I'm a stay-at-home-mom who, as part of a mid-life challenge, decided to run a marathon for kicks. I didn't plan on it becoming a hobby, but it did. I QUALIFIED FOR BOSTON at my second marathon and slipped into the vortex. Join me as I fulfill my dream of running the five marathon majors.
I interrupt my usual Sunday post-long run recovery process (including sitting in front of the TV watching Masters Golf coverage in recovery socks and sipping Kombucha) to bring you something cool. Canadian endurance athlete and creator of the Vega line of whole-food nutritional products, Brendan Brazier developed a FREE online program called Thrive Forward. It’s a treasure trove of great nutrition and lifestyle information too good to miss. Starting with Clean Eating 101, Thrive Forward covers stress, sleep, aging and longevity, body composition, energy, strength and endurance training, and more. Really something for everyone.
One of my own goals has been to eat a better breakfast. I tried High Protein Breakfast Quinoa with mixed berries from the Thrive Forward program. It was delicious. I love quinoa but hadn’t thought of it as a breakfast food before.
Definitely go sign up for the Thrive Forward program. Note: I was not compensated for mentioning this program. I was impressed with what I saw when I signed up for it and simply wanted to share. Plus I adore Vega plant-based nutrition.
Recently I was sent a treasure trove of Designer Whey goodies:
From protein powders, drink mixes, and shakes to bars, truly there is something for everyone.
I am no stranger to protein powder. Since my adult fitness journey began in the free-weight area of the gym, I’ve had my share of protein shakes. Now that I’m a runner and a mom, protein still plays a role in my daily routine. I slip it into pancake and waffle batter, in french toast and of course I whip it up in the blender with fruit to make a quick smoothie.
Whiz that up in a blender and enjoy! Easy, tasty and festive at this time of year, yes?
Our recent time change has left me dragging in the morning. Here’s a delicious concoction that perks me right up:
CocoMocha Protein Shake
6 oz coconut milk
6-8 oz brewed coffee
1 scoop Designer Whey Chocolate Protein Powder
Whip that up in a blender or shaker cup and you’re in business. This one is great hot or cold. Just freeze your coffee and/or coconut milk in ice cube trays if you want a frosty treat that’s not watered down.
Ok one more recipe. That ridiculous snow day we had recently sent the kids and I into the kitchen for some fun. Who doesn’t love a good peanut butter egg? These are inspired by that popular springtime treat but have substantially more protein and a lot less sugar.
Chocolate/PB Designer Wheyggs
2/3C Natural smooth nut butter
1 Scoop Designer Whey Vanilla Protein Powder
3T almond milk
1C Chocolate chips (I used bittersweet)
Mix nut butter, protein powder and almond milk together in a bowl. Form 12 egg-shaped balls. Melt chocolate chips in microwave or double boiler. Dip eggs in melted chocolate, decorate if you want, and allow to dry in the fridge or a cool place. Enjoy!
All protein powders are not created equal. The beauty of Designer Whey is that each scoop:
Gives you 18g of natural, premium whey protein for only 100 calories.
Contains all 9 essential amino acids your body needs after a workout to repair and build lean muscle.
Gluten-free and naturally sweetened. Just 2g sugar in the powder.
Protein 2Go Drink Mix. This was new to me. Individual packets of powder easily go anywhere with you. Just add to water, shake, and you’e got 10g of protein in just 50 calories, sweetened with Stevia. I enjoyed these pre-workout. Just enough to get the metabolism going without laying heavy in my stomach. Love the tropical orange flavor!
High Protein Shakes. I love these on days where I go straight from the gym to the ice rink. I have no time to mess with a blender. The same great 18g protein in 100 calories. Loved the gourmet chocolate!
Protein Bars. These too were quite delicious. Crispy and chewy, these contain 10g protein in 160 calories. I found these to be on the sweet side. Remember I’ve been fairly sugar-free for almost 6 weeks so my taste buds are adjusting. Peanut Butter Crunch was my favorite!
Final Words: Overall the Designer Whey product line is very impressive. Delicious, high quality protein in a form to suit everyone’s lifestyle. To get yours go visit Jody, my favorite Designer Whey affiliate! I was sent these products free of charge, however my opinions are my own.
What is your favorite way to enjoy protein powder?
me with: