Protein powder-gluten free and yummy

       So I had an awesome, active day including our launch of BodyPump! 5 classes finished off with earning my spot in the 5 Minute Plank Club...whoop woop :) We made it a family affair with Steve doing a class and Gia cheering us on from the windows. What a great start to Labor Day weekend! I'm officially 6 weeks out from the fitness competition so it is in full swing. Nutrition is number one, workouts second. I eat cleaner than ever (hard to believe, I know.) and have increased protein and over all calories to get one more solid week of building muscle before I start to dial it all in. I have got to get that scale to budge---upward. by muscle mass. pronto. (Yes, I do know the muscle gain rules, 1 lb per month on average for average women..I know this... but I'm trying to push the limit. We'll just see how my body responds. So far, it's been one lb/ month...)

       Well I promised a review of the newest protein powder I found so here it is. It is called About Time 100% whey isolate. Now, this is important...if you are in the market for protein powder, whether it is gluten-free or not, you should look for whey isolate, as opposed to concentrate or blends. Whey isolate is the best, most readily available form of protein. This brand is not only gluten-free but sugar free, Sucralose (fake sugar sometimes included in "sugar free food"), and lactose free. So it's pretty clean and allergen free.
My review is a good one :)

Content: obviously great, no tummy aches which is common for me with some not so clean ones.. On top of that it is only 103 calories per scoop and 25 grams I protein- that is a high amount for such low calories. Look at it this way, (put on your math-caps)1 gram of protein has 4 calories, that means 100 calories come from protein and only 3 calories come from other ingredients (a marginal amount of fat). That is clean protein!
Taste: good- even sweet compared to other sugar free ones but really good vanilla flavor. Oh! And I can't forget to mention their other flavors- cake batter and chocolate and so many I haven't tried so I can't say how good they are but sound tasty.
Texture: very powdery and smooth
Mixability: I try all shakes/powders with water first and it was pretty tasty, granted the last one I had was really gross, but even comparing it to others I loved the flavor of this one. I use it mostly with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and it mixes into my almond milk very well and is more vanilla-y and smooth. I only mix with about 3/4 cup.
Price: $$- really good comparatively and when buying from www.supplementwarehouse.com you can get free stuff too so it makes it better. Just make sure you order the next tub BEFORE you run out or you'll be waiting for their slow shipping while craving the protein yumminess.

So in conclusion: Love it, go buy it!
-----SECRET SNACK-ATTACK----
I make a delicious nighttime snack with this powder and as I mentioned, here it is:
1/2 cup -3/4 cup vanilla almond milk
1 scoop About Time vanilla powder
1/2 cup frozen blackberries
Oatmeal to desired thickness-sometimes I add more if I have carbs/calories to spare by the end of the night.
Drizzle with honey.

I eat it every night as a sweet desert while my hubbs is chowing down on his nightly Magnum ice cream bar that I drool over (ooohhh when competition is over I am so having one).

Protein crisis fixed- cheap, fast meal included

So it's been too long but I wanted to post an update on my life as a mom-wife-grad student-personal trainer-fitness competitor-in-training- bodypump-memorizing-maniac of a life. Wow, I'm doing a lot but it's fun for me (probably not for the hubs but I certainly appreciate all his help). As you can see, still no pictures posted. This is for two reasons, 1) I'm embarrassed. and 2) Gia lost my camera! Ok, so I've seen progress.... 3% bodyfat gone and no pounds gone. That is my goal, I don't want to lose weight, I actually want to see it go up by 2 or stay the same. I need to loose bodyfat and gain muscle so I'm doing it right so far. I'll tweak it for the next week and keep tweaking until comp time.

Here's the crisis: I ran out of protein powder last week! Call the news station, call the National Guard- we almost had a national crisis. Well, at least that's how I felt! When I ran out of protein I was so low and my muscles just couldn't recover like I needed them to. I tell everyone that protein is important! My friends that have listened have seen results.  It is hard to get a lot of protein sometimes, especially if you are in "contest prep" mode, like myself. And honestly, it's hard even if you just want a normal amount.  I need between 115-140 grams of protein a day and for someone that doesn't like meat, that is very very hard. I was nearly crying while choking down my 2nd piece of chicken after eating 2 fish fillets and a can of tuna earlier in the day :-/

Well, I found a great shake- it's the 4th brand I've trie.... I just want a good one, that's all I ask. I have been in the market for a Gluten-free, sugar free, sucralose free, lactose free whey isolate protein powder that has BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) for recovery- and I think I finally found one. I received it Friday and will use it for one week before I review it... I'll let you know if it's a keeper!


