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5 Tips For Adventure & Landscape Photographers

5 Tips For Adventure & Landscape Photographers

In this two part PRO-TIPS series, we are happy to share photographers Gavin & Brigid's best tips.

SF Bay Area-based photographer/cyclist/trail runner Gavin Murray shares some pointers on getting comfortable with adventure photography.

📱 I've found that the most critical factor when it comes to on-bike/on-run photography is finding a setup you feel comfortable bringing on your adventures; if that's solely your phone, great! I have a rotation between my iPhone, pocket camera (Ricoh grii), and mirrorless camera(fuji xt2).

📷 I do a once-over on my camera before heading out to check battery life, SD cards, and settings. Becoming familiar with my gear kicked my photography game up a notch. It's worth playing around with settings like exposure, this includes on your phone, and don't be afraid to make "mistakes".

🌅 Shooting at sunrise and sunset is an easy way to add some pastel-colored goodness to your photos, but there's never a wrong time of day to shoot. In the heat of the day, look for interesting shadows and reflections. Play with movement by focusing on a subject (like your riding/running partner) and dropping the shutter speed while on the move to blur the background. I always make sure to pack a snack. There is nothing worst than waiting for the perfect lighting and being distracted by hunger!

PROBAR PEAK and BOLT are easy to carry and delicious.

😯 I think the images that I like the most in my photography and other photographers' work aren't necessarily just grandiose vistas but are often photos that show something special about that ride/run.

Try to highlight something YOU find compelling rather than a "Instagram" moment. We are so overly saturated constantly with new media on our phones and computers, it's easy to lose our style. Stay true to your work!

🐶 I challenge myself to take at least one photo per adventure, including just taking the dog for a walk. Photography is a great way to slow down and appreciate the world with new eyes. 

Alberta based photographer & hiker, Brigid, share her best tips to help us enjoy and improve our landscape photography!

📐 Ensure your Composition is pleasing to the eye (follow the rule of thirds, make sure your horizon is straight, and if possible, use a pretty foreground) 

🌅 Although all times of the day can make for beautiful pictures, I love shooting late afternoon, golden hour, and sunset. Lighting has the ability to really make a scene pop. 

🤩 Pay attention to photographs on social media that you yourself are drawn to and determine what it is you like about them. Play around with the manual mode and find out which settings work for the light you have. 


👀 Get off the beaten path and find something unique.


🎉 Have fun! Don’t stress about missing that sunset, there’ll be another one tomorrow and enjoy a snack!

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PROBAR Sponsors Barracuda Championship

PROBAR Sponsors Barracuda Championship

A little throwback to our time this last week at the @barracudachampionship

We spent a total of 7 days on this beautiful course and met some incredible people along the way! ⁠

Chez Reavie, the 40-year-old PGA Tour veteran held off Alex Noren to take the title at the Barracuda Championship at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, Calif., and in turn became the oldest winner on tour during the 2021-22 season.

Reavie made two of his three bogeys for the entire tournament in the final round on Sunday but offset them with four birdies that earned him 6 points on the day in an event that uses the Modified Stableford Scoring format.

Noren charged with eight birdies and two bogeys on Sunday, but fell one point short of Reavie's tournament total 43 to 42.

A big THANK you to the @pgatour, @barracudachampionship, and the @tahoemountainclub for puttin on a spectacular event and allowing PROBAR the opportunity to sponsor!

Players were excited to snack on some of our MEAL in between plays and we noticed our BOLT's to be widely popular during the heat of the day.

Special shout-out to Reno Local Food Group, Renegades, and all the people that made our experience amazing!⁠

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Have Fear During Your Solo Adventures On Trail? Good.

Have Fear During Your Solo Adventures On Trail? Good.

Carly Moree was the first woman to attempt the men's unsupported record on the 223-mile Nüümü Poyo/John Muir Trail. She is the Owner & Founder of Rocky Mountain Hiking Company, offering guided hikes and backpacking trips in Colorado and California.

Carly is the co-author of the popular thru-hiking book "Pacific Crest Trials" and has hiked and run thousands of miles on trails, including the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim, both the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail, and the Tahoe Rim Trail. She is an outdoor consultant, author, hiking guide, and endurance athlete. Carly can (mostly) be found living in Golden, Colorado.

