It's Officially #FlatoutLove

Y'all know that I love food and that I am basically a fat kid at heart, right??



#LaOffseasonLoca has been really awesome in that I have been able to try different foods and work at being more creative with my meals. This is why I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to review a new Flatout product that hasn't even hit shelves yet!*

*keep reading for a coupon to purchase Flatouts wraps and pizza crust!

Goodies!

Right before I headed to L.A. for TheFitExpo, a package of goodies arrived at my door from Flatout. I was so excited to see what they had sent, I took the box with me to work so I could open it there :) What I had received was packages of Flatout's new line of high protein, low carb flatbread wraps. They generously sent me two packages of each of three new flavors they will be launching. The three flavors are:

• Core 12 - this is their original wrap recipe made with chickpeas
• Red Pepper Hummus - also powered by chickpeas
• Sea Salt & Crushed Black Pepper - brought to you by navy beans
• 
  

I left early Thursday morning and since I knew I had a long day of driving ahead of me, I wanted to make sure that I ate something tasty & filling. Perfect time to try out the Sea Salt & Crushed Black Pepper wrap!

Don't bother me - I'm eating :)

I do not love eggs or egg whites but I am adding them to the "meal rotation" about 2-3 times a week. For this particular wrap, I used 4 medium egg whites. Combining the egg whites with a chicken sausage, a handful of spinach, some goat cheese, and Sriracha made me a do my happy wiggle!



Sunday morning before heading back to the expo, several FitFluential Ambassadors and I were invited to a "First Taste Breakfast" with the amazing folks of Flatout. We were able to see the packaging ideas, try out recipes using the wraps, in addition to learning more about the product we were sent.
Interesting pieces of information that I took away from the breakfast:

• Beans are high in protein and complex carbs so they can provide you with long-lasting energy.
• Beans have more antioxidant potential than blueberries.
• Eating beans has been shown to reduce hunger and overall calorie intake throughout the day.
• 
  

The Flatout table at the #LAFitExpo

When I got back from L.A. and saw The Mister, he asked me about the "tortilla things" on the counter. I explained to him that they were not tortillas but were flatbread wraps and told him I wanted him to try them.





He wasn't feeling extra adventurous that morning so he just used the wrap for one of his favorites, runny icky eggs :) The Sea Salt & Crushed Black Pepper was not his favorite so I told him he had to try the Red Pepper Hummus (which is my personal favorite!).





The Mister opted for carne asada, goat cheese, and Sriracha while The Princess and I had a shrimp-lentil-brown rice-olive oil concoction I threw together. Y'all know I'm not one for b.s. so when I say that my family is a big fan of these wraps, it's the truth!




Here are some recipe ideas for you to keep in mind when you buy your first set of wraps ;) and while ProteinUp won't hit the shelves for another few weeks, you can still experiment with the Flatout wraps and pizza crusts. Here's a coupon to use when you go shopping! https://www.hopster.com/offeres/flatout/13072852/1

I still have more wraps to use so....here's my question for you....what recipes should I try next??

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Flatout.

City of Angels

A couple of days ago, I wrote my LA, Here I Come post and shared that I would be traveling to Los Angeles to cover TheFitExpo for Fitfluential. As I hit publish on the post, I knew that there was a possibility that I might not actually make it to the City of Angels. Issues/hiccups/speed bumps were appearing out of nowhere and I started to stress....BIG TIME! For days my stomach hurt, there was a pounding in the center of my forehead, and I wanted to cry. #idontdocrying

At the eleventh hour (Wednesday evening), everything fell into place and there was nothing left to stress/worry/cry about!

After sending the Princess off to school and doing a few chores Thursday morning, I hit the road. The drive from Tucson to Los Angeles is about 7 hours and while I have driven to California before, this was the first time I would be doing the drive by myself. I had my snacks and fruit punch HelixBCAAs handy, music and book to listen to, and I made sure to pee! :)

After 1 stop to fill up the gas tank and take a potty break and almost 7 hours later, I arrived. I may or may not thrown my arm in the air and screamed "yes" when I saw downtown...lol...I had survived the drive (which really wasn't that horrific) and rush hour traffic.

I will be staying with my brother Jonathan while I'm in town and I have to say, the man knows how to introduce you to his city! He took me to Katusya, which is owned by the company he works for, and is right by Staples Center. The food was perfection. The service was impeccable.

