Phizziology

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Better Sleep for Shorter Days

Shorter days & higher stress can mean trouble sleeping. Luckily, Phizz friend, lifestyle coach & personal trainer Robbie Thompson has some tricks to help you unlock a major key of wellbeing- a great night of sleep. Here is his advice for getting ahead this autumn. One of the simplest and most effective things you can do to upgrade how you look, feel and perform is to improve your sleep.  Sleep is literally the magic pill that everyone is looking for, yet we fail to utilise it and worse still, we actually deprive ourselves of it. Ideally, we should all be aiming for 7-9 hours of restful sleep per night. Of course, some don’t have control over sleep schedules due to young children or shift work, but many of us could get more sleep but instead choose to watch another episode on Netflix. Here’s a scary quote from sleep guru Matthew Walker, “The shorter you sleep, the shorter your life.” Getting insufficient sleep for prolonged periods of time can have serious implications for your health. But equally, there are endless benefit if you can improve the quality of your sleep including improved memory, enhanced creativity, increased strength and fitness, reduced body fat, strengthened immune system, increased life expectancy, improved mood and ability to handle stress. Here are 5 simple tips to improve your sleep: Reduce your caffeine intake after middayCaffeine is a fantastic stimulant. That cup of coffee isn’t just delicious, it’s a great way of getting you fired up to take on the day.But caffeine has what is called a “half-life” of up to 5-7 hours. This means that if you have a strong coffee at 4 p.m., you may still feel the effects of half of the coffee’s caffeine content at 11 p.m.To avoid the risk of affecting your sleep, simply limit your caffeine intake after midday and instead choose water, soft drinks or herbals teas. Have a routineSticking to a set pattern of going to bed and waking will mean that you find it easier to both fall asleep and wake up. This applies to weekends too!By having late nights and lie-ins at weekends, you’re throwing your sleep pattern off every week. This means that come Sunday night, you can’t get to sleep, and on Monday morning, you can’t get up. You’re basically jet lagging yourself.Instead, try to keep to a similar routine both throughout the week and at weekends too so your body knows when it’s time to wind down and when it’s time to start the day. Dim the lightsBright lights in the evening are effectively blocking all the signals telling your body it’s time to wind down for bed. Instead, try to use lamps and candles to create a calm, relaxing environment to help you begin to feel sleepy. Do a brain dumpIf you have a lot on your mind with work or life in general, the moment your head hits the pillow can be when these thoughts start flying around.Before bed, take a piece of paper and write down everything that’s on your mind. The tasks you need to follow up tomorrow, the person you forgot to call- get it all written down.You’ll be able to get to sleep more easily knowing the to do list is out of your head and you have it written down. Plus, you now have a plan for the next day.It’s also worth keeping a pad and pen by your bed in case you wake up with something on your mind. You can simply note it down and go back to sleep. Get your phone out of your bedroomThat addictive device of yours that lights up and flashes all day with notifications is extremely stimulating. You don’t want or need this whilst you’re trying to sleep.If it’s right next to your bed, you’ll be subconsciously thinking about it and reaching for it more than you should or scrolling through it before you go to sleep when you should be winding down and switching off. Or worse, checking it during the night.Get it out of your room so that you aren’t able to do any of this. And trust me, this will be game changing for not just your sleep but your general wellbeing.You’ll go to bed and wake up feeling calmer and more in control. Give these 5 simple tips a try to improve your sleep and see what a huge impact they can make on how you look, feel and perform.  Robbie is a personal trainer and lifestyle coach based in the U.K. but works with clients all over the world. His techniques go beyond helping his clients look great, and extend to performance, mindset, motivation and lifestyle. Robbie has been a coach since 2008 and has worked with hundreds of clients including celebrities, actresses and TV presenters. He contributed workouts and fitness content for Vicky Pattison’s hugely successful book, “The Real Me.” To hear more from Robbie, follow him on Instagram @robbie__thompson or check out his website www.robbie-thompson.com.

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Brain Food to Power Your Work Day

We all know the importance of a good diet when it comes to seeing results in the gym, but did you know that diet can also have an impact on your performance in the office? We turned to nutritional therapist Alicia Cooper for some insight. Cooper is also the owner & curator of Lifebox Food, the leading health & wellbeing subscription box in the U.K. (where you may have recently spotted Phizz!).  Cooper notes that the food you choose to eat throughout the day has an impact on your energy levels, mood, concentration and productivity, primarily through your blood sugar. “Too much sugar and you'll have an energy high, but what comes up must come down and that's when you have a slump,” says Cooper.  We’ve rounded up some of her best office eating advice, take a look below:  Eat three balanced meals a day (yes, you should eat breakfast). This keeps your blood sugar stable and the “hanger” at bay while you tackle your to-do list. Each of these meals should include protein, healthy fats and complex carbs. Opt out of carb-heavy or meat-rich options during the day. These meals can lead to mid-afternoon sleepiness, as your body needs more energy to digest them. These are better saved for dinner! Limit your caffeine. We know you love your coffee and tea rituals to break up the day, but try to keep it to one or two per day. Caffeine can really mess with energy levels. Set yourself a water goal every day, 2 litres should be the minimum. Keep a water bottle on your desk and options like Phizz can help you cut the bad stuff from fizzy drinks while maximising your water absorption. Avoid processed foods, they are only a short-term energy boost. We know it’s easy to grab some fast food on your lunch break, but the payoff is low. Better options include bananas, apples, oats, houmous, eggs, sweet potatoes, almonds, edamame, natural yoghurt and roasted seeds.  Want to learn more? Get to know Alicia on her website at www.acoopernutrition.co.uk or follow her on Instagram @aliciacoopernutrition. To subscribe and experience all the goodness of Lifebox yourself, visit www.lifeboxfood.com or follow @lifeboxfoodco.  