Here are a few tips from Carly on how she handles Fear out on the trail:

"My fear on trails when I’m hiking and running solo is one of my strongest assets. Let me explain. I used to think any and all fears related to my outdoor adventures were something I needed to overcome. When someone asked how my solo backpacking trip went, I wanted to tell them I slept peacefully under the stars - Rather than the reality which was I slept with one eye open convinced an animal would pounce on my tent. When I got back from a Saturday afternoon run, I wanted to tell friends it was 'totally chill,' instead of saying I kept looking over my shoulder every ten seconds. 

I wanted to be fearless.

I thought being fearless in the outdoors meant I could then fully enjoy being outside. That if I could just get rid of those nagging little fears in my brain, I could enjoy the outdoors how I thought it was meant to be enjoyed: Unafraid. So I tried very hard to push my thoughts away whenever they popped up while I wrestled my sleeping bag into my hiking pack or stuffed MEAL bars into my running vest. This would have worked perfectly, except for the fact that I kept getting hung up on one thing - What if I do believe there are things to be afraid of in the outdoors?

Does that mean I shouldn't go?

Because lemme tell ya, it takes a heck of a lot of energy to try and convince yourself there’s nothing to be afraid of on trail when you know full well there is plenty. That question of, does that mean I shouldn't go? This one I have chewed on for years, more so than any number of BOLT's I've consumed.


Thousands of miles of hiking and running on dirt paths, mostly solo, have landed me on this answer: Being fearless in my outdoor pursuits is quite frankly, dangerous. I want to bring my fear with me. I want to still go and have a great time, despite having fear. 

 

Here’s what I’ve learned about having fear on trail (especially solo), which has been a total game-changer for me:

Fear Doesn’t Go Away With Experience. It Shifts.

Last year I attempted a 223-mile hike/run on the Nüümü Poyo (John Muir Trail) in 3 days, which just happened to be the men’s Fastest Known Time. While the attempt didn’t go exactly as planned, one thing did: I was f****** scared.

When I stood at the base of Mt. Whitney at the start of the 72-hour attempt, I was scared of severe altitude issues such as HAPE and HACE. When I descended down the endless rocks of Glen Pass in the dark around mile 40-ish, I was afraid of rolling an ankle. Or both. Entering into woods around 12 am alone felt as if I were walking into a mountain lion’s den, which was utterly terrifying. When I started hearing voices at mile 60 going up Pinchot, I wanted to pee my pants. And I did, eventually (twice). By mile 110 I didn’t have fear but only because I was too exhausted to care anymore.

It’s not like the Nüümü Poyo was my first ever big attempt on a trail. I had already thru-hiked a couple of them, I’d covered 40+ miles per day for almost three weeks in the Washington and Oregon sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, and I’d run an out-and-back of the Grand Canyon. Despite all this experience, I still had fears. The difference was I now understood that it was healthy to be afraid and that it made complete sense. That there was no point in trying to push that fear away, because it was there for a reason (hint: because wandering alone in the middle of the night in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is scary AF!)

 

So when that question came up during all my training for the Nüümü Poyo, does that mean I shouldn’t go? I already understood something very key about fear: It shifts. My fears on the Appalachian Trail in 2013 involved being terrified of bears, camping alone, and asking for help setting up my tent.

But over time that fear changed. I became less preoccupied with the thought of seeing bears on the trail and more concerned about hypothermia (because seeing 500 bears and getting rained on every day for 5 months will do that to you). After a hairy encounter with some dogs on the Pacific Crest Trail, I became very afraid of dogs that are off-leash, a fear I face every day in Colorado. After the Grand Canyon run, I became fearful of all things Grand Canyon.

The more miles I gathered under my feet with each of these adventures, the more I noticed new fears coming up.

So Where Does That Leave Me? Prepared and Empowered

Having fear doesn’t mean I go into these attempts totally unprepared. Quite the opposite! Fear helps me determine where to put my attention and how to prep so that I can have a safe, enjoyable (type-2 fun) experience. After all, it’s not like I want fear to completely take over my experience. So I get prepared by taking action. What action, you ask? I gather data. I ask questions. I talk with people who have pursued similar attempts in the outdoors. For example, I watch virtual presentations on lightning awareness, figure out who gave that presentation, track them down on the internet, get their phone number and email, and eventually, connect with them so I can ask for further information. That type of action.

I educated myself on the symptoms to look out for in terms of HAPE and HACE before starting the Nüümü Poyo. I talked with doctors. I brought a Garmin inReach. I trained for 8 months. I hired a coach. From all my research and conversations, I now know the risks of a 223-mile unsupported attempt in 3 days, so I can make informed decisions about which gear to bring.

