Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: TevaSphere Speed shoes

In this installment of Fitness kit I’ve reviewed this week I’m pleased to tell you about some brand-new shoes from outdoor adventure brand Teva. I’ve had them for a while but was asked to hold back with a review until launch date – which is today. Hot off the press!

A lot of people understand the benefits of more minimalist footwear these days. Barefoot running has had a huge effect on the kit we’ve seen on offer from major brands, and gone are the days when huge big cushioned soles were the order of the day.

The TevaSphere range bridges the gap between minimalist and structured footwear and has been designed specifically for outdoors. The team feel that minimalist footwear and more traditional over-supportive training shoes have shortcomings, and wanted to develop a range which gives outdoor athletes like adventure runners a higher-performing shoe.

The brand collaborated with leading sports science and human performance institute P3 (Peak Performance Project) and the result was the first outdoor cross-trainer offering a spherical heel and pod-based arch support system. The idea is that the spherical heel lowers your point of contact with the ground, for a more natural point of impact and more efficient transition, and the pod-arch system gives you specific support only where it’s needed, to make the shoe supportive but really light.

I don’t do a whole lot of fell running or adventure racing (!) but I do a lot of power walking on varied terrains and I was happy to test the Speed shoe. In fact, I’ve been wearing them for a month or so now. The verdict? They’re very light and feel supportive but definitely allow me to feel more in contact with the ground. Enough support, without too much cushioning. And I did feel that I was able to roll through my foot whilst walking, which often isn’t the case when wearing walking shoes or regular trainers. The shoes dry really quickly and seem to have withstood the worst of the late-Winter weather.

There are three models in the line: the Speed (quick dry materials and lightweight design), Trail eVent® (a breathable waterproof membrane, sturdy design and toe bumper), and Trail Mid eVent® (with extra protection of a mid-cut height).

They are exclusively available from Cotswold Outdoor.

Thanks Teva for letting me try the shoes!

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: TevaSphere Speed shoes 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.

A few thanks yous: Moving Comfort, Brooks, Adidas, Boobydoo

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I went and did a training session/photoshoot combo for a Muscle & Fitness article I’m writing? Well, I need to do a follow-up post, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the fitness model who was in the shoot with me (lending an air of glamour, professionalism and… y’know… actually knowing how to model in front of the camera) was a jolly nice chap by the name of Shaun Stafford. Shaun was dieting and training hard at the time of our shoot. He competes as Pro fitness model with the WBFF, and this weekend was the WBFF Worlds – a huge deal for Shaun, the pinnacle of his competitive career. He only went and won! Yes, Shaun is now the World 2012 WBFF Male Fitness Model World Champion and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer (and harder-working) guy. So, first of all I have to say massive congratulations to Shaun at reaching your goal!

Secondly, and the main point of this post, is a series of over-due thank yous. You see, when Muscle & Fitness asked me not only to write the article but be in the photos, too, I panicked. Not least on the topic of outfits. Was I really going to be in a magazine wearing my ratty old mis-matched gym kit, some of which I have honestly had since University (circa 1842)? No. Help! So, I put a few shouts out: to clients (I do copywriting for sport and fitness brands), PRs and anyone who felt moved to help me!

Four generous companies sent me kit, and I owe them a great deal of thanks – and a few reviews!

Moving Comfort
Adidas
Boobdydoo Sports Bras
Brooks running shoes
… thank you. Very much!

Moving Comfort is the the number one bra brand in the USA and I can see why. They sent me a load of stuff, including bras, and they’re all such amazing quality, very soft (but supportive) and great designs. Really top-end stuff. I’ve worn their kit for intervals, for steady state cardio, in the gym, walking the dog and just out and about, it really is that nice.

I think one of my favourite items is this Urban Gym sweatshirt (which has been admired by several of my gym-going girlfriends – and my friend’s 5-week old baby, who snuggled into the open-neck fleecy bit). It’s just lovely, so so soft and perfect for after the gym or just wearing at home. And it’s ever so slightly glittery if you look carefully…

Of the bras Moving Comfort sent, I really like the Rebound racer. That’s if I had to choose, because seriously every single bit of kit they sent me is amazing quality, design and comfort! I love a racerback (for the look and for the freedom of movement) and what I particularly liked about this bra (and a few of the others) was the clever way they adjust: at the front, the shoulder strap passes through the main bra and doubles back on itself, fastening with velcro. So clever and so easy to adjust, and not something I’ve come across before.

