Ethical Superstore Energy Bar Review*

I love trying different protein and energy bars so when I was offered the chance to try some bars from Ethical Superstore I couldn’t wait to see what they were like and if they matched up to my usual brands.

I was lucky enough to receive a box of Planet Organic Cacao Brazil Nut Energise Bars which are 30g each. A pack of four will cost you £3.96 which I think is a pretty good price for these, I often see protein bars for more than £2 a pop. You can reduce the cost by buying in bulk, a case of 20 will cost you just £18.81. The bars are wheat and gluten free, vegan and organic. These handy sized bars are packed full of protein, fibre and vitamin E and are packed with dates, cashew butter, almonds, hemp protein, brazil nuts, cacao powder and vanilla. They remind me of nak’d bars but hold a nice rich flavour to them. The best part about reviewing a product is getting to taste test it and these bars did not disappoint, they’re ideal for a post or pre gym workout and small enough to pop in your pocket.

If you’d like to buy some of these bars for yourself, head over to Ethical Superstore.

*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.

'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,

Working out in my Skechers - Feat. Cloggs*

I don’t know about you but whenever I get new gym clothes I am instantly motivated to start working out again. I’m more excited to wear the new outfit than I am to exercise but it definitely gets me in the mood. When I received these gorgeous Skechers from Cloggs, available at £49, I couldn’t wait to test them out and add them to my gym bag.

Cloggs is predominantly an online shoe shop with a massive range at fantastic prices. From boots to trainers there is something for everyone, even the kids! Cloggs believe that everything starts with a good pair of shoes and have almost 40 years of experience selling footwear. Cloggs stock an ever-growing list of specialist brands such as UGG Australia, Converse, Dr Martens and many more.

I received the Synergy Moonlight Skechers in navy with a touch of aqua. They’re such a lovely colour, I want to buy a whole outfit to match now! Skechers is one of the world’s leading sports footwear brands and boast a great range of technologies at work in their shoes to enable you to reach your full potential. The first thing I noticed when I put these Skechers on was the memory foam cushioning inside. It was like a dream. These trainers also have a shock absorbing FlexSole which soaks up any impact from the ground below. These are light as a feather and an absolute treat to wear and run in. The upper portion of the shoe offers an engineered mesh providing maximum breathability.

I have never owned a pair of trainers as comfortable as this and they are fantastic value. They also came with a spare pair of navy laces so you can choose which colour you’d prefer.

My order arrived very quickly and it is worth noting that it is free delivery in the UK on all orders over £40, and also free returns if needed. They were packaged in a Skechers box and then inside an outer packaging bag and arrived with no problems at all.

Head over to Cloggs to check out the amazing range available. Treat yourself!

*I received these Skechers 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.

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.

Sudio Klang Earphones Review* #SudioMoments

I recently had the chance to try out some new earphones and as a big lover of my over the ear beats, I was looking for something smaller that would be suitable to take to the gym. I was sent these Sudio Klang Headphones in white from Sudio Sweden. They cost just €55 which is around £40 and shipping is free worldwide.

I was really impressed with the sturdy packaging that the Sudio Klang Earphones arrived in. The box comes complete with the headphones, a manual, a leather carry case, metal clip and extra ear buds.

The Sudio Klang Headphones come with a full-feature 3 button remote which is perfect for changing your songs on the go without having to do it through your phone. These headphones are great with my iPhone and iPod as the remote system is designed for iOS and the sound is fantastic.

I couldn't wait to test out the Stay-in-ear feature as my usual headphones are always falling out. I took these to the gym and went for a run on the treadmill and these really did stay in, and the music quality was still really crisp and clear. I love that one cord is longer than the other. The longer cord lays on your neck supporting the earphones and preventing them from being pulled out.

The headphone cable is flat and this has not tangled which is amazing, especially as I tend to throw my headphones into the bottom of my gym bag. I have been making the effort to use the leather case provided with these to keep them safe.

The Sudio Klang Earphones also come in black, brown and orange so you can choose which colour suits you best. I think these are really stylish and elegant and I feel good about being seen wearing these.

If you'd like a pair of these headphones, feel free to use my code Christie15 for 15% off. Once again, shipping is free worldwide. Please visit the Sudio website and check out these headphones! Postage was really quick considering these are from Sweden!

*I received these Sudio Klang Headphones free of charge in exchange for a review. I was not influenced in any way and all opinions are my own. Please see my disclaimer for more information.

What's in my gym bag? Feat. HEY! HOLLA*

I've recently been getting back into my gym routine and I know how important it is to bring the right things to the gym so you're not carrying unnecessary weight. Who wants to carry a massive heavy bag full of stuff after an arm workout? Not me that's for sure!

Most days I go to the gym before work which requires me to bring a change of clothes, make-up, my lunch, a hairdryer and everything I need for my working day. In this situation I usually carry a few bags to spread it out but I'm going to show you what I bring on an average day where I don't have to rush off to work afterwards.

I put all of my things into my Hey! Holla canvas 'Off To The Gym' tote bag available for just £18. I absolutely adore the design of this bag and the slogan suits me down to a tee. The bag is sturdy and very good quality.

The most important things in my bag are my iPhone 6 plus, iPod and headphones and their respective arm band holders. I go to the gym alone so without headphones I simply cannot get through my workout! I've been loving the Zombie, Run! app for iPhone recently so I've been alternating music with that app to encourage me to change things up a bit.

I also take snacks. I often take a nak'd bar (sometimes a homemade one!) or a banana to keep me going for the journey home, I will then have something more substantial when I get back.

I always bring a gym towel with me. Mine has definitely seen better days, perhaps I should purchase a new one? This was purchased on eBay, I simply use it to wipe the machines down.