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Cool Running

Autumn means cooler weather and darker mornings. While it shouldn’t stop you from getting out for your daily run, there are some things you might want to know before heading out the door. We caught up with RunThrough events coaching partner, former international athlete and founder of New Levels Coaching, Lewis Moses, to get answers to our biggest questions on how to keep running (safely) as the thermostat dips.  Do you advise bundling up for a run in the cold? The short and very easy answer to this is yes, absolutely. During winter months, it's important to wrap up in warmer clothes and my theory is always that you can easily take off layers, but you can't put them on if you don't have them. Scientifically, evidence is mixed in relation to warm up and warming the body up for exercise, but one thing is clear, certain structures in the body, particularly tendons and muscles, prefer to be warmer, so going out cold or in freezing conditions can be a bit of an injury risk. The main thing in the winter is to STAY SAFE. Make sure you are wrapped up, you have reflective gear on and people know where you are going. The dark mornings and nights can be dangerous for runners and we need to be extra careful in winter months.  Should the change in temperature impact the pace your running? Most definitely. We have seen many examples of the negative effects the heat can have on athletes when they push too hard in warmer temperatures. When you run, your body is constantly working to regulate your core body temperature (hence why we sweat a lot in the heat) and running too hard in the heat, will make this a lot harder. The body is also working hard in cooler temperatures. In the winter, it can often feel hard to breathe, especially when setting off. Therefore I always recommend athletes 'easing' into sessions or runs to allow the body time to adjust to the colder temperatures. Naturally, as you warm up, you will feel better and you can pick the pace up. When it's extremely cold outside, you should also be careful, especially when cornering on potentially slippery ground. This could also affect your pace, but it's more important to be safe than fast! Are there things you can do to help the body adjust before going out? I believe this comes down to the individual and finding out what works for them. Personally, I recommend stretching and mobility work before leaving the house, so that you feel like you have gotten the body and the joints more mobile. People may feel like a hot drink warms them up, which technically it will, but then to regulate the body temperature the body will sweat to cool you down again, so that really does come down to preference. One thing my wife does, which is a great trick if you suffer from something such as Raynaud's disease, is put hand warmers underneath your gloves when it's really cold. She figured this out when skiing one winter and now does the same at the start of very cold runs in the winter. Do you advise running with a buddy if you find it hard to stay motivated? Yes 100%! Meeting someone can help you stay accountable and give you the motivation to get out of bed and see the other side of the door. More importantly though, it's great for mental health to be sociable and be speaking to other people, not to mention the safety factor of running with other people. When darker mornings and nights do set it, we always recommend running with people when you can. Right now, we obviously have to be aware of the government guidelines and we should always adhere to these, but I would strongly recommend running with someone whether it be in the summer or winter months. Interested in hearing more of Lewis’ excellent advice? We’ve got the connection. Lewis and his team and New Levels Coaching strive to help runners and triathletes find their true potential by working with individually to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. You can reach them via their website www.newlevelscoaching.co.uk or Instagram @newlevelscoaching. And if you’re looking to get involved in some virtual races, check out our friends RunThrough at www.runthrough.co.uk or @runthroughuk.  

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Cosy & Healthy Recipes for Autumn

While you’re curled up at home this autumn, comforting and warming meals are exactly what you crave, but those cosy dishes can actual be the fuel your body needs to power workouts.  We’ve sourced some simple (and delicious!) recipes from our friends & founders of RugbyGrub, Harry Elrington & Theo Brophy Clews. These two are professional rugby players with a passion for combining good food with great performance, all while keeping it simple and affordable. They’ve got the ultimate breakfast with their RugbyGrub Fluffy Pancakes and a crowd-pleasing dinner with their Ultimate Fajitas. We know you’re getting hungry, so here are the recipes: RugbyGrub Fluffy Pancakes Makes: 6 pancakes Difficulty: Easy Ready In: 20 minutes Nutrition Information (per 3 pancakes) KCal: 559 Protein: 26 grams Carbs: 87 grams Fat: 11 grams Ingredients: 200 grams plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt 500 grams milk 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla essence ½ teaspoon cinnamon Directions: Add the flour, baking powder and salt to a larger mixing bowl and combine. Separate the whites from the yolks and whisk until firm and fluffy with an electric whisk or an energetic arm. Add the yolks to the milk and whisk. Slowly whisk into the flour mix until you have a smooth batter. Add in the vanilla essence and cinnamon and mix in. Finally, lightly fold the egg whites into mixture until fully combined. Cook the pancakes how you normally would, waiting for bubbles to come through before flipping. Note: To up the protein content, swap 30 grams of flour for a scoop of vanilla whey protein.   Ultimate Fajitas Makes: 6 wraps Difficulty: Easy Ready In: 15 minutes Nutrition Information (per wrap with no toppings): KCal: 321 Protein: 19 grams Carbs: 35 grams Fat: 11 grams  Ingredients: 400 grams chicken thigh fillets 1 red pepper 1 red onion 3 garlic cloves 4 spring onions 30 grams chorizo 2 teaspoons cumin 2 teaspoons paprika 2 teaspoons vegetable stock powder (Vegetta/bouillon) 2 teaspoons oregano 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper Directions: Chop the chicken into strips and mix with the seasonings and a little bit of oil. Add to a preheated frying pan on high heat. Whilst the chicken starts to brown, chop you veg. Once the chicken is browned on all sides, add in the red onion, pepper and garlic and cook until the veg is soft and the chicken is cooked through. Once cooked, stir the spring onion in so it stays nice and crunchy. Serve with tortilla wraps, cheese, guacamole, spinach or anything you want really (we’re not going to stop you!). Note: This is where you can customise the dish to your needs. Need lots of carbs to fuel your training? Have more wraps. Need more calories to help achieve a calorie surplus? Add more cheese and guac. Need to increase your micronutrient intake? Use lots of spinach. This is the beauty of fajitas- they are completely customisable! For more easy-to-follow (and genius!) nutrition tips like these, follow along with the guys on Instagram @rugbygrub or check out their website at www.rugbygrub.com.  

