BBC Look East 11/8/09 Rogue Traders salesman & Melanie Ryding Triathlete & Football

News Rogue Traders salesman couple who lost their life savings. Person who overcame weight problems and now does triathlon sports Melanie Ryding Triathlete. New football Season MK Dons

What is the best way to get sponsored for a triathlon?

So I’ve been training for the past 5-6 months for a triathlon – my first ever. I’m extremely confident in my abilities right now, but with money being tight, I was wondering if it was possible to get sponsored for a triathlon, and also what is the best way to go about it. It would be best if I could get sponsored by someone who would benefit my triathlon (i.e. a rec center would provide me with a pool to train in), but honestly at this point I’ll take anything.

So basically I’m wondering the best way to present to someone a request for sponsorship, and also what are the best places to ask. Thanks.

How can I raise money, or get sponsors for a Triathlon?

Me and my 2 friends want to do a pass-it-along triathlon. But it’s 0 for a team, so per person. One of my friends mom’s said we can get sponsors. But we’re only 15, I don’t think anyone would want to sponsor us, even though we’re pretty good. How can we get sponsors or raise money to do this triathlon? Please help!!! Thanks

I've started training for a cross country race in November which consists of 11 miles, is Isotonic for me?

I run approx. 2 – 3 miles every day or so and have only started. I hear the arguments for staying hydrated and to replace lost salts/vitamins etc… but then I hear the argument that I’m not an elite athlete and I’d just be wasting my money for something that I don’t need.

Can anyone add their personal expertise/knowledge on this please?

Thanks in advance.

doing my first triathlon and had a question about the bike portion?

I own a Mountain Bike and would rather not have to spend money on a new road bike, just wanted to see from people that have done triathlon if you see people riding these kinds of bikes and if there’s any problems using them? Would rather get better road tires then spend 400-1000 bucks on a new bike, thanks

Where should I go to buy a bike to start training for a sprint triathlon?

I basically want to get started into biking and don’t really want to spend a lot of money since it’s my first time really buying a good bike. Is there any where I should go?

3 Ways to Save Money on a Raw Food Diet

Recently I talked about 3 ways to waste money on a raw food diet.

You didn't think I would leave you with that, did you?  Come on, I'm nicer than that.

Here are my top 3 easy ways to *save* money on a raw food diet.

#1: Buy in season

To put it bluntly, food in season costs less.

Here's an example.  When cantaloupes are in season during the summer months, I can find them for as cheap as $1.50.  When they are not in season, they can cost as much as $3 PER MELON!  And we're talkin' really tiny melons with hardly any flavor.

Because the food is at its prime, you run less of a risk of choosing yucky fruit when you buy in season.  For instance, if I happen to buy cantaloupe during the spring, 9 times out of 10 I have to throw it out.  But during the summer, almost every single fruit that I choose is a taste sensation.

And that's another point to bring up.  Food that is in season tastes a MILLION TIMES better than food that is not in season.  You really cannot go wrong buying seasonal fruit.

#2: Buy in bulk

As I stated in Tuesday's article, I used to buy all of my produce at expensive health foods stores.  Not only was the fruit expensive, the quality wasn't even that great!

Luckily, I soon stumbled upon an awesome resource for buying high-quality produce at great prices.

*Buy-In-Bulk Stores*

Buy-in-bulk stores are stores that offer a variety of goods at discounted prices.  Because you buy the goods in bulk, forgoing packaging charges, you are able to save some green.

Costco and Sam's Club are two examples of these stores.  You need a membership for both of these.  I have both in my area, but I only shop at Costco.  The price is $50 per year and the savings I get more than make up for the annual fee.

Plus, the quality is amazing compared to the supermarket!  I get awesome Ataulfo mangoes each Spring, a variety that isn't available anywhere else in my area!

Currently, I buy the majority of my food from buy-in-bulk stores.

*Wholesale Distributors*

If you *really* want to save some moolah, visit a nearby wholesale produce distributor.  These are the companies that supply produce and other foods to your local grocery stores and health food shops.  There are even organic specific distributors in some areas.

To locate a distributor in your area, simply do a Google search for "wholesale produce distributor."  You can also talk to the produce department at your grocery store, health food store, etc. to see where they get their produce.

Make sure to contact your distributor *before* you actually head over there to load up.  Some distributors do not sell to the public, while others have specific dates and times for you to come and shop.

I know buying from a distributor seems like a lot of work, but anything is a little bit time consuming when you first start out.  I've just started this process myself, and it really isn't that hard.

Once you've found a distributor that you like and set up a routine, it's no different than a weekly trip to the supermarket.

Here is a great, in depth article on buying wholesale produce from someone with lots more experience on the subject.

