Monthly Archives: March 2017

Going Reviews, Parenting, Promo

Riding Without Training Wheels: The WOOM 2 Transition

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Teaching your kid to ride a bike without training wheels may seem like a daunting task. But, if they’re used to riding a balance bike like the WOOM 1 from WOOM Bikes, it can be done in less than a week.

Not long after I announced we were getting a WOOM 2 Pedal Bike to transition from the WOOM 1 Balance Bike, the much anticipated two-wheeler arrived. Avery diligently “helped” Daddy open the box and get her Big Rocket ready to ride. Luckily, WOOM makes setup easy so your kiddo can hop on and ride pose for a cute pic.

woom bikes, balance bike, pedal bike, no training wheels, training wheels, riding bike, kids

For those wondering, yes, she quickly accrued 10 miles on the WOOM 1 to earn her new bike. Actually, it took less than a week to get there. Okay, okay, I admit that’s not much of a goal to earn a nice new bike like the WOOM 2, but hey, I wanted to see our girl pedaling for the first time! I imagined her hopping on and pedaling on the first try while she cried out in joy as she took off.

So much for my imagination.

After a few more attempts, it was clearly not happening on the first day. Knowing not to push her too hard which will easily ruin a kids’ experience, we called it quits for the day. Before getting on the bike that day, her enthusiasm for her new pedal bike was through the roof, but afterward, she was telling me she was all done with it and i could give it back. Ummm, sorry, dear, that’s not quite how it works.

The next day, after an encouraging talk and promises from daddy that I will be right there to hold on to her, she agreed to give it another go. Little did she know, I was going to suddenly let go as she was moving along. I wasn’t sure how it would turn, but it sounded like a good idea to this wise dad. But was it?

A post shared by RC Liley (@going_dad) on

YES! On the second day of riding, unsure if my “just let go” plan would prove successful, Going Mom and I had a pedaling toddler on our hands! You could see and hear the confidence radiating from our little girl.

It’s always bittersweet watching your little one learn and grow, but this definitely goes down in the super proud dad history book. Avery has been riding great all by herself since that day and can even hang with the older bike riding boys in the neighborhood. When asked if they want to ride, I’d say their actions are all that’s needed.

She kept up well on her WOOM 1 Balance Bike, but now she can really hang with the more experienced friends. She’s also learning how to share her pride and joy, “Big Rocket” (the balance bike is now “Little Rocket”, obviously), with her friends.

The WOOM 2 is parent, Avery, and friend approved!

We’ve been watching her ride for a couple weeks now and while she’s getting better, there are still areas that need work. Thanks to the freewheeling kit offered by WOOM, she’s quickly learned to use her hand brakes, but every now and then she’ll shoot her legs out to stop with her feet as if on a balance bike. Another issue is getting her kickstand up/down.

It’s a daily struggle, but I refuse to help in hopes that she’ll eventually catch on. I know she will, but until then, it’s painful to watch. As frustrating as it is, she surprisingly accepts that she should do it on her own, and knows a nice bike deserves to be properly…errr, propped and not just laid on its side. Always respect your belongings, another great lesson.

Riding straight and not wobbling all over the sidewalk is another big area to work on. We have to remind her to look where she’s going and not get distracted, but any parent that has or had toddlers knows how that goes.

I’ll share more as her transition continues, hopefully with a better braker that can ride in a straight line! No matter what, everyone is in awe that she picked up riding her pedal bike so quickly and never needing training wheels. We tell her how proud we are each and every day.

Any tips on continued training on a pedal bike?

Care to share any stories of your own?

Going Healthy, Going Reviews

Legion Genesis Greens Superfood Review + Healthy Recipe

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The supplement market is saturated with products promising a wide variety of health supporting nutrients in a convenient capsule or as a powder. Searching for a good brand with quality ingredients that actually do as the bold words on the bottle claim is stressful. Luckily, Legion Genesis delivers a powerful greens superfood punch and has the research to back it up.

As Legion says, there are two major reasons why most greens products fail on their promises:

Legion Athletics Genesis_Other Greens Don't Work

Legion Athletics provides a host of supplements for men and women wanting to perform at their best every day. They are committed to providing products with high quality, healthy ingredients at clinically effective doses backed by published research. This is what makes Legion’s Genesis Greens Superfood stand out among the rest.

A photo posted by RC Liley (@going_dad) on

I take many supplements each day. Some in powder form, some as capsules, and some as a liquid extracts. They all serve a purpose in helping me think, feel, and perform better, but it gets overwhelming trying to keep up with taking each one separately, not to mention time consuming by having to measure out each dose.

greens supplement superfood

With Genesis, most of the supplements I take are inside, and Legion did all the work for me by providing each ingredient at clinically effective dosages backed by research.

