Happy Friday! I have to say even though we’ve got a lot going on this has been one of the most productive weeks I have had in a while. Maybe being on a time crunch really helps me!

I feel like i’m living in a never ending pile of boxes. Ok, that is probably a little dramatic but it’s true. We’ve also been trying to sell a bunch of stuff on Craigslist that we have no use for anymore. Each night I progress a little further though, so that is all I can really ask for!

 

Yesterday I had another early morning run before heading to work for a few hours. I am starting to understand what you morning runners love about it. It is so peaceful. I still don’t wake up before the sun is up, but having my workout in before 7:30 isn’t too shabby!

I had another quick easy run today. I’m not really sure why my legs are feeling so good this week. I won’t question it though. Once I got back from my run I fixed a quick breakfast.

We are playing the “find a way to finish up everything we have in the house” game. I ended up having oatmeal, frozen strawberries, glutamine and some MammaChia Squeeze on top. It looks odd, but it was good!

 

Since it is Friday I thought I would share another round of Five Products I’m Loving:

Krave Bars

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to try out Krave Protein Bars. What really appealed to me about them was the nutrition information.

Here is what stood out to me:

• High Quality Proteins
• No syrups
• No added sugar
• No preservatives
• 20 grams of protein

I know there is a lot of excitement around the fitness world about Quest Bars, but to be honest they have never appealed to me. I have tried several flavors and just never was impressed.  Krave Bars to me seemed very similar, so at first I was very skeptical.

I was sent two flavors:

Birthday Cake

Cookie Dough

First off, they had no idea that my favorite flavor of ANYTHING is birthday cake so they started out on a good note with me.

I really enjoyed the flavor. They tasted just like they were described. You could tell by the taste they weren’t filled with sugar, but they still were enjoyable to eat. My husband actually liked these even more than I did, especially the birthday cake flavor.

I would definitely choose these again. They are a great quick snack when you need them and you know you aren’t putting a bunch of processed chemicals in your body.

Abloc Endurance Recovery Mix

As my runs start to increase proper recovery is becoming imperative. Hard runs require proper recovery to make sure that my body is being taken care of.

Abloc Endurance Recovery Mix is a 2-1 carb/protein mix which makes it pretty great for immediate post-run consumption.

A few features of the mix:

• Restores your energy levels
• Reduce onset of soreness
• DELICIOUS
• Low sugar content
• All natural ingredients
• Fast dissolving powder

I am never going to be someone who can force themselves to eat or drink an item that doesn’t taste good. Sure, it can be the best thing in the world for me but I don’t find any reason to force yourself to eat something that tastes awful. That is what tends to happen with many protein/recovery drinks I have tried. Sure, they have delicious ingredients but when it comes to taste it is lacking.

Abloc Endurance Recovery Mix is DELICIOUS. I actually look forward to taking it post-workout.  I try to save it for my more intense workouts, but I always look forward to it. It has a smooth and delicious taste and goes down easily. I love how quickly it mixes together too since I am often taking it on the go. Nobody likes a clumpy drink!

This is an excellent product, and I highly recommend it!

Chews 4 Health

Everyone by now should know that I take supplements. It is no surprise, and whether you agree with supplementation or not is okay. I try to get a variety of my nutrients from my diet but take about 3-4 supplements each day just to make sure I am not lacking in certain important areas.

I was introduced to Chews 4 Health last month. Here is a description of Chews 4 Health from their website:

“Chews-4-Health™ contains 4 super fruits: Goji, Noni, Acai and Mangosteen. These fruits and berries offer tremendous health enhancing qualities and contain hundreds of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, essential fatty acids, fiber and phytonutrients. The 4 “Super Fruits” contained in Chews-4-Health™ – Goji, Noni, Acai and Mangosteen are considered by many experts to be the most nutrient rich fruits the world has to offer. Our carefully selected super-fruit complex gives you the power of all 4 in one supplement.”

I have taken chewable vitamins in the past, but mostly avoid them because the flavor is too much for me. Even though I was skeptical I gave these a shot.

The flavor is really delicious. It reminds me of a fruit punch drink.  It is very easy to chew and is great if you are on the go and forgot your normal vitamins. They are all natural, sugar free, vegan and gluten free.

While I don’t think this will replace my vitamins, it is a great additive or on-the-go replacement.

My Protein

If you have never checked out My Protein’s site, I strongly urge you to do so!

They have a wide variety of different proteins, vitamins and much more! I currently am loving two of their proteins especially.

Impact Whey Protein (Cookies N’ Cream)

I usually love all things Cookies N’ Cream, but the protein powders I have tried in the past that are flavored as such usually fall short.

Features of the Impact Whey Protein:

• 82% protein content per scoop
• Available in 19 flavors
• Best seller

This is a great all around protein powder. The verdict on the Cookies N’ Cream flavor? Amazing! I haven’t been able to find another protein powder that tasted this good in that flavor. It is a great mix up from my normal chocolate choice.

 

Milk Protein Smooth (Chocolate)

Even though I love mixing my flavors up, I will always revert back to chocolate most of the time.

Features of the Milk Protein Smooth:

• 4 to 1 ratio of casein to whey proteins
• 24 g of protein per serving
• Slow digesting protein

This is a great protein to take prior to going to bed to aid in recovery while you are sleeping. It is heavy on the casein protein which is slow digesting and great for proper recovery.

Another delicious flavor, you simply can’t go wrong when it comes to chocolate.

Red 11 Sport

One of the unfortunate issues that many runners deal with is chafing.  It may not seem like a big deal, but when you get it in the middle of a long run it is PAINFUL!

For the longest time I have used vaseline. It was inexpensive, simple and for the most part was able to help me avoid the uncomfortableness of chafing.

I was sent a sample of Red 11 Sport a few months back. I figured I would give it a try!

The first thing I noticed was that it was a balm. It was a bit thicker than petroleum jelly, but still went on very smooth. I loved that it didn’t have near as much mess as I was used to. It comes off your fingers easily and doesn’t “grease” up your clothing.

If you are someone who deals with having very sensitive skin, it is also hypoallergenic and safe for all skin types!

Since I began using this I have not had ONE case of chafing. I have used it on short runs, long runs, speed workouts and even when running on the treadmill at the gym. It has passed every test with flying colors!

 

There you have it. Five produces that I have really been loving lately!

 

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Do you use protein powders?.