Patella Strap

Patella Knee Strap

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About the Product:

• StabilityAce Patella Knee Strap Ideal for Relief of Patellar Tendonitis, Irritated Kneecap and Osgood-Schlatter Disease
• Tubular Insert Provides Focused, Uniform Pressure to Help Guide the Patella
• One Size Fits Most, Fits Right or Left Knee, Shipped from USA
• Fully Adjustable and Comfortable, Lightweight and Breathable Neoprene Fabric for All Day Wear Especially During Exercise
• Designed to Boost Overall Stability of the Knee and Improve Patellar Tracking by Applying Mild Compression on Tendon Below Kneecap, 100% Lifetime Guarantee, Click To Buy Now!

My Review:

Back in May 2016, I participated in a Parent/Coach All Star Cheerleading team. While performing on the competition floor, I rolled my ankle and tweeked my knee. I went several months with little pain, until I slipped in the mud and rolled my ankle again, which then tweeked my knee. Now, I do have flexable ankles, so nothing happened there, but my knee was killing me. I finally went to the doctors office and had X-rays done. Yep, I threw out my knee to the outside of my leg. My doctor said that I needed to use a patella strap to help my knee get back into place, along with at home PT. I also coach competitive cheerleading and tumbling. I am constantly up and down on my knees. This knee strap came at the perfect time! I'm so excited to stay that it has really helped with keep my knee stable. I also love that I can wear it to work and all day long. It doesn't prevent me from coaching or running. I'm also a runner! Sometimes I'll wear the strap to bed and don't have any problems. I've been very happy with this strap and recommend it to other runners, coaches, or anyone with knee problems. I forgot to mention that the strap is adjustable, so it can fit anyone!

Disclaimer: Product was provided for my review. All words are my own.

ENERGYbits

Energybits

www.energybits.com

About the Product: Looking for a plant-based fuel that will supercharge your workouts, runs or athletic performance? Want something fast, easy and healthy enough that even kids can take it? Increased endurance, mental alertness and energy are just a few of the many benefits you can expect when taking ENERGYbits® before work, work outs or have no time to cook. This high protein snack reduces hunger, cravings and the need for caffeine and is an eco-friendly, sustainable food crop.

Algae has been shown to improve your physical energy and mental vitality, strengthen your immune system, improve your health, help reduce hangover symptoms, enhance your endurance improve athletic performance make weight loss easier.... the list is endless! So dust off your little black dress,your running shoes or your rockin’ pair of skinny jeans because we bet you are going to want to take our BITS with you where ever you go.

Want to be the best Athlete? Professional athletes require focus, strength and endurance. To perform your best, you need fuel that provides your body with protein and glucose. ENERGYbits® have both. At 64% protein, they have the highest concentration of protein in the world (3 x steak). This immediately converts to glucose since the protein is already in amino acids and the B Vitamins turn the glucose to energy. The Omega 3 in ENERGYbits® also improves focus and the high concentrations of nitric oxide and iron prevent fatigue - nitric oxide opens up blood vessels, and iron carries oxygen to the brain and muscles. Remarkably, ENERGYbits® have just ONE ingredient - 100% spirulina algae which not only contains protein and 40 vitamins/minerals, but also antioxidants and electrolytes that speed recovery. That’s why spirulina has been a favorite of athletes for decades. ENERGYbits® contain NO sugar, chemicals, caffeine or gluten, making them the healthiest way to be your best for every game and every season.

 Find out more at What to Expect! I love their explanations and information!

got bits?

Extra Info for You! You'll Love this Info!

My thoughts: I'm a fan of Energybits! I love them! I know that EnergyBits mainly focuses on Runners, which I am. However, I want to chat about EnergyBits and Cheerleading! Yes, cheerleading. I have been coaching cheerleading for a little over 20 years. I started as a junior coach when I was 14 years old for Pop Warner. I cheered rec cheerleading, middle and high school cheerleading, as well as Universal Cheerleading Association Staff (teaching at summer camps). I've been in the competitive cheerleading world since 2004. I'm credentialed for Level 1-4 All Star Cheerleading through the USASF. I also judge cheerleading competitions for Epic Brands. So there you have it, just a little bit about me and cheerleading. 