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Cricket West Indies Names Phizz as Official Hydration Partner

Cricket is back and we’ve got even more good news! Phizz is proud to be named as the Official Hydration Partner to Cricket West Indies. The partnership launched on the pitch on 8th July 2020 in the team’s highly anticipated first test of the delayed 2020 season. The Phizz formula was designed with elite athletes like the Windies in mind. Phizz is scientifically designed to be the most comprehensive formula of hydration, vitamins and minerals out there. It was created as a hydration amplifier, ensuring players rapidly absorb 2-3 times more than drinking water alone, while also replenishing the main electrolytes lost in sweat. This makes Phizz perfect for supporting players through hot days on the pitch and long days of travel. “Player nutrition and hydration is key in supporting performance, recovery and immune systems under stress from training and travel,” said Dr. Oba Gulston, CWI’s Sports Science and Medicine Manager. “We are pleased to bring Phizz on board. We feel that Phizz provides the ideal blend of hydration, essential vitamins, minerals and electrolytes to support our athletes.” “We are excited to have Phizz on board to support our athletes on the pitch and on the road as one of our technical partners,” said Dominic Warne, Commercial and Marketing Director for CWI. “This great addition to our family of technical partnerships brings genuine benefits for our teams’ preparation and performance development.”  "Phizz is proud to have been chosen to supply a legendary club such as West Indies Cricket," said Yasmin Badiani, Phizz Head of Sport. "This is a big moment for our growing company, and we are looking forward to working closely with the team on this partnership.” Phizz supplies more than 60 professional sports clubs as well airlines, gyms and 5-star hotels around the world.

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Healthy Fuel for the Festive Season

The holiday season is notorious for being the busiest time of the year with endless to-do lists and never quite enough time. This year will likely look a bit different, but whether you’re Christmas shopping online or decking the halls of your home, we’ve got some tips to help you get the most energy from your food.  Alfie Meade, a nutritionist at HIIT Kitchen, Phizz’s newest stockist, shared some healthy meals to help you power through your festive agenda. And there’s no prep necessary! HIIT Kitchen’s meal delivery service will drop these energy boosters straight to your door. Here’s what he recommends: The primary role of dietary carbohydrates is to provide energy for the body. Our gluten-free sweet potato pancakes with blueberries, raspberries, yoghurt & coconut are an easy winner when it comes to a high source of carbohydrates to keep you fuelled for your home workouts or tree trimming!  Protein is responsible for many functions throughout the body including energy production, cell signalling and nutrient transport. For these reasons and many more, protein is an essential dietary nutrient for healthy living. When it comes to a tasty, wholesome high-protein meal our chicken korma with cauliflower rice and tandoori broccoli certainly tops it.  Dietary fat is essential for survival and has many important functions in human bodies as a major source of energy, metabolising fat-soluble vitamins, and providing heat insulation for the body. Choose healthy fats like the salmon in our pink grapefruit, white miso-glazed salmon with spicy udon noodles & crunchy Thai slaw. Looking to try some of these yourself? We’ve got a special discount code to celebrate our launch on the HIIT Kitchen site. Use code PHIZZ25 at checkout for 25% off your meal order.

