May Foodie Penpals reveal

Last month I told you about a fun new (to me) thing I took part in: “Foodie Penpals”, a blogger food-swap (the UK “branch” of which is organised by Carol Anne at This is Rock Salt.

I took part again this month, so here we are with my reveal post for the month of May!

As I get deeper into bodybuilding prep (and therefore diet), the sound of teeth being gnashed grows ever louder, as my hapless FPP partners struggle valiantly to send me something I can eat and enjoy! I have to say, both of my FPPs have outdone themselves, and I’ve been really very touched by the thought and effort they’ve put in.

This month’s wonderful parcel was from Christine. Christine doesn’t have a blog or Twitter (yet) but is working on it! She told me I could refer to her as an “aspiring blogger”, but secretly I hope she won’t aspire for too long… get your blog going, Christine, so we can all have a read!

Christine sent me a lovely letter in which she explained her choices and wished me well for my competitions.

Inside the parcel was this bar of dark chocolate from Starbucks (I love dark chocolate, the darker the better!) and also a cute tin of Starbucks Via and another of Green Tea tips.

I’d told Christine I love good coffee and also drink a lot of green tea. She said in her letter that she likes Starbucs Via and thinks it’s one of the better brands of instant out there. I totally agree and, as it happens, I always have some of the sachets of Via in my bag. This tin is really cute though. In fact, when my coach Kat left the UK to go travelling, I bought her one of these tins! Great choice, Christine, thank you! I’m really looking forward to trying the green tea, too. (I like loose leaf tea, there’s something lovely about the process of brewing it.)

Christine had also added a generous tub of her very own spicy seed mix - delicious! Seeds are definitely OK in my diet, and having flavoured ones is a lovely treat. These are great: Christine has flavoured them with cayenne spices and soy sauce, so they’re a lovely savoury, salty, spicy crunch. Yum!

Evidently Christine is a bit of a whizz in the kitchen because she also makes her own granola! I told her that granola is something of a dangerous area for me: portion control+granola=does not exist. So she sent me a small amount (thank you!) and also very sweetly boxed mine up before she added dried fruits to the main batch (I don’t eat dried fruit). I have had this granola, after a heavy leg session, and it was gooooood! So much better than any shop bought stuff! It was crunchy and toasty, not too sweet and full of nuts. Christine, you should go into business!

Come closer…

Look deep into my eyes…

Christine’s final gift was a bag of habas fritas, another savoury crunchy treat (anyone would think she’d listened carefully when I said I have a savoury tooth…) Thank you so much Christine for such a thoughtful parcel! I loved opening it and will continue to enjoy the goodies! X

Oh, and I’m not the only one who got spoiled… thefitdog has his own little treat inside the parcel, a gift from Christine’s dog, Coco.

What is it?

Stop taking photos of it and let me eat it…

Sniff

Chomp!

If you want to join in on UK Foodie Penpals, head over to this link. Head here (the site of the original Foodie Penpals idea) for all the May FPPs posts!

May Foodie Penpals reveal is a post from the Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

Revealed: the UK’s top 10 green exercise spots

Isn’t this weather amazing? It got me thinking about outdoor training in all its forms: biking (which I’m about to do myself), running, open-water swimming and classes like bootcamps. Do you train outdoors?

I was recently sent the results of a survey which showed that women in particular are most definitely ditching the gym in favour of exercising outside. There’s been a 52% increase in women exercising outside since 2007, apparently. Nearly half of the women surveyed are exercising outdoors 3+ times every week (with gym fees gives as the main reason).

The results of the survey, commissioned by sports bra brand Shock Absorber, suggest that there’s more to it than finances, though. 34% of the women surveyed said they actually feel they get a better workout when they’re outside because they find the surroundings so inspiring.

