Product Review - Keto OS

I am in a lull in my racing season, therefore I figured I would just test and review some fitness products.

My first run was Keto OS.  I have been seeing this blow up my Facebook news feed here lately.  So, I figured why not?  I snagged a sample pack and went with it for 5 days.

A Keto Diet is known for being a low carb diet, where the body produces ketones in the liver to be used as energy.  Basically, in a nutshell, you are telling your body that you are going to cut back on carbs.  Then when the body needs energy, it will deplete the carbs and then attack the fat in the body to use for fuel, resulting in fat loss.

Keto OS was designed to help energy, mental function, better sleep and to put your body into ketosis.

I had the orange, the max, the kreme and the chocolate.

First off the taste is something to get accustomed to.  The orange was gross.  Not going to lie.  The max was tolerable and I liked the chocolate.  The kreme was designed to put in a hot beverage like coffee.  I did this and I stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred some more and it still had some "floaties".  I got about half-way done with it and one of the chunks that didn't dissolve grossed me out so I dumped it.

I didn't do the keto diet along with it.  However, it is my understanding that to get better results you should but not necessary.

After 5 days - I lost 2 pounds.  Not impressed.  First off the keto makes you crazy thirsty so you have to up your water intake by a considerable amount which means more bathroom breaks.  I didn't notice any more energy or clarity.  However, I did notice I slept better.  However, for the hefty price tag ($144 plus shipping for a month of orange) I would rather try other means to help me sleep.

So, would I use it?  No.  Reason being is I am suspicious that I could do the keto diet without the Keto OS and still lose weight.  It's called Atkins or South Beach.

Now to give an unbiased opinion, I waited until my husband did it for a week to get his results.  He followed the diet and drank the Keto and lost 9 pounds....

...and got really sick.

He developed what they are calling "keto flu".  He was miserable and the result is the drop in electrolytes because the Keto depletes them.  He did Atkins before and lost the same amount in a week so to say it was because of the Keto, I can't really say.

I keep seeing before and after pics and that's great!  But at what price tag?  To possibly get sick?  To spend 100's of dollars?  I feel this is just a fad along with everything else out there.

Nah, I will just stick to my salad.

Race Review - Lucky Clover 4 Miler

Ah yes, another 131 Productions event.  They, seriously, do the best races.

Last year we did this race virtually because we couldn't make it to the actual race.  However, this year we made it.  The week prior it had been gorgeous weather.  60's and sunny, making everyone pine for spring.  Well the day of the race is was 20 degrees and freezing.  I am tired of running in cold weather!

The event was easy to find and conveniently located next to a Meijer.  We went in so my pal could find some St. Paddy's stuff to wear since it was that sort of race.  I am betting the store sold out of their green costume accessories and socks!!  Everyone was in there buying stuff.  It was nice to be able to go in and use their bathroom and not freeze in the port-a-pots!

The race was huge, near 1000 attendees!  So, at the start it was a little crowded and I couldn't get past those that wanted to walk and chat.  Nothing wrong with that but move over!

I warmed up quickly.  The route was clearly marked and easy to follow.  Police had traffic stopped for us, as they always do.  I always make sure to thank each one I pass.  There was one water station that I opted to pass on.

For me, the race was fairly easy.  I was worried due to not getting a chance to run much that week with my crazy schedule.  But I didn't struggle much and kept a steady 10 min/mile pace.

Crossing the line was as euphoric as always and the huge bling weighted down my neck.  There was water, bananas and donuts.  They always have donuts which I don't really understand.  Let's run then eat all the calories we burned in a sugary donut with no nutritional value whatsoever.   haha!

Overall a good race.  Due to the cold, we were out of there rather quickly!

So the review of the event Lucky Clove 4 Miler:
Terrain - all road
Organization - organized well, 131 events are fantastic
Cost - $45
Time of the race - 10am
Overall - nicely done, well organized, great volunteers
Swag - a medal and a long sleeved shirt
My Time - 40.20 min
Race #6(65 total to date)

Race Review - Winter Trail Frosty Quarter Marathon

This is our second year doing this race.  We love 131 Events.  They are so well done.  The name held up to its reputation this year - brrrr.  It was cold and snowing.  The trails were beautiful.  My time this year was exactly the same as last year!  At least I am consistent, haha!

After the race, I waited on Matt.  It was freezing but I waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Everyone I knew had already crossed and it was going on an hour.  I was beginning to get worried.  I told Missy that I was going to go warm up a minute then go look for him.  I was hoping he wasn't hurt or took a wrong turn!  It wasn't much longer that he came across the line with another runner.  Come to find out, a lady had fallen down the steps on the trail just after the first mile.  She was in a lot of pain and was sure she broke her leg.  Matt, along with another runner and a military rucker, helped her to where she could get aide.  That is what took him so long.  Is he a good guy, or what?

Our WTF Medals!

Matt coming in pretty much dead last

So the review of the event Winter Trail Frosty:
Terrain - predominately trail
Organization - organized well, 131 events are fantastic
Cost - $45
Time of the race - 10am
Overall - nicely done, well organized, great volunteers
Swag - a medal and a long sleeved shirt
My Time - 1.24
Race #5(65 total to date)

Race Review - Viking Winter Dash

This is our second year doing this race.  I was skeptical due to getting misdirected last year but it was still a fun course.

This year.....the experience was less than pleasurable.  I, once again, signed up for the 15K and Matt and Missy did the 10K.  The day was unseasonably warm again which was fine by me.  There was a huge hog on the pit for the runners to enjoy after the race.  The check in was pretty flawless.  So we waited.  Only major complaint up to this point was the porta-pots.  They had 4 and 1 was very unstable and one had no toilet paper. With as many people at the event, a few more would have done wonders.

So, we are off.  I was doing good until I hit mile 2.  Yes...mile TWO.  I knew I was going to have a hard time of it.  The sun was growing steadily warmer and I was growing steadily tired, already.  At the turn around for the 10k runners (4.5 mile-ish), I contemplated turning back.  I was having some mild stomach cramps and I just felt like I hit a wall.  I pushed through.  I felt like I was moving through molasses.  I got to the turn around and headed back.  The area was beautiful and warm.  However, I was miserable.

I knew my problem.  The week prior, I did a 5 day liquid detox then at Friday night then the race Saturday morning.  I had no fuel in me.  I was dehydrated and my body was trying to shut itself down to rest.  Trust me, I contemplated it.  I saw a few large rocks and thought - "I am just gonna sit here and they can come get me".  But I mentally kept saying - one foot in front of the other.

As I came to the huge hill at the end, I see one person standing on top.  It was Matt.  He saw I was limping and struggling and came down and walked with me.  He said how proud he was of me and how good I was doing.  I felt miserable.  But I crossed the finish.  I was even first in my age group (out of 2 I think haha).

The moral of the story - some runs are great; some runs not so much.  All that matters is the start and finish lines....and that you cross them both.

Only one pic with this one, the pain of me crossing the finish...and the support of Matt in the background

So the review of the event Viking Winter Dash:
Terrain - predominately trail
Organization - organized fairly well, better than last year
Cost - $40/$60
Time of the race - 11am
Overall - nicely done
Swag - a medal and a long sleeved shirt
My Time - not sure
Race #4 (64 total to date)