Active Lifestyle? Easy Smartphone Protection With VOLO

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #activeprotection #CollectiveBias

I lead a very active lifestyle. Thankfully, I live in Miami where the weather is amazing year-round. I have choices when it comes to being active: I can be indoors at a gym, workout outside, swim/paddleboard at the beach or even running around the park chasing my kids. The options are endless. While working out, my only required item, other than a water bottle, is my phone. I use it to tell time, as a stopwatch and to listen to music. I use my phone alot and it needs amazing protection from the elements. I found this protection with a protective case from VOLO! 

My phone is always dirty and has been through a couple shattered screens. I know I am not the only one with these issues and so does VOLO. They have these really cool, manly cases, for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. The cases have a Sanitized® feature which hinders the groth of microbes for maximum protection. This is fantastic for a gym rat like me. My sweaty, dirty, chalk-filled hands will no longer be spreading germs on my phone!

VOLO cases are easy to order. You go online to www.VOLOcases.com, choose your phone type and then choose your color. My favorites for my Galaxy were the orange, grey and black. I like having a couple colors on hand to choose from.

I'm ready to go with protection on my smartphone. I'm ready for more early morning walks to the car adjusting my playlist for the gut-wrenching workouts awaiting me at the gym!!

Another thing: look how slim the cases are. The super slim design fits in pockets, purses and backpacks with ease. Reinforced corners provide added protection from drops and easy access to ports make these cases a perfect choice for protection!

Tell me: How do you keep your smartphone protected? 

5 Tips To Build Muscle

Diclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PowerinProtein #CollectiveBias

I've always been tall and skinny. It's been a struggle to gain weight, much less build muscle. I started working out in college and realized that working out and proper nutrition were the only ways for me to gain weight and muscle. Gaining weight for some is as difficult as losing weight is for others. Muscle weighs more than fat so the more muscle I can build, the more I will weigh. After many years of working out and successfully building muscle, I've learned that there are 5 basic tips to success.

1. Lift heavy weight with less reps. When I work my upper body (chests, arms, back) I lift heavy weight at low reps. I choose weights that I can only lift between 1-3 times. If I were to lift light weight with lots of reps, I would also gain muscle but I would tone. I want to bulk.

2. Sleep is important. Muscles need to rest, especially if you are shredding them with heavy weight. When I am working out to bulk (three months out of the year, the rest is training for competitions) I make sure to rest a full 24 hours between workouts and I sleep a minimum of 8 hours a night. 

3. Change your routine often. I change up my workouts various times a year. Sometimes, I take a couple weeks off the gym and just do simple at-home workouts. I don't let my muscles get used to one specific workout because then I would hit a wall and not see any gains. 

4. Eat! Eat! Eat! If you are skinny and want to bulk, you need to eat. I eat 4-5 full meals throughout the day. I burn alot of calories during my workouts and throughout the day so I eat about 4000 calories daily. I know it seems like alot of calories, but I went to see a nutritionist and we set up a bulking plan. It has worked and I am getting close to my goal weight of 195 lbs.

5. Have carbs after a workout. After a workout, your body needs to refuel quickly. I take a shake after my workouts. Shakes are the easiest way to get the carbs and protein your body needs quickly. I like the EAS Myoplex ready-to-drink shakes in Chocolate Fudge. These shakes are so convenient since they come ready-to-drink, just remove the top and refuel!

EAS Myoplex products:

-are a great source of protein

-deliver the protein and nutrients to help your body rebuild

-can help anyone looking to build muscle or maintain existing muscle tone

-is good, complete nutrition

-contain good for you nutrients 

-can help reach and maintain muscle building goals when combined with an active lifestyle

EAS Myoplex RTD's are available in the Sports Nutrition aisle at your local Walmart. They come in delicious flavors: Chocolate Fudge, French Vanilla, Strawberry Cream, Rich Dark Chocolate, Cookies & Cream.

Do you struggle with building muscle? What are some tips you have picked up along the way?