One Healthy Young Entrepreneur

July 11, 2016July 11, 2016Leave a comment

Introducing the dynamic sibling duo behind Fair Harbor Clothing, Caroline and Jake Danehy. Inspired by the beaches of Fire Island, these two created their line of boardshorts out of none other but recycled plastic bottles. Inspired by their favorite local beaches, (and the greater good of our planet) these two are recycling wellness in a whole new way. Here’s their story…

Tell us about yourself and how life as you know it came to be.

Growing up in Westchester, NY, my family and I were fortunate enough to be an hour away from Fair Harbor, Fire Island – so naturally, our summers were spent on the beach. There are only a few rules of the island: no cars, no shoes, and hardly any clothing (just a bathing suit, of course). As we grew up, and our schedules became busier with sports, school, and other chaos, our trips out to the island became fewer, but our memories never faded. Fire Island was, and will always be, my “happy place”. However, over the years, we have started to notice more and more plastic waste appearing on the shores and in the ocean, and it really bothered me.

I will be a Sophomore at Colgate University this fall and my brother, Jake, just graduated from Colgate in May. As a Geography major, Jake learned a lot about resource allocation and overconsumption, and called me in spring of ’14 with an idea that he had to make a product that is both consumer and environmentally friendly. With our generation becoming more eco-conscious, we feel we have a responsibility to make a difference in the way people approach consumerism – and what better way to do it than by turning plastic bottles into boardshorts, connecting it with our childhood summers spent out in Fair Harbor. Within a few months Fair Harbor Clothing was born. While it definitely isn’t a glamorous process, we are very proud of how far we have come today.

In March 2016, we launched our second line, including seven new boardshort styles and five new shirts. Each of our boardshorts directly recycles 11 plastic bottles and all of our shirts are made form 100% organic cotton.

FH@ This whole adventure with Fair Harbor has been an incredible learning experience for us, and I feel so grateful to be a part of it. Wellness has always been a passion of my ours, so by the nature of our healthy lifestyle, those ideals have seamlessly become embedded into our brand. For example, this upcoming weekend we will be selling Fair Harbor at the Nantucket Yoga Festival!

2. What’s something you overcame and how?

I always dreamed about playing college lacrosse since I was a little girl, however, my body had other plans for me; I started to develop chronic stress fractures in both of my shins in 8th grade. During the summer going into my junior year of high school I was diagnosed with my 6th set of stress fractures and had to hang up my cleats for good. Lacrosse had been a part of my identity since I was 5 and all of a sudden it was gone. However, over time I started to realize that where one door closes another opens. Since I couldn’t do any activity that required running – or fast walking for that matter – and I started practicing yoga. Slowly, I began to develop a deep passion for it. I became more aware of my body and my confidence started coming back. I believe feeling confident starts from within and then radiates outward, and I found that yoga was the perfect environment for me to work on my inner self, while still exercising my body in a way that didn’t harm it.

Since then I have wanted to get my yoga certification, and this spring, I realized that there was no time like the present. I found a yoga studio about 10 minutes away with a summer teacher training and signed up for it. I started my training in May and it has been one of the most amazing, liberating and self-confidence building experiences I have had. One of the most incredible aspects of my training so far is realizing how much power we have over our thoughts, our bodies, and our energy.

3. What is your favorite recipe? workout? Favorite weekend activity? Favorite part of the business?

I try to practice moderation on a daily basis, something I believe that is key to a healthy lifestyle; which includes everything from the food I nourish my body with to how I move. Cooking is one of my favorite activities, and I love spending time in the kitchen with my mom preparing meals. That being said, when I was seven my family and I took a trip out to Jackson Hole, WY, where I quickly became conscious that the meat that I was eating was once living. While I wanted to be a vegetarian, my parents needed to make sure that I ate enough protein since I was so young, so I agreed to eat chicken and fish. Over the years I have dedicated a lot of time toward food, and learning about nutrition; I think it’s incredibly interesting. I have so many foods/recipes that I love– such such as spaghetti squash with chicken meatballs, salmon & lentils, and of course blueberry pancakes because who doesn’t?!

My favorite workout is a really great core yoga class and a long walk with my mom, sister and dog on a beautiful sunny day. I try to get outside as much as I can and move – especially in the summer!

