Blend Your [Growing Naturals] Protein

June 6, 2014 By Laura

My Blends are Strange.

But oh-so-good.

Today I am in Utah for the annual Blend Retreat! I look forward to this retreat all year… and I feel especially lucky because I get to represent Growing Naturals again this year. I wish I could share them with everyone (but scroll on down for a sweet freebie offer). You should all come to Blend next year! If you can’t be there this year, be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram for the live action.

Last year they were a huge hit with the other bloggin’ ladies, but here are a few reasons I personally love them:

Reasons I love Growing Naturals:

Not chalky
Great flavor (not fake-tasting)
Super-clean (vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free!)
Low in sodium, sugar, and carbs
Their staff rocks – they are passionate about their product and committed to health!

Growing Naturals truly is my favorite protein to use. I love to use it in all the things! It’s fantastic raw in smoothies like my favorite Mocha Beet Frapp and Carrot Cake Batter Shake, or baked into Plantain Ginger Bread.

Rather than one of my own #strangebutgood creations this week, I wanted to feature some favorites from my Blends who use Growing Naturals!

My “original” Blend, Sarah, is the first blogger I met in real life. We will miss her this year, but will celebrate her strangeness today with her Strawberry Pineapple Cilantro Smoothie:

Strange creation #2 comes from a Blend who I basically invited myself to visit… having never met her… in Switzerland!

Lucie is one amazing woman. I wish she could make it to Blend, but I guess coming from Europe would be a little pricey. Instead, we should all make her Green Protein Pancakes in her honor! 😉

Last (but certainly not least) is a Blend I will get to see tonight! My brother from another mother, Lindsay!

This lady knows more about fueling with food and gut health than anyone I know. I’m so glad she’s agree to share 3 strange but healthy recipes today!

Grain-Free Superfruit Bread

Orange Dream Machine Smoothie

Mexican Chocolate & Walnut Healthy Balls… errr… Bites

I have made these, only I subbed sunflower seeds for the walnuts. They rocked my balls off.

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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

If you’re not a blogger, you can still share your recipes on Instagram with the #strangebutgood hashtag.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

An InLinkz Link-up

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Want to try Growing Naturals for yourself? Sign up to be a Growing Groupie and enter discount code sprint2thetable at checkout for a free bottle of Simply Soapberry (their natural laundry detergent) and a free 1lb container of protein powder. Offer expires 09/06/2014.

What is your favorite protein powder recipe?

What was the last recipe you tried from a Blend? (Blend = Blogger + Friend)

Current Obsessions + WIAW

May 28, 2014 By Laura

I pride myself in not being a TV watcher.

Admittedly, I’ve even been guilty of judging.

I bought my condo 3.5 years ago and never bothered to get cable. I’m never home and most TV shows seem silly anyway. Who needs TV when you’re out living it up in real-time?

And then I was held captive on a long plane ride from Europe.

House of Cards. The first 6 episodes were available in-flight. I was hooked. I landed and begged someone to share a Netfix account with me so I could finish Season 1… then I happily realized there is a Season 2! Now I only have 2 episodes to go, and I’m hoarding them like a crack head. I don’t want to run out!

It’s so out there, yet so very reflective of our society. I’m at once shocked, appalled, riveted, and understanding. This show is a total mind f*ck. How will I survive until Season 3?!

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This WIAW is back to normal. I’m trying to get back on track with the results from my Alcat test. I have no regrets from my Swiss vacation gluttony, but my gut took a toll!

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!…

Change Is Good + WIAW

April 30, 2014 By Laura

Change is inevitable.

Except from vending machines.

One of my favorite policies it to change something that isn’t working. If you aren’t happy, make a change. Don’t sit around in a puddle of mud complaining about how dirty you are. That knight in shining armor isn’t going to show up on a unicorn and rescue you.

Incidentally, my unicorn name is Helleborine Cheeky Rump.

I realized my job wasn’t the right one for me… so I’m making a change! More on that to come. In the meantime, I’m taking a little break. The best kind of break – I’ll be traveling to Switzerland next week! The wonderful Lucie has offered to be my guide. I am SO EXCITED to meet her in person and have some adventures. She’s already living up to her blog name (Fit Swiss Chick) – we’re booked for hiking, running, and cross fit!

Naturally, I needed to make some purchases for my travels. DSW and TJ Maxx are full of deals right now… I probably spent too much but think of how much I saved! LOL!

This WIAW is week 3 working through my intolerances per my Alcat test. I’ve been pretty good about it and still happy with the results… but I’m not going to Switzerland without eating cheese. #sorryimnotsorry

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!…

Strange But Good Trials

April 25, 2014 By Laura

I have some strange friends.

In the most delicious sense of the word.

One of my favorite things about #strangebutgood every week is all of the fun ideas I get from all of the link ups. I pin them to the #strangebutgood board for safe keeping until I can make them. Last week’s links were so good I’ve already tried two!

Exhibit A

Arman’s Sea Salt Dark Chocolate ~~Waffles~~ Pancakes. I basically followed his recipe, except I reduced the milk so they would work as pancakes and I replace the sugar with Xylitol. They were the fluffiest rounds of deliciousness I’ve made in a while!