Another thing I’ve been wearing a lot is this Urban Gym tee – it’s a bit heavy for hot training sessions but perfect for yoga (if I did yoga that is…), pilates (ditto) or just for wearing out and about. It’s a lovely design.

Brooks running shoes are the sister company to Moving Comfort. They kindly sent me the PureFlow shoes which are a neutral shoe, really comfy and suited for running or gym work. I love these shoes! So very comfortable! I wore them straight out of the box for the shoot and did all sorts of plyos, jumps, hurdle work etc in them and the shoes felt supportive and springy but really lightweight. They also gave me great advice over the phone and got my size spot on (despite me initially insisting I was a size 6). I’d wear them more often but… my two-year old nephew removed one of the insoles without me noticing, so the insole is now in Kent and I am in Berkshire. When I am reunited with the insole, you can bet I’ll be wearing my PureFlows again!

Adidas sent me their Supernova racerbra and Response shorts. I like both but I really love the bra! It’s so flattering, can just about be worn as a crop top and is a lovely design and – being slightly padded – gives a really great shape.

Thanks also to Boobydoo Sports Bras – a great online source for sportsbras (they always give such fantastic advice and service) who sent me a few of the bras they stock to try, including the Sportjock action sportbra which is a simple design but extremely comfortable and plenty supportive enough for anything other than high-impact. I’ve been wearing them a lot in the gym and for cycling/spinning and they’re perfect – lightweight, comfy (and they come in lots of bright colours too!)

A massive heartfelt thank you to Moving Comfort, Adidas, Boobdydoo Sports Bras, Brooks running shoes. Join them on Facebook why don’t you?
Boobydoo on Facebook
Moving Comfort on Facebook
Adidas on Facebook

A few thanks yous: Moving Comfort, Brooks, Adidas, Boobydoo 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: Monkey Nutrition whey isolate Primal26

Hello on this lovely sunny day! Although I am now in the stages of my prep-diet where I’ve taken out protein powders (personal preference and just the way Kat & I do things), today’s Fitness kit I’ve reviewed this week is for a whey isolate.

Bold new brand on the block, Monkey Nutrition, sent me a packet of their vanilla whey isolate (and a shaker) a few weeks ago and I’ve since used it in smoothies, as straight-up shakes and as a blend with other protein powders. I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up! Here’s the review.

Monkey Nutrition’s whey isolate, Primal26 contains only whey protein isolate which has gone through various micro- and ultra-filtration processes. It contains no fat, no sugar and only 1g carbs per serving but will give you 26g protein. It’s the ideal choice of protein powder for directly after training, which is mostly how I used it. I appreciated its macros – as I was between six and four weeks out from comp when I was testing it, so the fact that it is so low carb was very handy and meant I could easily fit it in to my diet plans. You can read about whey isolate vs whey concentrate here on the Monkey Nutrition blog.

Primal26 whey protein isolate comes in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry – I was sent the vanilla which I was glad of as it’s so versatile. It was very tasty, not too sweet but a nice pleasant vanilla taste which was good by itself and also worked well if I blended it in with another protein powder. I had it a couple of times on really hot days blended up with a load of icecubes and it made a great “bodybuilder icecream” – it’s got xanthan gum in it, which helps it thicken up a little. It’s sweetened with Stevia, which gets a big hoorah from me, as I really prefer not to have Sucralose these days. (Stevia is a zero-cal sweetener derived from a plant, so it’s natural and gentle on the digestion).

Monkey have put a host of useful extras in their whey isolate, including BCAAs and EAAs isoluecine, leucine, valine, arginine, lysine and also glutamine, so it really is a good choice for a post-gym refuel before you can get your next solid meal down you.

Finally, the folk at Monkey Nutrition seem jolly nice and genuinely interested in helping out gym-goers and athletes of all calibres (I sent an email to one of the company’s founders, asking – in a somewhat over-paranoid manner! – to double-check that anything they were intending on sending me was OK for tested athletes. Not only did the big boss email me back very quickly but he contacted the scientist people behind the formulas, in order to double-triple check and put my mind at rest.)

I know it doesn’t really matter who’s behind the brand when you’re chugging back your protein shake as you walk out of the gym, but I do feel it makes a difference if a company is genuinely interested in its customers, show an understanding of the rules and regulations of various sports and seem to care.

