Contributor Post: For The Love of Protein

You guys, we have all made it mid-week! I just want to thank all of you for being so sweet about Monday's Post . I received some sweet comments and messages and I appreciate it so very much. Moving on to today's post, my Fitness Contributor Mal is back again! Yay! So, today she has an awesome recipe AND a great workout, here she is!

For the Love of Protein

How’s it going everyone?  I would have to say it is going pretty well here in Ohio.  My husband and I have finally settled in and things are starting to feel a little more normal.  My husband has been in school for almost a month now and I finally start working this week! YAY!!! It has been nice to have some time off… but when you are used to being busy all day every day, having nothing to do gets old really fast.  I am currently teaching dance at a couple studios and am finishing up my training to be a Fitness Coach at Gold’s Gym.  I’m also getting my Body Pump certification in a couple weeks!  I’m super excited. 

Anyway, lets get to the point.  All this moving and trying to get settled in has left me feeling kind of out of whack.  I still worked out every day, but I kind of got in a few bad habits with my diet… I kind of like ice cream way too much… So this past week I really kicked it up a notch and cleaned up my diet. 

For breakfast I try and get a good amount of protein so I can stay full longer.  A couple years ago I used to have a protein shake/drink every morning for breakfast.  It kept me full and I happened to be my leanest when I was doing it.  Then I started getting sick of my protein powder… I tried other ones but none of them seemed to work for me.  Too grainy, too think, too chalky, etc… Gradually I just gave up on protein and started going back to having cereal for breakfast.  Now there are some decent cereals out there, but for the most part, cereals are full of empty carbs.  As much as I LOVE cereal, I know it’s not the best thing for me and I never really feel that great after eating it. 

I had heard a lot of good things about Cellucor’s Cinnamon Swirl protein powder and it has always intrigued me.  Well, I was at Costco last week and guess what was there?  Yep, that brand and flavor.  I decided to give it a go…. You guys… It is so good.  I am a big cinnamon fan in the first place, so this just hit the spot.  You NEED this protein powder.  Here is the breakfast I have been having this past week.

I call it, Cookie Dough Oats.

All you need is:

A little less than ½ cup of milk (skim, almond, whatever)

1 scoop of Cellucor Cinnamon Swirl Protein

½ cup of oats

1 tablespoon of peanut butter (I use Jiff naturals.  Yes, I know it isn’t the “best” peanut butter but it tastes FREAKIN good so I don’t care.)

Warm up your milk in the microwave.  1-2 mins.  Watch it so it doesn’t bubble up and explode. (Yeah I did that…)

Stir in a scoop of protein

Pour the milk/protein mixture into your bowl of oats and stir it all up. (I like the raw texture of the oats…that’s why I don’t put them in the microwave.)

Warm up the PB in the microwave for about 30 seconds

Pour melted PB in the bowl of oats

Mix it all in.

HEAVEN in your mouth.  Seriously.  It tastes like something you shouldn’t be having for breakfast.  But you can.  Look how awesome these nutrition facts are:

On a side note, I was feeling like I needed a little booty work this week so I made up this work out.  Give it a try… It made my glutes SORE!

BUNS OF STEELE

4 rounds:

20 walking lunges with 60# barbell

20 jump squats

4 rounds:

15 weighted hip thrusts 25# Kettle bell (Lay your upper back on a bench and sit the kettlebell on your lower abs.  Lower your butt down to the floor and press it up as high as you can go and SQUEEZE!)

15 weighted step ups 25# Kettle bell, Right and Left (Put left foot on the platform, holding the kettle bell in your right hand.  Straighten your left leg as your right foot comes up to meet your left, and go back down.  Do all 15 reps on one leg before moving on to the other. Don’t forget to squeeze that butt!)

4 rounds: 

10 straight leg dead lifts with kettle bell

20 straight leg kick backs Right and Left (Get on your hands and knees on top of a bench or platform.  Straighten your right leg and touch your toe to the floor.  Lift it up and squeeze your butt.  20 of those, then repeat on other leg.)

Don’t forget your protein when you finish! :)