Favorite meal of the day-Cheap, low cal, easy:
Swai fillet (fish) sprinkle with oregano, thyme, basil and chili powder all to taste- baked in the oven 15mins
peach salsa from Trader Joes 1 tablespoon
gluten-free corn tortilla - Mission Yellow corn are gluten free
Green beans or broccoli --- or awesome salad of your choice (watch the dressing, salsa is a good one for low cal and adds veggies :) )
black beans- make sure they are low sodium. Eat 1/2 cup, it's a decent amount!

aaahhhhmazing. Low carb version is no tortilla and only 1/4 cup of beans. But either way, it's a great fish taco with high protein, good fiber and great veg choices.
Follow it up with my favorite protein packed after-dinner snack that I'll post during the protein powder review. So check back in a week or so!

Here's a great pick from our active-recovery day at Ha Ha Tonka state park...400+ stairs one direction, plus a mini hike! (don't mind the post-picnic lunch food baby protruding from my midsection..mmmmm picnics)

Live Happy and Healthy!

Stop the DIETING maddness

I hope everyone had a good Mother's Day and I hope you are still being celebrated and are still pampering yourself even though it's all over :) I heard something said this weekend that irks me and I had to put it out there to make sure everyone hears this. Someone said this weekend "well, THIS is a bad day for my diet! Guess I'll diet again on Monday..."  That is so frustrating to me, I with the word 'diet' would just disappear. Or at least only be used when talking about someones dietary intake...as in "their diet consists of...", not A Diet.  When someone is on A Diet it gives them a something to fail at, or take time off of (and usually not go back to!). But when we lead a Healthy Lifestyle, those random days where you eat something 'bad' is just a fun day, not a day where you think "I failed, I ate wrong or I will have to start over." Does that make sense? Diets fail. But healthy lifestyles are there forever, it's your lifestyle, how you live every day and there's no way around it. Those little dietary indiscretions aren't going to hurt as bad or be as detrimental when you feel good about yourself every other day of the week.

It's like talking to a child and telling them they can't do something, what do they do? They want to do it more. What do teen girls do when you say they can't date that bad-boy? She wants to date him more. What happens when you tell yourself you can't have that cookie? you can't stop thinking about cookies until  you go to the store and get a box! So give yourself that cookie. Then have a salad for dinner :) If you tell yourself you're "on a diet" then it's something that you will really not want to do. But if you decide to live a healthy life and just be healthy because you need to then it won't be so tempting to be "bad". This is your one live, live it, love it and be healthy. the Golden Rule of life: Treat your body like you want to be treated, with respect.

I challenge every one of you to STOP DIETING! Free yourself from that ball and chain and just live healthy, you will be happier. Food is fuel for your body, it helps you get though the day. And that bowl of fettuccini alfredo will not be your 'last one you can ever have' so don't eat a heaping amount like it's your last meal. Have a small portion, savor it, add some veggies and be OK with your choices. Make healthy choices for life.

Ok, talking with a friend today about protein and how it is important to weight loss.... so here's a protein packed snack:

Protein Packed Peanut Butter balls-

1/2 cup Peanut Butter (natural- try a Mennonite store here in MO, it's way cheaper for fresh PB)

1/2 cup Agave nectar (organic. Agave has a lower glycemic index so it won't give as much of a "sugar rush" as honey...or sub honey)

1 cup oats (quick or regular)

3/4 cup brown rice flour (it's gluten free. but you can use any flour)

1/4 cup vanilla protein powder (or just 1 cup of flour if you don't have protein powder)

*optional: craisins or raisins to tase...about 1/4 cup

Combine flour and protein. Mix peanut butter and Agave nectar. Mix remaining ingredients together then add it all together in to a large bowl and evenly combine. Roll into little balls, about 1". Place them on a wax paper covered cookie tray and put in the freezer for 30 mins. Eat, enjoy!

Have a Happy, Healthy day! If you have questions about a workout or gluten free eating please leave it in the comments...