Concentration Needed?

Hard work and persistence paves the path to success; there’s no argument there. As the old proverb goes, “success is 99% diligence and 1% wisdom.” However, inefficient and half-hearted diligence changes that ratio and may lead you down the opposite path in the end. If you can do the same amount of work with the same quality in half the time, why wouldn’t you? Maybe you need to cut out your 5^th coffee break of the day, take a shorter lunch, or just close Facebook—I know, that one’s a toughie. Better yet, maybe you don’t have to sacrifice any of your vices that help get you through the day. Maybe what you need is just to concentrate harder during your work time! Since it’s time to say goodbye to the summer vacation and go back to either work or school, let’s talk about how to prevent a scattered brain and achieve a fruitful fall!

Reward Yourself

No matter how old you are, you should always hold on to your inner child in some respects. Think what you would do if your little bundle of joy got straight A’s, or achieved to a high academic or personal standard. That’s right, maybe a little extra desert, or a new toy. So what about yourself? After keeping your brain running at 100 mph all work week, it’s time to relax and reward yourself—give a little reminder as to why you work so hard! Even little incentives can recharge your batteries, keep your spirits up, and empower you for your next battle. Whether it’s eating some of those jelly beans that sit on your desk and taunt you all day, buying those new shoes you know you deserve, or just turning your phone off for an hour or two and going for a walk—reward yourself! Replace feelings of guilt, with feelings of reward, because you know you deserve it.

Make a Plan

Due diligence is half the battle. It is natural to become enthusiastic about an idea or plan and want to go into it swinging blindly. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day; plan your course then attack. You do not have to draft up a strategic marketing plan or a constructive financial plan, but a little to-do-list or some notes would offer focus and guidance so you do not stray off your path. Those little bullets help you focus on one task at a time, and prevent your mind from being caught up in nagging thoughts or pulled in different directions only to eventually overwhelm you. You can write the lists down on an eye-catching post-it before you hit the sack the previous night, jot down some notes in your iPhone or Blackberry when you are doing your morning exercises. In a nutshell, give yourself some deadlines and work on your checklist one piece at a time without getting distracted or overwhelmed.

Mix Up Your Tasks

It’s human nature to become jaded from time to time, especially when dealing with monotonous work. What usually follows that boredom is distraction; anything to offer yourself some change. This applies to studying, working, or doing anything that requires your full attention. Of course you’re not going to ask your teacher to reassign your homework or your boss to re-plan a project just for the sake of your boredom. So how can you keep your mind engaged, while still seeing results? The remedy is: mixing it up! Find your to-do-list (see ‘make a plan’), and do something else on the list. Don’t begin too many projects at once to avoid that overwhelming feeling, but instead of writing a ten page report all at once, do a few pages then get started on contacting some leads and scheduling a few meetings. Also instead of getting chained to your desk, you can mix up your environments; do something at home, something in the public library, and something in the coffee shop nearby. Switching tasks and locations help you stay alert, motivated and enthusiastic.

Get Some Sleep

Your brain is just like a spoiled kid. No TLC? Then revenge! The same goes for your brain—no rest is a recipe for you’re a mental embargo. We have all been through some sort of sleep-depriving event. Be it the college all-night cram session before finals, or your new-born baby keeping you up all night, or even that work deadline you had to get in; we all know the repercussions. You are not yourself when you do not get enough sleep. Have you ever stayed up all night studying only to find that you were too tired to concentrate on the actual exam you had to take the next day? Yup-- counterproductive isn’t it? According to scientific research, 7 hours of sleep is the ideal amount of rest time for an adult, while kids need about 10 hours. Of course, oversleep is not recommended either. You don’t want to spoil your kids, right? Find a healthy balance that works for you; don’t waste the day away sleeping, but give yourself enough time to recharge your batteries and refresh your mind and body.

Eat Light and Healthy

Sleep is the food for your brain, but what about your body? If the saying (not taken in the literal sense, of course) holds true and you are what you eat, then a light and healthy diet will turn you into a quick and energetic pro. Nothing slows down the brain more than a greasy and fat meal! We have all experienced that notorious, way-too-familiar after lunch lethargy. Chalk that one up to your indulgent lunch! Overeating requires overloading digestion for your body, which steals the energy that is saved for your brain. So want a clear mind? Eat light! Still need some help? Phix to the rescue! The yerba mate, green tea and Vitamin B ingredients offer you an immediate lift without any negative side-effects often experienced after consuming standard energy drinks. If you want to be healthy, remember the butterfly effect; one small healthy decision can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Best of luck,

