I recently learned that Gatorade has a new Natural product that no longer contains HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) or artificial colors. I'm so happy about this! I use sports drinks on occasion- usually on heavy training days, during races, or when I'm training in extreme heat.

The generous folks at the Gatorade company sent me a couple of samples of the new Gatorade Natural products to try and I like them! The flavor is good (the low calorie version is a little too sweet for me so I preferred the regular) and they don't give me the bloated feeling that I can sometimes get when I eat or drink things that contain HFCS.

What I especially like about Gatorade is the massive amount of research done by their Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI). These people know hydration!

Right now Gatorade Natural is only available at Whole Foods Markets in select cities (see the website for locations). If you can get your hands on some, give it a try!

(Image from Gatorade.com)

I am not the type to put on makeup just to check the mail, however, I do enjoy my fair share of girly-girliness on occasion. I don't spend a fortune on any single product unless I'm totally and utterly in love with it. Usually, I seek out simple and natural products and steer clear of anything with a paragraph of unpronounceable ingredients. I am always on the hunt for simple and effective things, so I wanted to share this one with you!

I have been using Dr. Bronner's bar soap and liquid castile soap for a long time and I think they are fantastic. They clean well (for more than just skin!), are made of non-toxic ingredients, and are very affordable. Recently I discovered a new Dr. Bronner's product that I'm now totally in love with- the shaving gel. Seriously people, my legs have never been this smooth! This product can be used by men or women.

A while back I wrote about a raw chili that I had enjoyed for dinner. Since I loved the "nut meat" portion of the meal so much, I created a raw "pasta" meal using similar ingredients. Instead of noodles, I used a potato peeler to cut raw zucchini into ribbons. I topped the zucchini with a raw tomato sauce and some "nut meat".

I completed my third (second this year) sprint distance triathlon (.5 mile swim/16 mile bike/5k run) on Saturday morning. I didn't break any records, but I finished and didn't pass out or throw up. Considering the unrelenting sun and hilly trail during the run portion of the race, I consider all of those to be accomplishments!

I did a pretty good job of "carb loading"- I had pasta the night before and a whole grain english muffin and some dates a couple of hours before the race. As usual I also drank coconut water and green tea with my breakfast and while driving to the event. The caffeine in the tea helps to wake up my brain and body and the coconut water contains natural electrolytes (more potassium than a banana!) and sugar.

My swim felt pretty strong and I exited the water after about 20 minutes and headed to transition to cycling. My plan was to drink sports drink mixed with water on the first half of the bike (I avoid drinking in the second half so I won't have a "sloshy" tummy when I'm running later). But, I got really caught up in maintaining my pace and didn't drink like I should have. By the time I got to the run, I was thirsty and needed a little bit of fuel. Instead of sports drink, I grabbed plain water and a chocolate Clif Shot and headed out. I paced relatively well during the first half of the run but ran out of gas in the second half. I sipped water and tried to get the Clif Shot down but the chocolate flavor was just too ick at the time.

All things considered, I did alright. I finished only two minutes slower than my best time for the race. Afterwards, though, I was so tired! I took a small nap that afternoon and, even though napping is extremely rare for me, I took a nap the following afternoon as well. I have been in full recovery mode, eating whole grains and fruits and veggies, hydrating like crazy, and resting. I made a batch of Super-Charge Me! cookies from Dreena Burton's Eat, Drink, & Be Vegan cookbook and they are DELICIOUS! My kids like them too. I think I'm going to be "recovering" for as long as possible so I can keep eating these!

I highly recommend Dreena's cookbooks!