Freestate Instant Energy Gummies - Review*

I recently received some Instant Energy Gummies from the brand Freestate and thought I would try them out. I have previously used dissolvable tablets when working out but didn't like the taste and the fact you have to drink quite a volume of fluid so these sounded like the ideal alternative.

I received the classic box which contained 20 energy gummies. This retails on their website at £15 plus P&P (which is free with £20 of orders in the UK). Put it this way, that's cheaper than a coffee! Each little packet contains 2 gummies. Each gummy contains a unique formulation of caffeine, vitamins, sugars and flavourings to create an easy, pleasant stimulant for brain and body.

Freestate is energy enhancing experience; providing an instant dose of caffeine (30mg per gummy) and a range of Vitamin Bs. I have seen people use these for cycling and the like. My choice of exercise is running so I decided to take one before and one during a run. The taste can be likened to blue raspberry and was much easier on the palette than a dissolvable tablet. Freestate contains a range of Vitamin Bs: Vitamins B3, B5, B6 and B12. These are all intended to support the energy functions of the brain and body.

They are really convenient if you want an energy boost and another benefit is that they are easy to carry. I simply popped the sachet in my waste belt when I was running. They really did give me a kick of energy. I've used energy gels during races in the past that have left me with an upset stomach and these didn't give me any adverse side effects. I think they are also a great, healthier alternative to energy drinks.

If you'd like to try these for yourself, head over to the Freestate Gummies website and see what they have to offer. It isn't just exercise, you could use them at work, travel and everything in-between.

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more details.

Myprotein - New PhaseTech Range Review*

I am one for trying to keep active but sometimes my energy resources run low and I just need something to give me a little bit of a boost. Since training for a half marathon, my runs have been more frequent and longer meaning I struggle to recover between them. I didn’t want to injure myself but I was at a bit of a loss for what to do. I was then contacted by Myprotein to try out their new PhaseTech Range, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Head over to the myprotein website to discover more about PhaseTech.

Myprotein is one of Europe’s biggest online sports nutrition companies, and one that I was familiar with even before this collaboration. The new PhaseTech products include phased-release breakthrough technology created to enhance performance. They have been incorporated into three enhanced exclusive blends, THE Whey+, THE Pre-Workout+ and THE Amino+. I was lucky enough to receive two of these brand new products and have been trying them out for the past few weeks now in order to bring you a proper review.

The first product I received was THE Whey+  in Vanilla Ice Cream flavour, which costs £26.99 for a 900g 30 serving tub. I think that is excellent value at less than £1 a serving. This product has a unique protein formula designed to provide your body with the right building blocks it needs to help your muscles grow and recover, perfect for me after a long 10 mile run. It contains BCAA, leucine and glutamine which help to build and repair muscles after exercising and less than 2g carbs and 1g fat. It is best consumed in the form of a protein shake, however I have seen people use this in pancake recipes if you prefer your protein in a food form!  To me, it tasted great just mixed with water and in a protein shaker it mixed well. I often added extra things into my shake with the powder and stuck it all in my blender and it was smooth and delicious. The aim of this was to help me repair my muscles and I definitely found that my recovery time between training sessions was reduced. Usually after an efforts training session my legs would ache for 3-4 days, but after incorporating THE Whey+ into my life I’d only ache for one day and be ready to go again.

The second product I received was THE Amino+, a powerful amino acid drink designed to give you energy as well as vitamins and minerals to help aid in muscle recovery. It contains 14g of amino acids, BCAAs, L-leucine, and L-glutamine which all help tone muscles. This product can be added to water or juice before a workout or to give you energy throughout the day. I usually run on a Thursday lunch time with work, and I found that drinking one of these in the morning gave me a good boost before my afternoon run. It comes in three flavours, Berry, Tropical and Blue Raspberry Lime. I received Berry and thought it tasted pretty good so I would imagine the other fruity flavours are equally as nice. The texture was strange at first, a bit like having sprinkles in your drink but I got used to it pretty quickly.

Overall, I am pleased I introduced these products into my workout routine and recovery process. They have really enabled me to up my training plan and would be great for anyone who is into their exercise whether that be running like me or lifting.

If you are interested in trying these products, Myprotein also sell sample packs before committing to a large tub. Are you into your fitness? Would you be willing to give these products a go?

