REVIEW // MyProtein Almond Butter + Stevia Whey Protein

I recently had the chance to try a couple of products by MyProtein.com, Europe's number one sports nutrition brand. I was already a customer of theirs, having tried and loved their popular Impact Whey Protein powder in their chocolate and vanilla flavours, so I looked to try something different.

The Primal Diet that I committed to over summer has really stuck with me; already being gluten free it was the next step down the path of healing my gut, and I've never felt better than I do now. More energy, never lethargic and best of all cramps, bloating and skin problems have all but disappeared *please don't jinx*.

Cutting down on carbohydrates such as rice and grains is one of the Primal Diet's most important principles. As they are however a large source of calories in a standard diet they need to be replaced by extra fat and protein for the body to function and thrive. Whilst meeting these goals at mealtimes is becoming more intuitive for me, it is snack times where I'm most likely to slip up and eat a chocolate bar or lots of sushi.

With that in mind when choosing healthy snacks, it makes sense to create meals with ingredients high in healthy fat and/or protein whilst keeping the sugar content low. So I picked these two products: Smooth Almond Butter and Impact Whey Protein in Vanilla (Stevia).

In the above photo you can see that I first used both products to make breakfast pancakes, which were fantastic. For the topping I mixed the nut butter with some raw cacao powder and water, and sprinkled on some coconut. The protein powder contains stevia, a great natural alternative to sugar which doesn't produce as many negative effects.

So is whey protein primal? Mark puts it best:

"It isn’t strictly Primal (and certainly not paleo) in that it wasn’t available to Grok, but it can be an effective, occasional high-protein meal replacement with most – if not all – of the potential allergens mitigated or negated."

That's good enough for me.

Next up I made the ultimate dessert for when all you want is ice cream and chocolate. It really hit the spot without making me feel like I had nose dived or over indulged.

Just layer:

• Greek yogurt mixed with vanilla whey protein
• 70/80% dark chocolate
• Raspberries - heated to make a compote
• Almond butter
• Dried fruit
• Mixed nuts
• Chia seeds

This was served in a wine glass to make it feel a bit more special because I'm worth it. The Smooth Almond butter added some unexpected texture to the dish and, I have to warn you, is very moreish. Honestly, right now I have it next to me while I type this and I keep sneaking little bites. I'm going to go put it back in the cupboard now...okay just one more bite.

Phew, thank God that's out of sight. I love almonds and this butter is 100% nuts as well as being naturally high in healthy fat and protein.

My final recipe could either be transported into a cup for portability or served in a bowl topped with yummy things like I did below.

Blend:

• Frozen raspberries
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 heaped teaspoon almond butter

When comparing the stevia blend to the standard vanilla, I have not noticed any noticeable difference in flavour. There's no bitter aftertaste or unblendable clumps, so all in all I would recommend this product to anyone who wants a great all-round protein powder without adding any unnecessary sugar.

For more recipes using these products and other primal-approved foods, please check out my instagram @blondeandgrainless

Happy snacking!

Thanks to MyProtein.com for sending me delicious food - have a look at their discounts page!

21 DAY PRIMAL CHALLENGE - REVIEW

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE PRIMAL CHALLENGE

What kept me going throughout the 21 days was the fact that the daily challenges went beyond diet and exercise. My favourites included reminders to be present (basically, put the phone DOWN), listen more, relax and play more.


THE PRIMAL DIET

While I have indulged a little since my three weeks finished (see below), many of the habits I developed I would like to stick with. Why? Because they worked. Here are several examples:

1. No legumes: I avoided beans, peas, pulses and peanuts and there was definitely umm less gas #tmi? Now when I eat beans, I notice more bloating. I'm not going to be really strict with this one, because sometimes peas are the healthiest thing on a plate, but it is good to know that I can reduce gas by avoiding legumes.
2. Eating local organic food: This is because I felt better about supporting local farmers and it tastes better. Sure, it may be more expensive but I felt like it is worth it.
3. Cutting down on sugar: Resulted in fewer cravings, feeling more balanced mood-wise, and less headaches. It is very very hard though and I definitely wasn't perfect.
4. Homemade everything: I really enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, and to keep this going I have invested in some really pretty tupperware which I can't wait to arrive.

As I said before, I have indulged a little by making ice cream, cocktails and drinking beer.

The ice cream was a traditional recipe using egg yolks, double cream and honey toasted almonds.

Bramble cocktail made with blackberries and tequila

My favourite gluten free pizza in Pizza Express

THE WORKOUTS

I particularly enjoyed how much energy I had all the time, and how much better I slept. The workouts were never longer than half an hour, which was perfect as it meant more leisure time in the evenings and not feeling so 'burned out' from exercising for too long.

The PEM workouts (pull ups, squats, push ups and plank) I found to be really effective, and there's nothing more motivating than improving on these moves. I've gone from not being able to do a pull up, do managing 10 in a row!

I didn't manage as much sprinting however, mainly because I felt like a tit.

RESULTS

Overall I would say that I am satisfied with the results, both in body and mind, although I wouldn't necessary call it a complete transformation. As I mentioned at the end of my previous post, I believe that a transformation would require a lot longer.

I didn't lose any weight, but then I wasn't planning to, however I did notice an improvement in my skin which is so apparent now that I have been eating and drinking rather badly and it's all gone wrong! I suffer from rosacea and it pretty much disappeared in the first week which was bloody marvelous. I came across this article about how the primal diet and using coconut oil banished rosacea for one woman, and I did find this to be true. Since reintroducing sugar (albeit less than before), beer and milk my skin looks worse than ever*. I am really really hoping that my next challenges will clear it up again....

*Not: I'm not completely certain that it's not hormones and/or just bad luck. But I can hope there's a cure!

SO...NOW WHAT?!

I intend to continue tweaking my diet, keeping it mainly primal and working on reducing my alcohol consumption. More on that another time..!

It may be my age, but as I'm approaching 30 I have been thinking of who I want to be when I get there. I think self-improvement is essential to our enjoyment of the journey through life; it not only benefits ourselves but also others around us. With that in mind I am setting some goals for the next few years which I will discuss in the next post.