My favorite part of Fair Harbor is definitely working with my brother on something that we both are so dedicated to. We have spent countless hours working on it together and it is incredible to see all of the progress that we have made.

4. As young entrepreneurs, business owners, students, and part of the Hamptons (Fire Island) community, etc. how do you maintain balance in your life?

Scheduling is key to balance because it helps me keep track of my daily responsibilities. Without it, I tend to get overwhelmed. However, since Jake and I are so passionate about the work that we are doing most of the time it doesn’t feel like “work”.

5. Any great healthy/balance tips for other busy folks?

Moderation and mapping out my upcoming week are two lifestyle tips that really help me. Fair Harbor and my yoga certification definitely consume a lot of my time this summer, so finding time to relax is hard sometimes but definitely necessary!

6. What food items do you always have?

My favorite breakfast lately has been an omelet (one whole egg, two egg whites), sautéed onions, spinach, peppers – topped with fresh salsa and hot sauce. Other food items I always have are: green tea and peanut butter Think Thin bars (they taste like Snickers!).

7. What is your favorite indulgence? (can be edible or not)

My favorite indulgence is being at the beach reading a really good book.

8. How do you make health a priority in your home/life?

I believe that we have complete control over our health and how we treat our bodies – a concept that is so powerful, yet most people take for granted. Therefore, how we nourish, rest and move our bodies is extremely important, so I always make my health a priority. Sleep is also a key part of my wellness routine. I know that when I am tired I don’t function as well – trust me, ask my brother!

FH3

9. What is your FAVORITE thing about the Fire Island? Favorite place? Favorite memory?

Remarkably, no matter how much time passes, Fire Island always remains the same. I have countless childhood memories taking outdoor showers, jumping off the lifeguard stand and early morning fishing adventures. Almost every morning, we would all go down to the dock around 7 am, before most people were awake, and fish for snapper with bamboo poles. After fishing, we took the fish back to the house and made snapper and eggs. These were the simple joys of living on the island for the summer – something that makes me smile every time I think back to those days. With each decision that we make with Fair Harbor, we think back to our childhood memories, in effort to recreate the lifestyle with our brand.

One Healthy Breakdown: You only live once, but if you do it right once is enough.

Let’s Talk Accountability

May 18, 2015May 19, 20151 Comment

The return of my home gym has me feeling extra appreciative and motivated after quite a few weeks of withdrawal. It took some major accountability to maintain a regular workout schedule, but it was more than doable. Summer calls for beach days, barbecues, and rosé…all day…right?! So how do you stay motivated to work out and eat relatively healthy with all of this fun and temptation? It’s all about balance and accountability. Here are some top tips for staying accountable all summer long:

Schedule, plan, and make your healthy choices a non-negotiable party of your life. Fit in a workout before the beach, (or run at the beach!) barbecue, party, and rosé. You’ll feel so much better enjoying the fun times if you balance them out with healthy choices. Staying on top of it also allows for some ‘wiggle room’ when you want that ice cream cone, glass of wine, or burger.
Try something new. While having a fitness routine is great, switching it up and trying new things is even better. Along with muscle confusion and the physical benefits of variety, it also helps to keep motivation high. There are countless fitness classes around the Hamptons, especially in the summer, so try a few and find some new ones you love! It’s MUCH easier to get to a class you love (even on a perfect beach day) and showing up is half the battle!
Make it fun. Eating healthy is not boring. In fact, it can be fun and pretty! Take advantage of in season fruits and vegetables and experiment with fun ways to prepare them, like grilling or making ice pops, smoothies, or skewers…Bon appetit to that!

Challenge yourself by setting goals. No matter how big or small your goals are, make them clear, make them your own, and plan out the necessary steps you need to take to reach them. With a positive attitude, you’ll be achieving your goals and living your dream life in no time!
Think outside the box (aka gym.) Do an at-home workout, youtube workout, or, even better, go for a walk or run outside. Take advantage of the warm weather and gorgeous surroundings while you soak up some Vitamin D and fresh air for a win-win!

Keep track. For some people, keeping a food and/or exercise log can be extremely effective. The practice of writing down what you eat can make you more aware of mindless munching. For others, it’s infeasible to keep a food journal, (and that’s ok!) but keeping track of your exercise or checking your workout off when you’re done can be extra rewarding.