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

'For Goodness Shakes' Protein Coconut Water*

Being on a diet, specifically Slimming World, means that when I want to refuel during or after a workout I have to waste a lot of calories (or syns) on a powdery protein shake. Often these protein drinks aren’t refreshing and I find myself trying to drink them as soon as possible. It seems such a waste! When I heard about the For Goodness Shakes Protein Coconut Water range I knew that I needed to try them as soon as possible and share them with you all. I have already had a great response on Instagram of fellow Slimmers wanting a similar product!

For Goodness Shakes Protein Coconut Water is a new range of deliciously-flavoured soft drinks which give you a protein boost, zero fat and no added sugar. The refreshing blend of coconut water and spring water, boosted with 10g Whey Protein Isolate is just what I crave when I’ve been in the gym. It comes in two refreshing flavours, Tropical and Orange & Mango. I received the Tropical and Mango & Orange flavours. These shakes are available exclusively in ASDA for just £1.99. My Gym just happens to be right next to an Asda which is an added bonus meaning I can pop in and pick up one of these before I start my workout.

I thought both flavours were fruity and refreshing but my favourite was the Mango & Orange flavour. Adding the extra protein into my workout pushes me to go for longer and I find myself doing more reps at a higher weight. The bonus is this is essentially water; you can drink this during your workout and it won’t sit heavy in your stomach. You can also drink this alongside a meal or keep it for on the go. Not only does it hydrate you, the protein will help you to grow and maintain your lean functional muscles when used as part of a balanced diet and exercise plan.

The fact that these are just 52 calories is mind blowing compared to some of the high calorie protein drinks I have had in the past especially as they taste so nice. There is no harm in adding in extra protein around your training and many people don’t wish to take this in the form of a supplement. This drink is refreshing and you’d never even know you were getting a 10g protein hit as an added extra. I love that this low calorie drink can be incorporated into my diet and I have been looking for a low calorie protein drink for what seems like forever!

Overall, I was really impressed with these drinks and they give my work outs that extra boost that I sometimes need and I don’t have to ‘waste’ 100’s of calories drinking a powdery bland protein shake. Find out more information about the For Goodness Shakes range over on their website. Have you seen these around? Will you be trying them out?

*I received these drinks free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way,

Race For Life 2016 *

As you may have seen from my Active Norfolk post, I was training to run the race for life 5km in Norwich. I started off with a time of nearly 43 minutes and with my weekly training sessions I brought this down. The week before the race I did the 5km in around 37 minutes so I wanted to beat this on the day. I received my pack about a week before the race so dressed myself in pink and added some temporary tattoos.

I arrived at the Norfolk Showground alone but then saw my friend Kim’s mum who was running the 10km race so it was good to have someone I knew there. James, my boyfriend and photographer for the day, drove me down there to stand by me. I did the race alone as I was asked to attend by Cancer Research UK to provide me with some blog content. The atmosphere was amazing and there were so many ladies lined up to race. We had some motivational speeches before the race and got to hear from some real survivors – people who have beat cancer. The Norfolk Showground was a sea of pink and I felt proud to be taking part. Even the dogs had dressed up for the occasion! I headed for the joggers section. I have never ran 5km before without stopping so I was determined to try and jog for the whole race.

There was also a 10km race on this day, something I would love to build up my fitness levels into doing. I had to make sure I went the right way! The first 1km was nice and easy as it did take a few minutes to get past the start line. The 2nd km was slightly harder. I kept thinking I must have missed the sign and I’d soon be seeing the 3km sign.. but that wasn’t the case. I kept going, refusing to stop. I thought about how strong all the ladies that have been through cancer treatment are and what they would probably give to run a measly 5km instead of going through all that pain. It kept me going. There was a point in the race where I had to just have a break and walk about 4.5km in. I then went around the corner and saw the finishing line so did a sprint finish to the end. It was great to have everyone cheering me on as I ran through the finish line!

On the day I completed the race in 35 minutes and 4 seconds. For me this was a huge achievement as it was my personal best time and the furthest I have ever ran outside as my previous 5km training was done on a treadmill which to me is easier. I was given my ‘medal’, a packed of Kettle’s crisps, a chocolate chip brioche bun and a bottle of water. I then sat down on the grass to catch my breath.

I had such a great sense of achievement afterwards. My first 5km done! I urge anyone who is thinking about taking part in Race for Life to do so. This was my first one and I did it alone but I think it would be great to get a group of ladies together and do it as a team to raise lots of money.