It was a really proud moment for me to see the managers of the restaurant come over to talk to my brother and to watch how professional he is and how well he carries himself. The kid (technically he's not a kid...but he will always be a kid to me! #bigsister) is definitely going places. Don't believe me? Check out this film project he and his friends created in less than 48 hours. They are currently one of the top 5 projects in the nation and are 1st in the online voting for People's Choice!

I'm off to see more of the city and enjoy some good eats. Tomorrow is the first day of the expo so stay tuned - follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter for updates!

Open Wide!!

Disclaimer:  I was provided with products from Designer Whey to review as part of my affiliation with FitFluential.  

As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

I think we all know that I'm a lover of food. Food makes me all warm & fuzzy inside (and that's not because it's spicy!). It makes me do my happy wiggle and sometimes even sing a little song. So when I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing a new food product, you know I practically screamed "YES!"

Designer Whey, which you may remember from the review I did of their Sustained Energy product, sent me an incredible box of their products. I was so surprised! I was excited to try everything in the box but started with their Protein 2GO product.

From my Instagram 

Protein 2GO is a post-workout recovery drink mix with 50 calories, 10g of protein, 1g of sugar, and 2g of carbs. It's gluten-free, lactose-free, and caffeine-free. Now....let me be honest....after reading the box..well...I thought to myself "this is going to taste like dirt!". I was wrong!! I added one packet of the mixed berry flavor to my water and I was pleasantly surprised by the subtle berry flavor. It mixed well with water, didn't smell funny, and didn't have a weird aftertaste!

In addition to the products in the box, Designer Whey included several coupons that I could use to purchase a new yogurt called Smari. This is a thick and creamy, organic Icelandic-style yogurt and is available in four flavors – pure, vanilla, strawberry, and blueberry. In Tucson, you can find this particular yogurt at ONE store so I made the drive (42 minutes!) during a lunch hour to pick it up.

From my Instagram 

When I made it back to library, I tore into the Vanilla flavor like a scavenger. My first taste made me stop, look at the spoon, and say "Ok...that's pretty good". I added half of a Len & Larry's Muscle Brownie to the cup, stirred, and just savored my tasty snack. I promise when I tell you that it was totally worth the long drive and fighting traffic just to get to the store - don't believe me - check my twitter account where I tweeted about the yogurt being worth the 42 minute drive :)

Smari is made in Wisconsin with organic milk from grass-fed cows that live on small family farms, organic cane sugar, fruit from Oregon with no preservatives, and uses natural tapioca starch as a thickening agent. This yogurt is so thick, you can stand your spoon in it without it falling over! It’s also gluten free and kosher!

My in-laws have a pomegranate tree in their backyard so each year, I impatiently wait for pomegranate season to arrive and the free pomegranates I know I will be receiving. On Tuesday, I got my first one and I knew exactly what I was going to eat it with! Wednesday morning, I put together this snack before heading to work. I put my spoon in the Pure flavor before adding anything to it and WHEW! It's tart!! Consider this your warning. If you don't like tart, then this flavor (by itself) is not for you. I think it's the perfect base to build upon. You could add fruit, protein powder, granola, or whatever you would like to it!

This simple snack is yogurt + pomegranate seeds (1/2 a pomegranate) + honey (to taste). I took it to work and shared it with one of my co-workers. For a second there, I thought it was going to get ugly because she liked it so much she ate more than half :)

You can win some free yogurt and have some Halloween fun at the same time! There are 100 chances to win! 1.) Click here to download & print the viking hat! 2.) Take a picture wearing your Viking hat - perfect for a Halloween costume 3.) Post it on Designer Whey's Facebook wall & share! The first 100 people to post their Viking hat #selfie will receive a FREE Smari Yogurt coupon!

Be creative & have fun with it! I can't wait to see what pictures you guys post!!

I Heart Food!

Epic salad!

I love food. Plain & simple.

Food and I have a mad, passionate love affair going on and you know what, I don't care who knows it!

Protein pancakes...yes please!!

I joke that each time I start prep, my inner fat girl dies. She dies because she can no longer have Little Debbie Swiss Rolls, carne asada fries, apple fritters, pancakes, candy corn, should I go on??