Now onward to my review!

 Partner Stunting with Cheer Coach at Eastern Tumble and Cheer

Competitive Cheerleading is some serious hard work! If you've never been to a practice, you should! These kids work just as hard as any football player! These kids practice 6 hours a week learning and perfecting a 2:30 routine, which includes stunts, tumbling, jumps, and dance. These routines are fast paced and intense!

Tumbling in our routine!

My daughter is a serious tumbler and the constant workout with all aspects of cheerleading are intense! I give EnergyBits to my 16 year old daughter to use to help keep that energy up and to help her keep going. It can get exhausting! Since she has started taking 5 Energybit before practice, she has been feeling great and energized! On Wednesday evening, after our practice is over, we stay for an extra hour or two so that she can work with the East Carolina University Cheerleaders and learn how to partner stunt. We have to prepare for college and college cheerleading! On Sundays, we come in an hour before our 3 hour practice and she has private lessons to work on advancing her tumbling skills. Talk about needing that extra energy!

Lets not forget to add that she also competes in the individual category at competitions, as well as competes on a team! So we also add in an additional practice for that! Who needs stamina? That girl does and she gets it from Energybits!

Back Tuck Basket Toss with Wesleyan College Cheerleaders

Another aspect that I love about Energybits is that they help you focus! You need to be focused on what you are doing. Stunting can be dangerous, thus why we practice and train our athletes. Not only stunts, but tumbling as well. You don't want to fly threw the air and then eat mat or run into someone else! Not fun!

There are so many benefits to taking Algae! You won't believe what it will do for you as well! It's amazing!

Partner Stunting with East Carolina University Cheerleaders

Partner Stunting with her ECCats Cheer Coach
(He's also the ECU Club Cheer Coach)

Lib Partner Stunting with Tumbling Coach/ECU Cheerleader

Team Conditioning - 2:30 of Burpees!

My Final Thoughts: YES! YOU NEED THESE IN YOUR LIFE! They are amazing! You just pop a few bit (adults 30 bits/children 5-10) and down it with some water. It's all natural and is safe for kids as well! Get some! You'll sure be glad that you did! Now read on to find out about the Owner!

 Other Product: SKINNYbits, RECOVERYbits, VITALITYbits

Be sure to check out their website

energybits.com

 want to get 20% off...use my code: BLOG when you check out!

GET THE TIN! YOU NEED THE TIN!

Keep checking this blog! I will have a contest coming up at the end of November! You don't want to miss it! It will be just in time for Christmas!

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Injuries

Knee Injury! UGG!

When there is pain! You try to ignore it because you want to continue doing what you do. You fear what a doctor will say. So you just "Walk It Off" until you can't anymore. Then you head to the doctors...

Thanks for my adventures in doing a coach/parent team, I am not running. I haven't been able to run for a while without my knee bothering me. I rolled my ankle on the competition floor, which tweeked my knee. I tried to just deal with it myself and finally took my self to the surgeon who did my dad's shoulders. I'm also having really bad shoulder pain and both shoulders.

So the verdict, I have early signs of arthritis in my knee (I'm only 35 people), as well as I have caused my left knee cap to be off to the left instead of being center. So I have been wrapping my knee in KT tape! I love that tape. As for my shoulders, I was given PT for at home. The doc thinks I tore something inside both shoulders and wear and tear going on.

The doc said that due to my profession, I have advanced the wear and tear on my body. My knee and shoulders are normal signs of someone in my line of work. So I was given 1 steroid injection into my left shoulder (my right is feeling better from the PT exercises) and 1 steroid injection into my left knee. So we shall see how things pan out. I have aches and pains here and there, but nothing like before! BUT let me just tell you, when that needle went into my knee, I nearly came off the table! The shoulder wasn't that bad, but the knee was terrible. Yes, I'll do it again if needed, but JEEZ!