I raised £150 for Cancer Research UK so thank you so much to Dad, Carol, Chloe, Sabrina, Ruth, Anna, Bethany, Yvonne, Mum, James, James, Nanny, Kelly, Karen and Karen. Together we will beat cancer sooner. Thank you to my boyfriend James who took these photos and stood by me and supported me along the way during the race.

*I was provided free entry to the race for life in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

My Running Essentials

Since I have been training for the Race for Life I have been slowly progressing and my 5k time has come down bit by bit. For someone who was a complete beginner I am really pleased with myself and hope to beat my latest time on Sunday! I thought I would share with you my running essentials. These are the things I cannot be without when I’m training!

Music/iPod

I have been doing some last minute interval training sessions to get myself ready for the race! I find interval training very boring but it’s the best way for me to increase my heart rate. When I was contacted by a company that provides running songs that incorporate interval training I really wanted to try them out. As a beginner I went for the 3 minute interval training and the whole album sets you up to include warmups and cooldowns. The songs are upbeat and narrated with a friendly voice which tells you when it’s time for a walk or a jog. I felt motivated listening to these songs and they’re interesting enough to make you want to keep going faster and not stop. I listening to them through my phone with my beats headphones but these songs can also be added to your iPod if you buy the album on iTunes.

If you have Spotify you can listen to the 3 minute interval training here, or the 4 minute here or pyramid interval training here. Unless you have premium membership you can only listen to these on ‘shuffle’ which means they are in the wrong order so I’d recommend only listening in if you have a premium Spotify account.

These songs are also available to download on Google Play, or Amazon.  Check them out on Twitter.

Workout Clothes
I cannot workout without the correct attire. Getting a new gym outfit motivates me to want to go out! I wear a variation of tshirts and leggings but my essentials stay the same. I always wear a sports bra and mine came from H&M and is really comfy. I also always wear my Nike trainers, although they have seen better days and I am in need of a new pair. I usually have a towel to hand too for those hot and sweaty runs.

Water and Snacks
I always bring snacks with me for after my run. I have usually eaten before but after I need to replenish my energy stores so usually go for something like a banana. I recently tried this popcorn too and it's delicious! It is important to stay hydrated when running and I feel a lot more comfortable knowing I have a drink nearby. I always have water with me when I am running and can easily get through a whole bottle during a 5k! This may seem extreme to some but starting out I got a very dry mouth and it helped to have a bottle to hand!

Fitness Accessories 
I always take the essential accessories when going for a run. My apple watch has a running app and is also linked with Strava so I like to use either of those apps to track my run as well as my heart rate. I also own a Fitbit Flex (I bought the floral band from eBay) and this counts my steps for me. I am often challenging work colleagues so going out without this on would be a waste of time with regards to a competition!

I hope you enjoyed this post, what are your running essentials?

*I received no financial reward or incentives for this blog post.

January's Weight Progress Feat. Nutribuddy*

January is the month where I always try and get back on the straight and narrow with my diet and exercise. After an indulgent month in December I couldn’t wait to try and shift some of those pesky Christmas pounds that I piled on.

When I was contacted by Nutribuddy to try out an exciting range of natural sports supplements which aims to aid weight loss in a healthy way, I jumped at the chance and knew it would be the perfect addition to my January routine. I was kindly sent the Nutribuddy's Weight Loss Starter Kit which costs £69.99 and contains Sculpting Whey, Hunger Fix, Multivitamins and a Shaker bottle. Everything you need to kick start that weight loss. I received the chocolate flavour but there was also the option of vanilla. The pack also came with a handy weight loss guide packed full of recipes and a meal plan that you can follow alongside the Nutribuddy products. I like to think I eat fairly healthily anyway but loved adding some of these recipes to my diet which I think really helped to contribute to the results I got.

The Sculpting Whey comes in a 908g pouch and works best as a snack replacement. This whey based protein drink is made from the milk of free-range, grass fed GM-free cows. It also includes natural ingredients such as green tea and guarana to boost metabolism. I drank this mid-morning to replace the chocolate bar or packet of crisps that I would have usually grabbed. I mixed 30g of the whey with 300ml of water but you can also mix this with milk. I put this in my Nutribuddy shaker bottle which was the perfect addition to the essential pack I received as I don’t own a shaker. The more you shake the mix, the smoother it gets. I half expected it to taste artificial but the drink was actually really tasty and a pleasure. I did notice that it took the edge of my hunger too and I would happily replace my unhealthy snacks with this. The Sculpting Whey is suitable for vegetarians and contains 30 servings so will last you a month if taken once daily. At first I realised the scoop in the whey pouch was slightly too big for the bottle but Nutribuddy have now introduced a smaller scoop and are offering a £3 discount code to anyone who has the larger one. I think that’s great customer service and shows the company are really thinking about our needs.

