Maple Water: The new coconut water?

You’ve probably heard of coconut water and if you haven’t it’s time to crawl out from under your rock. Coconut water is not new but has recently taken off over the last few years. Sweet, refreshing, a little salty in my opinion, but packed full of electrolytes and incredibly hydrating, this drink has been the “it” drink. You can now even get flavored coconut water or coffee coconut water!

Naturally, it would make sense to introduce Maple water to the market. Maple water is an all natural, plant-based water, drawn from North American Maple trees and is being touted as the “new coconut water.” DrinkMaple was first conceived after Founder Jeff Rose and Co-Founder Kate Weiler tasted maple water for the first time and were hooked. They were introduced to maple-water during an Ironman triathlon and, intrigued by the subtle taste of maple, they worked hard to introduce this low-calorie beverage to the local New England market. 

maple. (as it is called), is obtained by tapping into maple trees, with no other added ingredients, just maple sap. I was a little hesitant to try this product as I have had pure maple sap in the past, and to be honest it is not the most pleasant of flavors. If you’ve ever had maple syrup or those maple candies, the water is removed from the maple sap and the sap is boiled, allowing the sugars to caramelize, and that’s why you get the sweet rich flavor of maple syrup. However, with the sap, it has only the slightest sweet taste.

Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried Drinkmaple for the first time. It tasted just like water with only a hint of sweet maple flavor. Others have compared it to watered down maple syrup or sugar cane flavor. But, I quite enjoyed it! It was hydrating, refreshing, and only 20 calories with 4 grams of sugar! Maple. is also naturally dairy-free, vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free of course. 

Health Benefits:

• Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and prebiotics. Antioxidants help your immune system and protects against oxidation, or the production of free radicals.
• Less than half the sugar of coconut water
• More manganese than one cup of Kale. Manganese plays many vital roles in the body such as ensuring healthy bone structure, blood sugar regulation, maintains thyroid health, and assists in the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Because it is a naturally occurring mineral in our bodies but only in small amounts, it is necessary to obtain from our diet as well. Symptoms of manganese deficiency include high blood pressure, bone malformations, high cholesterol, poor eyesight, and trouble hearing to name a few. Though quite rare because manganese is can be obtained from a plethora of sources, maple. is a great way to ensure you obtain enough as it contains 40% of the recommended daily allowance. 

If you’re a Boston native then you’re in luck because maple. launched May 12 on local store shelves in the Greater Boston area and is also being sold online via drinkmaple.com. Maple water is already hugely popular in NYC, where another of my favorite brands, called Happy Tree is sold. Plus, given the recent buzz on maple water (was recently on the Today Show as well!) and the fact that DRINKmaple is the ONLY company based in the area and selling the product in the area, of course I wanted to share it with you! In my opinion, it’s the perfect morning refreshment (next to coffee of course!) or afternoon hydrating pick-me-up. 

If you haven’t yet gotten your hands on a bottle, you can purchase maple. at the following places:Cambridge Naturals- Cambridge
Pemberton Farms- Cambridge
Squeeze Juice Bar/Equinox- Chestnut Hill
Squeeze Juice Bar/Equinox- 2 Boston locations
Lexington Power Yoga- Lexington
Espresso Love- Boston
Debra’s Natural Gourmet- Concord
Concord Provisions- Concord
Haute Coffee- Concord
The Nantucket Club- Nantucket 
Grassy Roots- Wenham
Vidalias- Beverly
Willow Rest- Gloucester
The Club by George Forman III/Nourish Your Soul
Idylwilde Farms- Acton
Natural Food Exchange- Reading
Pure Cocobeet- Boston
Foodies Urban Market- South Boston
Snap Top Market- Boston

If you have tried maple water, what did you think? 

p.s.I wouldn’t recommend it post-workout but rather as a tasty beverage to keep you hydrated if you’re not a fan of regular water and need a little flavor.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free to sample and review for my blog. I was not paid for my review and all opinions are my own.

Bloggers Wod at Crossfit Coolidge Corner

Hey hey!

It’s that time of the year when everyone is sick and lucky ol’ me just happened to catch what’s going around. Which means I have been slacking big time when it comes to the gym. A runny nose+coughing doesn’t equal a very good workout. So when the opportunity presented itself to attend a workout at Crossfit Coolidge Corner this sunday for bloggers- I was in! Every so often I get invited to these blogger events where we are provided with the opportunity to try out new products/new services and have fun connecting with fellow  bloggers! 

