A new fitness goal has been set.
The magazines I tend to read are full of health and fitness advice. One such mag is Muscle & Fitness Hers. they feature some great workouts, but my favorite parts are always about the figure competitors. The ladies in those competitions blow me away – they are smaller and less and vascular than bodybuilders, but have a physically fit/well-balanced physique. Getting to that level of health has long been a dream for me.
Last week I took action to reach that goal. I joined and gym and hired a trainer to help ready me for a competition. 8 days (and a chunk of money) later, I’m on my way with a custom workout schedule, a diet plan, and a whole lot of support and encouragement.
I’d met with trainers before, but after talking to this gym I knew it was the perfect fit. Despite the fact that it’s 30 miles away. House of Payne is a serious gym – none of the “see and be seen” BS. They offer everything I need from training to posing classes!
My first workout with the trainer was legs and butt last Monday. I wasn’t able to lower myself to the toilet without a firm grasp on the counter until Friday. Good workout, no?
One of the most challenging things about training is the food. In addition to not being allowed booze (*whimper*), I am aiming to get 150g of protein a day over the course of 7 meals (basically, I eat ALL the time). I have to gain weight and some serious muscle! This is especially difficult on a vegetarian diet – it involves a ton of Greek yogurt, egg whites, cottage cheese, beans, tofu, and tempeh. The heavy rotation of dairy, beans, and soy gets old, so look forward to a couple of protein powder creations each day.
Which brings me to the next topic – the loot I returned home to after the Chile trip!
I thought it was Christmas in July… errr… June
I was given the opportunity to sample and review a variety of GNC and Vega protein products through Fitfluential! If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I have always been a stickler for getting my post-workout 20g protein in to build muscle and aid in recovery. Protein shakes are a great way to do that – especially if you find it hard to eat solid foods after a hard workout (like me).
Below is the line up of powders I received, pics and some quick thoughts. I made them ALL into green smoothies with spinach and banana for 2 reasons.
- 80% of the time I ingest my protein powder in green smoothie-form, and
- I wanted to “test” them all with the same base (fair and balanced!)
The Smoothie Base Recipe:
- 1 scoop protein powder
- 1 C spinach
- 1/2 large Banana
- 1/2 in piece fresh ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon (or 1 4-5 inch cinnamon stick)
- 1/4 C unsweetened almond milk
- 7-8 drops vanilla liquid stevia
- Ice
1. GNC Casein – Vanilla flavor:
Slow digesting, making it perfect between meals or before bed for overnight muscle repair.
I am a big fan of casein; however, this one is a bit gummy/slimy. I even tried the smoothie sans spinach to see if it would help the texture. Notsomuch. The flavor is great, and I do think having it in a smoothie at night contributed to my being able to getting out of bed in the morning.
2. GNC Egg – Chocolate flavor:
Great for breakfast, and for the lactose intolerant; consume just before or after workouts.
This one is a favorite. I’d never tried an egg protein powder before, and I really expected it to be slimy too. Quite the opposite! Great texture and a natural-tasting chocolate flavor.
3. GNC Whey – Vanilla flavor:
Fast absorbing; consume just before or after workouts.
This one also has a great texture when blended in a smoothie. You can tell it’s a “protein powder vanilla” flavor. I’m totally used to it, but if you’re new to powder it can take some adjusting. Add a cap of vanilla or almond extract and it will be just fine. I also tried it mixed with water just for fun… and remembered why I always make smoothies.
4. GNC Soy – Chocolate flavor:
A plant-based protein; good pre-or post-workout, or as a snack throughout the day.
I’m a sucker for chocolate. This made an awesome midnight snack while I laid on the couch lamenting my sore glutes.
5. Vega – Vanilla flavor:
Another plant-based protein; within 30-90 minutes of working out, or to recharge/repair.
This was my #1 vanilla-flavored pick. The plant-based powders tends to taste a bit more natural to me. I had tried Vega a couple of years ago and didn’t care for it – their new formula is awesome though! Perfect texture and just the right amount of vanilla flavor. One warning – if you are sensitive to salt, it is a bit on the salty side.
These products were sent to me for review purposes. All opinions are my own. Like I could ever keep them to myself.
Thank you again to GNC, Vega and Fitfluential for the opportunity!
***
20-25g pf protein per meal is hard… but I already notice a difference! Now I just need a sponsor… anyone? 😉
Have you ever tried to amp up the protein on a veggie diet? Any new ideas are welcome and appreciated!
What is your favorite protein powder?