What I have come to realize over time is that I am an emotional eater. I eat when I'm sad. I eat when I'm mad. I eat when I'm stressed. I eat when I'm bored. I eat...well....you get the idea. (I touched on this a little bit in my Face to Face With the Old Me post)

This improvement season, I am doing my best to step away from the mindless eating and eat with a purpose. I am working on feeling and dealing with my emotions versus numbing them with fried food and sweet treats. I am making a conscious effort to eat as healthy as possible and not turn to the foods that are "off-limits" during prep just because it's my "off-season" and technically I can have them. Some days, I do a really great job of this and other days, I fall flat on my face!!

Luckily, Kammie from Sensual Appeal has created a cookbook that just might help me fight the good fight. Sometimes, for one reason or another, I just need to cook for myself and I haven't quite mastered the art of cooking for one or cooking for one with just enough leftovers that will get eaten and not go to waste! :)

Kammie has recently created a delicious and healthy "Single Servings Recipe" eCookBook! I had the opportunity to preview this eCookbook and I have to tell you, there are some amazing recipes in this thing! I am excited about making the Chocolate Chip Pan-Cookie, Reese Overnight Oats, Raspberry Mint Yogurt Bites, and the S'Mores Mug Cake just to name a few!

The eCookBook is only $7.99 but Kammie has graciously offered you, my lovely readers, a discount code worth 25% off!! The code is BLOG25! Head over to her blog and order your copy today. Once you order the book and have tried a couple of the recipes, come back and share with rest of us your thoughts!

Oh...and since we're on the topic of food and eating, check out Charlotte's post from Wild Things Run Free entitled "Food Is Joyous - Treat It As So". I really like what she has to say about food and us viewing it as the enemy!

Disclaimer:

I received this product free of charge and was given no compensation for this review.

All opinions expressed are my own.

#SupplementSwag

As you can tell from my tweet, I love going to the gym. Over time training has become one of my favorite things to do. I love lifting hard and I love lifting heavy. To help me do both of those things, especially when prepping for shows, I will look to supplements to help me handle my business in the gym. This is where Jacked in a Box from Muscle and Fitness comes in.

*cue the choir*

I've talked about the monthly supplement sample boxes I've received in the past (see my "Muscle and Fitness Goodies Giveaway" & "It Does My Body Good" posts) and my experience with the program has been nothing but positive. I can't always use the samples right when I receive them but trust me, they do get used! I thought I would highlight some of the samples I've received over the past few months.

I was beyond excited when I opened one of my sample boxes and it contained a sample of Jack3d  in it. I have been wanting to try this particular supplement for a very long time. There had some issues in the past with this particular supplement and the end result was USP Labs changing the formula. Tom is of the opinion that the new formula is not a powerful as the original. I never tried the original formula so I can't give an opinion on it but I can say the new formula was just "meh" to me. I didn't do cartwheels over it but it gave me a slight boost of energy before my workout. I'm not eager to buy a full-size container of this stuff but if I was given another free sample, I would definitely use it.

If you're concerned that all you'll get each month is samples of pre-workout supplements and protein powders, there...there...stop worrying :) In the box pictured above, I did receive pre-workout supplements but I also received two protein bars, one of which was a Questbar. Now, if you have been living under a rock for the past year or so, Questbars are the current craze in protein bars. I know lots of competitors love them, especially after warming them up for a few seconds in the microwave. When we were in Chicago, Genie was stocking up on the free full-size samples they were giving out at Junior Nationals.

The sample I received from Muscle & Fitness was the first time I had ever tried the bar. I am not a huge fan of protein bars. They all taste artificial and chalky to me and I'm sorry to say, this one was no exception. As I sat there chewing each bite, I thought to myself "I don't get it". I'm not even sure the added step of microwaving the bar would have changed my mind. I'm just not a fan.

Now, you're probably thinking "if the sample box is so awesome, why have you only talked about what you didn't like?" Be patient...I'm gettin' to the good stuff! :)

Apparently, I expect a lot from my pre-workout supplements. Tom's theory is that I have a high tolerance for pretty much everything so something that might have a normal person bouncing off of the walls (like Jack3d) just gives me a teeny tiny boost. When I find something that gives me the physical and mental effects I'm looking for, I snatch it up. Nano Vapor from MuscleTech is on my "Get Your Grubby Hands On It" list. From the Muscletech website:

"NANO VAPOR® helps ignite the energy you need to train with extreme intensity and prime your body for rapid and massive muscle pumps, which is a key component of a true musclebuilding workout."