So,  Crossfit Coolidge Corner invited us to try a Crossfit style workout in their brand new facility on beacon street. I have to say, spending an hour or so working out, specifically cross fit, was not a bad way to start my week. For anyone that knows me, I’m a tad bit obsessed with this high energy, fat-burning, killer workout. 

When we arrived we were taken through the basics of foam rolling. For those of you unaware of the benefits of foam rolling, I wrote all about it not too long ago here. We then went into some basic mobility and movement prep work. I thought it was really neat that even after 2 years of cross fit, I am still learning new ways to prep for a workout! I don’t do much mobility work, but know the importance of it, so I appreciated the instructor taking the few extra minutes to walk us through this and explain it to us.

Then- came the warm up! Hello sprints, high knees, sled pushes, broad jumps! Still sick with a slight cold, this definitely got my heart rate up faster than expected. We managed the sled pushes in team though and ended up having a really fun time with it. Unlike many other Crossfit gyms, this one had a turf, which I found neat for a CF facility and obviously highly versatile! What a great tool to diversify workouts even further. 

Of course no workout would be complete without the actual workout itself! It was an a Strength of strict press 5X5 and ring rows 10 reps 4 sets and then an EMOM (every minute on the minute) on 3 burpees and 2X down and back on the turf with a med ball  (20,14). I enjoy when Cf facilities program this way- first with a strength and then with a higher intensity workout. I find that it really helps prep me for the workout and allows me to work on both systems- cardiovascular and strength. 

Once we started, about the 3rd round in, my legs and arms were definitely burning. This was a tough one, tougher than I thought it would be going in, but it left my lungs smoked and my body sore. Fortunately, with my CF background (at Cf southie) I was able to push through until the end. Probably not the best workout to do post-cold but nonetheless it was highly functional! The instructors were all super friendly and paid close attention to our movements and corrected when necessary. Coach Brett taught the class and he was just fantastic! He was smart about choosing a workout that anyone could do really and go at their own pace. I think it would have been way too difficult for some of the newbies if it was a snatch day or thruster day! Overall it was a safe and effective workout that I think portrayed to some of the other bloggers what cross fit is all about.  One of their core beliefs is that “the real joys of fitness come from the achievement of proper functional movement; learn to move well and you will start to live well.” I think they held firm to this belief through their attention to proper movement. 

After our sweaty session, the event concluded with a goodie bag (how cute is that saying!) filled with a CF coolidge corner T. some yummy matcha sparkling drinks, hint water, and a sweet green (coming to Chestnuthill soon!) headband to keep your hair out of your face. It was super sweet of everyone who contributed to provide us with one incredible workout and the thoughtful goodie bag!

You can check out  CF Coolidge Corner at 1285 Beacon St in Brookline. 

http://www.crossfitcoolidgecorner.com

So go check it out! Post below letting me know which workout or Crossfit movements you love the most! 

Reebok and Her Campus Present Dorm Room Bootcamp!

 Reebok and Her Campus present the Fit-Smart Female Dorm Room Bootcamp!

Where: Reebok FitHub South Shore (Boston), 250 Granite Street, Braintree, MA
When: Saturday, February 1st at 2pm

Learn from Fitness expert, Sarah Dussault, how to maximize calorie torch on a time crunch all in the comfort of your dorm! She teaches quick, easy workouts using your own body weight, books, beds, water bottles, or whatever you have at hand.

As a Personal Trainer, Healthy Living Blogger at SarahFit, exercise enthusiast, and having appeared in Women’s Health Magazine, Glamour, Shape, and Men’s Health Magazine, Sarah is all about “enabling your passion for healthy living” even if time is not on your side! Learn the most convenient ways to workout, time management tips, and how a short sweat session will help your study habits.

Make sure to RSVP this free and fun fitness event to receive one incredible takeaway workout, gift bags, and chances to earn entries into a Student Only Raffle!
RSVP: https://hercampus.wufoo.com/forms/s1y4h1so1t7ht67/

Additionally, take on the Fit-Smart Female Dorm Room Bootcamp Challenge! It entails attending at least 4 in store workouts between February 2nd-March 15th. Every time a student comes to a workout they will be entered into a students-only drawing for Reebok merchandise retailing up to $100. Who doesn’t love free workouts and a chance for free gear?!
To earn an extra entry into the raffle all you need to do is…

1. Fill out a Yelp Review online
2. Bring a food log for our local Fitness Ambassador to review.
3. Photo showing us your workout on Instagram (@ReebokFitHubSS)
4. Bring a Friend

Raffle entries for students only. Winner selected March 18th and notified by March 21st.