This is exciting stuff!! I can’t wait to see you reach your goal, which I KNOW you will because you’re one of the most determined women I’ve ever met. Best of luck, Laura! 🙂
Thank you!!! I’m trying my best. 🙂
Good luck with training! I’m looking forward to reading about your days of eats and how you manage all that veg protein.
Speaking of protein, before I switched to a more natural brand, I was obsessed with GNC’s 100% whey in banana flavor. It made for the BEST banana protein oats in the morning. I still haven’t tried Vega, but I hope to soon!
Check out my WIAW tomorrow – it’s a day in the life of my eating. 🙂
I have never tried a banana-flavored powder. I need to get on that!
How cool that you are doing this, Laura! I am definitely looking forward to reading more about! Your workouts sounds intense. 4 days of soreness? LOVE it!
Good luck with the protein! I eat about 125g a day – but I am not vegetarian so it isn’t quite as difficult!
Thanks Cait! I’m depending on protein powders more than I’d like to… but I’ll figure it out. 🙂
I can totally see you rocking a fitness competition! That’s awesome. Although, can we still go to the Lawrence?
For sure! I get one cheat day a week. 🙂
I agree that Vega’s products have come a long way!
Do you have a competition scheduled? I might just show up and cheer for you! 🙂
That would be so cool! Nothing scheduled yet – need to see how fast I can gain. You better believe I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
Wow Laura I am SO proud of you! I don’t “know” you per say but from your blog alone, I know that you have the determination to follow through with your goals…you are going to kill it! Can’t wait to read more about your journey! Also good news- I have a recipe coming tomorrow which involves lentils!
That is so sweet of you… and I cannot WAIT for that recipe. 🙂
you are simply amazing. strong and awesome!
No… YOU! 😉
I’m so glad you did this post! I always want to try new protein but don’t want to waste all the money if I hate it. That stuff gets expensive. You look great btw. Can’t wait to follow your journey!
Thank you so much! Let me know what you think if you try one.
Wow thanks for these reviews. They all look good, I am still looking for one but the egg protein one looks tasty. Great job with upping the protein, I think I really need to do that.
That is a sh*tload of protein, Laura! I aim for 50g of protein a day which is not hard, actually. I get it mainly from beans and greens. Tofu and tempeh occasionally. Grains have less, obviously. For a neutral protein powder, I like Manitoba Harvest’s Hemp Pro 70 because it is water soluble. I’ve baked it with a few times with good results, too! I can’t wait to see what you start to eat… hopefully it isn’t full of eggs and cheese!
Anyways, just looked this up and found it interesting:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22150425
Thanks for sharing that article. I complete agree with the different protein needs of athletes and exercisers. Your 50g is probably perfect.
I apologize in advance… but there has to be egg whites. No cheese allowed though!
I can’t believe how happy this news is making me. Somehow, it just makes perfect sense for you. Love all the powder reviews with the same recipe, that’s what we call a good experiment! Can’t wait to hear more about your competition training!
Alayna…. thank you so much! I can’t wait to see your final cake pics.
Ohhh that’s so exciting! Good luck on your new venture! 🙂
This is all so exciting Laura! I am looking forward to hearing your progression with this, and whatever tips and tricks you feel like sharing! Also, I appreciate this view a lot, I am looking for a protein powder to buy and any of them with a gummy texture is NEVER going to be okay with me, ahhh nooo. So I like to know these things before! 🙂
You know I will probably over-share! Haha!
Hah! I’m SO glad i’m not the only one who has had to use the counter to help lower myself to the toilet due to screaming glutes/hammies/quads. Def made me laugh!
You look SO great already! What has inspired you to enter a fitness competition?? Would love to know.
Ha! So glad I’m not alone there.
I have always admired the competitors – to achieve that level of fitness blows my mind. Naturally that means that I have to see if I could do it too. Pushing ones body to its limits and succeeding in any regard has always appealed to me. Go big or go home, right? 🙂
I am allergic to casein and soy, but use the GNC Whey (and ON Whey) all the time. Making a note to try the egg formula too.
I had struggled through losing weight because I could not get enough protein without far exceeding the fat allowed until a trainer suggested I add 2 protein shakes to my diet. In the next 6 weeks I gained 8 pounds – but lost 13″! I lost 2 jeans sizes in 6 weeks! Protein powders have become my best friend.
What an inspiring story! Getting enough protein can certainly make a difference. I can’t believe it was only 6 week. Kudos to you!