I also give myself permission when I’m on trail - permission not to chat with someone if I don’t feel like chatting. Permission to be “rude,” reminding myself I don’t owe anyone anything out there, not even a conversation.

 

If I told myself I was fearless, I wouldn’t take any of the above steps, which could put me in a position of being unprepared - and that is truly very dangerous. By admitting my fears to myself, I’ve learned a lot of helpful ways to stay safe out there. It’s also helped me talk through scenarios ahead of time, so that when I’m hallucinating people that aren’t there on the Nüümü Poyo, I still have that voice in my gut reminding me, ah yes, we knew this would happen. I can stay calm.


I now take all that energy I was previously using to push fears away and instead, put it towards knowing I’ve done everything in my power to have an enjoyable time on some dirt.
Taking specific action toward my fears doesn’t make the fear completely go away, it does one better - It empowers me. And if any of my fears did turn into a reality, it gives me options.

So when I’m packing up for the men’s unsupported FKT attempt again this year on the Nüümü Poyo, you can bet I’m bringing my fear with me."

 

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Running with Ed Charity Fundraiser

Running with Ed Charity Fundraiser

PROBAR is excited to have supported all of the runners participating in this milestone event!

Over $325,000 (and still counting) Raised for PCEF Programs Supporting Our Students, Educators, and Schools!

Almost 20 years ago PROBAR began making and selling delicious, on-the-go plant based food in Park City, UT.


PROBAR believes strongly in supporting our local community.

As Utah has the lowest per pupil spending in the country PROBAR has been a longstanding proud supporter of the Park City Education Foundation to help fund our schools.

If you would like to support Running With Ed, they are still accepting donations. Their proceeds go DIRECTLY to the public school classrooms, changing lives and opportunities for thousands of students.

 

Here is a recap from Park City Education Foundation:

"WHAT.A.DAY! We are on Cloud 9 here at the PCEF Office. If you were able to take part on race day or follow along on social media, you know why.
Picture perfect weather. Costumes, joyous smiles, huge hugs, memories made. Even a little running thrown in:)
Thanks to your support, we exceeded our wildest expectations for the day. We heard over and over again: IT'S SO GREAT TO BE BACK! Back with the start and awesome Finish Line celebration at the Fieldhouse. Back with the excellent exchanges in full party mode. Back to being one of Park City's favorite days of the year.
Thanks to you we were able to smash both our participant and our fundraising goals!

You know the cause is critical - supporting PCEF means supporting our students, educators and schools. If these past two years have shown us anything, it's that our educators and schools are essential for successful businesses, families, and communities.
One last thing. Save the date for May 20th, 2023 for next year's RWE. We've won Park City's Favorite Fundraiser eight years in a row - we plan to win it again this year and make it nine:)"

The PROBAR team was excited to be present once again, supplying runners with all of their favorite snacks. BOLT's and PEAK's during the event and some PROTEIN bars to help the finishers recover from their effort!

 

Q:
Park City is the wealthiest micropolitan area in the country – so why don’t its schools have the money they need?

A:
Because Utah has the lowest per-pupil education funding in the entire nation.
PLUS, 96% of Park City’s state-collected education tax dollars leave town to even things up around the state.

The good news:
PCEF supporters are changing that equation!

PCEF funds programs to ensure all Park City students (more than 20% are eligible for free-and-reduced lunch) have access to educational opportunities. Things like PCSD’s groundbreaking K-12 coding program; high-quality affordable preschool; and afterschool care that works for working parents.

And when you fundraise for PCEF’s Running with Ed, you can be eligible for uniquely Park City gifts, tickets, and swag – all donated by our incredible RWE sponsors!

If interested in donating to the PCEF, see this link here
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Hiking Tips

Hiking Tips

Spring is a beautiful time to go and explore mountains. Below are some of the best hiking tips from one of our avid users and outdoor adventurer, Brigid, on how she gets ready and puts in the work in the winter & spring to tackle big objectives, hikes and overnight trips over the summer.

Brigid has travelled the world, hiked the PCT, gone on countless backpacking adventures and has enjoyed the whole process!

 

The sun is out and the air is actually starting to feel warm again; that means it is time to get into shape for spring hiking! In order to avoid injury, it’s important to strengthen those hiking muscles along with increasing your cardio capacity. The following suggestions are methods that I personally use to get ready for spring/summer hiking.

