipes and cut out the meat at least a few times a week. It's much cheaper, still very tasty, and who knows, you may decide to go veg full time!


Well, don't just sit there, get started! We hope all this helps, and please feel free to comment on our Facebook post with your own ideas! In the meantime, here's to a healthy, happy and economically sound 2011.


Cheers!
Team Fluid

Hey Fluid Family, welcome to 2011! Here in the office we're stoked for an awesome new year of helping people be healthy. We've celebrated all of the wonderful successes we've seen from 2010 (thanks entirely to you!) and now it's back to making things happen! But because we're all in this together, we know that the true difference lies not in what we provide you, but what you accomplish with the tools we offer.

That's why we're here to help. For the new year, some of us at Fluid have pledged to make a conscious effort to improve some part of our lives whether it pertains to physical, mental or emotional wellbeing. So we want to see if you're willing to join us! Many of you may be totally stoked with how you feel and you're ready to rock for 2011. And that's awesome! But if there's something you want to improve, something missing that you know is essential to reaching your goals then Fluid challenges you with one word: commit.

Commit to your wellbeing with your heart and soul, build a network of positive influence around you, and watch your dreams come to life. As you strive toward everything you desire for 2011, always remember that Fluid is here for you. We provide great nutrition because it helps people be healthy, accomplish their goals and improve their lives. We always love to hear about our Family, from those struggling to regain their health to top pro athletes. So please feel free to drop us a line and let us know how it's going!

Live Healthy. Live Fluid.
Cheers!

Dave, Richard and all of Team Fluid