Legion Athletics Genesis Supplement Facts

When I was given the opportunity to review their greens supplement, I jumped at the chance to try their product. Not only would it save lots of time from measuring, I already know how Legion uses only the best ingredients and cares about what they put into every product they create.

Here’s a list of key benefits taken directly from Legion’s site:

Legion Athletics Genesis Supplement Benefits List

Genesis is geared towards active individuals, but even if you’re just getting started in living a healthier, active lifestyle, this superfood alone will help get you going and stay on the right path. Here are the main players in Genesis that give this powder such potency. Provided from their site.

Spirulina

Research shows that supplementation with spirulina…

  • Improves the cholesterol profile [52]
  • Increases muscle endurance [53]
  • Helps control allergies [54]
  • Reduces muscle damage caused by exercise [55]
  • Helps the body eliminate heavy metals [56]
  • Lowers blood pressure [57]
  • Helps protect liver health [58]
  • Reduces systemic inflammation [59]
  • Improves insulin sensitivity [60]

The clinically effective dosage of spirulina ranges between 2 and 10 grams.

GENESIS CONTAINS 5 GRAMS OF SPIRULINA PER SERVING

Astragalus Membranaceus

Research shows that supplementation with astragalus membranaceus…

There’s also animal research suggesting that astragalus promotes longevity, but this has yet to be explored in human studies. [69]

GENESIS CONTAINS 3 GRAMS OF ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS PER SERVING, PROVIDING 9 MILLIGRAMS OF ASTRAGALOSIDE IV

Moringa Oleifera

Research shows that supplementation with moringa…

  • Helps protect heart health [71]
  • Reduces blood pressure [72][73]
  • Mitigates DNA damage [74]
  • May have anti-cancer benefits [75]

The clinically effective dosage of moringa ranges between 500 and 2,000 milligrams of the leaf.

GENESIS CONTAINS 1 GRAM OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF PER SERVING

Maca

Research shows that supplementation with maca…

  • Improves subjective sense of well-being [76]
  • Improves sexual function in men and women [77]
  • Improves sperm production and health [78]
  • Improves libido in men and women [79][80]
  • Helps preserve joint health [81]
  • Can reduce feelings of anxiety and nonclinical depression [82]

The clinically effective dosage of maca extract ranges between 1 and 3 grams.

GENESIS CONTAINS 1.5 GRAMS OF MACA EXTRACT PER SERVING

Broccoli Sprout

Research shows that sulforaphane is a promising anti-cancer nutrient and is also known to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. [85]

The clinically effective dosage of broccoli sprout depends on how much sulforaphane it provides, and the clinically effective dosage of sulforaphane is 1 to 9 milligrams.

GENESIS CONTAINS 500 MILLIGRAMS OF BROCCOLI SPROUT PER SERVING

But what about the taste? Something dark green with all of those healthy supplements must taste bad, right?

Nope. With the use of only stevia and erythritol as natural sweeteners and nothing artificial or full of fillers, the taste is quite pleasant. I just used water to mix my dose each day and could easily sip and enjoy the drink. If mixing with almond milk or in a smoothie, I bet it would be even better.

So it tastes good, but does it work?

Yes! I just returned from a week long family vacation and had no desire to lug my entire stack of supplements. Instead, I chose to bring Genesis to take at the start of each day. I’d drink a serving in water every morning on an empty stomach and could feel the smooth stream of energy, health and mood-boosting benefits throughout the day. Mixing is easy with no clumping in a shaker bottle. I mixed with a fork and had a few clumps, but since it tastes good, I didn’t mind.

As a guy who prefers to cook his own food, I had limited resources which meant I was eating less than usual. Being at the beach and a lover of all things active, I wasn’t just lounging around, I was fighting the waves, playing in the sand and water with my daughter, walking all over the area, and kayaking. I attribute my ability to maintain healthy energy levels and recover properly to do it all again to Genesis.

Legion Genesis_Perform Better

Playing with my daughter is extremely important to me, and my confidence in this supplement has been won for helping me perform at my best.

Standing with Avery in Ocean_Back

Even on the plane trip there and back, I was fasting until I could get to some real food, but Genesis kept me functioning at healthy levels. Without having water, I simply put the powder directly in my mouth and was amazed at how good it tasted like that. Imagine Pixie Sticks flavor, but in superfood form.

Now that we’re back home, I’m still taking Genesis every day and not touching my giant stack of supplements. I’m sure I’ll get back to them again, but why spend so much time when Legion has just what I want at the doses proven to work?

I’ve been completely satisfied with this greens superfood supplement and honestly can’t find anything bad to point out. Some people may not like the flavor, but I find it pleasing and could even eat it as a treat. I’ve used other healthy greens supplements and can say firsthand, they are not as pleasant.