I then received some Hunger Fix capsules are there to help reduce hunger cravings. I took 1 capsule just before each meal. You can take 2 if you need extra help but no more than 6 a day. The capsules need to be taken with a full glass of water. I am not sure if it’s the water that reduced my hunger cravings or the tablets but I definitely noticed a difference and found myself snacking less frequently than usual. The tablets takes up space in your stomach to help naturally suppress appetite. These capsules are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

I also received the Nutribuddy Multivitamins which you only need to take once a day at any time that you can fit into your schedule. These are good for general health and wellbeing and whilst I didn’t notice any specific improvements I felt better and healthier overall which could contribute to taking these. There is enough tablets for 2 months and these are also suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

I added the Nutribuddy products to my diet straight after Christmas and continued for a total of 3 weeks alongside a healthy lifestyle and exercise regime and I am really impressed with my results. To see the types of food I ate during these 3 weeks, head over to my Instagram. I tracked the 2 things that are most important to my progress which were my weight and my waist circumference. I am trying to lose weight and tone up so by tracking these 2 elements I could really see the progress and I think the photos and results speak for themselves. After just 3 weeks I lost 7lbs and 2.5 inches from my waist. I was so impressed and could definitely see the difference in my waist in that it curved in more and my stomach bloating decreased rapidly. All from introducing Nutribuddy to my lifestyle!

When I showed my boyfriend my before photos he thought I was pushing my stomach out but that is genuine Christmas bloat! I can see my waist is already more defined from the before photos!

Starting stats:
Weight: 12 stone 5
Waist Measurement: 34"

Ending Stats:
Weight: 11 stone 12
Waist Measurement: 31.5"

I am happy with the range I received from Nutribuddy and recommend it to anyone wanting to aid and improve their weight loss. I feel more energetic, my clothes fit better and I have even noticed improvements in my skin and my hair. I am a happier person and this is only after 3 weeks. To see results so quickly from only making small adjustments is simply fantastic. I can’t wait to continue on my Nutribuddy journey and see what the future holds! To try the range for yourself, head over to the Nutribuddy website and chose your products now.

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. This post contains affiliate links.

Cooking With Whey - Feat. Bulk Powders*

A few weeks ago now I was given the opportunity to try some products from Bulk Powders and create a delicious recipe that’s pretty much guilt free. Bulk Powders is the UK leader in high quality protein supplements, powders and food products. Head over to their website to find a huge range of products to match any training goal or lifestyle you may have. They pride their selves on high grade protein products and are passionate about effective training and clean eating. I was challenged to create a recipe so I created these amazing lemon meringue protein muffins which taste so good you wouldn’t even realise they are relatively healthy.

In my pack I received a bag of Pure Whey Protein  which is low in fat and Carbohydrates and great value for money. A 500g bag is just £8.99 containing 16 servings at just 56p a serving. It provides a quality protein source and is essential for anyone trying to build muscle. It comes in 18 flavours and I also received some sample packs of the Lemon Meringue Whey which was absolutely delicious when mixed as a shake. What I love about Bulk Powders is that you can buy sample ‘one serving’ sizes of all of the flavours for just 99p a sachet so if you’re not 100% sure if you’ll like it this is a great way to try before you commit to buying a larger bag.

The lemon meringue samples inspired me to create this recipe incorporating the ingredients sent to me by Bulk Powders. I also received a bottle of Liquid Egg Whites  which I used to make healthy meringues with. I love that this saves so much time and effort separating the eggs and these can even be stored at room temperature saving valuable fridge space. The egg whites contain only 1% carbohydrates and 0.5% fat meaning they are virtually pure protein and great for you. These are great for people who want to increase their protein consumption and help to grow that muscle mass.

If you’d like to make your very own protein cupcakes then read on.

Ingredients (Makes 4)

1 scoop Bulk Powders Pure Whey Protein 

½ teaspoon Baking Powder

2 tablespoons Liquid Egg Whites 

2 tablespoons Fat Free Natural Yoghurt

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

Method

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celcius and grease a muffin tin with a little bit of coconut oil on a tissue. Alternatively you can use paper cases as I have below.

