Had someone told Amanda Russell she would be replacing model Molly Sims on a prominent New York city ZICO Coconut Water billboard four years ago, she probably would have scoffed at them in disbelief. Upon fracturing her femur, this life-long runner never believed she would run again. Today Amanda, winner of ZICO’s ‘I am Natural’ campaign, is proving to Chickago, that there is fitness after injury!
Following her fracture, Amanda underwent what she refers to as an “identity crisis”. Going from an 80 mile per week hyper-competitive running regiment to bed rest was not an easy transition for this life-long athlete. Looking back on the experience, Amanda explains that the lessons her injury taught her were worth the pain.
“Going through every exercise you can imagine to find what works and doesn’t is what has made me an expert” Amanda tells Chickago. And that she is. Through her website and personal consultations, this fitness guru has inspired countless to lead healthier, more natural lives.
So what does being a ‘natural athlete’ mean to Amanda? Amanda defines a natural athlete as one who incorporates “healthy choices into all areas of his/her life so that it becomes a state of mind.” One key to Amanda’s success has been ZICO Coconut Water.
According to Zico.com, “ZICO contains the five essential electrolytes that gives your body everything it needs to stay hydrated and to help you perform at your best. One ZICO has more potassium than a banana – 15 times more than most sports drinks – to prevent cramping. Drink ZICO before or during a workout for the natural energy you need for optimal performance. After a workout, ZICO replenishes and re-hydrates you to speed recovery.” Amanda says its health benefits, in addition to the genuine passion of its employees, is what has led ZICO to earn her personal recommendation. Alongside ZICO Coconut Water, Amanda is providing Chickago with more tips for healthy living below!
- Make health a priority – “Whether that means getting up an hour earlier to go for a run or hitting the gym after work,” Amanda says, “find a way to take care of you!”
- Accept help – According to Amanda, “Women don’t accept help as often as they should”. Suck up that pride, Chickago, and relieve your stress by allowing others to help out.
- Eat out healthy – Every Chicago resident knows this can be a tricky one, but as Amanda insists, “there is always a healthy option that will leave you guilt-free and just as satisfied”.
- It’s okay to splurge…in moderation – Every hard working Chickago deserves a reward every once and a while. While this doesn’t mean downing an entire box of Krispy Kremes, an indulgence of smaller proportions might be excusable.
For more of Amanda’s fabulous advice, visit her site at http://amandarussellworkouts.com/!