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

How to Thrive in the Chaos of 2020

As the end of the year approaches, we are reflecting back on the chaos of an unforgettable year and looking hopefully (and perhaps somewhat warily) to the months ahead. No matter what 2021 brings, it is possible to not just survive, but to thrive, with the aid of a few adjustments in perspective, courtesy of our friend, Sana Govender. Sana is an organisational & behavioural psychologist and performance coach driven by unlocking human potential and the capacity we have to achieve great things, making him just the man to turn to for some wise words. Here is his advice for taking on whatever the world throws at you.  So, 2020 has been one heck of a year. One that has brought with it a crazy amount of good, bad and chaotic experiences but also a huge amount of clarity. It has forced us to reassess our priorities, our paths, our goals and our lives in general. It has shown us that automatic living has no place in our lives and for us to live as healthy, happy and efficiently as possible, conscious action is required instead of passive acceptance. However, chaos is something we are well acquainted with because the world we live in is one of chaos. Our individual brains are processing and organising that chaos as best as is possible, trying very hard to bring structure to that chaos and forming your life as you know it.  With that said, I want you to think about life as the open ocean, wild, untamed, unpredictable and purely fluid in movement. Now I want you to think of a pool, whether naturally formed or man-made. The idea of the pool is to tame the water, bring clarity to its fluidity and structure to its chaos, making the pool safer and easier to swim in, with a more enjoyable experience.  Without conscious effort and a plan, it is quite difficult to get the most out of life normally, without taking into account the current Covid climate we find ourselves in. However, the good news is, there are quite a few things we can think about and implement in our lives to help us not only bring structure to chaos but also thrive in it. Here are my five pillars for thriving in chaos: Bounceback: Bouceback is your ability to rebound from physical, mental or emotional setback, perceived failure or crisis and return to pre-crisis state. How do I build it? Celebrate the small wins. No matter how small, make an effort to really appreciate them and condition yourself to start seeing more positive outcomes in life. Create reference points. You are a walking, talking embodiment of resilience. Always remember that. Whatever adversity you have gone through, create a reference point for future adversity. Adopt the ‘I did it before, I can do it again’ mindset. Face your fears. Whatever the fear, to overcome it you have to expose yourself to it, little by little. To build bounceback, you have to slowly dip your toe into the waters and normalise your fears. Change the narrative and reframe. If you encounter tough situations, try to reframe that situation. Look for growth opportunities and ways to shift the overall outcome from negative to positive. Be realistic. When setting targets, goals and aspirations, try to be ambitious but realistic. If you overstretch your current abilities, you may be setting yourself up for failure and negative reinforcement.  Emotional Intelligence: Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. How does it help me? Self-awareness. You recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior. You know your strengths and weaknesses and have self-confidence. Self-management. You’re able to control impulsive feelings and behaviours, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments and adapt to changing circumstances. Social awareness. You have empathy. You understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, pick up on emotional cues, feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power dynamics in a group or organization. Relationship management. You know how to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team and manage conflict How do I build it?     Observe how you react to people. Examine how you react in situations. Realise, identify and review. Examine how your actions could affect others before taking action. Examine how various life environments make you feel. Take responsibility for your actions. Habits: A habit is a routine of behaviour that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. It is more or less a fixed way of thinking or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience. How do I build good habits? Look for cues that trigger a habit. Identify your routine. What do you usually do when presented with this specific cue? What would you like to change? Reward better choices. Provide positive reinforcement for a desired behavior, making it more likely that you will produce that behavior again in the future, thus building a good habit!  Belief System: Contrary to popular belief, believing in yourself is a necessary and very powerful ability to have. This is your belief in your own ability to take on new tasks and experiences and complete them. It is your belief in your own self-image. How do I build it? Look to understand your current belief system and whether or not it is serving you in a positive way. If not, ask yourself: are those negative beliefs backed by fact? Often, they are not and negative beliefs lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure. Use solid facts to overcome these mental hurdles.  Vulnerability Vulnerability is the process of cultivating positive emotions to enhance your experiences and performance and learnings in life. How do I build it? Vulnerability isn't about being perfect, it's about showing up! Be your best, not perfect. Ask yourself: am I showing up for myself? What could I do to show up for myself? What conscious action could I take that will allow me to take one step forward? Dare to be yourself. Your struggles are relative, don’t hide them. Hiding them because they aren’t as bad as someone else’s will only make your life worse. Verbalise it, normalise that you may have hardship, figure out how it is affecting you and what you could do to positively influence it. It’s ok to not be ok. You have to face vulnerability with openness and non-judgement. Not being or feeling 100% is a normal part of life. Accept it and move forward.  By making yourself more aware of these pillars, examining how they manifest in your life and implementing them in your day, you can create a sense of control and direction for yourself, like the pool bringing structure to the chaos of water. Bring your own individual structure to the chaos of life, helping you live more efficiently, happier and in line with your best self.   For more great life advice and tools for mental wellbeing, check out Sana’s podcast The WildCast. You can get in touch with him via his personal Instagram @sana_govender or follow along with his performance coaching @wildculture._  

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

In the U.K.? Get Your Phizz Faster

As loyal Phizz fans, your feedback is extremely important to us, so we are taking a moment to let you know we’re listening. We’ve been facing slow delivery times as our carriers are still experiencing pandemic-related delays and you’ve reached out to let us know that you need your Phizz faster. We’ve taken steps to get orders from our website to your door in a much faster manner. We’ve upgraded our domestic standard shipping to Royal Mail Tracked 48 Hour service. It’s free for orders over £15 and just £1.99 for orders under £15. So when can you expect your Phizz to be in your hands? Orders placed after 1PM U.K. time will be shipped out the following day. You can expect to receive your domestic order with our standard Royal Mail Tracked 48 shipping within 2-3 days from dispatch. Still not fast enough for you? We’ve also got Royal Mail Tracked 24 shipping available for £4.50. This service should have Phizz in your glass within 24 hours of dispatch. As a small business, giving our customers the best experience is extremely important, so please know we’re always listening! More feedback for us? You can find us on social media or email us at info@phizz.co. 