I love coaching cheerleading and my body can't stop me! I'm sure it will one day, but not today! I'm a hands on coach and do a lot of spotting when it comes to tumbling. I am constantly on my knees and standing up, picking up kids, ect. I'm always moving about. I told the doc that surgery is not an option until I'm 60! So hopefully my body will hold out until I'm 60!

So currently, I am not allowed to run. No races, no training, no running! I'm really sad about that because I love running races. I don't like to walk a whole race unless I'm with my 8 year old son and he's being a bum. I am allowed to walk and have to walk slow. Which is no fun. I need to run and get back into it. I have an appointment in the middle of November for a recheck of the knee and shoulder. So hopefully, things will be good and I can start running again.

Coaching and yoga are my workouts currently! My friend is a personal trainer and I love taking her classes! TABATA is my favorite. It's HIIT program. If you haven't heard of it, you must find a class and join! It's awesome! You don't even realize that you are working out, which I love. I'm waiting for her to start back teach that again. She's really into Crossfit right now.

Anyway, so this is me and what I'm doing today! I'll keep posting on my progress! I've put on weight since my knee injury back in April this year. Not much, but enough that I'm not happy and must get it off. I'll be posting about that soon!

Remember...if you think you have an injury, go to the doctor! Don't hold off. You can be doing some serious damage to your body!

Stay Tuned!

New Cheer Season

A New Cheer Season and A New Gym
June 1, 2016

We are over at East Carolina Cheerleading And Tumbling School, better known as ECCats in Winterville. This is our new home and we just love it! I'm coaching a Senior Level 2 team (Fierce Cats) currently and of course, this is Brie's senior year of high school and she's on my team. She'll be doing individuals this season as a Level 4 cheerleader, but I need her on my team. We just love it there.

Yes, I am still over at ETC as well. I coach just tumbling classes over there for my kids who want me to coach tumbling still for them. They drive to ETC once a week to work with me, which I love! My faithful followers! They wanted me to coach and so I coach!

Daughter and Mom with Nfinity Cheer Bags - we match


I'm really sad that my cheer partner in crime is a senior in high school this year. Yes, she'll be college bound next year! My coaching life will forever change when I no longer have my partner. It will be quiet in the car and my singing partner will move on. Of course, I will continue to coach. It's my life calling. My life would be empty without cheerleading! Besides, I'm at an amazing cheer gym with the most awesome people! I haven't been this happy coaching all stars in a very long time.

Here's to a great season!

Cheer Coach/Parent Team

Eastern Tumble and Cheer Coach and Parent Team - The Catastrophes!
April 21, 2016

It's been a while since I have last posted. I've had some serious life changes going on since my last post, but that is neither here nor there. Lets talk about some fun!

Cheer Coaches who ROCK!

I've haven't been running or hiking in a long time, but I did do a parent/coach all star cheerleading team earlier this year! We had such a blast putting our routine together, having practices, and enjoying what our children do on the competition floor! My daughter also competed at the same competition, which was great for us to do together!

If you or your child are at a All-Star cheer gym and they have a parent team, You have to get involved. Not only do you get a good workout, but you get to see what your child goes through every time they have practice and when they hit the competition floor! It really is a workout. You work your whole body doing this stuff! You have to stunt, tumble, dance, and do jumps - just like the kids! It's totally worth it in the end!

Stretching is very important! All of us "old" people can do this!

What! It's time to compete! For REAL!

Thats US! Our name in Lights! Well on the screen for all to see!

YES! We did awesome! Everyone received a medal and the gym received the trophy! Coach/Parent teams are exhibitions teams. Everyone gets a score sheet (which just tells us how awesome we are) and medals and a trophy! Of course you must have a photo with the trophy!