Buddy Up. Even with all of these strategies, it still gets tough to hold yourself accountable each and every day. That’s why we have workout buddies! Thankfully, when I’m feeling lazy, I’ll get a text from a friend “workout?” or “spin at 4:30?” and that’s all the motivation I need to commit. Be sure to make some workout buddies and be a workout buddy yourself, the more the merrier!

One Healthy Breakdown: No one said it was going to be easy, but it sure is going to be worth it, stay accountable this summer!

Monday Motivation

March 30, 2015March 29, 2015Leave a comment

Winning Winter

February 9, 2015February 9, 2015Leave a comment

Let’s admit it. The cold, ice, snow, wind, boots, layers, and forecast are really starting to get old. The bad news is that it’s not going anywhere fast. Wish it wasn’t so, but, unfortunately, spring is not right around the corner. In fact, we can’t even see the corner. So, what’s the good news? The good news is that we will survive. And we will do so in good health. Here’s how to keep your head up and beat the winter blues:

Do whatever makes you feel warm and cozy inside. Whether that’s a hot shower or sitting by the fire with a glass of wine, do that! (No, not everyday, but some days…and then enjoy tea the other days.) If it’s watching your favorite movie with your favorite blanket in your favorite pj’s, do that. Whatever makes you appreciate more and hate less, make the time to do that. It’s the only way we’re going to make it to the other side.
Nourish your soul, not just your body. Try a new recipe. Try a few new ones. Eating with the season is crucial to keeping your immune system strong and indulging mindfully is crucial to keeping your happiness strong. Hot chocolate, anyone?!
Get out of bed. When you’re in bed, it literally seems like the end of the world having to get out. Then, when you get out and start your day, it’s actually not that bad.
Stay in bed. Yes, this is an absolute contradiction of the above. And that’s intentional. The healthy, motivated you would get out of bed and tackle their to-do’s, of course, but if you’re sick, have nothing on the weekend agenda, or cannot function in the outside world before sunrise once in a long while, go ahead and press snooze. Just think, you want to be well rested for when spring finally does make its grand appearance.
Get some Vitamin D – through sunshine and food.
Cut yo’self some slack. While spring is a time to step it up for summer, it’s alright to take advantage of some rest and rejuvenation over these next few weeks (hopefully it won’t last months.) On the other hand, we are not creatures of hibernation and do not need to sleep or eat until we have grown a second ‘layer’ if you catch my drift. Reminding yourself that “summer bodies are made in the winter” may be the push you need.
Commit to a monthly challenge. Maybe you try one new vegetable a week or maybe you choose a fitness challenge to work a new muscle group. (Pinterest is great for this!)
Enjoy winter sports. Try skating, skiing, or snow shoeing or try a new indoor fitness class. Anything from hot yoga to spin, you’re sure to get hot and sweaty. If you absolutely despise the treadmill, join the club! There is no need to go near one because there’s so many other options! Grab a friend, get new sneakers, or make a chart to motivate you to stick with it.
If you don’t despise the treadmill, sign up for a race this spring and start your training now! Buddy up for accountability and get running.
Put your workout clothes near the heat so they’re toasty warm when you change into them.
Set an alarm clock that doesn’t make you miserable. Choose a fun song to put you in a good mood or something soft to ensure you wake up calmly. Try a gratitude exercise to start the day.
Get to know YouTube. It is a world of workout videos…FREE! There is seriously anything and everything you can imagine for exactly how long you have to workout. No equipment necessary.
Use your time inside smart. Start your “spring cleaning” early and you’ll feel super accomplished, uncluttered, and organized in no time.

One Healthy Breakdown: turn those winter blues into winter wins!

One Healthy Mud Runner

November 5, 2014November 5, 2014Leave a comment

Introducing Candace Couper, a childhood friend of mine through horseback riding. When Candace’s posts about paleo recipes and mud runs appeared on my Facebook feed, I couldn’t wait to hear more about her transformation. I could feel Candace’s inspirational energy through her words, enjoy!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did ‘life as you know it’ come to be? How did you get into your profession? How did you get into mud runs?

I’m Candace. I’m from Boston and I currently live in Denver, CO with my awesome dog, Bruin. I came out to Denver for undergrad then ended up staying for graduate school and have been unable to leave.