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Meet Our Head Of Sport

Phizz has become a favourite among top athletes and our tablets are used by more than 50 pro sports teams across Premier League & Championship Football clubs, Saracens Rugby & South Africa Cricket.  The expert behind the scenes is our Head of Sport, Yasmin Badiani. Yasmin is a former Premier League physio herself, who now works directly with the medical staff of these world-class teams to develop a plan for their players’ hydration needs. She gave us the scoop on pro-athlete nutrition & hydration as well as some tips on how you to apply these techniques to your own workouts. What do training and match day nutrition look like for athletes? Good nutrition has a huge impact on sports performance.  Professional sport teams have nutritionists and chefs on hand to create individual plans for players, tailored for their unique needs including personal requirements, travel agenda, training schedule and match days they have ahead of them. There is no one formula for the perfect athletic diet as needs vary person to person, sport to sport and week to week. These nutritionists look at the full picture for each individual and build meal plans that work for a player’s precise circumstances. That said, while athlete nutrition does come mostly from food, supplements like protein powders, energy gels and hydration tablets (like Phizz) do play a vital role in giving players the extra edge they need to be at peak performance. These products are carefully chosen for the additional support that they give during intense exercise regimes with high levels of sweat and stress on the body. Why is hydration important for athletes? What advantage is there to using an electrolyte tablet like Phizz vs. plain water? The body is made up of around 70% water, so while hydration is important for everyone, it is even more critical for athletes who are losing large volumes of sweat during intense exercise. Just 2-3% loss of body weight through fluid can result in serious physical and mental struggles, and athletes can lose around 6-10% of their body weight when competing. Dehydration can have huge physiological consequences such as an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as reduced thermoregulation within the body. It can also cause joint pain, fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps and decreased endurance as a result of the body burning muscle glycogen instead of using fat for fuel. Most seriously, dehydration can result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke.  Dehydration doesn’t just affect you physically, but also has a considerable effect on your mental game too. Your brain is 85% water, so even mild dehydration can induce changes in mood, decline in concentration, alertness and motivation, all of which are very important in peak performance with professional athletes.    These are all reasons why taking in fluid before, during and after exercise is key for all athletes, pro or not. But it’s important to note that you lose more than just water when you sweat - you also lose electrolytes. These electrolytes help the body to absorb the water that you’re drinking rather than allowing it to simply pass through the body. Phizz tablets contain a wide range of these essential electrolytes and actually form a hypotonic electrolyte solution when dissolved in water. This means Phizz harnesses the power of osmosis to drive water absorption in the body.  The carefully measured amounts of sodium and glucose in the formula drive water absorption through the sodium glucose co-transporter. This combined approach has been shown to absorb more water than the isotonic or overly sugary solutions typically used in sports drinks.   Why do athletes also need a multivitamin? Health is on everyone’s mind right now, and pro sport teams are no different. With busy travel schedules, immunity is always a key focus and teams need athletes to be consistently available and in peak health for matches. Intense training can also negatively impact your body’s ability to fight infection so using a product such as Phizz that contains a wide range of vitamins including vitamins A, C and E can really support the immune system. After a workout, a multivitamin supplement is also helpful in recovery. Phizz is formulated with powerful antioxidants that help limit the damage caused by free radicals produced during exercise and assists in recovery post-exercise. Its dose of vitamin C supports maintenance and repair of connective tissue including blood vessels, bones and ligaments, all of which are essential for optimal physical performance. Magnesium and zinc are also important for muscle recovery.  How can you adapt these tips for someone who isn’t a professional athlete, but does high intensity workouts regularly? Whether you are a professional athlete or someone who occasionally enjoys a good workout, keeping your body in the right state is vital. This means a good, balanced diet rich with healthy, energy fuelling foods. Stay hydrated by drinking 500-700ml before exercising and continue sipping throughout. Supplements like Phizz can help you make the most of the water you do drink. Monitor the colour of urine, too dark means you may not be drinking enough. Pace yourself and listen to your body- do you need more fluids or food?

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Nutritionist Tips for Getting Back in Shape

Diet and nutrition play a major role in your fitness routine. For advice on how to eat right as you head back to the gym or restart team sports after a hiatus, we turned to our trusted pals at RugbyGrub, Harry Elrington & Theo Brophy Clews. As two professional rugby players, eating well is paramount, and they use their platform to share their knowledge of eating for performance. RugbyGrub operates on the belief that a healthy and effective diet can be tasty, inexpensive and simple. Here are their top 3 tips for getting back to the grind: Start training and exercise in a hydrated state. If you begin your session feeling hydrated, this will offset the negative effects of dehydration. After you begin, drink when you feel thirsty to keep hydrated. One of our staple technique is to use pre-and post-training hydration tablets like Phizz - they tend to do the trick for us! Monitoring your urine colour is also a good indicator of how hydrated you are. Have adequate energy available. Having the correct amount of energy in your diet will allow you to perform to your best in the gym or on the training pitch. When heading back into training, your body needs a greater amount of energy than usual to perform to its best and optimise your results. This is especially important when balancing your training with other commitments, such as work. To boost the energy in your diet, add some more carbohydrates into your next pre-training meal to be fuelled and ready to go. Cook smart. When you start to train more, planning your meals out in advance will allow you to know exactly what you are consuming and give you the ability to plan what you need from the shops in advance. This is where ‘smart cooking’ becomes key. By batch cooking and preparing more food in advance, you can change the game by keeping meals in the fridge or easily pulling out them out of the freezer. When you have less time or energy after a long day, having food readily available will make sure you’re a fuelled up for your training whilst also being able to recover as quickly as possible after a session. This will not only allow you to recover better, but it will also give you more time in the day to do other things. For more easy-to-follow (and genius!) nutrition tips like these, follow along with the guys on Instagram @rugbygrub or check out their website at www.rugbygrub.com.  