Intrigued by this comment, Shock Absorber delved deeper, partnering with Dr Jo Barton (a leading researcher in green exercise at the University of Essex) in a bid to identify the UK’s top ten inspirational green exercise hotspots. The criteria were: a balance of green space and water, stimulating views and proximity to wildlife.

I think we can all agree that a windswept coastline, lush green field or imposing set of hills make us feel exhilarated, uplifted and full of endorphins. So, what (or where) topped the list, according to the poll? I wonder if any of you are lucky enough to live near any of these…

White Cliffs of Dover, England (been there! Once or twice… LOL…)
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, England
Lunan Bay & Red Head, Scotland
Brecon Beacons, Wales
Killarney National Park, Republic of Ireland
Hampstead Heath, England (been there!)
Loch Tay, Scotland (been near there, very beautiful indeed!)
Downhill, Northern Ireland
Forest of Dean (been there! very hilly for cycling, trust me)
Powis Castle, Welshpool, Wales

Do any of you live near these places? Do you run, cycle, walk or hike there regularly? How do the views and surroundings affect your mood and the perception of your workout?

Dr Barton said: “Green exercise offers unique benefits compared to working out indoors. It significantly improves mood, self-esteem and restores mental fatigue. Added to this, people work harder when in a natural environment but perceive their workout to be easier. Training in the great outdoors also provides essential variety, especially with the changeable British weather – this maintains interest and reduces dropout whereas keeping fit indoors is more predictable.”

Shock Absorber has launched its “Get Out There” campaign to promote the benefits of exercising in the great outdoors and encourage women to share their inspirational places to train. By uploading photos to the campaign’s Facebook page, people can be inspired by others’ experiences and get out there to try new locations for themselves. You can see lots of lovely inspirational locations and participate in the campaign by visiting Get Out There.

Revealed: the UK’s top 10 green exercise spots is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

Fitness kit I’ve reviewed this week: Nature’s Best nutritional supplements

Oh, hi! A few weeks ago, I wrote this blog post, an interview with Dr Sam Christie, in which she kindly gave some suggestions about nutritional/dietary supplements which might benefit me during my bodybuilding prep. She works as a consultant for Nature’s Best, and the company generously sent me everything she recommended. It’s taken me a few weeks to get through it all and give it a fair chance but here is my review of the products I was sent: Vitamin C, Siberian Ginseng, omega 3 fish oils, MultiGuard Balance, Vitamin D and OsteoGuard.

First up, the Vitamin C. This stuff contains 500mg Vit C (as well as 50mg citrus bioflavonoid and 25mg rosehip powder) per tablet. Most people don’t get enough Vitamin C even if they supplement with a pill. It’s recommended that we actually take in upwards of 3g per day, particularly if training hard or under any other kind of stress (ha! ha!) So I’ve been chucking those bad boys back like there’s no tomorrow. Well, slight exaggeration. I have been taking 6/day – a total of 3g. I have been fit and healthy and devoid of any illness or infection, despite being under significant stress at the moment (training and other). Two enthusiastic thumbs up for this product!

Now, the Siberian Ginseng. In Dr Christie’s post, she suggested that ginseng was a good alternative to caffeine, giving all the benefits without the unwanted side-effects. I am a caffeine monster. I don’t care about the side-effects. I could bathe in coffee, rub coffee grounds into my eyeballs and swim through lakes of Red Bull and then dance around the house to Kiss 100 and still go back for more. Still, I realise that I have a duty to explore alternative ways of caning my adrenal system, so I accepted this unassuming little pot of green tablets – 1500mg each of top-quality ginseng – with grateful thanks.

The verdict: I love! Don’t get me wrong, it’s no double ristretto piccolo but I definitely feel it gives me a boost without the buzz. You know how caffeine can sometimes give you the jitters? *twitch* Well with this Siberian Ginseng, you get none of that. You take one tablet first thing and it just… keeps you going, somehow. I take it daily. It’s not a noticeable boost like with coffee or sugar or anything like that. But I bet I would notice the difference if I didn’t take it. I’ll be ordering some more!

Next up, the omega 3 fish oils. I have been sharing these with my training partner: yes, thefitdog has been benefitting from fish oils in his diet! He already loves coconut oil (video evidence), so I thought what the hell. He had a patchy bit of rough skin on his side and it’s almost completely cleared up since giving him 2 fish oil caps/day (it was bald, rough and hairless, now the skin is soft and the hair is growing back). As for me, well I do suffer with dry skin and so I like to take a good quality omega 3 oil. I do feel this omega 3 fish oils is one of the best I’ve used. It’s got 700mg of Omega 3s per capsule (including 360mg EPA and 240mg DHA), is very carefully made/purified and is made in the UK which I think is important for a supplement like this. I feel omega 3 supplements are important not just for skin but for hormone function and generally for a healthy diet. So, another thumbs up for this one. At £25 for 360 capsules, it works out at under 25p/day* even if you take 3 a day (as I do). *I think. Somebody fetch my abacus!

OK next up are the MultiGuard Balance. You’re going to have to click the link to see exactly what’s in it and in what dosage, but basically it’s a multi-vitamin and -mineral with lots of extras for active people. Like chromium, said to help balance blood glucose levels, magnesium, zinc and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). There’s also cinnamon in there, and it actually tastes cinnamony (not that you chew it of course, but you can still taste it). This is a good thing as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know whether or not this supplement helped me – it’s hard to tell when you take a few and don’t have some kind of testing/measuring thing set up – but it can’t have been a bad thing. And one thing I can say for sure is that I’ve been as fit as a fiddle and strong as an ox throughout the past few weeks despite a lot of challenges being thrown my way. I haven’t been ill once. Take THAT, challenges! In ya face!

OK, just a couple more: Vitamin D and OsteoGuard. Vitamin D is another important one to take, if you ask me. Our bodies can’t make it and we don’t get much of it from the environment (unless you’re reading this whilst sitting on a beach in Antigua). These tablets are a hefty 1000iu each – a good dosage. Important for bone density and immune health. The Osteoguard is also one for you if you’re concerned about healthy bones: 500mg calcium, 188mg magnesium , vitamin D and vitamin K. Everything you need for healthy bones, regardless of how good your diet is (apparently, 70% of women don’t get enough magnesium from their diets).

Right, I’m outta here. Dogs to walk, cardio to do. I hope that was helpful – in summary, I really feel these products are all super quality and great value for money if you break it down into “per day” costs. Pick and choose the ones which you feel you need most and enjoy feeling healthier!

Bye!

Fitness kit I’ve reviewed this week: Nature’s Best nutritional supplements is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

Mystery plant a great gift for bodybuilders!

My green-fingered friend Zoe popped round earlier. She’s such a successful gardener, she always has seeds and plants to give away and, of course, she knows I’m a big veg-eater.

This time, amongst the tomatoes and chili plants, she had a new gift for me. Something which she thought would be particularly useful for a dieting bodybuilder. Here it is:

What can it be?

Hang on… it it… ?

Yes, it’s a Stevia plant! I’ve reviewed Stevia tablets before and of course my sponsors, GOOD Hemp Nutrition, recently launched a new version of their protein powder which is sweetened with Stevia. But I’ve never seen the actual plant, let alone owned one.

How exciting! Thanks, Zoe!

Now, all I have to do is a) not kill the thing and b) work out what to do with it? I am not in possession of an industrial grinding machine with which to make Stevia powder. So… any ideas? Let me know if you know of a way to use the Stevia plant, perhaps as an infusion (<— always loved that word, great to be able to use it in a blog post) or in baking?

PS Are you going to Bodypower? I’m heading up there just for the Friday. I’d love to meet with Editors, clients, prospects, friends and blog readers. Drop me a line and let’s make it happen!

Mystery plant a great gift for bodybuilders! is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

April Foodie Penpals reveal

Some of you “in real life” (love that expression) know that “real life” itself has thrown some hefty challenges my way recently. So, anything which is just out-and-out nice, kind and designed to make me smile is appreciated more than ever.

What good timing, then, for me to have signed up to “Foodie Penpals”, a blogger food-swap organised in the UK by Carol Anne at This is Rock Salt. Find out more (and join!) here.

The idea is that you get matched up with a fellow blogger or a blog reader in one big jolly round-robin of food parcel loveliness. With a set budget in mind, you put together a parcel based on an email Q&A with your recipient. Then you await your own parcel! (The recipient of my parcel was Carol Anne, actually, so keep an eye on her blog This is Rock Salt to see how I did – really hope she liked my choices!)

The person who sent me my parcel doesn’t have her own blog but her name is Emma. Emma’s parcel arrived just at the right time for me, when I really needed cheering up. I was actually so delighted and excited to receive it (I’d kind of forgotten it was on its way), I chose to leave it sitting on my table, unopened, until I had a nice relaxing evening ahead of me. I then opened it carefully, enjoying a kind of mini-Christmas.

Poor Emma, I think she got the short straw when she got matched up with me. After all, it can’t be easy to put together a foodie parcel for someone who’s dieting for bodybuilding competitions. She did great though! Her choices were thoughtful and personal. Here’s what she sent:

A beautiful parcel and hand-written (hand-made?) card (put my scribble to Carol Anne to shame!)

Let’s delve deeper…

Yummy cracker bites and fruit strips, great size for travelling or gym bag and a lovely treat to look forward to on carb-up days! Also some delicious-sounding trail mix full of things like cacao nibs (my favourite), and a Bounce protein ball in peanut flavour (good choice!) That’s not all…

Some herbal tea called “Love” which is soothing and comforting – just what I need – and some kale chips! I sometimes make my own, or try to, but they never turn out that great and certainly nothing like these (yes I have already eaten this item from the parcel and they were delicious!)

Two bars of very dark chocolate, one with chili in… oh yum, Emma couldn’t have got it more right! These have been relegated to my “treats” box but will certainly be enjoyed when the time’s right.

So thoughtful – broad beans from Emma’s garden. These have already been eaten, just lightly steamed and mixed through a chicken salad. Gorgeous. Thank you Emma!

There was something else in that parcel though… what was it… I’ll pass you over to thefitdog who will show you how much he enjoyed the treat Emma kindly sent him

Chomp, chomp, slurp!

Thanks so much Emma, what a fun thing to be part of! I hope your parcel was just as wonderful as the one you sent me.

If you want to join in on UK Foodie Penpals, head over to this link. Head here (the site of the original Foodie Penpals idea) for all the April FPPs posts!

April Foodie Penpals reveal is a post from the Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydrobuilder protein powder

This week, I’ve been tasting testing some yummy new protein powder from Optimum Nutrition (ON), and it’s high time I told you about it. So, here’s my latest “fitness kit I’ve tested this week” post.

Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydrobuilder (post-training protein powder)

The folk at ON sent me a very generous sample tub of their new Platinum Hydrobuilder protein powder and invited me to trial it. This protein powder is a complex formula, with the protein coming from several sources (fast and slow release) and with extra goodies like creatine and EAAs – everything you need for your post-workout shake. Here’s the blurb:

Platinum Hydrobuilder is an all in one muscle constructor containing 34.5g of protein from multiple protein sources including Hydrolysed Whey Protein, Micellar Casein and Hydrolysed Egg Albumen. It’s enhanced with CreaPep nutrient delivery peptides and 5g of micronised creatine monohydrate. There’s over 13.5 grams of Essential Amino Acids, but only 180 calories per serving. Ideal as a complete post-exercise shake which will help to improve recovery and construct lean muscle.

I have to say, it is truly delicious (I tried the “vanilla bean” flavour, which tastes like custard and smells good enough to elicit a curious remark from The Husband). It also comes in a chocolate flavour. I can’t honestly say whether it’s helped my recovery or muscle-building efforts in just one week but the theory is sound, and it’s certainly good to have a PWO shake with fast and slow release protein, creatine mono and EAAs. This product makes it very quick, easy and convenient to get everything you need into your system as soon as you’ve finished training.

It’s not cheap, but it’s a quality product and does contain added value in the shape of those EAAs and the creatine. And, at the moment, you get free Amino Energy (which I reviewed here) when you order via the ON site.

Oh and I also tried it made into a sort of pudding, just by mixing it with a little hot water and letting it thicken. One word. MORE-ISH!

The ON people also sent me a frankly enormous Platinum Hydrobuilder t-shirt (XXL) – tee hee – along with a very sweet note apologising for the shirt’s voluminous proportions. You know what, it’s actually come in very handy. The Husband is still in a (massive) sling after his shoulder surgery, and has an ongoing need for over-sized t-shirts which can stretch over him, his sling and his bent arm. The Platinum Hydrobuilder tee is being put to great use, so – thank you!

Thanks for the sample, Optimum Nutrition people! You rock.

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydrobuilder protein powder is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

Guest post: nutrition and supplementation Q&A with Dr Sam Christie

A while ago, I wrote a feature for Body Fit magazine about common fitness facts (and fiction). One of the experts who provided me with useful comments was Dr Sam Christie, an independent nutritionist who works with Nature’s Best on the research side of things. Dr Christie mentioned that she is always interested in answering queries about nutrition from particular groups of people. When I said I was a competitive bodybuilder, she told me to send over some questions which she’d gladly answer.

Many weeks later (so sorry!), I’ve finally got round to airing her answers! Here’s our Q&A, I hope you find something useful within it, whatever sport you do and whatever your level of activity.

thefitwriter: What are your areas of interest?
Dr Sam Christie: My research thesis focused on the effects of non-pharmacological OTC treatments for benign reproductive-age. I continued to collaborate with enlightened universities and hospitals on nutrient and plant-extract research, where we looked at conditions as varied as asthma, osteoporosis, fatigue, pre-diabetes, women’s hair loss and gut health. I have been a keen cyclist and dancer for many years.

tfw: What in your opinion are the most important supplements for female natural bodybuilders?
DSC: Clinically, a mineral-heavy, stress and free-radical-offsetting multi-nutrient and herbal extract programme is a vital cornerstone of a healthy diet for natural body builders. Having said that, adequate omega 3 and use of menstrual-cycle normalising supplements (where necessary) are important too.

tfw: Our training tends to be very stressful on the body and we are often dieting alongside this. What do you think are the most crucial three supplements for anyone putting their body through stress?
DSC: A good multi-nutrient, fish oil and calcium/magnesium supplement. See below for more of an explanation.

tfw: A particular area of interest to me is rest and sleep. Can you recommend anything for better quality sleep?
DSC: Naturally, uncover any psychological and physiological factors alongside undertaking stress-reduction techniques. Alongside this you could use Valerian officinalis extract (2x400mg extract tablets 1 hr before bed), gallons of chamomile tea (two tea bags per mug – leave the bag in to infuse) and additional calcium and magnesium if a detailed diet-diary shows you to be lacking.

tfw: What is your opinion on caffeine as a pre-workout “booster”?
DSC: If this just used to raise vitality and concentration, you could use an extract of Siberian Ginseng (around four hours before training) to get the boost without the side effects of caffeine, which some people won’t want or tolerate. Siberian Ginseng is the world’s best-known and most highly-researched adaptogen. Because it has a caffeine type of action, it really is best taken first thing in the morning. Nature’s Best Siberian Ginseng is a sophisticated extract that has guaranteed levels of the active ingredients (eleutherosides). Many people, particularly women, find that Siberian ginseng works better for them than Korean Ginseng. It is regarded as a more gentle preparation and, indeed, is often referred to as the female ginseng.

Dr Sam Christie’s supplement and dietary programme for natural body builders

DSC: On balance, we eat too much carbohydrate as a nation, particularly of the refined variety. Low GI (glycaemic index) carbohydrates (oats, brown rice, pulses) are perfect for sportspeople including bodybuilders at around 30% of total calorie intake. These slow-release forms of energy are terrifically filling and micronutrient-dense, full of glucose-stabilising minerals such as chromium, magnesium and zinc.

Magnify the priming effects of foods by using a multi-nutrient supplement: I recommend a minimum of 200mcg of chromium, 15mg of zinc and 400mg cinnamon extract (MultiGuard Balance contains a clinically-relevant supply of B vitamins which aid in cortisol normalisation), alongside Vitamin D and omega 3 fish oils. Also time-released Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, time-released; £11.95 for 180 tablets). However, without the use of intense exercise-relevant supplies of calcium and magnesium (OsteoGuard) the adrenal gland may not be fully supported, and insomnia – along with other nasties like low afternoon energy -can kick-in. Research shows that many women in the UK fail to consume anywhere near adequate calcium and magnesium supplies from their food.

To offset exercise-induced inflammatory responses, don’t cook with sunflower oil or related products, as these are terrifically high in omega 6 fats. Eating oil-rich fish (omega 3 fats) three times a week and taking daily fish oil supplements will optimise your omega 3/omega 6 ratio and – along with a minimum of five portions of fruit and veggies a day – will ensure minimal inflammatory load from the diet.

I hope you found this blog post helpful. Thank you, Sam! I am going to be trying out Nature’s Best’s Siberian Ginseng, omega 3 fish oils, MultiGuard Balance, Vitamin D and OsteoGuard as recommended by Dr Christie, and I’ll report back in a few weeks.

Guest post: nutrition and supplementation Q&A with Dr Sam Christie is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

Competition winners! GOOD Hemp with Stevia

Thanks to those of you who left a comment on this post and on GOOD Hemp’s Facebook page in a bid to win one of five tubs of GOOD Hemp’s chocolate protein powder – now sweetened with Stevia.

*drum roll*

The winners, chosen out of a metaphorical hat, are:

ZoeS, Alice, Ildiko, Olivia B and Tara.

Well done! Please email your postal addresses to me (nicola AT nicolajoyce.co.uk) and I’ll pass them on to GOOD Hemp who will ship your tubs of protein out to you directly. I really hope you enjoy them!

If you weren’t one of the five winners, remember you can still use the 25% discount code GOOD Hemp have offered readers of this blog. Put the code GOODN1 in at the checkout and you’ll get a whopping 25% off the new Gym Shake with Stevia (one code per reader).

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Please cross your fingers for my husband who is currently having his shoulder operated on (it was misdiagnosed as a dislocation a few weeks ago….!)

Competition winners! GOOD Hemp with Stevia is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

Competition time and discount code: new GOOD Hemp with Stevia

Morning all! My sponsors, GOOD Hemp nutrition, have just reformulated their chocolate protein powder to use Stevia as a sweetener (previously Sucralose). Great news, as Stevia is far preferable (read why in this blog post).

There are all sorts of reasons why GOOD’s hemp protein powder is great for you: as well as helping you reach your protein requirements (regardless of whether or not you’re a bodybuilder, or even “sporty”), it’s full of really “GOOD” stuff (see what I did there?) including omega 3, dietary fibre and all the EAAs (essential amino acids) your body needs. It’s also much less likely (than dairy-based protein powders) to cause any digestive issues or bloating. Plus it’s reallyreallyreally chocolatey and great for baking as well as just in a shake! The new formulation tastes great and it’s good to know that GOOD have pioneered the way in using Stevia as a sweetener. Be gone, Sucralose!

GOOD Hemp giveaway competition and discount code

To celebrate the launch of the new formulation, GOOD have kindly given me five tubs to give away to five of you! And, on top of that, an exclusive discount code for readers of the blog.

Put the code GOODN1 in at the checkout and you’ll get a whopping 25% off the new Gym Shake with Stevia (one code per reader). It’s currently on an introductory offer of £26.99 (1kg) so the code will make it….erm….*gets abacus out*…. £20.25 (?) And you’ll get loyalty points too.

To win one of the five tubs of the new formulation Gym Shake, leave me a comment telling me why you want to try the product, and then head on over to GOOD Hemp’s Facebook page and pop a post on their wall saying you’ve entered thefitwriter blog competition to win one of the five tubs. That’s it! (Make sure you comment here, otherwise I won’t know you’ve entered).

Entries close this Friday night at 8pm UK time and I’ll pick the winners at random over the weekend.

Enjoy!

- follow GOOD Hemp on Facebook (just click the link)
- follow GOOD Hemp on Twitter (click the link)

Competition time and discount code: new GOOD Hemp with Stevia is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: Bare Naked Noodles

Today, thefitwriter blog is mostly imitating a food blog. ie, I have just taken a photograph of my dinner. LOL.

It’s all for a good reason, though. You see, I was sent these noodles in the week, and have just scoffed them for my dinner, and need to tell you about them.

Bare Naked Food have developed noodles/spaghetti which are low carb, low cal, high fibre and contain absolutely no nasties or yukky fake stuff. No gluten, no sugar, just water, konjac flour, soybean fibre and oatmeal flour. “Sauce” notwithstanding, my bowl contained fewer than 30kcals, 1g or so protein, zero fat, fewer than 5g carbs and significant fibre (not surprising, since it’s made of fibre!) *parp*

This is useful for people like me who laugh in the face of traditional noodles and pasta, but sometimes want something noodlesque as a companion for sauces or stirfries. I sometimes use shirataki noodles but, really, they’re not that great. They are absolutely nothing like noodles, in fact. They all stick together and they’re a weird texture and… well, these are just lots better!

Let’s be completely honest, these still neither taste like, nor have the mouthfeel of, actual noodles or spaghetti. But they’re not actual noodles or spaghetti so… you know, what do you expect?

They do have a good texture, a bit like al dente pasta, and no funny taste of their own. In short, I’d much rather eat these than shirataki noodles and I will be buying more of them. This is what they look like, close up.

They take on the taste of whatever you add to them. I tried them with a tuna-type “pasta sauce” but I’d love to try them with stirfry or somehow make them into egg fried noodles? Looks like I need to get some more!

Read about them here (you can get them with a low carb chili sauce) and read another recipe (and decidedly more appealing photos!) in my friend Anna’s blog review of them here. In the meantime, here’s what I did (I can’t believe food bloggers do this kind of thing every day!)

Ingredients
One packet Bare Naked Food noodles
One tin tuna (Mr J West)
1 tbs nutritional yeast
100g quark
Bit of onion and mushroom cooked in coconut oil
Mrs Dash
Black pepper
Fresh parsley

“Recipe”
Mix everything except the noodles in a pan til heated through. Add whatever seasonings you like (I used Mrs Dash extra hot spicy red chili one, and black pepper).
Drain and rinse the noodles. Add the noodles to the sauce, mix and heat through.
Get one of your “special occasion” dishes down from the top cupboard “because this is going on the blog!”, plate up.
Belatedly chop some parsley “because this is going on the blog!” and garnish.
Eat. Feel very full.

Thank you, Bare Naked Food people! Find them online here or on Facebook here.

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: Bare Naked Noodles is a post from The Fit Writer blog.

Nicola Joyce – the Fit Writer – is a freelance copywriter and journalist who writes for the sport and fitness industry. Her main website is here.