Your friends at Phix

Snapshot of Phix Reviews

Whatever path of life you walk down, or in many of your cases, run down, we understand that you need to be as efficient as possible. Whether you need to accomplish your tasks quickly so you can get home in time to hang out with the kids, or finish up work so you can catch this weeks’ episode of The Jersey Shore (you know you watch it), there is no time to waste! It seems as though with only 24 hours in a day, it is impossible to accomplish everything you set out to do. Have you ever heard the expression “don’t work harder, work smarter”? Well we’ve been working hard here at Phix so you can work smarter! What if I told you that you can consume one all-natural, organic, low-calorie Phix packet and be filled with energy, 14 vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants to keep you feeling healthy and focused? Yeah, you’re welcome.

Within just 6 months, we have created a buzz loud enough to scare an army of bees. We have turned skeptical critics who never thought there could be a healthy energy drink that actually works, into believers. We couldn’t have done it without our loyal Phix customers! On behalf of the whole Phix team we would like to take this time to sincerely thank each and every one of you—from our newest customers, to those who have been with us since day one. We promise to keep working hard, so you can work smart. Let’s take a look at what a few of our many satisfied customers had to say about Phix.

“I really enjoyed these Phix Stix. It is one of the few products I feel comfortable consuming several times a day. It really helped me along throughout the day without over vamping me. I had smooth focused energy that helped me through work as well as a work out. I even used it while I was doing yard work and it was refreshing and helped me there as well. So if you a person looking for an all-day drink that comes in a lot of good flavors then this is a great choice. It will give you energy and quality natural ingredients. Then to top it off it is portable. Heck you can even eat it right out of the pack if you don’t want to mix it.” - EdJunkkie

“I think at times you can have a bit of withdraw symptoms after Red Bull use. With my limited Phix testing I didn’t seem to have that occur with this product. I think most people when looking over the ingredients list for both products would consider Phix the healthier option.” - Iggy

“I can safely say that this product works. I had it in the morning and it is a great pick me up. It's hard to compare it something, but it's a smooth, jitter-free lift. All in all, this Phix stuff looks quite promising.” - Addicted2Energy

Ask yourself this; are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Well, the buck stops here. Get energized. Get healthy. Get Phix.

Tell us what you think of Phix.

Phixtionary

PHIXTIONARY

We know our Phix drinkers are outgoing, eccentric, and fun-loving—and so are we. We have put together a small portion of our ‘Phixtionary’ so you can be a part of our zany, and brainy lingo!

Totally Phixated

For those of you who have tried (and undoubtedly loved) Phix, you know those 7a.m. wake-ups and lethargic afternoons just aren’t the same without your all-natural Phix!

“Whenever I need a quick, healthy pick-me-up to really take control of my day I always grab my Phix stix-- I am totally Phixated!”

Permanent Phixture

Once you try it, you won’t be able to get enough of it! What’s not to love about our 14 essential vitamins, and minerals?

“I panic when I start to run low on my delicious, energy sustaining Phix; it is a Permanent Phixture in my house.”

Phixed up

When you’re feeling sluggish, or not quite yourself, tear open a packet of bliss and get healthy and energized.

“I woke up today feeling tired, under the weather, and dreading my day. That all turned around as soon as I got Phixed up; it really fixed up my day!”

Phix Phanatics

You guys! Phix is proud to have the best, most loyal fans out there. We are always ecstatic to provide a healthy pick-me-up to our fans and friends, whose support provides us our energy boost.

“We are lucky to have such great support from our Phix Phanatics! You guys are the best!”

Phix it up

Tired of the ‘usual suspects’ of energy drinks? So are we. Guarana, taurine, and other unhealthy chemicals put in standard energy drinks hurt your health and leave you jittery and unfocused. Shake things up with Phix—get energized. Get healthy.

“I’d rather drink a 36 calorie energy drink with healthy NADH and B vitamins to boost my energy, rather than dangerous chemicals with unknown side-effects. It’s time to Phix it up a little bit and live healthy!

Phixtreme Sports

From the Ultramarathon, to hiking, to yoga, to the parents trying to get their two children to eat their vegetables, we know how tough it can be and we have your backs!

“For those athletes and parents who participate in Phixtreme sports, your day just got a whole lot easier thanks to Phix.”

Phix Stix

One delicious pouch of your favorite gluten free, organic Phix flavor.

“Before the marathon, I put my Phix Stix in my pocket to give me that any time rush of sustained energy and help me finish the race.”

PHIXISMS

A few proverbs—or at least the way we see them.

“If it ain’t broke, Phix it anyway!”