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Phizz Drops in Sainsbury’s

This is big! We’ve been keeping this secret for far too long, but we can finally share this milestone moment with all of you. Phizz launches in Sainsbury’s superstores nationwide today. Sainsbury’s is the first major grocer to stock our young British wellness brand. Phizz is part of the retailer’s Future Brands initiative, a scheme designed to support challenger brands and offer customers unique and distinctive products.  Our tablets will be available for purchase in 319 superstore locations, with product on shelves in the vitamins, minerals and supplements aisle. Sainsburys.co.uk will also be launching our effervescents in the beginning of March. The retailer will stock twenty-tablet tubes in-stores and online in both of the Phizz flavours, Orange and Apple & Blackcurrant.  “It is incredibly exciting to see a legendary grocer like Sainsbury’s throwing its support behind our young brand and believing in our fresh take on the effervescent category,” said Daniel Cray, Phizz co-founder. “We began as a trusted supplier to airlines, hotels and sport clubs with a strong e-commerce position, so our new launch into Sainsbury’s is a landmark for our business. Wellbeing is top of mind like never before, and consumers are looking for an easy all-in-one product that supports their active lifestyles now at home and also back out in the world when it is time. Phizz is proud to be a product that consumers can trust to make wellness simple.” Emma Williams, Head of Origination & Investing, Future Brands at Sainsbury’s said: “We are delighted to welcome Phizz to our Future Brands programme. We’ve kept an eye on this impressive young brand for several years and are proud to now be the first retailer to launch their innovative multivitamin. We know that our customers are increasingly looking for wellbeing products to support their busy lives, so are excited to see what they think of these sparkling effervescents.” Want to see if we’re popping up in your local Sainsbury’s? Check out the full list on our store locator.

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Phizz Returns As Saracens Official Hydration Partner!

Phizz is pleased to announce it has renewed its partnership with Saracens for the 2021 season.  Our young British brand has been an official partner of the club for three years, powering the team both on and off the field. Phizz was scientifically formulated to be the most comprehensive blend of hydration, vitamins and minerals out there. The effervescent tablets rapidly hydrate the body up to three times more than water alone and replenish electrolytes along with an alphabet of vitamins & minerals to provide natural energy and support immune and brain function, recovery and wellness.   Saracens fly-half and England captain Owen Farrell said: “Staying hydrated is key to playing at your best. Phizz supports with this, providing the hydration, vitamins and minerals we lose during all training sessions and during games. A Phizz tablet keeps us hydrated and helping us to perform at our best.”  Phizz Head of Sport Yasmin Badiani said: “Phizz is proud to continue to fuel the Saracens family. The ongoing partnership with Saracens is a major highlight for our   growing company and we are honoured to be able to supply the team for another season.” Saracens Group Head of Partnerships Lucy Englander added: “We are so pleased to announce this extension with Phizz. On a personal basis I use the product day in, day out and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Thank you, Team Phizz, for the continued support!”  Although Phizz is used by more than 50 pro sports teams across Premier League & Championship Football clubs, Saracens Rugby & South Africa Cricket, it’s not just for pro athletes. Phizz is for home workouts, long Zoom meetings and general wellness. 

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Should You Try a Digital Detox?

We’ve all been spending a lot more time at home, and for many of us, that means a lot more time screen time. As winter fully sets in, the idea of a digital fast seems both a bit daunting and a bit magical. Seeking more information on what the process is like, we turned to Max Lowery, the multi-hyphenate personal trainer, online coach, founder of 2MealDay, creator of Connect Retreats and devoted advocate of screen breaks. Let’s start with the why of digital detox. You likely are already familiar with the constant pull to check your phone. Whether it’s email or social media that beckons you most, our devices can have a huge impact on our productivity, attention span and in some cases, our mental wellbeing.  For Max, some of the biggest gains from his digital fasts include the amount he gets done in a day. One notification no longer leads down the rabbit hole of mindless scrolling. He also says he feels more present and able to remain “in the moment” with his environment and the people around him. “Before I started digital fasting, if there were ever any time where I was alone in a public space, I would get my phone out and start scrolling,” he said. “I now use these times to try and practice mindfulness – the process of purposely bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment. For me, this brings out a sense of calm and relaxation and can help prevent compulsive thoughts.”  Also, Max sees a big improvement in his sleep. There are studies documenting the negative effects of blue light on sleep, and Max verifies that this is indeed a big one for him and refraining from pre-bedtime phone usage has been a game-changer. Intrigued? Here is Max’s approach digital fasting can grow with you from initial steps to expert level extended breaks. Try turning off your notifications. “At the end of the day, if it’s REALLY important, they will call you. If it’s not, then it’s not worth being interrupted while you are catching up with a friend of working on a task.” Try the new Screen Time feature on your phone. “This will lock you out of certain apps at specific times. Tell yourself that you will not respond to work-related emails or calls before/after a particular time every day.” Team up to institute a no phone rule when spending time with friends. “It’s incredible how much of a difference this makes, you might be met with resistance at first, but persist in a non-aggressive way, challenge them to go for 1 hour without looking at their phone!” Get outside. “Going on a phoneless walk can be a great way to reduce stress and anxiety at the same time as improving physical fitness and connecting with the world around you. It’s one of my favourite things to do, and many of the guests on Connect Retreats decide to leave their phone behind on our three-day hike.” Go easy on yourself. “Don’t make this another thing to feel guilty about. If you set yourself the goal of not using your phone on the weekend, but give in and use it after 24 hours, then move on. Don’t feel guilty about it. The goal is to improve your relationship with your phone, not put extra pressure and guilt on you.”  Whether you try these tips for evenings, full weekends or extended breaks, there’s much to be gained from taking a break from the constant connection. Want to learn more? Max gives great advice as a personal trainer and online coach. You can reach him via his website www.2mealday.com or @max.lowery. For more info on an unplugged getaway of your own, check out www.connectretreats.co.uk.