Monkey Nutrition whey isolate protein Primal26

Per 30g serving
110 kcals
0g fat
1g carbs (0g sugar)
26g protein
150 mg sodium

They also sent me a shaker bottle and, I’ll admit, my first thought was “oh another bottle, just what I need…” but actually this one is great and it’s my new go-to bottle! There’s just something about the design – it’s slimmer than a lot of other shakers and it’s slightly tapered, too, so it fits really nicely into the side pocket of my kitbag and into the coffee-cup holder in my car. (It’s also got a nifty spiral thing inside to help blend up whatever powders you’ve got in there). And I’ve just gone online to grab the URL and seen it’s only £3.99, which quite honestly is a steal.

I know. I’m easily pleased. ;D

Thanks, Monkey Nutrition people!

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: Monkey Nutrition whey isolate Primal26 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: USN Protein Delite bar

Fitness kit I’ve reviewed this week - USN’s Protein Delite bar in cookies & cream flavour.

Yesterday was a very big, very heavy (and “extra”) leg workout. (In fact, my coach was moved to blog about it!) So, after back squats and hack squats and split squats and whatnots, I was somewhat hungry. To put it mildly.

How handy, then, that USN had that very day sent me a Protein Delite bar! I’d intended to save it for my next scheduled leg day but this unofficial extra one was every bit as demanding at the normal ones, so I came home and bust out the bar and chowed down.

These bars are whoppers! 76g in weight, big and knobbly, they are – as my friend Heidi might say – “a good handful”. Tasty, too, but then you’d expect that: they are covered in a chocolatey coating. Not the healthiest choice, but if your diet/nutrition approach can accomodate it, a very tasty one! I tried the Cookies & Cream flavour but there’s also a Toffee Almond one (which tips the scales at a super-heavyweight 96g). Here are the stats per 76g bar of the C&C:

315 kcals
30g protein
24g carbs (9g sugars)
11g fat (8g saturated)

The protein content comes mainly from whey isolate, milk isolate, whey concentrate and soy isolate, and sweeteners include maltitol. Potential allergens listed are peanuts, soy, wheat, egg and milk.

Like I said, not the healthiest choice but better than a traditional choccie bar and handy to have in your kit bag for those real “feed me now” moments when you’ve absolutely caned yourself and know your muscles will just suck up anything you eat. Some protein bars can be a bit chalky, dry, chewy or tasteless. Not this one, it really was lovely and very “melt in the mouth”. Happily for my diet coach, USN only sent me one!

Thanks, USN people! You and your big delicious protein bars are very nice!

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: USN Protein Delite bar 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.

Peripheral vision

My most recent blog post (last week – sorry for going AWOL) saw me reunited with a friend from my previous life as an endurance athlete. My triathlon bike and I have been out several times this week, making the most of a beautifully sunny March.

Sport brings us a lot of lessons. Exercise, working out, training: whatever you call it, if you’ve done it even once, I guarantee it opened your eyes to thoughts and feelings you hadn’t had before. Perhaps it was that first endorphin rush (it’s true! exercise really does make you feel good!), the realisation that you’re stronger than you think, the joy of finding something, some time, some space just for you.

This week, whilst out on my bike, I realised how different sports teach us different things, all of them important at different times. As yet another car passed by me so close that I could see my reflection in the bonnet and then see the items on the passenger seat, I got to thinking about peripheral vision.

Training in the gym, lifting weights, we tend to focus on one spot. Staring straight ahead (usually into the mirror, if you’re a bodybuilder), we shut out distractions, noises, movements at the edge of our vision. We need to focus.

This focus is no good out cycling on the road. Stare ahead with laser-beam vision and you’re likely to miss that car coming up behind you, the squirrel in the verge, or that pothole to your left.

Different sports, different ways of seeing.

Tapping into your peripheral vision is actually quite calming. When we’re stressed or anxious, we tend to stare straight ahead, unblinking, focused on one spot, ready to run. When we open up our vision to 180* (or more – you need eyes in the back of your head as a cyclist), we feel somehow calmer, shutting off internal dialogue and just enjoying the moment.

Of course, there is a time and a place for that narrow focus. Like when you’re getting ready to lift weights, standing on the start line of a race, preparing to compete. It’s just nice to open up our eyes from time to time and take a look around.

If you’re interested in this kind of thing, a great book to read is “Mental Mastery” by sports psychologist Ken Way. I mentioned it here and you can get hold of it here.