A true Phix lover knows our can-do, hardworking attitude. Whether you have a day of house work, construction, or hours in the office, we don’t wait until something needs to be done; with a little boost from Phix’s natural energy and NADH, we go out and do it!

“Don’t cry over spilled Phix”

Just don’t spill it to begin with! Wasting Phix is punishable by law. Only kidding, grab a new packet , pop it open and enjoy—you’ll have plenty of energy to clean up the mess you made!

“Phix makes the heart grow fonder”

With all natural antioxidants, your heart will fall in love with Phix!

“Phix or treat”

All you Halloween fans, no need to choose—have both in one! Phix is a refreshing treat that will NOT leave you with the all-too-familiar ‘crash’ or ‘jitters’ caused by other energy drinks.

“Home is where the Phix is”

Or else I’ll go to a different home where I can get my low-calorie, energy packed Phix of yerba mate and NADH!

“What came first, the water bottle or the Phix?”

All you need to do is add water, and voila! You have your favorite healthy source of sustained energy.

“Don’t put all your Phix in one basket”

Keep a couple of your favorite convenient, on-the-go Phix stix in your pocket for a healthy burst of energy at any time!

“A friend in need is a friend indeed, but a friend with Phix is the friend I’d pick!”

Share your Phix with a friend—then hide it because they’ll be back for more! Refer a friend and you will both receive discounts—and of course delicious Phix!

As always, we look forward to hearing from you. Now, you can communicate with us, and have some fun with our newly-learned lingo to let us know how you feel! Stay tuned for more Phixisms, and of course, live in good health.

Your friends,

Phix

Diary of a Phixed Working Mom

Name: Michelle

Age: 35

Occupation: Fortune 500 Brand Manager

Kids: Daughter 4 yrs old, Son 8 yrs old

Phix History: 6 month loyal customer

It’s hard to be a woman. It’s harder to be a professional woman. It’s way harder to be a professional woman who at the same time is the mother of two kids. Finally, after a long day of rushing in and out, my loveable monsters have gone to sleep, and I’m able to sit down in front of my laptop, slow down and clear my thoughts. I used to be a disorganized working mom, but as time has gone by, I’ve been able to find my own beat and put everything on the right track. Below are some of my experiences and tips to share with my Phix peers. I’d be glad if they correspond with yours, if not, let’s improve together.

Mornings are the toughest part of the day, but I make my own routine and try to spend it as relaxed as possible. To wrest control over the craziness, my suggestion to you is to do as much as possible in the evening and then get up as early as possible in the morning because all you need after the sun rise is time, time, time!!! Here is my daily morning routine—sound familiar?

J Rise and shine; wake up at 6:30

J Wash up and dress up

J Tear open a Phix stix to start an energetic and healthy day

J Tune-in to the news channel and water my lavender and orchid

J Wake my babes up, of course, including my big boy, my husband (It usually takes a while, so I do this before I step into the kitchen)

J Prepare for breakfast-- the menu usually includes fruit salad with yogurt, a fresh baked croissant, and sunny side up eggs with an organic Cajun sausage on the side

After wrapping up the morning and sending the kids to school, it’s time to embrace the next battle--work! One thing I want to focus on is that you should never, ever fall asleep at work. This applies no matter how many times you woke up the previous night to comfort your crying baby. The only thing that your boss wants to see is your game face! So, energy, energy, energy! My advice to you to maintain your energy is: always set aside some time for yourself so you can get complete rest and never let work and chores consume you. You can take one day off every several months to lay in bed or be a couch potato, or you can take full advantage of your lunch break to do some light stretching, or just hang out with your girl friends every now and then to gossip…Do whatever you want to do to loosen up! Also, another secret of mine is to take some Phix stix with you in case you need an immediate lift at work. Don’t worry, it has no jitters, spikes or crashes. It just helps you to keep a clear mind and also offers some dietary supplements.

As a brand manager, I have a bunch of events to attend to after-hours. If you are a full-time professional like me, you may also find it sometimes hard to participate in your kids’ after-school activities. That makes me feel bad all the time. However, a working mom is not super-woman. Since you can never place yourself at two places at one time, prioritize and choose which one matters more for you and stop feeling guilty. Communicate with your family and ask for their understanding and try to make it up to your kids those times you aren’t able to be present. Remember to keep in touch with their teacher for updates about school. Kids just need some TLC, never make them feel that you forgot about them!

Oops, my princess is calling me. Gotta go now!!! But stay tuned, my peers will bring you more interesting stories about their stressful yet joyful life. Good Night J

Dinner for Two—Preheat the Oven to…104?

