Health Lab Plant-Based Beauty & Wellness Balls Review*

Summer is on its way and it won’t be long now until we have a new arrival in the house when our baby decides to make an appearance. I don’t know about you, but I always feel like I want to get out of the house more and make the most of the days when the summer is here, but it can be hard to muster up the energy for such activities! And I have no idea how I will feel with a newborn thrown into the mix.

I was recently sent some Health Lab Plant-Based Protein Balls which I thought would be perfect for me. As well as offering a much needed energy boost, these balls are also made to promote happy skin and positive gut health made from the finest plant based ingredients across the globe.

Some of the flavours include chocolate, salted caramel, peanut butter and berry. The protein, probiotics, and hemp balls are all vegan friendly and the entire range is also gluten free. There really is something for everyone. The 8 flavours and their unique health benefits include:

Thrive: Choc Brownie Protein Balls
Game Changer: Salted Caramel Protein Balls
Power: Peanut Butter Choc Hemp Energy Balls
Pick-me-up: Espresso Hemp Energy Balls
Happy Skin: Choc Sea Salt Collagen Balls
Skin Hero: Choc Cherry Collagen Balls
Gutsy: Mixed Berry Gut Health Balls
Glow: Choc Matcha Gut Health Balls

I have found that the balls have been great to take the edge off my hunger or between meals, during pregnancy I often need a bit of a boost and want to choose a healthy snack and these energy balls have been the perfect addition to my diet. I think they would also be great if you were breast-feeding and needed a healthy way to get in those extra calories. These would also be ideal for people with busy lifestyles or as a pre/post gym snack.

I have tried many varieties of ‘energy ball’ and these have to be the nicest ones I have had, often the flavours can be bland and boring but these felt like a real treat and kept me away from eating an alternative unhealthy sugary snack.

Available now in Wholefoods and in Waitrose and Holland and Barrett, RRP from £2 for a 40g ball.

*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.

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.

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.

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.