This stuff does exactly what it claims to do! I feel insanely focused and strong when I'm in the gym after taking Nano Vapor. I don't feel hyper or jittery but I definitely have a heightened level of energy. The taste and smell are amazing (because you guys know how I feel about taking things that smell or taste funny!). The first time I used the supplement, I had to force myself to stop my workout. I had put myself through a brutal shoulder workout and 75 minutes in, I still felt like I could keep going.

I know have a full container of Nano Vapor in my supplement cabinet and I use it on my heavy back & shoulders days (gotta grow baby!). It really helps me push myself to lift heavier and harder. I've started telling everyone that it's my #SheHulkSmash weapon :)

Before!

After!

Have any of you used Beast Sports Nutrition products? This company has some really great stuff out that you should try.  I have "discovered" many of their products through Jacked in a Box and I'm really starting to fall in love with them! Products that I have tried, liked, and have ordered include Amphetalean, Beast Mode, and Aminolytes. I like that this company creates products that they call "multi-purpose" - they want to create products that fulfill the multiple needs of the person taking them in order to save them from having to order a ridiculous amount of different products.

Other samples that I have received and have given two thumbs up to are:

MHP Iso Fast (whey isolate protein) 

BSN Hyper FX

BSN AminoX

Gaspari Superdrive

Gaspari Aminolast

I really enjoy receiving these monthly boxes because it helps satisfy my curiosity about products while helping me save money (imagine if I had purchased a full-size container of Jack3d or a box of Questbars?!?). Plus, who doesn't like getting boxes in the mail when it's not your birthday or Christmas?? :)

Disclaimer:

I received these products free of charge and was given no compensation for this review.

All opinions expressed are my own.

Was It You??

It's time to announce the winners of my Designer Whey Sustained Energy giveaway! 

Designer Whey is being incredibly generous and allowing me to 

select 6 winner so...

get ready....

The winners are.....

LPM

Liz

Nikki

Georgiana

Tracy

Ray

I will be emailing each of you for your mailing address so you can receive your goodies!

Thanks everyone for reading my review and participating in the giveaway. 

Also, check out FitFluential Finds for deals on this particular product

and others that might be of interest to you!

#DesignerWhey Sustained Energy Review & Giveaway!

Disclaimer:  I was provided with products from Designer Whey to review as part of my affiliation with FitFluential.  
As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Off-season aka improvement season is in full effect!! You guys, this is the first "real" off-season I've had since I started competing three years ago! I know I haven't officially shared what's next on my competition agenda but here's what you should know, my clear 5 inch heels will be resting comfortably for at least the next 7-8 months.

During these next few months, I have certain goals I am working towards which include adding muscle to my upper body. Yes, you read that right - I am working on adding muscle! The feedback I received after Junior Nationals included a portion about adding mass to my upper body and you know I had to make sure I was reading the email correctly!!

 The past several years I have focused on decreasing size and now I was being told I needed to add some. I am also still focused on Operation Build-a-Back and gettin' that booty like Serena! This means a change in training and slight changes in my diet which is why the opportunity to try the new Sustained Energy protein powder from Designer Whey® was perfect!

From the Designer Whey® website:

"Designer Whey® Sustained Energy™ is specifically formulated with our proprietary Endurance Blend™. Designed to give you balanced, stimulant-free, sustained energy through fast absorbing whey protein and slower absorbing soy and casein proteins, giving you a steady supply of essential amino acids while helping you control hunger with fiber.  Packed with 16 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 19 Essential Vitamins & Minerals and naturally flavored and sweetened – all for only 100-good-for-you calories!"

When prepping for shows, I normally use a whey isolate protein powder for any shakes that I may have. Whey isolates are generally lower in taste calories, fat, sugar, and carb grams. Since I don't have to keep as close of an eye on these numbers (improvement season equals a small amount of wiggle room), I decided that I would replace my whey isolate with the Sustained Energy powders I had received.

Post-cardio deliciousness!

The first shake I made was a fairly simple one. I'm always scared of getting fancy with new ingredients so I tend to stick with what I know...lol! I decided to treat myself by drinking my shake out of my Wonder Woman glass instead of a plastic shaker. It's amazing how awesome you feel having a healthy meal out of a real cup :)
Ingredients:  water, 1/2 cup of raspberries, 1/4 cup of chia seeds, Vanilla Bean Sustained Energy

In addition to confessing my fear of fancy protein shakes, I will also admit that I rock bandannas while drinking my protein shakes in the kitchen! I will also admit that I drink Metamucil to help me stay regular. Metamucil is not the easiest thing to drink so I will mix it into other things if I can (remember my Power Slushie?).