Did you know that by cooking food you may actually decrease its nutritional value? People like Dr.Douglas Graham, known as raw vegans, would say 'tell me something I don’t already know!' Well, what if I told you these meals could be not only nutritious, but extremely delicious as well. Listening now?

Raw veganism actually began in the late 1890’s as a medical diet, when Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner (who recovered from jaundice while eating only raw apples) began to experiment with the healing power of raw vegetables. A raw vegan’s diet consists of unprocessed raw plant foods (fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, and some legumes) that have not been heated above a temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius for all you metric folks). They believe that foods cooked above this temperature will lose nutritional value and—in some cases—may even be noxious to the body, as the heat destroys natural enzymes leaving toxins in its wake.

To the untrained pallet, this may seem to greatly limit options and leave only bland, dry, cold meals possible for consumption. Wrong. Raw food chefs have come up with a multitude of delectable meals to satisfy not only the health-oriented conditions of raw vegans, but their standard of taste as well.

For your next date night, instead of going out to eat or making pasta (again), get creative and prepare a delicious AND healthy meal for you and a loved one. We recommend zucchini pasta with basil pine nut pesto sauce.

Recipe follows below. We love to hear from you—send us stories and pictures from your raw dining adventure!

Yum! Enjoy!

Basil Pine Nut Pesto Sauce over Zucchini “Pasta”

Basil Pine Nut Pesto Sauce Ingredients:

(Makes 1 cup sauce)

• 3 cups fresh basil leaves, tightly packed
• ½ cup of spinach
• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoon flax oil
• 4 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon white miso
• ½- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced (depending on taste)
• ½ teaspoon salt, use less at first
• ½ cup pine nuts

1. Put the basil and salt in the food processor. Pulse a few times to begin chopping the basil leaves.

2. Add the olive oil, flax oil, lemon juice, miso and garlic, process.

3. Add the pine nuts, process until the desired consistency is achieved. Do not over process the mixture will become too oily. The texture should be creamy with a tiny specks of pine nuts through out.

Can be refrigerated in a glass container for 4 days or frozen in an ice cube tray. Brazil nuts or walnuts may be substituted for pine nuts.

Zucchini Pasta Ingredients:

Serves 1-2

• 2 Zucchini

1. Take the zucchini cut the ends off and place it in a spiralizer and spiralize. (Can also use vegetable peeler.)

2. Serve immediately with sauce of your liking.

Fall Marathon- 50% of it is Half Mental!

Whether you're a zealous, perennial marathon buff, or a first-timer trying to train for the daunting task, there is necessary preparation everyone must undergo. Experienced runners know marathons are nothing to scoff at. It takes physical endurance, strength, proper training and diet. But there is one enigmatic characteristic, usually taken for granted, that supersedes all of the aforementioned steps: mental toughness.

For those who aspire to face the formidable challenge of conquering a first marathon, and for those who have run before only to be intimidated by the prospect of a second run— fear not—your friends at Phix are here! Our Phix team is devoted to spreading the message of achieving personal fitness goals through training tips and inspirational words from seasoned marathoners. We want to provide you with the necessary tools to become a marathon master.

A Phix-sponsored ultramarathoner, Chris Roman advises, "Always be cognizant of your body, train carefully and treat any injuries seriously." He also stresses the importance of mental preparation. As Roman’s trainer so perceptively stated (in a manner analogous to Yogi Berra), "The ability to push perceived limits is 90% mental, and the other 10% is in your head." Take it from Roman who competes in arguably one of the most physically strenuous activities—the ultramarathon—to tout the importance of mental vigor. He left us with an empowering quote that can be used to channel positive energy into training for and completing a marathon:

"We owe it to ourselves…To live by breaking down our self-imposed brick walls and finding out what lies behind them. The only impossible dreams are those that you do not believe are possible. When—and only when—you allow your mind to accept something as possible, does it become so."

Regardless of whether you are an ultramarathoner, a first-time participant in a half marathon, or anyone in between, every individual has the aptitude to succeed and achieve with the right attitude. You have what it takes to surmount any marathon you choose to conquer. Like everything else in life, nothing worth having comes easy—now go out there and show that marathon who’s boss!

To find out more about marathons and read up on training tips for all distances visit Hal Higdon’s website. Also, check out his book Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide.

Best of luck!

Biotin – One of the Many Reasons to Drink Phix

What is biotin?
In 1936, two German scientists Kogl and Tonnis extracted a crystalline substance from a cooked duck egg yolk in their laboratory. It was found to be an important component of enzymes in the body that break down certain substances like fats and carbohydrates. Due to its wide bioavailability and necessity for humans and animals alike, the substance was named “Biotin.” Also known as Vitamin H or Vitamin B7, biotin plays a major role in cell growth, the production of fatty acids, and the metabolism of fats and amino acids. Indeed, biotin is arguably one of the most essential vitamins for our health.