Quad Strengthening – every time I brush my teeth I do either squats or wall sit. It is so simple, but that 2min twice daily really adds up! Remember, any strengthening workout should be supplemented with protein for a fast recovery!

Increase your backpack weight (slowly) – the backpack I bring with me on my after-work walks/hikes usually weighs around 10lbs. I’ll start adding extra water bottles in order to increase the weight – 500mL of water is approximately 1lb. By the end of spring I'm ready to carry 20-25lbs no problem.

Go for a bike ride – in order to prepare for lots of hiking, you want to work all the muscles without too much repetition or impact. Biking (stationary or road/mountain) is a great way to strengthen those leg muscles.

Hit the Hills – a great way to strengthen your muscles AND increase your cardio capabilities is to hike elevation. Try to find a trail or set of stairs that you can tackle, and slowly increase your backpack load.

In Bear country? Bring Bear spray and know how to use it. However, most of the time as long as you let the bears and other wild animals know where you are, they want nothing to do with you and they will get off the trail and let you pass. Your voice (not bear bells) is the best way to let them know that you are entering a forest, coming around a blind corner, hiking through dense bush, etc.

Slowly increase mileage – We manage to get our daily distance up to around 30km in the first week; the convenience of PROBAR MEAL Bars and BOLT helped us be more efficient on the trail! Too much too soon will lead to injury, be careful!

Follow Brigid and her next hiking trips here

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4 Tips To Help You Optimize Spring 🌼

4 Tips To Help You Optimize Spring 🌼

Are you ready for Spring? In anticipation of the coming warmth months and growth that comes with it, here are 4 tips to help you optimize this great time of year:

1: Get out of hibernation mode

Time to shake the dust off! We've all had a long winter of evenings filled with movies & hot tea or cocoa (with possibly a few too many PROBAR PEAKS) while sitting under a blanket. Now is a great time to get mentally prepared to be more active & involved

Set aside time to mindfully sit and make goals for what you want to accomplish this spring, and create sub-goals to use as benchmarks on your path to springtime success!


2: Plan to get active

After a long winter, going outside will feel great. Check up on local events, or trails, peaks or destinations you'd like to achieve!

By signing up for an event or sharing your goals, you’re more likely to feel accountable to other people to show up, and are therefore more likely to follow through on your exercise goals. It’s a win-win!

Don't forget to pack your favorite PROBAR snack for extra motivation. Some of our personal favorite for these first spring goals are PROBAR Bolts!

 

 

3: Start your garden

Those of you who garden probably don’t have to be reminded of this. For those with a green thumb, planning a vegetable or flower garden is a highlight of early spring, with all the fun of imagining how beautiful it will be, and how tasty the veggies will be! Those of you who have never tried gardening before – give it a shot!

Raising one or two tomato plants from seeds will give you a sense of accomplishment, you’ll get to know first-hand how delicious garden-fresh vegetables can be, and you’ll get a real sense of pride when you’re able to use the fruits of your labor (literally!) in your own salad or recipe.


4: Spring Cleaning

Many of us agree: cleaning is never fun. Many of us can also agree: having a clean place to live is great. Therefore we need to go through one to get the other. The best way to tackle spring cleaning is to just do it. Schedule a time for you and your roommates, partner, spouse, kids, and/or everyone else well in advance to power through it and get it done.


Be sure to put it on everyone’s calendar. Make up a chore list, split it up, and tackle it. Turn it into an event, complete with party music, fresh air, and peoples’ favorite snacks (PROBAR THINS are a great healthy & delicious motivator!) , and you’ll be done before you know it!

 

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Easy Plant-Based Recipes for Everyday Occasions

Easy Plant-Based Recipes for Everyday Occasions

Choose Chia! These tiny seeds are a nutrition powerhouse and a great option for a plant-based diet! Two tablespoons of chia seeds contain about 140 calories, 4 grams of protein, 11 grams of fiber, 7 grams of unsaturated fat, and 18% RDA for calcium. They are the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial for heart health and reducing inflammation. And chia seeds are a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids that cannot be made by the body (1).


The fiber in chia seeds is mainly soluble fiber and mucilage, the substance responsible for the gluey texture of moistened chia seeds. These fibers may help lower LDL cholesterol and slow down digestion, which can prevent blood sugar spikes after eating a meal, promote a feeling of fullness, and reduce symptoms of IBS-D (2,3).


Chia seeds have little to no flavor, which makes them incredibly versatile. These three chia pudding recipes are just a jumping off point; use your favorite non-dairy milk, swap out blueberries for strawberries, or maple syrup for honey. Try grinding the chia seeds before assembling the pudding to achieve a different texture. Play around with the recipes and toppings and make something that you love!

 

Chia Seed Pudding

 

 

Plant-Based Chia Pudding 3 Ways

Yield: 2 servings

Time: 5 minutes hands-on; 3-5 hours hands-off


Banana Chia Pudding

1 ripe banana, mashed

1 cup oat milk

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ½ teaspoons maple syrup

Pinch of kosher salt

3 tablespoons chia seeds


Mix all ingredients and let rest in the refrigerator for 3-5 hours, or overnight.

Shown topped with banana slices and chopped PROBAR PEAK Frosted Sea Salt Caramel.

 

 

 

Chocolate Chia Pudding

1 ½ cups oat milk

½ teaspoon vanilla vanilla extract

1 ½ teaspoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Pinch of kosher salt

⅓ cup chia seeds

Mix all ingredients and let rest in the refrigerator for 3-5 hours, or overnight.

Shown topped with shaved chocolate and crumbled PROBAR Thins Snack Crisps in Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.

 

 

Blueberry Chia Pudding

1 cup oat milk

⅓ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

1 ½ teaspoons maple syrup

Pinch of kosher salt

⅓ cup chia seeds


Add all ingredients, except chia seeds in a blender. Blend until smooth. Add chia seeds to the blueberry mixture and let rest in the refrigerator for 3-5 hours, or overnight. Shown topped with blueberries and chopped PROBAR Meal Bar in Blueberry Muffin.


Recipe from:

Sarah Kiel

SARAH KIEL, RD, @sarahkielrd

"I am a registered dietitian with 7 years of experience. I originally pursued the field of dietetics because I was frustrated by seemingly ever-changing nutrition recommendations and nutrition misinformation on social media. I also really love food. Whether it's researching, talking about, cooking, or just eating food, it's one of my favorite things to do!"



(1) Suri, S., Passi, J. S., Goyat, J. Chia Seed (Salvia Hispanica L.) – A New Age Functional Food. 4th International Conference on Recent Innovations in Science Engineering and Management. March 20, 2016.


(2) https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/chia-seeds/


(3) Bijkerk CJ, Muris JW, Knottnerus JA, Hoes AW, de Wit NJ. Systematic review: the role of different types of fibre in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004;19(3):245-251

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5 Ways to Overcome Anxiety

5 Ways to Overcome Anxiety

Ryan Light, a PROBAR user and avid runner, shares some active ways to help overcome anxiety. All of us at times have stressful days, days in which we don't feel like doing anything because the stress of day has wiped us out. However, many of us deal with stress and anxiety as a common occurrence in our life. 

This daily stress can lead to lifelong battles with disorders such as panic and anxiety. I was one of those individuals. The daily stress of work, family, bills, you know life, brought me to a breaking point in which the daily stress turned into anxiety and panic attacks.

This lasted for quite some times (years) until I made a decision to break the cycle and get out and start exercising. Once I got into a habit of daily exercising my anxiety and panic slowly faded, did it go away entirely? No! But it became manageable for me to enjoy life once again.

Below are some tips to break the cycle of stress and anxiety in your life.

Break a Sweat for Depression Relief

Could a trip to the gym be just what the therapist ordered? Exercise certainly isn’t a depression cure-all, but a study published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found that heart-pumping, endorphin-boosting workouts actually promote happiness.

Researchers say that more physically active people reported greater general feelings of excitement and enthusiasm than less-active people. And beyond its protective effect against feelings of depression, exercise may reduce stress and help you secure a better night’s sleep. That’s why your favorite fitness routine can be an excellent addition to your depression treatment plan. “Exercise stimulates the release of many of the brain chemicals thought to be in low supply when someone is battling depression,” explains David Muzina, MD, the founding director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Mood Disorders Treatment and Research.

1 - Set off That Runner's High

When it comes to workouts that fight depression, aerobic and cardio exercises have the edge. “To date, the strongest evidence seems to support aerobic exercise,” says Dr. Muzina. While the correct "dose" of depression-fighting exercise is up for debate, some experts recommend 20 to 30 minutes most days of the week.

