We are well into 2013 and many of us are back to working on our health and fitness after a crazy holiday season. I have always been a fan of supplements to improve physical performance and help get the nutrients a body needs. My top two supplement must-haves ("just the basics") are whey protein and a pre-workout (in addition to a daily multivitamin). I have tried some new brands and flavors lately and am excited to share them with you!
Whey Protein- Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey Gold Standard in Double Rich Chocolate has and always will be my favorite protein powder. Truth be told, I rarely venture outside of this brand and flavor. In January, I branched out and tried their Vanilla Ice Cream and Cookies and Cream flavors. I have to say I enjoyed them just as much as their chocolate flavor! They mixed well (I use almond milk), the flavor was rich and the texture was smooth.
Another new whey protein I tried in January was from Peak Science Labs: Peak Premium Whey Protein in Creamy Chocolate. It was a little bit thicker than Optimum's Gold Standard which makes it a good candidate for mixing with water. The flavor was definitely more milky than some other chocolate whey protein powders which was a welcome change. One scoop is 140 calories, 1.5g of fat, 8g of carbs (3g of fiber = 5g net carbs), and 21g of protein. The added fiber really helps the whey digest and is easy on your tummy. At $49.95 for 30 servings it is certainly not the cheapest protein on the market, but the New Zealand whey may be worth the higher price. (New Zealand is known to have a better diary industry than other countries with higher standards essentially producing better quality products.)
Pre-Workout- If you haven't heard, Optimum Nutrition went to market in the Fall of 2012 with their first pre-workout supplement, Platinum Pre. Being an Optimum fan I was excited to try it in place of my usual Gaspari SuperPump MAX pre-workout (Blue Raspberry Ice is still a personal favorite). I have only tried the Raspberry Lemonade flavor and, just like other Optimum products, the flavor was great! This supplement increases energy and focus during workout as well as delivers a great pump. The capsicum (from chili peppers) in the formula does give it a little bit of a spicy flavor (especially at the end of the drink) even though it is encapsulated and isn't supposed to. In general, I enjoyed this product but have experienced a little bloating and gas that I have never experienced with SuperPump.
Give some of these products a try and let me know what you think! What are your favorite supplements?
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