How can biotin help me?
Although the scientific-sounding word may not ring bells right away, deficiency in biotin has been scientifically proven to cause many daily symptoms. Are you experiencing thinning hair? Are you suffering skin rashes? Feeling lethargic, depressed, and can hardly focus on your work? You might need more biotin! Medically speaking biotin can also improve blood sugar control and help lower glucose levels. In studies assessing the effect of biotin on blood sugar, patients experienced more than a 50 percent reduction in fasting glucose levels and thus biotin has been widely touted as a beneficial supplement for diabetics.

Where can I find biotin?
Foods such as peanuts, grapefruit, strawberries, and grapes, as well as beer (which has a high amount of yeast) all contain significant levels of biotin. Now, you can also find biotin in a Phix energy drink which is a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up. Normal daily recommended intake for biotin is 30 to 100 mcg for adults and each Phix contains 125 mcg. So 1 Phix per day, you will not only have a natural, healthy, and sustained energy but also an abundant supply of biotin!

Phix's Vegan Lunch Box

Phix was gathered at the in-house vegan abattoir slicing jicama sticks with our editrix's rapier wit, when suddenly we realized that the team was on the cusp of inventing Phix's vegan lunch box! Best-of compilation from the team's subsequent brainstorm follows:

Rising Above Life's Challenges

Phix’s mission is based around the idea that healthy living is not just about diet or exercise. Healthy living is also about engaging and supporting community members who are making the world a better place. Phix has forged partnerships with athletes overcoming odds and embracing life’s challenges. In May we were inspired by the athletes who surfed in the Life Rolls On and the Challenged Athlete’s Foundation “They Will Surf Again” event. More recently two Phix-sponsored athletes completed one of the most mentally and physically strenuous marathons in existence—the Badwater Ultramarathon. In other words, we aspire to recognize and support athletes who rise to life’s challenges.

A new community of inspirational athletes has attracted our attention. This fall, the RED campaign and Grassroots Soccer (GRS), leaders in the fight against HIV, are teaming up to create the INSPI(RED) soccer campaign which uses soccer training and HIV education to improve the lives of disadvantaged African kids. Phix is pleased to announce that we will be a proud sponsor of the 2011-2012 INSPI(RED) Soccer season.

Why soccer? In spite of day-to-day struggles to survive, disadvantaged children from poor African communities never relinquish their soccer dreams and love the sport with more fervor than many of their global peers. Soccer takes on new meaning and gives hope to many young athletes. These athletes make their own goals-- from old garbage bags and rubbish tied together with twine --while spreading their passion for the game with bare feet on steamy soil. What is more, researchers have shown community soccer programs to prevent HIV transmission by creating infrastructure for AIDS education and awareness. GRS implements a best practices SKILLZ curriculum supported by such organizations and foundations as: USAID, AED, UNHCR, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the W.K Kellogg Foundation, CARE International, and the Abbott Fund.

The 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg unleashed the latest tide of soccer mania while the African Youth Soccer Tournament has continued to ignite the passion of African youths for the sport. In sum more and more youth soccer players are being driven to play but at the same time are being given the opportunity to develop their talent by such programs as GRS. Phix welcomes this opportunity to shed light on the transformational power of active and healthy lifestyles for some of the most impoverished communities in the world.

Open Space Yoga - Connect to Nature

This past weekend, New York yogis met on Governor's Island for the Lululemon sponsored, "Escape to Yoga Island" one day outdoor free yoga retreat. All summer long the athletic clothing retailer has made yoga accessible by hosting free classes in two city parks: Bryant Park and Prospect Park. By hosting these classes not only has the brand promoted its mission statement, but it has also capitalized on a recent trend to practice yoga outdoors.

Better known to aficionados as "Open space yoga," this trend revives the way yoga was originally meant to be experienced: in settings inspired by nature. Shaqueta Pierre, a seasoned ashantga yogi based out of Washington, DC commented, “Open space yoga truly allows you to connect with your natural environment and gain a deeper understanding of the inner connectedness of all things in the universe.” Indeed, taking the studio en plein air only enhances the original intention of practicing yoga and meditation: to expand consciousness and awareness of the universe.

For ideas on how to add a literal dimension to your sun salutations, check out Shape Magazine’s slideshow: “Top 7 Ways to Take Your Om Outside.”