Brie and I with our wins! She received 1st place for Senior Level 4 individual category! She rocks!

This is our team - The Catastrophes!

The announcer at the competitions said "If you noticed, each one of their shirts have a different number on the back. In case you haven't figured it out, it's their birth year!" Everyone loved the idea!

I have been coaching for a very long time and Brie has been involved in gymnastics since she was 2 years old. At 4 years old, we started into cheerleading. Cheerleading is my life and what I love coaching! It's a rewarding job! This was a once in a life time opportunity for Brie and I to actually compete together. It's a day that I'll never forget. I can't thank Jenn Sabdo (owner of ETC) for taking us into her gym with open arms since we had left our other gym 6 months before and Brie really wanted to do individuals at competitions. There was no question about it and Jenn took us in!

At the End of the Season Banquette! I was awarded another medal and "Most Motivating" award. I'm all about encouraging and motivating. I just treated my team members like my cheerleaders and kept them going! Thats what I do!

Want to see our video!
Click Here
Our team was pretty awesome!

The Color Vibe

The Color Vibe 5k

9-26-15

Jacksonville, NC

Here we are! I had signed myself and Jordan up to run this one together. Brie was going to volunteer to be at a color station with my friend, Megan. Brie really wanted to run the race, so I gave her my bib and I got to volunteer with my dude and Megan!

Waiting for our ride to pick us up and take us to our station!

Lord help me! This child just can't contain himself. He found some purple and put it all over himself and the race hasn't even started! Plus, we are the GREEN station!

What happens then you are tossing green at all the people passing by! Yep, you are covered in green! I think we all look like the Grinch!

Brie has arrived at our station! Hello Child! Don't get to crazy!

Color Selfie!

Yep, she's got colored legs!

PINK BOMBS! RUN!

Almost done! Listening to Jams and Having Fun! Thats what the Color Vibe is about!

Selfie! Teens and their selfies!

She said her arms looked like Jaw Breakers and I needed to take a photo!

What a fun day! Jordan was done and did not want to take a photo with us cool kids!

If you ever get the chance to volunteer at a color run, you will have a blast! It was so much fun tossing green all over people as they ran by. Be sure to follow the rules and don't toss it in people's faces. I hate when that happens to me. I won't want that in my face or ears! Be courteous to the runners! Volunteering is also great for students. You can get some volunteer hours in and you're helping your community while having fun!

Chum Run Obstacle Course

Chum Run 2.5 miles

Sept. 12, 2015

Atlantic Beach, NC 

Facebook Link

Time: 1:30

 

Who is ready for the obstacle course? We are!

My friend Megan came across this run a few weeks prior to the event. We signed up and here we are! Ready to run the beach!

 

The Course Map and Obstacles!

 

 

Warm Ups before the Race!

Wow! That was a hard race. I've never run on the beach prior to this. It was a bit brutal. The current in the water was bad, so no Buoy Buster - we had to do what is listed for people who were no doing the water - "Failure Penalty". I'm not a burpee's kind of person, so I always skip those.

Megan and I stayed together until we go to station 2. Then I told her to go on. She runs the beach and I don't. I said you just go on. Don't wait for me. I pretty much walked to each station. Like I said, I don't run on the beach, so this way hard for me to do. My legs got a serious workout just walking and doing the obstacles.

I completed everything except the wall "Dune Hopper". The wall was too much of an incline that I wasn't able to pull myself up on their rope. So I walked around them. I attempted it once.

Overall, it was a fun race. I had a good time and met a fellow runner who was also walking. I found out she also did the Princess Half Marathon this year in Disney. So we chatted between obstacles.

We encouraged each other until the end! It's always nice to meet other runners who are at your pace and you can stick with them! I always try to find someone who is my speed if possible. 

Yes, this was a hard one, but it was a lot of fun. I'll do it again next year! It was exciting to be part of their First Annual race! Hopefully, next year we'll be able to actually swim in the water!

Be sure to click the link above to stay informed about next years race!