Better together

Welcome back to Wellworthy. Here’s what’s happening this week:

• Wellness picks from an industry insider

• Why eating together boosts happiness

• Launches from The North Face, Blume, Pvolve, and more

— Let’s go!
Ash Read, co-founder, Wellworthy

Health Stack: Liz Plosser

Each week, we tap our network of health and fitness experts to offer personal insights and recommendations.

This week: Liz Plosser, creative director at GORUCK. A 20-year veteran of the wellness world, Liz previously served as editor-in-chief at Women’s Health and is a NASM-certified trainer. She also writes the Best Case Scenario newsletter, sharing her no-BS approach to fitness and life.

"I'm training for life," she explains. Her regimen includes four weekly strength sessions, daily outdoor movement, protein-forward meals, and a 9pm bedtime. She starts most mornings with kettlebells and barbells at her local YMCA, waking up at 5:17am (“seven’s my lucky number”) to squeeze in clarity, confidence, and calm before the day begins.

Working from home has only enhanced her rhythm, making space for more family time and long walks with her Bernese mountain dog, Willa. Still, she’s not immune to habits she’s trying to break: "I need to work on my doom-scrolling and pick up a book instead."

Here’s Liz to share her go-to products:

• Kion nutrition supplements: “I’ve taken their essential amino acids and creatine every morning for three years. They’re third-party tested, clean, and I love the team behind the brand.”

• GORUCK: “I’ve been a GORUCK girl for over a decade. My OG rucksack has traveled the world with me. The gear is durable, comfortable, and impossibly cool — and now I’m loving the apparel too.”

• Canyon Ranch M/Power Retreat: “I recently gave a guest lecture here and got to experience it as a guest. I was blown away by how much I learned. We got DEXA scans, a robust blood and hormonal panel, attended intimate lectures, enjoyed massages, ate healthy, delicious food, and bonded over the wild ride of careers/mom life. I highly recommend attending.”

• Betty Designs: “Kristin, the founder, is an endurance athlete and skier in her 50s, and a total force. I wear the bikini for cold plunges and love the BDLab après workout collection.”

• Alloy M4 Estriol Face Cream: “Alloy is a female-founded company that supports perimenopausal and menopausal women with supports women in midlife with educational resources and prescription options I’m tip-toeing closer to that line, but for now, I am a big fan of their moisturizer.”

• Apple Watch Ultra: “I’ve worn an Apple Watch since the first one dropped, right after my youngest was born. The Ultra does way more than I need', but it’s clutch for skiing altitudes and cold plunge temps.”

• Ladder: “My go-to for workouts. I follow my friend Lauren Kanski’s Body & Bell program, five kettlebell-focused sessions per week. No guesswork, and I recently hit a 255lb deadlift PR.”

On Our Radar 

Interesting stories we spotted this week → 

Shared meals = stronger connections. According to the World Happiness Report, people who regularly dine with others report greater life satisfaction and positive emotions. Just one shared meal per week can significantly boost happiness. Still, solo dining is on the rise, up 53% in the US since 2003, and up 180% among 25–34-year-olds. Do this: Text three friends and plan dinner this weekend.

CrossFit x Velites. Spanish fitness brand Velites is now the Official Apparel and Footwear Partner of the 2025 CrossFit Games. The exclusive Games collection drops soon. Heads up: Sign up for early access + exclusive discount.

Sabotaging sleep. Analyzing 4.3M nights of sleep, WHOOP found evening workouts can backfire — delaying sleep, reducing duration and quality, and increasing nighttime heart rate. The fix: Finish workouts at least 4 hours before bed. For those prioritizing recovery, timing may be just as important as intensity.

Dehydration kills gains. In a controlled study, participants who were properly hydrated saw 13% greater post-workout muscle thickness than those who weren’t. Even mild dehydration can shift water away from muscles to maintain blood volume, potentially hindering growth. Fill with some H2O or hydration-boosting mixes from brands like Skratch Labs, Pludo, or Trevi.

Just Dropped: Hormbles Chormbles

RXBAR co-founder Jared Smith is back with Hormbles Chormbles, zero-sugar candy bars packing 10g of protein and just 100 calories in four flavors: Salted Fudge, Classic Milk, Cookies and Creme, and Peanut Butter. The bars use whey and milk protein to mimic the crunch and taste of classic candy, minus the sugar crash. Read more on Wellworthy.

More drops perfect for:

• Wholesome fuel. Skratch Labs Energy Bars deliver real food convenience with a simple ingredient profile featuring fruit, nuts, nut butters, and quinoa for steady energy during workouts or as between-meal snacks. Order a pack today.

• Ultralight protection. Soar Running's new Hot Weather T combines impossibly lightweight open-weave SPACE3D mesh on the torso with UPF 50 fabric on the sleeves and shoulders, engineered to optimize cooling during intense runs. See the tee.

• Trail innovation. The North Face and UNDERCOVER's SOUKUU introduced the Hedgehog Offtrail Hybrid Shoes. It features the BOA® Dial Fit System, Kevlar-reinforced Matryx forefoot, and high-rebound EVA midsoles for technical trail performance. Explore the shoe.

• Summer hydration. Cadence and RAW Nutrition released Core 500 Watermelon Mojito, a limited-edition flavor of their salt-powered drink featuring 500mg sodium, 190mg potassium, and 30mg magnesium in a sleek chrome/silver can. Find it here.

• Gut health. Blume added Mango Passionfruit to its SuperBelly line, combining prebiotics and probiotics in a gut-friendly hydration mix that joins existing flavors Pomegranate Acai, Strawberry Hibiscus, and Lemon Ginger. Shop the collection.

• On-the-go training. Pvolve's Sculpt Anywhere Travel Bundle, curated by Jennifer Aniston, features five resistance tools (Light Ankle Band, Gliders, P.band, P.3, and Heavy Resistance Band) in a chic travel case, accompanied by a nationwide studio tour. Reserve your case.

• Simple nutrition. Wild Horizon Bars feature grass-fed, pasture-raised beef, grass-fed tallow, honey, egg, salt, and organic spices—free from seed oils, gluten, soy, artificial sweeteners, and other additives. Try them here.

• Minimalist running. Vivobarefoot unveiled its lightest running shoe yet, the Primus Flow, featuring no insole for maximum ground feel, supreme flexibility, and ultra-lightweight performance that promotes natural foot mechanics for runners of all levels. Check it out.

• Racing heritage. Bandit Running's Down Bad collection honors the emotional journey of Boston Marathon runners tackling the Newton Hills, available exclusively at their Boylston Street pop-up alongside surprise additions from their ASICS spring 2025 capsule. Visit the store.

Today’s newsletter was brought to you by Joe Niehaus and Ash Read.

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