protein

Designer Whey Product Review & Giveaway

Sponsored Post/Product Review: Although this post is sponsored by Designer Whey, all opinions are my own.

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Hey guys! I had the opportunity to try some new product which I wanted to share with you all. I have dabbled in all sorts of protein powders but have yet to find a favorite. Designer whey is definitely at the top of my list, along with Optimum Nutrition and Cellucor. Here is what I tried from Designer Whey:

French Vanilla powder: (mixed with almond milk) This is my favorite. It’s not too thick and the vanilla flavoring is super tasty. Each scoop is 100 calories and 18 grams of protein. Most other powders are more calories, and also more protein content, but this is a great lighter shake. If you are in the “cutting phase” or lower calories fit into your macros, this is the way to go. Still has enough protein, but only at 100 cals.

Gourmet Chocolate powder: Same 100 cals/18g protein. The chocolate isnt over powering, but a subtle flavor. Also very light. The powder mixes better than any other whey powders I’ve tried.

Luscious strawberry powder: I’m not a big strawberry fan, but this wasn’t too bad. I definitely recommend mixing all with milk as they are lighter shakes and are much more filling with milk rather than water.

Also a huge fan of the ready to drink shakes. Same calorie and protein content as the powder. I love the fact that I can just throw them in my bag and go. For someone who’s always on the go like myself, this is ideal.

Triple Chocolate crunch and peanut butter crunch protein bars: These are both equally delish. Not bad on the calorie front, at about 160 calories per bar. These are much healthier than others I’ve seen on the market. Such a yummy replacement for a chocolate bar or piece of candy. I will be buying these again.

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So why drink whey?

With so much information and so many different protein sources, it can be hard to determine what is accurate and what you should take.

It all starts with you.  Your body has different needs for different situations.  With a regular, well-balanced diet, you are already getting a good amount of protein from many of the foods you eat.  But with our multitasking, hectic schedules, and workouts, your body needs additional protein to recover and, depending on your workouts, build muscle.

That’s where whey comes in:
• Whey is pure so your body quickly absorbs it for maximum post-workout recovery and nutrition.
• Whey is a “complete” lean protein with the right balance of amino acids and protein to help your immune system. (source)

Whey is a VERY important factor when trying to reach any fitness goal. Whey is a powerful muscle builder, and also aids in weight loss. It’s one of the first supplements you should consider when starting a muscle-building or fat-loss goal. Here is a great article if you’d like to read more about the benefits of whey.

Another really cool thing about Designer Whey is that they have a long list of protein recipes on their website. You know me, I love trying new protein recipes. Protein powder isnt just for drinking these days, but can be put in pretty much any recipe!

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Designer Whey was gracious enough to give away 5 cans of protein powder to a lucky Fitness & the City reader!

To enter the giveaway please complete the following:

  1. Follow Designer Whey on Instagram: @designer_whey
  2. Follow Fitness & the City on Instagram: @fitnessandthecity
  3. Tweet about the giveaway and tag @designerwhey and @jennapardini
  4. Leave a comment letting me know that you have completed the above and if you were to win, which flavors you would like to try.

Winner will be announced April 14th.

Good luck!

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Keep up with Designer Whey: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

FITzee Meals Arrived / Chest & Tris Workout

Woohooo it was a good week! My workouts have been on point and my FITzee meals came in the mail! (THANK YOU SO MUCH FITzee!) I’m seriously obsessed with FITzee foods. If you don’t have time to meal prep, you just throw one of their meals on the stove and bam there it is, a healthy and delicious meal. FITzee is gluten-free, non-processed food with extra attention given to fitness peeps and their nutritional needs. Tons of protein, veggies, and complex carbs. NO JUNK! They are so engaged with the fitness community and even host yoga classes near their store in San Diego.

Here’s what my box consisted of this time:

  • Black bean breakfast bowl (LOVE)
  • Breakfast pita pizza (can’t wait to try)
  • Paleo Thai Coconut Curry Chicken (delish)
  • Red Mole Chicken (yum)
  • Paleo BBQ Salmon with steamed brocoli and carrots (can’t wait to try)
  • Red Chicken Enchiladas (one of my faves)
  • Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Bake (another fave)
  • Shredded Chicken mac n’ cheese (can’t wait to try)
  • (and I’m missing a bunch because they have already been eaten!)

If you order anything from www.fitzeefoods.com make sure to tell them Jenna sent you!! 🙂

Now for my chest and triceps workout:

Remember to lift heavy! I am using 15lbs in the pic, but the weight depends on your strength. Some days I do more, some less. You can also use more weight, less reps on the last set to give you an extra pump. But don’t compare, set your own goals!

Enjoy your week!

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Clean Eating: put simply

 

I have been getting a ton of questions regarding the basics. “What is clean eating?” “How can I eat clean?” I know I use that phrase a lot, so lets back it up a bit and get down to the basics.

