http://tinyurl.com/36qulaq Omega Lawsuit

http://tinyurl.com/2f4ae76 FDA Lead Study Link (9/2008)

It’s hard to give specific grams/amounts of foods for individuals without knowing more. We are all very different and need different levels and sources of fats, proteins, carbs, etc. It’s not just a simple, universal equation as some would like us to believe.

However, my questions would be what time did you wake up? What time did you eat your cereal? What type of cereal are you having? And how many calories worth? It may be that the cereal is quite processed and isn’t providing enough nutrients, calories or satiety… Also, 2 meals a day might not be the best formula for you.

Also, are you working out during the week? If so, what kind of exercise and how intense? How often per week? And for how many minutes? What time do you usually workout?

These are just a few of the questions to consider. It may also be the case that you are not eating enough calories… Looking at your day, I can certainly suggest that increasing your vegetable intake would be a helpful thing. Especially in the early afternoon.

So glad that you were able to get those individual serving packets. Such a good way to determine if something is nasty before you’re stuck with 2 lbs of it.

Last time I had Jay Robb, his sodium levels were low… what’s the count on your packet? But yeah, I usually blended his protein with a banana The spirutein powder I have just mixed with water for an on-the-go snack. I think it’s pretty yummy. Interesting about the LifeTime product- chia seeds are hot right now… I’ve been curious about them… I think it’s time to do my research on ‘em! Thanks for letting me know about that product.

There’s a lot of reasons why your body might not be diggin the Optimum… it could be a sensitivity to the amount/type of protein or other ingredients in the product, it could be that your body is seeking out more carbs post-workout and is having trouble digesting the proteins, it could be related to dehydration post-workout… whatever the case, it may be that the banana is offering the nutrients your body is craving or acting as a buffer so that your body isn’t responding quite so aggressively to the culprit. It will be interesting to see how your body responds to these other products. Take close notice and see how your body and mind reacts to the products and how it is different or similar to Optimum.

I hear ya about the food! I’m such a foodie too And ice cream… yeah. I’m mainly a vegan… except when homemade ice cream is available… yet another reason why I love summer so much! I think the exploration of foods is way more fun than the restriction of foods. There’s an amazing book that really helped me move past my own eating struggles. It’s called “Serving Fire” by Anne Scott. It’s an inspiring read.

I think it’s so awesome that you are active, involved in your nutrition and working to share love and gratitude to your body. Keep givin’ it love! And thanks for being an inspiration for the self-care journey.

Have a fabulous weekend gorgeous

Aim

Thanks for the response! I went to my local health food store and found all of the brands you mentioned above except the nutri-biotic. They had some single serve packets and I got one or two of each to try before I go buying a big container. The one thing that concerns me about Jay Robb is there is quite a bit of sodium in his products. I tried his vanilla flavored rice protein mixed with water and it took everything in me to get it down. Ha Ha! The others I bought are Jay Robbs – Egg White Protein in vanilla, Spirutein Tri part protein (rice, pea & soy) in chocolate, Spirutein Whey with Spirulina in chocolate, Nutiva hemp powder (i think it doesn’t have a flavor), and LifeTime – Life Basics plant protein (pea, hemp, rice with chia seed) in vanilla. I hope I like one of these. I think you are exactly right that my body just can’t handle all of the protein I am getting in the Optimum. I get the exact symptoms you describe. I wonder why I don’t feel bad if I eat a banana with it? Any ideas? Optimum does focus on whey proteins. The one I take has 8 different proteins in it.

I am not doing any competitions or modeling. I can’t get my body to look lean and tone like many women can. I blame it on genetics and my eating. I LOVE food! I am by no means overweight but I love ice cream, breads and just food in general. I would love to look lean and tone (not cut) but I simply don’t want to eat just vegetables, protein and bland foods to get there. It would be unrealistic for me to try and sustain a diet like that forever. I am learning to accept it for what it is. I do see a little definition in my arms but nothing like I would like it to be. I have a six pack it just can’t be seen. My abs are hard as rocks but there is a very thin layer fat and skin covering them up and that drives me CRAZY! But like I said, I am learning to accept it for what it is. I am going to give these other proteins a try and see what happens. I think I will have to put a little more effort into these shakes by adding things and not having them plain with water as I have found already they are hard to get down. Do you know of any of the ones you listed that taste good with just water? Or do you always add to your shakes? Thanks for all of your help!

I’m a big advocate for getting rid of all artificial ingredients in the diet. Many people find that by doing this, they experience reduced cravings and feel better physically and emotionally (which often equates to weight loss). Additionally, research shows that individuals who are more present with their food (taking the time to actually eat; not eating while working/standing/driving/etc.) actually consume fewer calories throughout the day. Staying hydrated is also key.

Your consistent workouts are awesome! And how fun to share that time with the hubs.

Optimum is focused on whey proteins is that right? I know that they don’t put much else in some of their products, so it could be that you’re sensitive to the amount or type of protein. 60 grams of protein in one shot is quite a lot… are you doing competition building or modeling? It may be helpful to take notice of your physical and emotional response to particular products after consuming and steer clear of the products/ingredients/amounts that give you any sort of negative effects.

Additionally, it may be the case that 60 grams is more than your body needs. I used to go for the highest protein sources, but began to question whether this was really best for my own body. I’m a believer that undigested food/nutrients will put extra load on the organs and essentially become toxins to the body until they are evacuated. I knew that the type and amount of protein that I was consuming was excessive because I would feel sluggish, bloated and moody afterward. I began experimenting to find the right post-workout on the go snack for my own body. The magic snack for me is no more than 20 grams of a pure protein powder, 2 tsps of ground flax or walnuts in 16 oz of water. I’ll blend this with a bit of carbs (fruit) if I have my blender. If not, an apple or orange on the side works for me.

And I hear you about the artificial sweeteners. I am not a fan.

I switch up my powdered protein sources quite a bit. Here are my 2 simple faves:

http://www.nutiva.com/products/0_protein.php (with fiber)

http://www.nutribiotic.com/rice-protein.html

And here are some of the better ones that have lots of flavors and such:

http://www.jayrobb.com/ (I haven’t used the product for several years, but liked it when I did)

http://www.biochem-fitness.com/

http://www.naturesplus.com/products/category.asp?criteria=category&category=25

Hopefully this helps a little. And yes, please try the spinach treat! And let us know how it goes Just start out with a small handful of spinach and continue to add more until it messes up the flavor.

Enjoy!

My husband and I workout 5-6 days a week and after each workout will have a shake. I am just looking for something different that is just as tasty. The only thing I cannot stand is artificial sugars. I absolutely HATE the taste and aftertaste of it. Makes me want to vomit! So if you can make some suggestions, that are still high in protein (Optimum Nutrition has 60g of protein per serving) and have some fiber that would be fantastic! I love the meal on the go idea…can you recommend others. I am going to give your idea a try as much as it really does sound gross. I have learned to try everything once!

Sometimes if I need a meal on the go, I’ll blend one scoop of high-quality protein powder (vanilla or unflavored) with a frozen banana and/or strawberries, a big handful of spinach, almond milk, a little ice and some almond butter. I know, it sounds gross, but it is actually amazing! You can hide a big handful of spinach in many smoothies and not even taste it– strawberries and bananas mask it best.

A smoothie like this will provide more satiety (from the addition of some healthy fats and protein), volume and texture (from the frozen fruit and ice) and extra nutrients (especially from the fruit and spinach). I’ll also have some veggie sticks pre-cut in the fridge that I throw in a container to accompany the smoothie.