Do you notice things around you more when you do certain types of exercise?

Peripheral vision 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: SOLE Sport Flips shoes

Today’s fitness kit I’ve reviewed this week is for my runner friends. With marathon season fast-approaching, no doubt you’re all racking up the mileage and spending a lot of time on your feet. Here is something I’ve tried out recently which might be right up your alley, plus a few expert tips to help keep your feet happy before you start your taper.

SOLE Sport Flips

I’ve reviewed a SOLE product before (in this post) – the Exhale recovery shoes, which I still wear around the house. This time, I was sent SOLE‘s Sport Flips, which look like flip flops but offer a lot more support and comfort to tired hard-working feet.

They’re great! I’ve been wearing them round the house and actually even wore them out and about yesterday (that was before it started snowing…!) They’re extremely comfortable (even the bit which goes between your toes isn’t annoying or painful) and very good for you feet. And that, of course, is the point – slippers and socks are all well and good but they don’t help your feet recovery whilst you’re slouching about. In fact, they’re likely to encourage the arch of the foot to flatten out, making the muscles work hard to keep you balanced. By putting their orthopaedic mouldable footbeds into shoes, SOLE give you a couple of great recovery options (these flip flops or – if you want a cosier option – the Exhale shoes I reviewed before) for more cushioning and support.

I don’t do long runs any more but I imagine these would be ideal to pop on after your Saturday or Sunday run, so your poor feet can slowly recover. And they’ll be great for wearing during the days and weeks after your marathon! The Sport Flips come in loads of colourways, too, so you’re not stuck with one choice. They are £50 and you can get them from the SOLE website, Runners Need and other selected sport stores.

An expert note on recovery time between runs: Andrew Stanley, Podiatrist and running Biomechanics Specialist at The Rebound Clinic, says it can be difficult to know how to help your legs and feet recover between sessions when you’re trying to peak for a long race. “Traditional flip flops, slippers and slouch socks create a very unstable platform”. he says. “This instability can lead to excessive foot motion resulting in foot, leg and even back pain – not helpful when you’re trying to recover between runs.

“These SOLE Flips and the SOLE Exhales mentioned prevously are scientifically designed to support the heel and arch of the foot which stabilise the walking motion. They keep the feet and legs in a more neutral position reducing the stresses of walking, resulting in less stiffness, pain and tiredness after running,” he says.

How is your marathon training going? Did it snow on your long run today?

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: SOLE Sport Flips shoes 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: Vibram FiveFingers Bikila shoes

This installment of Fitness kit I’ve reviewed this week is subtitled “What the hell are those on your feet?”

“What the hell are those on your feet?” is a question I have become used to hearing over the past couple of weeks. You know what? I don’t care. I don’t care, because I’ll tell you what the hell these are on my feet. These are my Vibrams. And, quite simply, they rock.

Yes, they look a bit odd. Yep, they’re a bit garish. But ohhhh boy do they feel good.

I was sent a pair of Vibrams (the Bikila model) by online Vibrams retailers Primal Lifestyle. (In their shop they also sell “primal” snacks, fitness kit, books, events and consultations.) Since I started training at Castle Gym, which has…oh, you know… a SQUAT RACK and all that stuff I actually need from a gym (!), it’s become apparent that I really need shoes other than running trainers for my weight training sessions. Particularly when it comes to squats and deadlifts, trainers with lots of support and thick soles just don’t cut it. You can’t really feel what you’re doing, and you don’t feel grounded. Lots of people had recommended Vibrams to me for that “barefoot only better” feel. Here was my chance to try them out for myself!

How did I get on?

Well, the first thing to note is that they take a bit of practice to get on. My feet aren’t the most lovely things on this earth (no, no photos). My two littlest toes on each foot are all squished and bent, so it took a bit of wrestling to coax them into the correct “toe hole” of the Vibrams. But I’ve got a lot quicker at it now. There’s a definite technique, but it’s not hard, and once they’re on, they are so comfy. It really does feel like being barefoot, only better (and safer). The soles of my Bikilas are 3mm I believe, and other models of Vibram shoes are even thinner. It’s hard to describe the feeling of wearing them. You have to try it!