*Other ways to save*

If you do not have a Costco in your area and cannot find a distributor to buy from, you can always look to your local Walmart or grocery store.  Some stores do offer small discounts for buying in large quantities.  However, I have never had any luck with this in my area.

Another option is to join a local co-op.  As a member of a co-op, you are presented every week with a list of available produce from local farmers.  Generally, you can then order from that list and pick up your food on a specific day of the week.  Some co-ops also have annual membership fees.

Joining a co-op also means that you are contributing to local produce farmers, which brings me to the 3rd way to save…

#3: Buy local

The easiest way to buy local produce is to visit your area's farmer's market.  Almost every city has one and they generally start in April or May and last until October or November.

Here in Memphis, we have a great farmer's market downtown.  It happens every Saturday from April to October and has really become a nice outing for my family and I.

Now, I know that many of you will argue that farmer's markets will actually *cost* you money because the food is more expensive.

With some items, especially free-range meat and dairy products, you are right.  But I have found that fruits and vegetables are generally comparable in price to what is offered at the supermarket.  And almost every farmer offers a discount on bulk buys.

And that's where you really save money.  Think about it: most people buy very little when they shop and so that's what the farmers expect.  All of a sudden, you start showing up to the market every week to buy *pounds* of produce.

I guarantee you every farmer will be *dying* to offer you a discount just so you'll buy from them.

An even better way to buy locally is to go directly to the farms themselves.  I have a wonderful orchard near my home that is keeping me loaded with perfect peaches, nectarines, and plums…for only $.75 per pound!!!!!!

This is the lowest cost I have ever seen peaches.  And nothing beats the added benefit of picking fruit myself that was growing just 30 minutes from my home.

If you have a produce farm nearby, I highly recommend that you give them a call.  That way, you can set up a shopping day that is convenient for you and start building a great relationship with the people who grow your food.

But the best part about buying locally?  The food is super fresh, always in season, and extra tasty!

Where to Get Started

If you are feeling a little overwhelmed.  Start with your local grocery stores first and see if they offer any discounts.  Then, do a search for local farmer's markets and schedule your weekly trip.

To find a farmer's market or farm near you, visit Local Harvest

That should be enough to help you find some great produce and really save some green.

3 Ways to Waste Money on a Raw Food Diet

Are you finding a raw diet too expensive to manage? Are you depressed because you have been raw for only a short time, but have seen your food bill increase twofold?

Maybe you are hesitant in actually going raw because you have heard all the horror stories of people having to mortgage their house just to keep up their raw lifestyle.

Just kidding…

But many people do in fact find it financially difficult to stay raw. It's just too expensive!

Well, it certainly doesn't have to be. Here are 3 ways that many people waste money on a raw food diet.

#1: Buying Supplements and Superfoods

If you are new to the raw food diet, you might not know that many raw food "gurus" promote the use of supplements and superfoods. They believe that a raw diet is incomplete in terms of nutrition. Supplementation and the consumption of superfoods helps to fill in the gaps.

Some common supplements used within the raw food movement are spirulina, hemp powder, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, and various powders made from greens and fruits. And these products are *very* expensive. A pound of spirulina powder costs over $12!

Superfoods, so-called because of their supposed superior nutritional qualities, are also very popular within the raw food movement. These include wheatgrass, goji berries, maca, raw cacao, acai, even bee pollen!

And just like supplements, these foods are very expensive. An 8-ounce bag of dried goji berries costs over $10.

I can buy an entire day's worth of food for less than that…and I often do!

It really gets my goat when people complain about how expensive the raw food diet is. Of course it is, when you are throwing handfuls of cash at unnecessary supplements and superfoods!

The people advocating the use of these "foods" are simply affirming the stigma that the raw food diet is extreme and difficult to do. I will not name names, but many of the raw food "experts" that promote the use of these products also sell them at very high prices.

It certainly makes you wonder…

If you are eating a healthy raw food diet based on lots of sweet fruit, moderate greens and non-sweet fruits, and low amounts of fat, then you will not need to supplement.

Of course, there are individual circumstances in which supplementation of some form is necessary. This diet is not about dogmatism. If you need to supplement, do it and don't think twice about it. But in most cases, healthy living is all you need.

#2: Buying foods you don't like

Do you waste money on produce that you don't like just because you think it's good for you? Let me guess, you buy the produce and then it just sits on your counter or in the fridge. A week later, you open up your vegetable drawer to find a rotten, moldy mess.

What's that sound? Oh right. It's your hard-earned cash headed straight down the drain.

Here's a tip: if you don't like a food, do *not* buy it! Seriously, the chances of you actually eating it are close to nil. Plus, it just takes up space in your kitchen. AND rotting food only makes everything around it turn much quicker!