Check out the Fit-Smart Female Dorm Room Bootcamp Schedule to see what you have to look forward to!!
2-3pm — Class demo + Raffle
3-3:30pm — Q&A with Sarah including Refreshments
3:30-4pm — 15% off shopping and book signing with Sarah

#NovemberProject

This past Friday (okay a few fridays ago at this point), kind of on an impulse, I decided to join fellow Crossfitters and Bostonianas on the hills of Allston for what is known as November Project. Per usual, I enjoy throwing my body into intense workouts, and I had heard about this group for quite some time. So around 630am (yup 630!), after groggily forcing my body up out of bed and downing a quick cup of coffee, I met up with a few friends and the other insane participants, to anxiously await for the workout to begin. The workout that day was 45 minutes of steep hill runs, repeatedly running up and down the steepest hill I have ever encountered. Then around 7am, it began to rain. But, that didn’t stop us, as we climbed hill after hill, determined to finish. It was a race against the clock, and we all wanted to win, even though we were only competing against ourselves of course.

The morning rain reminded me that Summer is almost over with the runners having to take the streets and stairs in the dark. I had to remind myself that this is only rain and that for the past year some of these individuals have met in wind, rain, and even snow! It’s at that point that your bed (and body!) starts telling you that sleeping in is much better than working out. According to November Project “Being #WeatherProof is way more badass than snuggling with your pillow.” Of course, I don’t plan to continue this into the winter.. I’ll take my heated crossfit box over snow any day.

 

So what exactly is November Project and how did it start? It started with two highly motivated, competitive individuals named Bojan and Brogan, who were looking for a way to get an intense workout in, no matter how cold, hungry, or tired, without the cost of a gym membership essentially. And hence, November project was started. It has turned into a group of well over 100 people, coming together to run, and build a sense of community. You arrive, you are greeted by a hug, and then you run. So, if you’re a runner or looking to get started with running, this is a great group to check out! Next time you are in Boston be sure to stop by! You can follow Nov. Proj @Nov_Project.

 

Recipe for 6-pack: Studio Empower Review #Lagree Fitness

As as personal trainer and food blogger, I thrive on the days I actually have time to workout and blog, today being one of them. I also get really excited when I am invited to try a new workout that promises to “sculpt, tone, and define.” Through one of the blogger groups that I am a part of (Blog and tweet boston), I was invited to partake in a pilates reformer class at Studio Empower, located in Newton. And boy was it reforming! When you first walk in you are greeted with this alien-like machine (that is the Mega reformer M3 that you use throughout the class- not a traditional reformer). There are all sorts of gadgets and pulleys attached to it, and they only thing I can think of is, what the heck am I going to be doing on THAT?

For those of you who have never tried a  Megaformer class, you are in for one heck of a sweaty workout. While low impact, you hold poses on a four count for 1-2 minutes, using resistance and your own body weight to tone and sculpt. Every muscle is worked to fatigue, with an emphasis on core throughout the entire class. (I think I grew a 6-pack in 45 minutes I swear)! It was a great class to enjoy with the other bloggers as we sweated our butts off and worked to tone our physiques. The class is perfect for anyone hoping to tone, increase endurance, while also improving flexibility. It can be modified for all levels as well and honestly leaves you addicted and wanting to come back for more.

Katelyn, one of the owners, also took the time to email me and see how I enjoyed the class! The instructor we had was upbeat, energizing, corrective, yet stern. I didn’t want him to catch me with my form off that’s for sure! But I had a blast and can’t wait to come back for more. The classes are small so you never feel lost or confused and each class is a tad different so you can be sure that you will keep your muscles guessing if you sign up for a membership.

When I was finished with the class I was sweaty, energized, and ready for some food. I always try to get some type of carbohydrate, protein, and fat into my diet post workout and what better snack to come home to than protein bars! My bf surprised me with these homemade bars as I am always complaining that I can never seem to find an all natural low sugar bar that doesn’t use sugar alcohols. Well ladies and gentleman, I introduce you to the POWER BAR 🙂

I couldn’t help myself and took a bite 🙂

Phew, now time for a nap 🙂