Mix the protein powder and baking powder then add the egg whites and yoghurt. Mix well until you get a smooth consistency.
 

Spoon the batter into your muffin tins and bake for around 15 minutes until golden.

Top with protein meringues (recipe below).

For the meringues I simply whisked a cup of the liquid egg whites  with an electric whisk until they formed stiff peaks. I then folded in half a packet of the lemon meringue protein powder sample.

The mixture smelt delicious, I then popped a dollop of this onto a baking tray and put in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for around half an hour until the mixture hardened into a meringue texture. I noticed that the meringues were tinted yellow, I think this is due to the protein powder. These were not like your conventional sugary meringue but tasted like a great alternative and went really well topped with the muffin and gave it that little bit of sweetness. You could even crumble the muffin and the meringue into a bowl of fat free yoghurt for a really tasty healthy treat.

If you’re interested in cooking with whey  and trying some recipes out yourself, head over to Bulk Powders – The Core  for many more recipes incorporating whey.

*I received these items from Bulk Powders free of charge in exchange for an honest review and to create a recipe. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more information. 

Blend Bros Savoury Protein Powder*

I’m not one for protein shakes, I can’t seem to find a flavour that I like and they always seem powdery for me so I am forever trying to find other ways to up my protein sources, especially on days that I have had a good work out at the gym. When I heard about Blend Bro’s Savoury Blend high protein sauce range, I couldn’t wait to try these. 

Blend Bros kindly sent me a couple of samples and a large tub of their Mexican Pibil Stew mix which costs just £19.99. Such a cost effective way of getting that extra protein in your diet without breaking the bank on tubs of bland whey powder. The flavours are varied and also come in Thai Jungle Curry and Spanish Tomato and Chorizo.

Firstly can I just mention the packaging? I love the design of the tins and they come complete with a scoop inside so you can easily measure your portions.

My boyfriend is trying to up his intake at the moment and these protein rich sauces are the perfect addition to each meal packing in a whopping 20g of protein per serving. They are so easy to prepare, you simply mix the powder with water and stir and heat – really straight forward! 

 

 

The range of sauces go with meat fish and vegetables to create that perfect meal. I tried the Thai Jungle Curry with some chicken to create a delicious curry meal. Serve with brown rice and vegetables for a healthy balanced meal, and perfect for that post gym protein hit. 

I mixed the powder with water and then poured it over cooked chicken on the hob. I let this simmer to thicken the sauce and it came out perfect. At first I thought it was going to be too watery but it turned out fine in the end.

No corners have been cut with the flavouring, this meal really was delicious. You wouldn't have any idea that this was high in protein, to me it tasted really flavoursome.

I can't wait to experiment with the other flavours I received and think these savoury blends are a fantastic idea.

What flavour would you like to try?

*I was provided with these Blend Bros Savoury Protein Powders free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

Arla Protein Review*

Summer is basically here and one of the first things that crosses my mind is keeping healthy and getting back to a regular gym routine. One of the things I struggle with is finding snacks that fill me up and replenish my protein sources after a work out.

When I first heard about Arla Protein a quark product from Arla Foods, I couldn't wait to incorporate this into my pre and post workout snacks. The handy 200g pots are ideal and don't take up too much space in your gym bag.



Arla Protein pots RRP at an average of £1.25 for a 200g pot. I think this is a great price for a product that packs in 20g of protein per pot! That's the same amount of protein as 5 egg whites. Not only do these give you a good protein hit, the Arla Protein is fat free and low in sugar. It is made with all natural ingredients including quark which is a natural dairy product.

These pots are available in raspberry, blueberry and strawberry. I tried all 3 and they were all absolutely delicious. My favourite was the blueberry and I enjoyed eating this with some fresh blueberries and a sprinkling of granola for a bit of crunch.

The Arla pots are thick and creamy and taste really delicious. Usually with fat free products you can taste the artificial sweeteners and they aren't that nice but with these pots its a real treat and if you're trying to avoid Aspartame then these are a great option.

So, if you’re looking for a new pre or post workout snack, try Arla Protein today. Find it in the yogurt aisle nationwide at all major retailers. You can find out more information on the Arla website here.

*The Arla Protein pots were provided free of charge in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more information.