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Sustain Your Zen at Work

Phizz believes that wellness goes beyond the physical. We tapped Phizz friend and meditation teacher Nick DiMattina to give us the scoop on how to maintain the zen whether you're WFH or back in the office. Here are his thoughts. Have you been struggling to keep your calm amidst the chaos lately? You are not alone. Remote work has become the new norm, isolated from our colleagues and friends. Being constantly “plugged-in” has caused an increase of stress, fatigue and being overwhelmed. We brush our teeth twice a day for our dental hygiene. We exercise daily for our physical health.  But what about our mental hygiene? What do you do every day to maintain your zen? A daily meditation practice might just be the solution you’re looking for. Here are some suggestions for a daily mental hygiene regime that will reduce your stress and have you feeling energised to take on the world: 1.Set an intention. Where focus goes, energy flows. At the beginning of each workday ask yourself, “how do I want to feel today?” Calm, centred, clear-minded, energised, inspired? Write it down in a journal or a sticky note. Intention setting powerfully aligns you with a state knowing that you get to choose how you show up each day. 2. Create the space to unplug. Carve out specific time in your calendar to unplug and connect with yourself. Make your daily meditation the most important meeting of your day as it will recharge your personal batteries. 3. Meditate. There are many different types of meditation techniques you can practise. To get you started, either download a meditation app (such as Calm or Headspace) or learn a technique from a qualified meditation teacher (I teach an online meditation course every two weeks). The most basic type of meditation is a breath awareness technique. Sit down with your back upright and your lower back supported. Close your eyes. Become aware of your breath and just notice how your mind wanders periodically and come back to your breath. Be with this process for 5-10 minutes. 4. Gratitude. Think quietly in your mind or grab your journal and jot down a minimum of 5 things that you are grateful for. This releases serotonin and dopamine - the mood enhancing neurotransmitters that make us feel happy and accomplished. 5. Schedule a "water-cooler" chat. We are starving for human connection during isolation, so leverage technology and schedule a virtual video meeting with a work colleague to discuss how they are navigating life in these crazy times. Our goal here is to simply listen to each other and express our emotions so we are not bottling anything inside. The truth sets us free.  In summary, having a daily mental hygiene practice that includes meditation will: Reduce your stress and fatigue; Increase your energy and mental clarity; and Improve focus so you can achieve more of your goals and become a smiling success! Nick is a Meditation Teacher & Self-Mastery Coach based in Byron Bay, Australia. He empowers his clients with tools and techniques that enable them to drive their own personal development, overcome fear, and realise their true selves. Nick runs 3-session LIVE online group meditation courses every two weeks so connect with him to sign up for his next course. You can stay up to date with him on Instagram right here @nickdimattina. You can also visit his website or email him at info@nickdimattina.com.

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

The Perfect Vegan Pancakes

We've found the perfect recipe to start your day on the right foot, thanks to the all-stars at OGGS! Introducing the most delicious pancakes that come completely guilt-free. And we mean it! OGGS Aquafaba is an egg-alternative that makes your favourite morning indulgence completely vegan and produces 5 times less CO2 than eggs. Talk about a win. As for OGGS, this plant-based brand is not to be missed. You can pick them up at Sainsbury’s (along with Phizz!) and be sure to check out their ready-made cakes for an extra treat. Now, onto the pancakes! PREP TIME 15 MINS COOK TIME 15 MINS SERVES 12 PANCAKES INGREDIENTS 380g plain flour 2tsp baking powder 130g caster sugar 250ml OGGS Aquafaba 7tbsp vegetable oil A squeeze of lemon 150ml dairy-free milk (We love almond or oat milk in this recipe, but all types of milk will work.) Margarine, for frying Favourite toppings… fresh fruit, maple syrup, melted chocolate…the options go on and on.  METHOD Combine all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Next, whisk up your OGGS® Aquafaba in a clean bowl for 30 seconds until it’s pale and frothy and then add the oil, lemon juice and milk. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, little by little, until you’ve made a smooth thick batter. Rest the pancake batter in the fridge for 30 minutes…sorry! Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add a knob of margarine. Once melted, add a small ladleful of batter into the frying pan and smooth into a rough round with the back of the ladle. Wait until the base of the mixture sets and the top begins to bubble, then flip it over and cook until both sides are golden brown. Repeat until all the batter is used up Serve with lashings of your favourite toppings! For a video guide and more helpful tips, view the full recipe here. Ready to try these for yourself? You’re in luck! We’ve got a discount for Phizz fans. Use code OGGS20 at www.loveoggs.com for 20% off aquafaba. While you’re there, be sure to check out all of their great plant-based recipe ideas!