My topping was peanut flour sauce (peanut flour + stevia + coconut milk) and the following strange creation…

Exhibit B

Christa’s Chocolate Maca Hemp Seed Spread has been my topping of choice lately. It was so easy! I just dumped everything in my Vitamix and blended away. I left mine a little chunkier than Christa – I’m a fan of crunchy nut butters, so I thought this should be similarly treated.

I couldn’t decide if I wanted chocolate spread or a little #yolkporn atop my protein pancakes yesterday. So I had both.

Other things this is good on: ice cream, protein bowls, apple slices, carrots, sweet potatoes… your finger…

Then there’s the honor of having someone actually brave MY #strangebutgood recipes! Both Megan and Heather braved my Creamy (Raw) Red Pepper Soup and gave it the Instagram post of approval!

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

An InLinkz Link-up

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Speaking of strange… I’m headed to a crawfish boil tonight. Those little bugs creep me out!

Have you made any #strangebutgood recipes?

What is your favorite thing to top with a seed/nut butter?

Gut Health Supplements + WIAW

April 23, 2014 By Laura

I’m learning to accept help.

At least when it comes to my gut.

After learning the results of my Alcat food intolerance test, I was determined to do whatever it took to fix it. With Megan’s help, I immediately eliminated the foods I’d developed intolerances to.

Then I accepted help from a couple of friends that know a LOT about digestive health: Lindsay and Brittany. They suggested a few supplements to further help my intolerant tummy.

For a little more education, check out Lindsay’s post here. After doing some of my own research, I decided to take the following.

My Gut Health Supplements

Aloe Vera Juice – Aloe is a detoxifier and an anti-inflammatory; it soothes the digestive tract and decreases the amount of unfriendly bacteria in your gut which keeps intestinal flora in balance
Stress B-Complex – The B’s help to regulate adrenals, helping the body deal with stress (which has a huge impact on digestion)
Matcha – Aside from the fact that I like the taste, matcha is a detoxifier and helps with relaxation
Betaine HCL – Good for the producing the acid needed for breaking down foods and optimizing use of nutrients
Probiotics – Regulates the healthy bacteria in the gut (and the lady parts)
Colostrum – Antibodies from cows (vegans, cover you ears).… it’s touted as a “super food.” It protects the gut, helps the body to maintain proper metabolic levels, may have anti-aging benefits and increase muscle mass and muscle growth, and has been reported to have mental health and sleep-quality benefits. Further reading said it even shortens recovery time from strenuous exercise. If it works… whoa.

I ordered all of these from iHerb (where I also get my peanut four). Use discount code USO924 for $5-10 off your order!

This WIAW is week 2 with my food intolerances eliminated from my diet. I know I’ve slipped up a couple of times (I’m only human… a sad realization), but I’m militantly avoided everything in the most severe category.

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!…

Banana-Peanut Butter Bunny Cakes

April 20, 2014 By Laura

Just hopping in to share a bunny breakfast!

Who needs an Easter basket when you have pancakes?

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Life is a Jungle Gym + WIAW

April 16, 2014 By Laura

Life is a jungle gym.

Did anyone else read Lean In?

In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg refers to your career being a jungle gym rather than a ladder. The same goes for life. The secret, in my opinion, is to be flexible and not to let things get too under your skin.

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Protein Lessons + WIAW

April 9, 2014 By Laura

Learning lessons is a theme in my life lately.

Some I’d rather not learn, but that’s another story.

Despite having done this cleanse 3 times before, I’m learning a whole new lesson with this one. It’s about protein. I had NO idea how much energy and strength I was getting from all the protein I took in! The first 10 days of the cleanse are meat-free. It also eliminates common allergens, so I can’t even replace that protein with soy, dairy or eggs.

I have a delicious, clean pea protein powder from Growing Naturals that accounts for most of my intake. I also have some from quinoa, lentils, and seeds… but that’s really not much. With the “rules” of the cleanse, I end up eating about half my normal amount of protein and twice the carbs. Carbs give energy, right? Notsomuch. I’m tired. I’m sleeping more and having to lift lighter. Apparently carbs give energy when you have enough protein.

I did get through my back and tri workout. Fueled by dates and tahini, I took a moment to twerk in the empty squat rack for Arman and Lucie. Refueled with a protein smoothie made with strawberries, raspberries, basil, coconut, and spinach.

Lesson two is hunger. I’m a bottomless veggie pit. I eat stacks of vegetables (and fruit), but they don’t have the same staying power that protein does. Kudos to the vegan body builders out there… I have no idea how they do it!

Curious about protein? Click here for a piece I wrote for Growing Naturals on the importance of protein before and after a workout. And then check out these 30 High Protein Breakfasts from many of my FitFluential friends!

This WIAW is the end of my first week on the 21 day cleanse. I’m definitely in a good groove, but anxious to add some lean protein in on Friday!

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!…

Blend Your [Growing Naturals] Protein

Reasons I love Growing Naturals:

Current Obsessions + WIAW

Change Is Good + WIAW

Strange But Good Trials

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Gut Health Supplements + WIAW

My Gut Health Supplements

Banana-Peanut Butter Bunny Cakes

Life is a Jungle Gym + WIAW

Protein Lessons + WIAW

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