They’re great for wearing in the gym (although I haven’t run in them – some people do, though) and I can definitely tell the benefits of wearing them for “leg days” and squatting. I can just feel more and have a sense of being in better contact with the ground. I’ve also worn them for general walking around, including walking on pavements and gravel etc, and they’re really comfy. I’m not sure how it works, but – thin as the soles are – walking on stones and dodgy road surfaces is perfectly comfortable. But you know the real revelation? Driving! Driving in Vibrams is a whole new world of comfort. I’m sure our car’s fuel consumption has gone down, too, because I can touch the pedals so much more gently than in regular shoes.

Primal Lifestyle are Vibram’s distributor of the Fivefingers product for the UK. I tried the Bikilas, but you can get lots of different types of Vibrams, from every day slip-on types, to ones made for running (even off-road running) and all sorts, and they all come in various colourways too. Take a look.

Q&A from my week with a pair of Vibram FiveFingers

“Aren’t they a funny colour?”

Yes, they are. I rather like it. It’s not like they’re ever going to blend into the background, so why not be colourful too.

“Oh! Gosh! What are they?” (<— uttered by a lady in her 70s on the rowing machine next to me) Followed by: “well dear if you don't want them after you've done your write-up, I'll take them off you!”

“Don't the between-the-toe bits feel funny? Like the bit on a flip-flop?”

Nope, not at all. It must be the material they're made of, or the way they do the seams, but I honestly can't feel that anything's there at all. Not one tiny little rub nor hint of a blister (and that's more than I can say for many pairs of trainers – worn with socks!)

“Don’t they stink?”

Um, I’m not sure, hang on. *interlude* No, they don’t. Obviously you don’t wear socks with Vibrams, but no they’re not stinky.

“Isn’t it a bit cold to wear them this time of year?”

I wore them in the snow and was fine (this was more out of forgetfulness than bravery). They dry really quickly. If you suffer with painfully cold feet, I guess this might be a problem for you, but you could wear different shoes to the gym, change into your Vibrams once there, then change back for going outside?

“Are you going to take your Vibrams off?” (<—– uttered by my husband)

No! They're more comfortable than my own feet.

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: Vibram FiveFingers Bikila shoes 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: Bio Synergy Green Tea, NO capsules & Skinny Bar, Pro 10 BCAA & Soy protein

Today’s Fitness kit I’ve reviewed this week blog post has been split in two (because I am incapable of editing myself when writing my blog). As mentioned, I recruited two freelance eating consultants: my husband (Head of Bread Consumption) helped with this morning’s Village Bakery post and my sister (CEO, Protein Bars) kindly contributed her expertise to this post.

First of all, a few bits from Bio Synergy. I’ve tested Bio Synergy products before (here) but this time I was sent Green Tea capsules, NO2 capsules and a little protein bar.

Bio Synergy Skinny Protein Bar
Skinny Protein Bars are small protein bars designed to be a better – and more protein-rich – choice than chocolate bars. They can even help you lose weight, say Bio Synergy. How does that work, then? The bars contain ingredients which promote calorie burn, boost energy levels and provide a thermogenic effect: green tea, guarana, chromium (said to help squash a sweet tooth) and l-carnitine.

They’re a decent source of protein (not as good as a bit of chicken, or a hardboiled egg, but I do understand that some people would rather carry a little bar around in their handbag than an egg). You can get caramel or vanilla flavour, and I tried the caramel.

I don’t really eat bars (if I do, I prefer to make my own concoctions) and would caution that these are still very much on the “candy bar” end of protein bars, being covered in chocolate. However, they are certainly a better choice than an actual chocolate bar if you want a sweet treat. That’s precisely how I sampled mine: I waited til I had a sweet-tooth day, made myself a coffee and took a quiet moment to enjoy the bar and cuppa.

I know you’re all keen to know what my sister has to say on the matter. A bit of context for you: she is new to higher-protein eating but has been making small but effective changes to her eating habits over the past six months. Sista has a pretty sweet tooth, historically being a lover of Galaxy and Dairy Milk (other milk chocolate bars are available). Here are her words of wisdom. “The Skinny Protein Bar is really nice, although I could only eat half of it, it was quite sickly. But for something “good for you”, it was very tasty and I would definitely eat more of them! So far, that make (Bio Synergy) is by far my favourite of anything you’ve given me.”