So what’s the hype around “eating clean?” I am no expert, but I have done my fair share of research and experimentation with this subject. My body is a constant experiment and what you put in it is SO important to your health and well-being. So, put simply, clean eating is just a way to talk about what you are eating. This is not a diet or a short-term thing, but more of a lifestyle. This way of eating incorporates un-processed foods, with no chemicals. Food that is at it’s natural state, without going through a factory. This means eating your fruits and veggies, whole grains and lean proteins rather than pre-packaged, processed or fast foods. In all reality, there are no fitness goals that can be achieved without it. Without a clean diet, exercise can be mostly ineffective. (eek!)

There are so many benefits to eating clean, as I have said a million times I’m sure. But I am so passionate about this stuff and can’t stress the importance enough. I have been an avid gym-goer for quite some time, but I wasnt putting the right things into my body, therefore I saw no results. I was “working out to eat”, I guess you could say. To see results, you MUST eat clean, energize your body with the right foods, which will in turn set you up for success. Sorry if this is information you are already aware of, but many are unaware, as was I a year or so ago. Set yourself up for success and eat clean!

“It’s not about finding the right diet, but adopting the right lifestyle.”

To get you started here are some basic foods groups which play a big act in this lifestyle:

  • Protein Sources: chicken, turkey, fish, egg whites, greek yogurt, protein powder
  • Whole Grains– whole grain breads, ezekial bread, whole grain oats, brown rice, quinoa
  • Veggies– brocoli, green beans, asparagus, cauliflower, pretty much any plants!
  • Fruits– visit this site to learn more about what fruits are low in sugar
  • Healthy Fats– nut butters, avocado, almonds
  • Sugar– Have you heard that saying “eat less sugar, you’re sweet enough already”? Enough said. 🙂

Food is a big ticket to health. If you eat like garbage you will feel like garbage. Does this seem a bit overwhelming? There is a lot of information out there and I’m sure it’s a lot to take in. But keep it simple. Take baby steps. Don’t go from one extreme to the other. This is a learning process for everyone, including fitness models and competitors! I am still learning a ton of different things on a daily basis. However, it so is important to know, that one thing may work for some, but not for others. Each of us is different, and you should find the right thing for you. It’s a constant journey and we are in this together! Most importantly, have fun with it! (Can you tell via my Facebook and IG that I am having a ball experimenting with new foods?)

Here are some tips to get you started:

To read more visit my favorite site for information: bodybuilding.com

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for reading! xo

Garlic Shrimp Stew Recipe

This recipe is to die for! My mom found it in Runners World Magazine, and we both gave it a shot. Needless to say, it is a keeper. Shrimp is full of protein and selenium, a mineral that aids in recovery. Perfect recipe post exercise.

I posted this picture on the Facebook page and Instagram, which led to many questions so here is the full recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound medium peeled and deveined shrimp (I used 1 bag of frozen shrimp from Trader Joes)
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 bay leaf, broken into pieces
  • 1 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 15 ounce cans white beans, drained
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Toss shrimp with 1 tablespoon oil and pimenton. Add shrimp to skillet; sauté 1 to 2 minutes; add half the garlic the last few seconds of cooking. Spoon shrimp into a bowl and set aside. Return skillet to heat; add 2 tablespoons oil, pepper flakes, bay leaf, and remaining garlic. Cook till garlic is golden, a few seconds. Add tomatoes; cook till most of the liquid evaporates, 2 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook till tomato mixture darkens. Add beans and broth; simmer till it’s a thick stew, 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp and parsley; cook till heated through. Drizzle with remaining oil. Serves 4.

You can also experiment with any seafood you like, it doesn’t have to be shrimp! I would imagine it would taste phenomenal with chicken as well. This recipe is full of flavor, a little spice, so simple and a perfect meal post exercise.

Calories per serving: 436; Carbs: 37 G; Fiber: 9 G; Protein: 35 G; Fat: 17 G

Enjoy!

Easy Protein Ball Recipe

This is the easiest no bake “baking” ever! So delicious and the perfect snack! Thank you Megan Trafton – I heart muscle for sharing this recipe! So here you have it… PROTEIN BALLS:

Ingredients:

  • whey protein (I used both vanilla and chocolate)
  • oats
  • water

Yep……thats it! Um, can you say easy? Oh, and not to mention, the fewer the ingredients the fewer the calories. Perfecto!

Step one: Blend the oats and protein in a blender to get a fine consistency. I used a 50/50 ratio and that seemed to taste great.

Step two: put the blended oats and protein in a bowl and dribble a little water into the bowl. It is tough to get the right amount of water, but be sure to start off with only a drip and add more as you need. The purpose of the water is to get the mixture to stick in a ball, but if you use too much water it will be a sticky mess! Trust me, it is hard to get the right consistency so start with very little water.

Step three: roll the dough in a circular motion with your hands to form a ball. I then rolled it in more protein powder to stop them from sticking to each other. This takes patience, but the results are worth it.

Step four: Refrigerate and enjoy!

And that’s all there is to it! I love bringing these to work to munch on every so often. They are the perfect protein snack and often curve my craving for sweets.

Be sure to check out Fit & Fierce on Facebook for more recipes, motivation and fitness tips!

Another great Facebook page for some fitness inspiration, is Megan Trafton-I heart muscle. Go check her out!

Have a great weekend! -Jenna

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