A recent review of numerous scientific studies found no association between the intensity level of the exercise and its emotional benefit — so simply moving more is a great start. We LOVE to bring some PROBAR BOLT with us on our runs.

Ever heard of runner’s high? “The most tangible example of exercise stimulating certain brain chemicals is the runner’s high that many athletes report experiencing once crossing a certain threshold of exertion while running,” explains Muzina. That euphoria is due to the release of endorphins in the brain in response to the sustained physical activity.

“Endorphins are our body’s natural morphine and, when released by special glands in our brains, they can produce a sense of well-being or joy and also decrease pain levels."

2 - Build Your Muscles

Boost your strength, boost your happiness? A recent study of 45 stroke survivors with depression found that a 10-week strength training program helped reduced symptoms of depression (among numerous other benefits).

“Strength training is about mastery and control,” says Leslie Seppinni, PhD, a clinical psychologist and family therapist in Beverly Hills. “It requires full attention and concentration. More importantly, people can see the results, the outline of the muscles forming, from dedication and training.”

Just be sure to start slowly and use the assistance of a personal trainer if needed. A PROBAR PROTEIN is a great way to kickstart your recovery with over 20g of plant-based protein.

3 - Get Your Walk On

Simply putting one foot in front of the other may be the trick to feeling better — that’s because walking is an aerobic exercise that’s suited for almost everyone. All it takes is a pair of comfortable, supportive shoes, and you’re ready to go. “Practical wisdom suggests that doing something is better than doing nothing in terms of physical activity,” says Muzina. If depression has made you sedentary, start off slowly and gradually increase time and distance.

4 - Go Play Outside

If you enjoy being outdoors, even simple activities such as gardening, throwing a ball around with your kids, or washing your car may do you some good. That’s because a healthy dose of sunlight has been shown to boost mood, likely due to the fact that sunshine stimulates our serotonin levels (drops in serotonin during the darker, colder months have been linked to seasonal affective disorder, or SAD).

“Just moving your body inside or out is exercise,” says Shoshana Bennett, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of Postpartum Depression for Dummies. “Choose whatever works for you, depending on your functioning level, energy, and preferences.”

5 - Bounce!

Want something super-simple to break you out of a funk — at least temporarily? Be bouncey. “You don’t need to jump, but bend your knees and bounce as quickly as you can for a few minutes,” says Bennett. “This is an easy way to oxygenate your brain and get some endorphins flowing.”

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3 Everyday Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

3 Everyday Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Every year on Earth Day, social networks blow up with posts about conservation and what could be done differently to benefit the earth. 

This year we decided to share a few simple things that can be done throughout the year to reduce our impact on the environment.

Stop Junk Mail

One of the most impactful ways that you can help protect the environment is by limiting the amount of junk mail sent to you, as this generally goes straight in the trash.

Here are some startling facts from earthday.org that just might be enough to motivate you to take action and limit the amount of spammy mail that comes your way.

Green House Gas Emissions: Creating and shipping junk mail produces more greenhouse gas emissions than 9 million cars each year.

Wasted Water: About 28 billion gallons of water are wasted to produce and recycle junk mail each year.

Industry Issues: The pulp and paper industry is the single largest consumer of water used in industrial activities in developed countries, and it’s the third-largest industrial greenhouse gas emitter (after the chemical and steel industries).

Landfill Contributions: The average adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail each year and 44% of that mail goes directly to the landfill unopened.

    Earthday.org also links to the resources needed to get your name taken off of junk mail and sales lists so that you can stop receiving it altogether.  

    Start Composting  

    Did you know that creating your own composting system could decrease the amount of trash you create by up to 25%?

    The best part is that it doesn’t require anything other than the yard and kitchen scraps that would normally probably just end up in a landfill.

    Check out these 4 easy tips to creating your own composting system and learn how you can boost your garden and lawn with homemade compost in just a few weeks. 

    Eat Less Meat

    We aren’t just saying this because we’re a vegan company. Recent increases in meat consumption worldwide really have had huge effects on our environment. Concerned about getting enough protein? Our PROBAR PROTEIN bars pack 20g of plant-based protein!

    Raising livestock for human consumption requires feed, huge amounts of water, and adds massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the air that we breathe.

    The meat industry creates more greenhouse gases that the transportation industry as a whole!