Legion’s Genesis gives anyone that’s active or looking to become active what they need to get going. As a parent, I couldn’t recommend this enough to keep you performing at your best for you little ones. Life is too short not to get down and play with your family, so make sure you are living and leading the healthy life you want your loved ones to follow.

Legion Genesis_Be All That You Can Be

Update: I wanted a way to have a healthy, family-friendly snack that’s full of high quality protein and immune boosting superfoods, so I used Legion’s Genesis and their Whey+ Protein Powder to make a delicious bread sure to please the palate and fuel your body right.

Legion Genesis Green Superfood Protein Bread

by RC Liley

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 40

Ingredients (1 9×5 Loaf)

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup protein powder (I used Legion Whey+ Vanilla Protein)
  • 1/4 cup Legion Genesis Green Superfood
  • 1.5 tsp aluminum free baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 12 drops vanilla or regular liquid stevia (or use 3 – 4 stevia packets or 1/8th pure stevia powder)
  • 1 overripe banana, mashed
  • 1/3 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 whole eggs or 1/4 cup egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Grease a 9×5 loaf pan making sure to get all the up the sides and corners. I used coconut oil.

Preheat oven to 350 F

Add all ingredients and blend until smooth.

Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake in the middle of the rack for 40 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool completely to room temp. This allows the bread to retract from the sides as it cools which makes it MUCH easier to remove.

Go around the sides with a thin rubber spatula or butter knife and turn upside down to remove from loaf pan.

Slice as thick or thin as you’d like and enjoy your healthy bread plain or with a pat of grass-fed butter. Better yet, smother it in NuttZo!

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Check out Legion on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up to date on their latests supplements and promotions.

Disclaimer: I received Legion Genesis free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own, and I truly love everything this company offers. Promise! 🙂 This post also contains affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission. Thank you in advance if you do so. 🙂

Going Reviews, Life, Parenting

Balance Bike to Pedals: Making Room for the Next WOOM

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For over a year, Avery has been riding her WOOM 1 Balance Bike (aka Rocket) as her number one choice for getting around the neighborhood.  As expected, it was a bit of a slow start as she got used to riding on two wheels. She’s never had or used training wheels, so you can only expect it to take some time. Here she is on her first riding session….

balance bike, kids, bike riding, learning, no training wheels

Surprisingly, she caught on fast as noted by her increase in speed and confidence in weaving left and right. She’s even displayed her skills at the local skate park.

Maybe it’s a biased parent thing, but I’d say she’s pretty good with her WOOM Balance Bike. Of course she still has her falls, usually from something like a construction truck catching her eye while she’s riding, but overall, watching her on the WOOM has give us nothing short of numerous #ProudParent moments. Including things like conquering a steep downslope even though she fell a few times before that.

I give some credit to using the song “Get Back Up Again” from the Trolls soundtrack. Her WOOM balance bike has even helped her learn how to share and get along with friends.

Any parent probably thinks about how their child develops socially, especially one that stays home with their kid instead of taking them to daycare/school, so seeing this puts a giant grin on my face! Now it’s time for the next step up in learning to ride a bike….pedals!

As fans of WOOM Bikes in our house, the choice for her next, pedaled, bike, is the WOOM 2. The super generous folks at the WOOM Bikes USA headquarters in Austin, TX happened to enjoy my posts with Avery riding their top-of-line balance bike and have agreed to send her a WOOM 2 to ride!

balance bike, kids, bike riding, learning, no training wheels, WOOM, balance bike, training wheels, pedals

WOOM Bikes has provided the WOOM 2 and accessories free of charge in exchange for my documentation of the transition from a balance bike to a pedaled bike. The plan is never relying on training wheels along the way, but some of her friends do have bikes with training wheels that she will ride as a part of them sharing so well.

I’d like to eventually have a weekly gathering of kids to ride their bikes in a safe place as parents join to encourage keeping active, sharing, and having fun. Hopefully we’ll be able to pry Avery off her new ride to share with other friends if they happen to want to test it out. At first, Daddy will be lucky to ride!

But before we give her the Rocket replacement, she has to earn it. Since we don’t want her thinking she just gets nice things for no reason, she must ride 10 miles on her WOOM 1 and maintain good control while doing so. Negative miles for times when she misbehaves. She’s almost at 5 miles as I write this, and so far we have a sweet kid besides the “freebie” upsets no toddler can escape.

I’m excited to start this journey to riding a pedaled bike, and extremely grateful to WOOM for allowing me the opportunity to share their high quality bikes for kids. My blogging time has gone down dramatically as I focus more on my family and playing with Avery, but keep an eye out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in between my posts to see how Avery is doing with her WOOM 2.

This one will be purple, any suggestions on a new nickname?