And are these foods *really* so good for you? Take kale, for instance. Many raw foodists tout this food as being one of the best foods you can eat because of the high level of certain nutrients.

However, kale is much harder to digest than other greens like romaine and bib lettuce. Your body cannot break down the food and so much of it is just eliminated. So in the end, you aren't even capable of utilizing those so-called "better" nutrients!

More importantly, just because a food has more of something does not make it better for you.

The appropriateness of a food in one's diet depends upon how close the nutritional composition of the food is to the consumer.

Foods that are hard to digest tell us that the make-up of these foods is not as close to our own make-up and so is not optimal.

So stop listening to the raw "gurus" and stick to the foods that you truly enjoy. Your wallet, and your palate, will thank you.

#3: Buying exclusively from health food stores

When I first went raw, I bought all my produce exclusively from health food stores. I figured that since their prices were higher, their produce *must* be higher quality, right?

Wrong. In fact, I eventually discovered that the majority of the produce offered at these high-end stores was the same quality as my local grocery store. Many times it was even the same brand!

The only difference, besides the pricing, was that there was a higher selection of organic produce. However, this produce was usually *horrible* quality and *outrageously* overpriced, even compared to the conventional produce offered.

Instead of buying everything at health stores, try your local supermarket or Walmart. Many stores today sell a wide variety of good produce at decent prices. They even sell decent organic foods, especially greens and peppers.

Fortunately for me, I discovered an even *better* place to buy great produce. But I'll save that for a later article…

Until then, throw out those expensive and unnecessary supplements, discard the not-so-super superfoods, and go eat some fruit!

Don’t Waste Money on Fitness Equipment

Find Out Everything You Need To Know About Fitness Equipment. Do You Need It? Or Are You Better Off Investing Into A Fitness Trainer?

Fitness equipment in your home will not produce the same fitness results that a qualified personal trainer can offer for around the same price as the expensive fitness equipment, if not cheaper. Since a piece of fitness equipment is nothing more than an object, it is unable to compete with the advantages that an actual fitness trainer can provide. This equipment will not assist you in the proper techniques for losing weight and getting into better shape. Additionally, fitness equipment will become useless once you achieve your desired level of health.

As a resident interested in improving their health, you need to establish a proper fitness plan. The expertise that a fitness trainer has with fitness equipment will provide you a much better knowledge.

Fitness Equipment Is A Temporary Solution To Better Health

The fitness equipment, regardless of what type of equipment it is, only has limited use. There is not one piece of fitness equipment that will assist you in completing all of your fitness goals.

As mentioned earlier, this equipment is also expensive and has a tendency to collect dust after you have reached your fitness goals (or when you have decided to give up on reaching your fitness goals, as many people who purchase fitness equipment do).

Equipment For Fitness Will Not Plan Your Entire Workout

Regardless of the price that you pay for your fitness equipment, it will not plan your entire workout. It will not tell you everything that you need to do to succeed at your individual fitness goals.

Only a proper personal trainer can guide you to successfully completing your fitness goals, even if they seem impossible to tackle.

Invest Smart By Rethinking Your Fitness Equipment

In reality, there is not much of a difference between the price of fitness equipment and the price of hiring a personal trainer. Both options are considered expensive, but you will gain so much more from a personal trainer than you ever will from a piece of equipment.

Your Mental Health

Fitness equipment will not help you in maintaining your mental health. Even though you are trying to achieve a higher level of physical health, you will only receive the best results when you are mentally prepared for the enduring workout sessions that you will face.

A fitness trainer can assist you in keeping your morale up while the fitness equipment will encourage you to give up on your fitness goals, if anything.

Improving Your Social Life

By investing in the services of a fitness trainer against purchasing fitness equipment at your local store, you can improve your social life. You often meet other people with similar fitness goals when you work out in a fitness center.

Personal trainers want you to succeed. It's important to them, as it is to you.

You will have someone to talk to (in your personal trainer) when you have questions regarding your fitness plan. A piece of fitness equipment is unable to carry on a conversation with you, leaving you with a lonely workout session.

So, In Conclusion..

Fitness equipment won't do you a lot of good unless it's used by you under the guidance of your personal trainer. Your fitness trainer, just like any human, will always be more valuable than a mechanical device.

As I'm sure you've seen numerous people line up at health clubs or gyms on the treadmills and other machines and avail to no results.

Triathlon?

i was watching a Triathlon recently and became really interested in the sport i want to enter one in my area this seems moderate i know i can complete it Swim 400 meters, Bike 12.4 miles, Run 3.1 miles: but i the website for Illinois didn’t specify equipment the thing i need to know is i need to buy a new bike mine is crappy but i don’t have a ton of money whats a good cheap bike that would be adequate to race with and if you know this too any suggestions on shoes? Thank you

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