I try to increase my protein intake too, since I am feeling tired and it may be from not getting enough, my favorite protein powder however is Sun Warrior vanilla.
I have 3 bags of Sun Warrior. It rocks my world. 🙂
Oh you know I’m excited to support you in this! 🙂
Thanks Tina! You may have to coach me on the protein-eating. 😉
Robert Cheeke is the vegan bodybuilder I mentioned – I know he’s also on FB & Twitter – chat him up, I bet he has some tips to share. I always struggle with seeing protein recommendations this high, but I’m no expert. 🙂
I have begun stalking him. Thanks!!
Your little green smoothie bowls are so cute! A high protein diet will definitely support those awesome fitness goals! Rock on! Here’s a link to something I do with casein that you might like better than a smoothie.
http://storiesandsweetpotatoes.com/2012/05/01/peanut-butter-protein-fudge/
Great recipe! I’m not allowed that much PB… do you think peanut flour would work with some extra liquid added? Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never tried it with peanut flour but you can literally mix anything with casein and it turns into a big lump of deliciousness. It doesn’t have to hold together like a piece of fudge, you can just mix it up like yogurt but it tastes better the thicker it can stay.
Oooh this is going to be so fun to follow!! Good luck!!
You are seriously my hero. So amazing! You’re know I’ll be cheering you on and rooting for you every step of the way!! TEAM LAURA!!!
Carol, thank you so much for always making me smile. 🙂
Good luck on your competition! I always think about joining one but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to enjoy life if I compete because that means I have to stay on a strict diet! My main goal is to be healthy AND happy and I’m a foodie at heart. I think this is one of those things I have to do at least ONCE in my life though….
You should do it! It is a strict diet, but I’m trying to prove that you can have fun with meal prep and be creative despite that. You better believe I already have my cheat day meals planned for the next 3 weeks though. 🙂
Good luck my friend 😀
Your determination and amazing cooking skills and health knowledge means I know you will reach whatever you wish to!
so inspiring!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you! I’m going to plan one of your desserts for my cheat day. 🙂
Whoa, girl- you are a beast! You will be great. I don’t know if you said this- but when is the competition? Maybe I can fly down…!!
Awesome review of the protein powders. I love Jay Robb’s egg white protein powder- it’s my favorite non-vegan powder by far! For vegan powders, it’s a tie between Vega Vanilla Chai and Sunwarrior vanilla blend (depends on my mood!).
My favorite veggie protein source is PEANUT FLOUR! 12g per cup! I will just add water, salt, vanilla stevia and chia seeds to a serving of it and eat it like pudding! (And that’s what I did today after teaching 3 damn exercise classes!)
And yeah… you need the high protein bread. 🙂
I don’t have a competition date yet. We want to go one step at a time and I have a lot of muscle weight to gain. But yessssss…. please fly down! 🙂
Cheers to the peanut flour. As the Texas Pete commercials say, “I put that shit on everything.”
so proud of you Laura! You can only imagine how excited I was reading this 😀 WHAT A GOAL! You are totally going to succeed too! You are so determined! 😀
xoxoxoxoxo
My favourite pp is About Time 🙂
That means so much coming from you. Thank you! xo
Congratulations on your new goal girl! You were MADE for this type of thing. [Haven’t we all been commenting on how ripped you are since, well, ALWAYS???]
I love Vega. If you want to send any my way…..
I told my trainer about this comment. You made my day, my friend.
I’ll trade you scoops of Vega for scoops of #nuttybutter!
Great review, Laura! I had no idea you were interested in figure competition… but you definitely have the drive and determination (and love of weights) to get you there, that’s awesome! Glad you found a gym that’s such a good fit.
I think I’m just a glutton for punishment after tonight’s workout (holy soreness ALREADY), but thank you. 😉
Thanks for these reviews! I just started using some Vega products to supplement my nutrition as I enter the core of marathon training, and I’ve been really impressed. I’ve been thinking about their smoothie line and protein powders as well, and I think you’ve just sold me on ’em. Thanks!
Looking good, lady, and looking strong. Go gettem!
What types of Vega products are you using? I’ve only tried the protein powders so far. I hear their gu is good though!
The gels are great — they taste exactly like the filling in those (totally 1990s!) Nutri-Grain bars I used to love so much as a kid. Kind of a guilty pleasure… but hey, whatever keeps ya going on an 18-mile run, right?
That sounds so good! I’m going to have to try one out. I used to love Nutri-Grain bars!
