What if you had $1,000 to spend on your health?
Welcome to Wellness Diaries. In this series, we send readers $1,000 to splurge on any product, service, or experience—as long as it’s something that can enhance health. (Any leftover cash is donated to a charity of the diarist’s choice.)
In this diary, we asked Lee Jimenez to focus on strength & recovery. He spent his money on ashwagandha extract and a $700 leg recovery system, among other things.
Meet Lee
Lee Jimenez is an athlete, yoga teacher, media host, and founder of Body Battle Fitness. He’s worked with brands like Equinox, Bowflex, Beachbody, Concept2, and Self Magazine. A decade ago, Lee was at a weight that was unhealthy for him and suffering from various gut issues. He turned his life around in 2013 by adopting a vegan lifestyle and getting really, really into fitness. He is now known for his high-performance training methods for endurance athletes around the world.
Lee’s Diary
$40 Supplements
“During any cutting cycle in my training, L-Carnitine is one of my go-to supplements. Thorne has a three-pill-per-day formulation that seems to help my liver and kidney function.
A few days into taking it, my mental acuteness and daily workouts became more focused. My normal 60- to 90-minute workouts flew by seamlessly—with this increase in energy usage, I felt like I was able to do more. I am very happy that L-Carnitine does not contain any stimulants, which prevented my heart from racing or any other jittery symptoms.”
$699 Compression Boots
Normatec Pulse 2.0 Leg Recovery System
“As an endurance athlete, my legs get worked way more than any other muscle group from running, rowing, cycling, Olympic lifting, and just general daily movements.
The Normatec 2.0 Compression Leg System is by far a joy and daily treat for my legs. I call it my magic masseur! These funky-looking boot sleeves contain a compression system that the brand claims improves blood circulation and helps remove waste that builds up as a result of lower body exercise. Then fresh blood can come in to bring nutrients that help repair and rebuild the muscles.
The compression boots are easy to put on and take off. The system includes two boots, a hose, console, and AC adapter. It took less than two minutes for me to set myself up on my sofa for a 30-minute session while I ate dinner and watched some evening TV. After the half hour session, all the soreness, stiffness, and even joint pain in my ankles and knees were gone. This is by far a must-have for any avid runners or marathoners during race season. I recommend using this system daily or in alignment with your recovery program. You will not regret it!”
$149 Spices
“My main priority is my gut health, hormonal health, and overall energy. And my goals seem to be covered with Apothékary’s “You Gut This” set, which contains three powdered supplements.
The set includes maca powder for energy and stabilizing your mood, a turmeric ginger anti-inflammatory and probiotic to help reduce stress and strengthen your immune system Cleveland Clinic “7 Health Benefits of Turmeric” View Source , and a pea protein and ginseng blend to boost your mood PubMed Central “Effects of ginseng on stress-related depression, anxiety, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis” View Source . The maca and turmeric powders carry a slight aftertaste, but other than that they are largely tasteless.
Apothékary’s three-part system is organic with natural ingredients. A teaspoon of one or all three can be added to your water, tea, shake, smoothie, or even oatmeal with minimal changes to flavor. After one to two days of using the gut health system, I experienced an increase in energy, better sleep at night, and felt less anxious. That’s important to me, because stress affects the production of stress hormones and the gastrointestinal system, which can lead to changes in appetite and metabolization. Plus, with an increase in restful nights, I felt like I got more out of my workouts because I could recover appropriately each day.”
$14.83 Herb Extract
“This antioxidant-rich ashwagandha Cleveland Clinic “Benefits of Ashwagandha and How Much to Take” View Source extract is a wonderful herbal supplement AND it’s easy to travel with thanks to its included 1-ml dropper.
I’ve taken this supplement twice a day for almost a year and it has immensely helped me with stress regulation. I recommend adding this to your hot tea, milk, or protein shake daily. It’s flavorless, so it won’t change the flavor of your base.”
$92.69 Probiotic Powder
“Green Vibrance’s green powder has been a favorite of mine for nearly two years, and it’s packed with over 25 billion (!!) probiotics. It’s clinically-formulated, dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan friendly for anyone with dietary allergies. It had been three months since I had incorporated the superfood powder into my diet, and after using it for over a week once per day, I immediately noticed a shift in my digestion. It became more efficient, reducing inflammation and gas after meals.
It mixes easily in a glass of water, protein shake, or even juice. I recommend giving a full 30 days to see the optimal improvement to your energy levels and overall gut health.”
Total: $995.52
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