Deodorant is a must, I don't have a favourite, anything will do.

The next thing I always have in my bag is a bottle of water.

Last but not least, a lock for the lockers! I bought this one when I first joined the gym nearly 3 years ago and it's still going strong.

I haven't included my gym outfit, but that's because I head to the gym already wearing this so it's one less thing to carry.

Hey! Holla also have a variety of other designs. I also really like the YO!GA gym bag, also £18. Hey! Holla also have a range of gym towels, hair ties and some homeware gifts so it's definitely worth checking them out.

What are your gym essentials?

*I received this Hey! Holla gym bag 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. 

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.

The lazy girl’s guide to getting up early!*

I hate mornings. I’m good at waking up, but I literally wake up in time for me to get ready and rush out of the door for work. There’s no time for messing about, no time for extravagant breakfasts or wardrobe malfunctions. I decided to take the #EarlyBirdChallenge with the team at Free Office Finder. I set myself the task of waking up earlier than usual for a whole week to see what benefits it would have on me. I knew this wasn't going to be easy. As someone who usually does not get up earlier than midday at the weekend I wondered how I was going to cope. 

We face around 25000 mornings in our adult lives, so what is the harm in making the most out of them. Think of all those extra hours I could use being productive and getting things done. This is the goal for Free Office Finder #EarlyBirdChallenge which aims to get everyone up a bit earlier than usual and doing a bit more in the mornings than normal. I never have time for anything in the morning and I rarely have free time in the evenings as I try to work 2 jobs and fit in a social life as well as blogging, so I was looking forward to giving this a go.

I set my alarm for 6am on day one, and hoped that I wouldn't snooze through it. 
I woke up and ran myself a bath. I popped in a bath bomb and had a good long soak. After having a bit of a pamper session, moisturising, cleansing, toning, face masks etc I decided to get ready for work. It was so nice to take my time and pick out an outfit instead of grabbing whatever is on the washing pile. I also seemed to have loads of motivation. I don’t think I've ever been so productive on a Monday! 

Day 2 I woke up again at 6am. Today's shift patterns were 8:30am-17:00pm and then 18:00pm-22:30pm so I knew I had very little time for tea. I took the opportunity this morning to prepare all of my meals for the day so I could grab them on the go. I felt so organised! And I made much healthier choices by pre-planning my meals as opposed to grabbing something quick - which admittedly would have probably been crisps and chocolate.

On day 3 I was motivated and ready to go. Up I got at 5:30am and went to the gym. I couldn't believe how dark it was! It was really empty, I loved it. I did just over an hour in the gym and managed to get on every machine without having to wait for anyone to finish. It feels great to be this productive before work, and something I am starting to enjoy. Exercise in the morning really energizes you for the rest of the day, as well as being really good for your body and mind. Even when I left the gym at 7:45am to walk to work the city was so calm, and there were a lot fewer people around which really gave me a chance to soak up the atmosphere and really experience the culture of Norwich. the air was crisp and I was very much awake.

Day 4 saw me waking up at 7am. I didn’t have work until 10am so I got myself ready and decided to take my dogs for a walk once it was light outside. Ruby (pictured) loved her walk and not only did I benefit from the fresh air, I also got some exercise and my dogs did too. The dogs are usually a bit hyper so it was nice that they were relaxed for the rest of the day after a nice morning walk. It’s not only me benefiting from this early morning business!

I wasn’t really sure what to do today on day 5 of the challenge so I woke up early anyway and slowly got myself ready for work. Once I was ready I still had an hour before I had to leave so I used my time to read on my kindle. I’m currently reading Safe Haven but have had very little time lately to read so it was really nice to catch up this morning before work. I would love to have more time to read books and waking up early has given me the opportunity to do so!

Day 6 I knew was going to be the hardest. A Saturday. If I’m not working, I rarely leave my bed on Saturdays and I have been known to roll downstairs gone 2pm and I am not exaggerating. Technically waking up an hour earlier today would have been cheating, so I decided to stick to my weekday plan of getting up at around 6am.This gave me an extra 6 hours of the day! I got up and prepared a good breakfast to start the day. I've been browsing recipes all week and wanted something more challenging than the usual toast or cereal so I made myself Potato Cakes with Smoked Salmon. They were delicious, and a lot more indulgent than what I usually go for. These were so easy to make, I followed a Jamie Oliver recipe (here). I might even do a whole separate post on these, they were THAT good!

Day 7 I made plans to go for an early morning breakfast to end the week, something I lack the motivation to do usually and also something that I had hoped would motivate me to wake up and to congratulate myself for finishing the challenge. I got myself ready and headed to a local cafe not far from where I work called ‘Bond Street Cafe’. I went for the All Day Vegetarian breakfast. I usually struggle to make some toast in the morning but here I was at 7am eating a full breakfast. I was so happy - it was absolutely amazing. The breakfast kept me going all morning until lunch and I was full of energy.

Overall, after taking the #EarlyBirdChallenge I have really reaped and discovered the benefits of doing so and can confirm that waking up earlier really has its positives. I feel more refreshed throughout the day, I even feel like I want to carry this on, the extra hour in my day really helps me to relax and get things done. I've loved having the extra time to fit in exercise and I feel more awake than before. Having a good breakfast each day has also been really beneficial to my energy levels and I have found myself snacking a lot less during the day. My mindset is a lot more positive, I feel like I have wasted so much time in bed in the past!

I challenge you all to get up an hour earlier, see what it can do for you and let me know in the comments how you feel!

*This post was sponsored by www.freeofficefinder.com. The views and opinions expressed are my own and I was not influenced in any way.