I grew up horseback riding and have always loved animals. I got into social work during a high school internship. I originally chose the internship because the woman I wanted to work with was a massage therapist (and that’s what I wanted to do at the time) who also worked full time as a behavior counselor at a middle school for high-risk youth. After accompanying her to the middle school daily, I became passionate about helping at-risk youth. I decided to get my masters degree in social work when I learned about University of Denver’s animal-assisted therapy program. I thought it would be a great opportunity to combine my love of animals with my passion for helping people (and it was!)

I got into mud runs in May of 2013. I had done a few fun runs and 5ks previously and decided – on a whim – to enter the Rugged Maniac. I thought it would be a fun way to keep myself motivated. I thought I was in pretty good shape as I was running quite a few miles several times a week and riding at the time. However, Rugged Maniac kicked my butt. I was so sore afterwards that I couldn’t move for a week and was covered in bruises. Then, I happened to see a deal at Fitness Together (a personal training studio) for introductory sessions and I decided to go for it. I haven’t looked back since! This was the start of a complete lifestyle change for me. I’ve learned so much about exercise, nutrition and all around being healthy. I’ve lost quite a bit (weight, body fat, bad habits, etc.) but have gained so much more (strength, empowerment, courage, self-confidence, and more!) I’ve since participated in eight fun/mud/obstacle runs including the Tough Mudder!

2. Is there any overlap in your profession and your values for health, wellness, and challenging yourself? Do you ever combine the two? In what ways?

Yes! I’m currently working for an after school program focused on movement, nutrition, and mindfulness, which overlap quite a bit with my own core values. Within the social work profession, I am personally very interested in alternative therapies. I’ve utilized equine-assisted therapy, community agriculture, and food justice work with at-risk youth. In the future, I hope to combine my passion for health with my profession by using fitness as a form of an alternative therapy. It’s one of the best methods out there!

3. What is your favorite workout? Favorite weekend activity?

I go back and forth; I was doing a ton of HIIT, (high intensity interval training) which is great for cardio and strength in one and utilizes very little equipment. While HIIT is a very effective workout, I recently switched back to strength/weight training. My original goal when I first joined the gym, and committed to changing my lifestyle, was to get stronger, which is one of the many benefits of weight training. My favorite weight training exercises are squats and deadlifts. I love the feeling I get after a hard weight training session – I feel accomplished, strong and confident.

My favorite weekend activities are hiking and walking my dog. There are so many great hiking areas close to Denver. This past summer, I spent most of my weekends training and doing Mud Runs, including the Manitou Incline and hiking my first 14er (we actually did two/three in one day!).

4. As a young woman, hard worker, and athlete, how do you maintain balance in your life?

Balance has been one of the hardest aspects for me, especially while I was still in school. However, I’m a firm believer that if something matters to you, then you can make some time for it…even if it means going to the gym at 6am on a Saturday. Combining multiple aspects of my life is another great way I’ve found balance. For example, when my family came out for my graduation, I convinced some of my family members to do a mud run with me which was super fun!

5. Any great healthy/balance tips for other young woman?

Keep it interesting and find what you like! This applies to everything – fitness, nutrition, work, and your personal life. If you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing or if you’re bored, you’ll become miserable and less likely to stick with it. Figure out what works for you, (I like working out with a trainer and prefer to work out by myself. Some people work better when they have the support of a buddy or group classes) do it for yourself no one else, keep healthy snacks on hand, (I keep a bag of washed baby carrots in the door of my fridge so even if I’m mindlessly snacking, I am more likely to grab something healthy.) and be patient – with the process and with yourself.

6. What food items do you always keep in your house?

There are so many food items I always have in my apartment – being prepared makes cooking and eating healthy meals so much easier. I always have a wide variety of fresh and frozen produce (frozen is great for emergencies and frozen fruit is one of my favorite desserts.) I always have some sort of precooked protein on hand for nights when I don’t feel like cooking or I’m short on time. Other things I always have are eggs, chicken, nuts, and homemade snacks.

7. What is your favorite indulgence?

I’m a huge chocolate hoarder, especially when it comes to dark chocolate.