Per 32g bar:
97 kcals
9.8g protein
8.8g carbs (1.2g sugars)
2.3g fat (1.6g sat)
6.9g fibre

Bio Synergy Green Tea capsules
I love green tea, so I was keen to try these Green Tea capsules to see if they gave the same effect and if I found them more convenient than an actual cup of green tea. I keep these in my kit bag and take a couple just before training. On non-training days, or during the day, I still like drinking green tea for the actual act of drinking something warm, but these capsules are brilliant for actually getting the beneficial effects of green tea (polyphenol antioxidants, digestion and energy). We all know the benefits of green tea (if you don’t, click through to the capsules where there’s a good summary) but suffice to say that I found these capsules a really convenient and effective way of getting those benefits. A great addition to my kit bag!

Bio Synergy NO2 Pump capsules
No2 Pump contains Arginine Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG/arginine), a nonessential amino acid, as its main active ingredient. The liver needs AAGK to make nitric oxide, and both AAKG and nitric oxide amplify the muscle-building effects of training and supplementation. Hence the “pump” part of this supplement’s name.

Because it helps the liver break down by-products of training, some people take AAKG to improve performance: it can help people exercise longer by offsetting soreness and stiffness.

L-arginine stimulates protein synthesis and increases nitric oxide production in blood vessels. The theory is that, when blood vessels dilate, more blood reaches the muscle, boosting levels of carbohydrates, proteins and various muscle-building hormones. You can get L-Arginine from red meat, but these capsules are easier to carry around in your kit bag!

My verdict? I’m probably not lean enough at the moment to notice differences in pump between taking these and just training normally (plus, it’s been really cold and I’ve been training in long sleeves and trousers). However I did notice that, when I took them for few sessions in a row, I felt less soreness. I’m going to keep these for later in the season!

Pro-10 BCAAs
New supplement company on the block, Pro-10, kindly sent me a couple of items to sample, including their 2:1:1 BCAA powder. I like to take BCAAs when I’m feeling a bit depleted, or if I have to train without getting a decent meal down me first. PRO-10’s BCAA product uses a clinically-tested 2:1:1 formulation. I really liked this product – if you’re used to flavoured and sweetened BCAAs, you’ll want to add something like flavour drops or add them to another product, because they do have that bitter BCAA taste. But it’s no biggie and they’re certainly palatable in water, and blended very easily (which can’t be said for all BCAAs). At just £19.99 for 500g, I think they’re pretty good value.


Pro-10 soy protein powder

I wouldn’t usually choose a soy protein powder (I try to avoid soy) but tested a serving of Pro-10′s Soya Protein Isolate in strawberry flavour (it’s also available unflavoured). As a soy isolate, this product has 90% protein content and is low-fat and low-carb. It’s naturally high in arginine and l-glutamine and is lactose-free. I thought it tasted great, very creamy and not too sweet, and mixed up really easily and smoothly. I simply choose not to consume soy, that’s all. If I did, I would consider buying this. At just £15.99/kg for the strawberry and £9.49/kg for the unflavoured, it’s good value and a good choice for vegans. Here are the stats:

per 30g serving:
118 kcal
27g protein
0.9g carbs (0.3g sugars)
0.2g fat
1.2g fibre

Pro-10 have a huge range of products from protein powders, aminos, recovery products and all the rest of it, so head over and take a look around.

Thanks, Bio Synergy and Pro 10 people!

Fitness kit I’ve tested this week: Bio Synergy Green Tea, NO capsules & Skinny Bar, Pro 10 BCAA & Soy protein 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.

“Who doesn’t miss cereal?”

“Who doesn’t miss cereal?” These oh-so-true words were uttered to me at B-Fit at the weekend, after I was asked what I miss most on a bodybuilding prep diet.

One thing led to another, and so it was that I told Anna (of Protein Pow(d)er) of my vague plan to create some kind of protein cereal. “It ought to be easy,” I said. “Surely I could make some kind of batter from… I dunno… egg whites and protein powder and something, spread it thinly on a baking sheet, bake it, take it out, smash it into bits, and maybe bake it again? Then I could have cereal and (dairy-free) milk again! Trouble is, I never seem to find the time.”

Anna does find the time. Day after day, she finds the time to create amazing low(er) carb, high protein, high delicious stuff on her blog

And today, she did it. Today, she created “crunchy protein cereal“.

Here’s a picture (stolen from her blog). Now go and read the recipe. Four ingredients. Five if you include your milk of choice.

I am SO making this.

Thank you, Anna! You might just have transformed my life. Or certainly my diet.

Anna blogs at Protein Pow(d)er and also has a very active Facebook page.

“Who doesn’t miss cereal?” 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.