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

The Ultimate Athlete & Performance Retreat

For the highest calibre of professional athletes, the off-season doesn’t mean a break from training. In order to achieve peak physical fitness and compete at the most elite levels, these athletes need to find creative ways to blend down time with gym time. This unique set of requirements sparked an idea for Jordan Demetriou, and Mykonos Performance was born. Phizz is proud to announce that this innovative fitness retreat is our newest sport partner. After many years working in sports physiotherapy and reconditioning with significant full-time working experience at major U.K. football clubs, Jordan recognised that that the athletes in his care were searching for warm weather destinations that could offer training and rehabilitation services for the moments that they didn’t need to be at their team training grounds. He gathered a group of highly qualified trainers and therapists, and a revolutionary concept came to life. Mykonos Performance launched in 2016, creating the first-of-its-kind, exclusive rehabilitation and performance resort providing athletes from around the world with ideal conditions to optimise performance, in style. Jordan is now Head of Performance and his clients are able to enjoy individualised, premium fitness and wellness services whilst vacationing on the iconic island of Mykonos. The team chose Mykonos for its unmatched blend of great weather, transport connections and reputation for the highest-end hospitality and services. Mykonos Performance has grown rapidly, with an ever-increasing the calibre and volume of athletes choosing the resort. It’s now fair to say Mykonos Performance is the most popular destination for off-season warm-weather training for footballers and athletes in Europe. Jordan and team are now entering an exciting new phase by building a bespoke fitness and wellness concept, Charisma Hotel, fully equipped with state-of-the-art fitness facilities. The new home of Mykonos Performance will be able to cater for even the most demanding sport requirements while also offering on-site accommodation, nutrition and wellness services. This new space will allow for a longer season spanning from spring to autumn and expanding the team’s ability to welcome more athletes from all elite sports. Fitness-enthusiasts members of the general public will also benefit from access to the new facilities when booking on-site accommodation or taking part in organised wellness retreats hosted at Charisma Hotel.    Phizz will be on hand to keep these athletes hydrated in the heat and intense training sessions as well as fuelled with our comprehensive formula of vitamins and minerals.  Want to learn more about this revolution in elite fitness? Visit MykonosPerformance.com or follow along on Instagram @mykonosperformance. To book at Charisma Hotel, please visit their website.

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

Veganuary Recipes Made Simple

Are you giving Veganuary a go? If eating plant-based has given you an appetite for change, you don't have to a be a master chef to make it delicious thanks to our friends at Merchant Gourmet. Pioneers in plant-based simplicity, their simple lentils, grains and chestnuts come straight from Mother Nature, are easy to prepare, and most importantly are better for you and for the planet. We’re bringing you two of their incredible plant-based recipes to help brighten up your new year. First up, we have the Puy Lentil Curry. This lovely recipe was created by Merchant Gourmet’s new partner, superstar vegan chef and cookbook author Gaz Oakley.  Gaz is creating easy-to-make, incredible, meat-free recipes using Merchant Gourmets ingredients, and this one features their tasty Puy lentils. High in fibre and protein, these lentils have a delicate, slightly peppery flavour, and have been simply cooked with water, onion, bay leaf and a dash of olive oil. When cooked with potatoes, an aromatic blend of spices, stock, coconut milk and tomato puree, the result is a family favourite you’ll reach for again and again. See the full Puy Lentil Curry recipe here.  Next up are these mouth-watering Korean Tacos. Created by Aimee Ryan of Wallflower Kitchen, these moreish tacos use Merchant Gourmet Zingy Korean Style Grains. The grains are the key to making this recipe beginner-friendly as they come ready-to-go with a blend of wheatberries, black barley and edamame beans with red pepper cooked in a spicy gochujang style paste. Simple additional ingredients include sesame oil, tofu, sriracha sauce served in tortillas with your choice of toppings. This low stress recipe is sure to be crowd-pleaser! See the full Korean Tacos recipe here. Love what you’ve seen here? Be sure to check out all of Merchant Gourmet’s offerings on their website, along with loads more healthy and plant-based recipe ideas.

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Phizziology – Bailey Thomas

What To Expect from Your First In-Person Fitness Class After Lockdown

Gyms have faced many challenges during lockdown, but one of our favourite London studios, Frame, rose to the occasion and gave us the inside scoop on what they’re doing to get you back in shape (safely!). Fortunately, there are class options to suit every comfort level of social distancing, so no more excuses for avoiding that first workout! For those who feel safest in the comfort of their own sitting rooms, online classes have been the answer. Frame has brought their signature high energy classes home via Frame Online and the instructor-led classes offer the same intensity without any worry. As temperatures have risen, some of us would rather chase that elusive British sunshine and enjoy the in-person experience while sweating it out. Frame has launched an outdoor studio at Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross, allowing a socially distant workout worthy of Instagram. Keep your eyes out for a special Phizz workout popping up later this month! And for those of you ready to head back into the studio? Classes have resumed with a new normal designed to keep you safe while still getting those endorphins flowing. What do those precautions look like? For Frame, it’s all about planning. Here’s a peek at what you can expect: Book ahead! Classes are smaller to allow for social distancing. Come prepared. Arrive no earlier than 10 minutes and no fewer than 5 minutes before your class is due to start. It’s best to come in your kit with minimal belongings! You might notice some additions to the studio. Frame has added signage to aid in social distancing, touchless hand sanitisers and Perspex screens to keep the front desk experience safe. Please stay home if you’re feeling ill. Non-contact temperature checks will be mandatory upon arrival to the studio. Extra cleaning is a must! Studios have added extra time for cleaning and are using top-grade cleaning products to keep you safe.  No matter what method suits you best, it’s important to keep your body moving. To help inspire you, we’ve got some exclusive discounts on all of Frame’s class options. And don’t forget to look out for Phizz in studio! Pick up a tube after your next class to rehydrate and get a boost of vitamins and minerals. We've got a special discount just for you. Use code Phizz when you join Frame Online to pay just £5 for the first month and £10.99 thereafter. Prefer in-person? Get two classes for £20 here.    

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