8. How do you make health a priority in your life?

Being healthy is somewhat of a new priority for me. At first, it was really difficult to stick with it, but I’ve discovered that being healthy really is a lifestyle. Meal prepping has been a huge help when it comes to eating healthy. In terms of fitness, thankfully, I live in a great place that emphasizes living an active lifestyle and a lot of my friends enjoy being active as well. That makes it easier and more enjoyable to make health my priority.

9. What is your FAVORITE thing about mud runs?

There are so many things about mud runs that I love. I love the physical and mental challenge. One of my favorite aspects, though, has to be the camaraderie. Every mud run I’ve done has focused on helping out fellow participants; there is always someone to lend a hand if you need it whether it be a fellow participant or a volunteer. Participants at mud runs tend to be so supportive and encouraging of one another, which lends to an amazing environment.

10. One Healthy Breakdown: Candace is one tough mudder we can all learn from! Whatever we’re working through in our lives, put health and yourself first!

Spring Cleaning. It’s Happening.

May 7, 20141 Comment

Spring has sprung! Now it’s time to clean out the winter left-overs and lighten the load!

I’m just going to be totally candid with you here: one of the main motivations of this post is totally selfish. I practice what I preach and I need to practice spring cleaning…in a big way…immediately. So, here are my top cleaning tips/note-to-self:

1. Don’t go crazy. You don’t have to get it all done at once. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was a good spring cleaning. Make a list of priorities and a plan of attack. Personally, I’m dedicating a whole day just to my closet. Sadly, it needs it and I’m not going at this task half-assed. It’s go big or go home. And we’re going big.

2. Go au natural. Slowly but surely, replace things as you need them with more natural products. This has been huge for me. One by one, when I’m out of something, (from household cleaning products to makeup, food to face-wash, sheets to shampoo to shower curtain, etc.) instead of just replacing it, I evaluate, read some labels, and do a natural upgrade. Eventually, you’ll have a natural collection of products you can really feel good about using.

3. “Springify” your closet. First, take out the winter stuff. Those chunky sweaters will clear up lots of room to replace with your spring and summer wardrobe. Then, it’s out with the old and in with the new. This goes for both winter and spring. As you put your winter wear away and take out your spring clothing, (in an organized fashion) go thru it one-by-one. If you haven’t worn it in a year, put it in the donation pile and don’t look back (note to self: don’t go thru donation pile with last-minute re-considerations. Begone. Good riddance. Ciao.) Once you’ve weeded through the closet and lightened things up, think about a way to best organize and get to it. This involves a little bit of careful consideration and individuality. Do what makes sense to you, establish a system you’ll keep up with, whether it’s by category, color, how you get dressed, or your own creative system. Then, keep it up.

4. Possibly most important to living a cleaner, neater, free-er life: De-clutter. The kitchen, the desk, the night-table. Everything is better when it’s simple, when you can find it. As soon as you get the mail, throw the crap (excuse my french) out. Go thru these spaces weekly to do a small clean-out before it builds and builds to justify a large, time-consuming, clean-out (due to losing something really important on the bottom of the pile…)

5. Lastly, enjoy it! Make your home feel like-new and embrace all of your hard work with a little reward. Fresh-cut flowers, a new pillow or accessory, fresh cleaning products, and open windows will fill your home with spring goodness and can make you feel reborn and rejuvenated.

One Healthy Breakdown: Ah, the magic of a clean house after a LONG winter hibernation!

Q & A w Z: Lazy Days

May 22, 2013August 1, 2013

Q: How do you stay motivated when you’re feeling really, really lazy?

A: Everyone has lazy days, but there are ways to stay positive. I suggest going to a different gym or a new class to switch it up. Listen to new music or even wear a new workout outfit, do something to pump you up. Try changing your environment. I’ll go to the gym in the afternoon when it’s busiest because that motivates me to be around lots of other people working out hard. I’ll feed off of their energy when I don’t have my own.

I also love a good cup of strong coffee in the morning. On days where I have the coffee, but I’m still not feeling it, I’ll tell myself I’ll just do a quick workout and take it easy. Sometimes, that’s what the body needs. It’s ok if it’s not the best workout. Some days are better than others, but don’t beat yourself up about it. Sometimes, once I get going, I will get into it and then push myself harder and longer than planned. You’ll always feel good afterwards. Sometimes you have to really push yourself to start.

If you have a question for Z, just reply to this email or post on the OHH facebook page.

One Healthy Breakdown: no one ever regrets a workout!