Also, do you know the athlete Michelle Risley? She’s kind of a mini-hero of mine, and a really impressive vegan bodybuilder. I thought you might find her interesting / inspiring: http://veganbodybuilder.org/michelle-risley
I didn’t know about her. Thank you so much for sharing. Off to stalk her now. 🙂
I love this review! Casein is a great one if you can handle dairy. It does not treat me well. I do recommend it to my clients though. I am currently using Plant Fusion and LOVE it. When I make it thick, it’s doughy and I love that. I mix a little frozen berries in it and it’s like eating muffin batter. It’s not overly sweet, but that’s another bonus for me.That gives me the chance to adjust the sweetness to what I’m craving. It has BCAA and is completely vegetarian. The price tag is reasonable too! I want to try Vega, but the price always scares me off. Great post Laura! I’m really looking forward to reading about your journey!
I haven’t heard of Plant Fusion. I’ll have to check it out. Doughy sounds so good! My all-time favorite is still Sun Warrior – funny because I hated it when I first tried it. I also love my FitMixer BCAA powder. With tat I noticed a difference almost immediately!
I can tell a HUGE difference in the BCAA. My recovery from heavy workouts is definitely better! I think all protein powders take a little getting used to. They are all so different, but I think they are all pretty much workable. I even like hemp in the right place. I haven’t done Sun Warrior yet either due to the price tag. I just had my oats with a scoop of protein powder on top, a little water on top of that (it soaks it up) and some pumpkin on top of that…like a big doughy bowl of pumpkin muffin.
So, they didn’t give you specific meals, just the break down of proteins, veggies and fruits? Oh and yeah, those cheat days would totally be my weight in veggies! I do love peanut flour, but I’m guessing the carbs may be a little higher than your allowance. My new favorite snack is celery with peanut flour mixed with a little water and stevia for high protein peanut butter. If you need anything, let me know!
I’ve still been hesitant to try hemp. I heard it can be pretty bad. I do need to try your layered protein/oats thing! Were the oats cooked or raw like overnight oats?
No specific meals, but I did get a list of “approved” foods. You better believe I went in with a million questions! I asked about protein flour and they said it could count as a protein. I do the same thing with celery! I also like to add some sriracha to the dip for a “Thai” peanut sauce. also good with carrots.
Woo for your next challenge!!!! So exciting 🙂
Yay! I bet training won’t be that much of a shock based on your current lifestyle. Sounds like the perfect thing for you to try.
Hope there’s prize money involved because I’m sure you’ll walk away with it.
I don’t know… this is a LOT heavier than I was lifting. And the diet. Whoa.
You’re crazy girl!!…but I applaud you nonetheless. Mainly because I’m a little off myself. 😉
Funny, my boss said the same thing today. 🙂
Ahhhh this is an awesome challenge!!!! You already have a ridiculously ripped bod, this is perfect for you!! Show em how it’s done girl!!! 🙂 Also meant to ask as I have been away for so long, how is your knee doing??
Where have you been?! So glad you popped back up – miss you! 🙂
The knee is ok… no surgery for now. Turns out the MRI showed my ACL was just very stressed and thin. I’m going to try building my quads before any surgical repair.
Go Laura Go!
This is an amazing goal and I can’t wait to see how the journey goes for you.
That sounds like such a cool gym, wish we had those here!
It is awesome – I think it’s the only one like it in GA.
Congrats on deciding to compete!! I am also training for my first figure competition – I’m 11 weeks out =) I wish I had to gain weight/add muscle right now – haha I much prefer clean bulking/gaining phases to cutting phases!
I’ll be following along & wishing you success every step of the way!
That’s awesome! I’d love to hear more about your training and the competition once it takes place. Which one are you doing?
Good luck!!!
Thanks!!! =) I’m doing the St. Pete Muscle Classic! =) It’s an NPC show but it’s a smaller one – only available to competitors in certain counties. I need to start blogging about my workouts again haha… I’ve been lazy with that lately!
What federation are you competing in?
That is a great location! I don’t know what I’ll be doing yet. Since I’ve only just started my coach said we need to wait to see how my body progresses.
Wow!! I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you earlier!!! What a new challenge! Congratulations!!
Thank you!! 🙂
i guess i missed this announcement while i was on vacation but congrats!!! you’re gonna rock it!
You’re so inspirational! I have a lot of trouble putting on muscle so you keep me motivated 🙂
That is such a huge compliment! Thank you. 🙂
how did i not notice this earlier? this is an awesome goal and something id love to work on after the baby comes..i cant wait to see how it goes!! congrats!
You would be an awesome competitor! 🙂