This shake was really a spur of the moment idea but it came out perfectly, not too thick or chalky!! As I was making it with the ingredients I listed in the shake above, I remember that I hadn't taken my Metamucil so I added a scoop to the Nutribullet and threw in a banana since it was obvious things were gettin' cray cray up in my kitchen :)
Ingredients:  water, 1/2 cup of raspberries, 1/4 cup of chia seeds, 1 banana, 1 scoop orange flavor Metamucil, Vanilla Bean Sustained Energy

If you have not had the chance to enjoy the yumminess that calls itself "Cream of Wheat Instant - Chocolate", you must to do so immediately. I am obsessed with mixing my cream of wheat with protein powder and so I had to try the Designer Whey® with it. The Chocolate Velvet flavor is quite strong so you know what that means? I did my happy wiggle while enjoying my pre-workout carb meal. It pains me to think about giving up this meal when prep starts but that's so far away, I'm blocking it out :)

Designer Whey® has a pretty great product on their hands. I like the idea of a protein powder giving you long-lasting stimulant free energy! What a simple yet amazing concept! I will admit that I am a bit disappointed by the nutritional facts but only because this is a product I personally would not be able to use during competition season due to the number of protein grams (too low) and carb grams (too high) per serving. But again, it's not competition season so I'm enjoying my two new protein powders!

Guess what?? You can enjoy them too! Designer Whey® has generously offered 6 of my readers the chance to win their own canister of Designer Whey® Sustained Energy!  To enter, you just need to comment below with which flavor you would choose if you won.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vitamins & Energy Galore!

As a FitFluential Ambassador, I received Koge Vitamins to review. While the product was given to me free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  

I stumbled upon the picture above some time ago (can't remember where) and it stuck with me! So much so that I saved it on my phone as a reminder that I need to do everything in my power to take care of myself. 

That is why, when I was presented the opportunity through my partnership with FitFluential to review Koge Vitamins, I jumped at it!

Who here takes their vitamins each day, faithfully? I can't raise my hand because while most days I remember to take them, some days I forget. I know there are those of you reading this that don't supplement your diet with vitamins because they're too expensive, you don't know what you should take, you don't know what the benefits are, and the list goes on. Koge was created to help answer those questions.

From their website:

"As vitamin consumers, we're tired of being confused every time we walk into a vitamin store — you shouldn't have to search through hundreds of products and brands in the hopes of finding something that's right for you. We're also frustrated with how expensive premium vitamins are — do customers really need to spend that much every month? Koge was born out of the desire to solve these problems and to fundamentally change the industry."

Koge offers several different vitamin packs and since I am currently prepping (which can, at times, mean low energy levels), I chose to review their Energy Pack. Each bottle contains 30 individually wrapped packets and each packet contains 4 capsules. I loved the individual packets!! I could grab a handful of packets and throw them into my cooler without worrying about crushing or losing any capsules. That, to me, is always a plus!

The Energy Pack contains 1 Korean ginseng, 1 Guarana, 1 Coenzyme Q-10 with L-Taurine, and 1 Ayur Indian Ginseng. This combination, according to Koge, will provide your body with an optimal energy boost that will remain consistent throughout the day. This particular pack is also said to increase mental alertness, stimulate resistance to stress, and provide an energy boost that supports exercise.

I want to be completely honest. I am not taking the energy packs every day. Since I have received them, I have taken them at the most 3 times in a given week. With that said, I did notice a difference in my energy levels when I did take them. I wasn't bouncing off the walls or jittery but I could tell that I wasn't "running on fumes". In addition to the individual packaging, I like that that pills are not the size of my head and don't smell like garbage when you open the packaging! You guys know how I feel about stinky supplements - I will not take them if I can't stand the smell of them. This was not an issue with my Koge Energy Pack at all!!

Now, you guys know I'm not about bullshit so you know I'm being straight forward when I say that I am really impressed by Koge Vitamins. This company has pledged to "remain fully transparent and honest with our pricing, so customers know exactly what they're paying for at all times". They are also partnering with Vitamin Angel, which is a nonprofit organization working to reduce child mortality rates across the globe. You can learn more about how your purchases from Koge will support the fight to rid malnutrition among children worldwide by visiting Koge's Our Cause page.

The Koge bottle I received has been given a home on one of the supplement shelves so I guess you can say, it's a member of the contest prep-my body is a temple-energize your body family :)