    Here are a few examples of the impactful changes that not eating meat for just one day each week can have on the environment. If you:

    - Ate one less burger a week, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for 320 miles.

    - Skip meat and cheese one day a week with your family, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for five weeks – or reducing everyone’s daily showers by 3 minutes.

    - Skip steak once a week with your family, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for nearly three months.

    - And if the entire U.S. did not eat meat or cheese for just one day a week, it would be the equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road.

      And if that isn’t enough, not eating meat is just another excuse to enjoy one of many delicious PROBAR products.

      Let’s all vow to do our part to make a cleaner, greener and healthier earth for everyone!

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      The Perks of Being Outdoors in the Cold

      The Perks of Being Outdoors in the Cold

      Dominic Grossman, a PROBAR user and accomplished ultrarunner shares with us his best tips on how to embrace the winters!

      Every winter, the radiant, warm, Vitamin D boosting, benevolent, and wondrous sun retreats to a lower angle in the sky leaving us with shorter days and colder temperatures. It's no secret that less sunlight directly causes SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but that doesn't mean that you can't find way to combat it through creative outdoor activities and good cold weather gear.

      Below are the ways that I personally maximize my Vitamin D intake.

      Get a quiver of jackets workout gear & snacks. 

      Jackets come in all different varieties and qualities, and the best thing you can do is have one for every temperature range/precipitation condition. 

      A "3 oz" nylon jacket is a thin nylon jacket for working out in 35-50 degree calm weather - the best of these can pack up into a small ball for when it gets warm, are super light, and keep you warm but not too hot while you're exercising.
      A fleece jacket or softshell is a great mid layer/top layer if you want to have breathable warmth that doesn't get heavy with wet and provides good insulation.

      A waterproof shell jacket is a must when you need to get that workout in during miserable conditions because they feature a semi-permeable membrane on the inside that lets moist air our, and keeps heat in. Look for something in the 20,000+mm rating to dependably keep you dry. Remember though, membrane jackets only work if you're putting off heat - so if you're cold, you might need a simple $3 plastic poncho to keep water out.
      Not sure which snack you'll enjoy the most in the cold? Try the Starter Pack.

      Tights are a must to protect muscles, preferably a pair of regular lycra and also a softshell pair for the really cold days.

      The best baselayers are increasingly wool-poly hybrids, but if you can't get your hands on wool, a thin polyester shirt with high wicking qualities will do the trick.


          Get creative with your sport: find a way to take it outside
          Hike or drive to the top of a peak to practice yoga with a vista.

          Make weekend trips to sunny desert areas for Vitamin D boosts.

          Get out even on overcast days, as there still is sunlight percolating through the clouds.
          Use your lunch break to walk, read, or exercise and expose your skin to the maximum amount of sunlight (note, I am not telling you go completely nude or break any laws!)

          If you sport is more active in the summer, create a base plan to peak for summer performances.

          Stay healthy so you can still get outside!

          A humidifier helps prevent sore throats caused by heating systems drying out air and leaving throats raw. I use mine every night, and rarely get sore throats exercising in cold air.

          Get your rest, make sure any binge TV watching is limited by workouts and getting to bed in time for 8 hours of sleep.

          Eat your veggies! Your body might naturally crave more savory foods in the winter, but keep your plate green and colorful before you get to comfort foods. Also, eating veggies before carbs helps slow down the body from converting carbs to fat.

          Take a vitamin B12 supplement to keep energy levels up. I usually take a high potency pill every couple days to fight the urge to hibernate all winter.
          When your schedule gets hectic, keep healthy meal alternatives around like PROBAR MEAL Bars to get real nutrition and Omega Fatty Acids.

              Explore!

              Trail maps at your local outdoor recreation store should give you access to a previously unknown network of trails and natural resources in your surrounding area. If you live by mountains or forests (which many people surprisingly overlook on their way to work), you'll be pleasantly surprised to find some amazing trails hidden from plain sight.


              If you do usually hike, bike or run in the summer on trails, buy a pair of snowshoes or ski mountaineering/AT touring skis to cover more ground. Ask around at your local shop for tips about what gear works best in typical local conditions.


              Look up events like Hot Chocolate runs, trail races, obstacle course races, and outdoor group workouts.

              The internet has made it easier than ever to find "fight club" like groups that don't advertise extensively, but do offer group workouts or events that make it a little easier to get up early when there's a group of friends waiting to see your smiling face.

                Happy sweating!

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