by Keysia Linares Marzullo | Apr 1, 2022 | Nutrition, Protein, Reviews
Are you looking for affordable home gym equipment recommendations? Look no further! In this video, I share my advice on affordable home gym equipment – all of which will not break the bank.
Affordable Home Gym Recommendations [That Will NOT Break the Bank]
So, today we are digging into home equipment recommendations for anyone who is considering investing in a home gym.
If you are in my workout app, you will know that one of the benefits is our office hours sessions, where I answer your questions one by one. Sometimes I come across questions that I love and want to share with all of you. This week’s post is based on one of those questions. The question is…
What are your home gym recommendations?
When considering a home gym, I recommend asking yourself the following questions first:
“Am I going big, or am I going small?”
“Is this just a substitute for days that I can’t get to the gym or something I plan to do long term?”
“Should I go all in and invest in it all at once or slowly chip away at it over time?
Unless you’re rolling in the dough, most people decide to start collecting things one by one as they go.
If your goal is to create a place for those days where you can’t get to the gym or only use your home gym for specific days in your split, then you would only need heavy enough equipment to make that work. If your goal is a Full Home Gym, I suggest adding on to your supply over time.
That is what I did, and others I know with a total gym did. They started semi-small with maybe a barbell, some dumbbells and then slowly increased. Then once you see that you like it and want to stick with it, you can start investing in things like power racks and more advanced equipment.
So now that we have a general overview, take the time to watch the video above for a more in-depth look into what it takes to start creating your home gym.
Products Listed In The Video:
US Weight Barbell Set: https://amzn.to/3HWv8tm
Adjustable Dumbbell Weights: https://amzn.to/36XPbL3n
Olympic Training Barbell Bar: https://amzn.to/3tUk0t2
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by Keysia Linares Marzullo | Mar 30, 2022 | Nutrition, Protein, Reviews
If you’re like most people, you probably think of Amazon as a one-stop shop for everything from books and clothes to electronics and household items. But did you know that Amazon is also a great place to find high-quality protein products? In this blog post, I’ll share my favorite Amazon protein products and explain why I love them. Stay tuned!
My FAVORITE Amazon Protein Products
Usually, I am harping about protein and how you need to get more consistent at protein, so I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite amazon products to help me stay on track with hitting my macros, mainly my protein. And all of these products are available on Subscribe and Save so that you can have them automatically sent to you when you choose.
What you may or may not know about me is that I am a self-professed carb queen. I love carbs. I do not have a hard time getting my carbs in, but I have a hard time staying consistent. If left to my devices, I start eating whatever feels good to me or intuitively. I eat predominantly carbs, which means that my protein ratio can be anywhere from 15 to 10 percent or less because carbs and fat are life, right?
Macronutrients consist of protein, carbs, and fat, for those who don’t know. Let’s also not forget about fiber which is essential because it gives the thermogenic effect of food. This means you are burning calories just in your digestion, including protein. So if you are someone like me who needs to up their protein, then maybe some of these products and tips will help you figure out how to make it work for you.
Now let’s dive into My FAVORITE Amazon Protein Products.
Core Power Protein Shakes
The first product is Core Power Protein Shakes. This 12 pack comes in different flavors that you can try, such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry banana. You can choose between 26 or 42 grams of protein (The 42g option is called the Core Power Elite.).
If you are having a tough time hitting protein or someone who looks at your macros at the end of the day and realizes you are down 50g, these shakes may be for you! There are a lot of products that are labeled as “high protein” that are not. However, these Core Power shakes are great when you need to get some grams in.
Now, when it comes to the 42g Core Power Elite shake, I have found that many women find it hard to digest them. It is for me. Usually, in my house, what ends up happening, is that I end up drinking the 26g version, and my husband ends up drinking the 42. This is how it’s been for years, even with protein powders. If you’re somebody who has followed me for any length of time, you know that I was very anti-protein shakes and powders for a very long time, especially Pre 2013-=to 2014.
I thought they were disgusting and tough to get down. However, I discovered over time that some of the protein powders that were marketed toward women were a little bit easier to digest. Many of them were lactose-free or plant-based options, making them a little easier for me to swallow, they started tasting a little bit better, and there were many more options.
I will say that it’s not about the particular brand. Find one you like, but Core Power makes the best protein for me. They are also lactose-free and more accessible to digest than many other brands like Muscle Milk. These are my go-to.
Click HERE To Check It Out!
Collagen Peptides
Next thing on my list is collagen peptides. This brand has 10 grams of protein in each serving, which is excellent for adding an extra protein boost. Collagen peptides are not complete proteins, so you cannot substitute them for something like a protein shake. This is supplemental. I use it in my coffee. No, I am not keto or using it to have like coconut oil, MCT oil, or anything like that. This is literally about the protein for me. And since coffee is something that I drink every morning…. with real creamer and sugar (literally nothing beneficial for me), this is my way of boosting my macros.
If you use collagen already, you know that some can be lumpy. However, this brand (Unflavored) is our preference because it does seem to stir in better than most and gives you an excellent creamy coffee. I will warn you, though, it does not stir well into anything cold, but for us, it works for our hot coffee. It’s been a game-changer for me! I just start each day with a scoop and go about my day.
Click HERE To Check It Out!
Quest Protein Chips
Moving onto our following protein product, Quest chips. Now, I am not going to lie and say that these taste exactly like your regular chips nor are they my favorite to indulge in, but they do the job for some healthy macro boosts.
I keep these around my home and office to have with a sandwich or a quick snack. These give you anywhere from 19-20g of protein, which is not too shabby. You can get them in various flavors like Nacho Cheese, Loaded Taco, and Chili Lime. Chili lime… Oh my goodness. So good. These don’t last very long with my husband and son in my household. They are chip guys. My husband’s favorite is Loaded Taco, and my son thinks these chips are “smack,”…. Whatever that means. (If you are under 30, perhaps you know and can fill me in!)
Click HERE To Check It Out!
Chicken of the Sea Tuna Infusions
Tuna…. but not just any tuna. This particular type is higher in protein ranging around 22g of protein per cup. There are a lot of unique flavors to try, like Lemon and Thyme, Basil, Cracked Black Pepper, Garlic Herb, Cilantro Lime, and Smoked. You can carry them anywhere and come with a small spoon, so it’s easy to eat with your favorite bread or crackers.
Click HERE To Check It Out!
Now that concludes our protein heavy lifters….. Now for the fun stuff!
Quest Caramel Candy Bites
These are DELICIOUS!!!! They only have 5g of protein, but they are only 80 calories and give you 4 grams of fiber! Are you kidding me? For chocolate and nuts? I gobble them up! They sometimes help at night when you are a snacker or have a sweet tooth like I do but don’t have the macros to grab your favorite candy bar. Seriously, get some now!
And Lastly… My Favorite!
Click HERE To Check It Out!
Skinny Girl Popcorn
I keep this in stock because I love popcorn! I eat it every night, and if you are like me, you may want to look into something like Skinnygirl.
It’s not super macro-friendly, but there is a good amount of fiber in these.
Now that you know some of my favorites find what works for you! Hopefully, this gave you some good protein ideas. Let me know how you guys like it in the comments below.
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by Trish Adams | Jan 22, 2015 | Reviews
My Saturdays start with my 8 year old daughter and I heading down to the garage to our home gym. While I train, she constructs some sort of obstacle course out of whatever she can find. As far as she is concerned, the wackier, the more awesome it is and I mean anything goes – box, bucket, umbrella, shovel, etc. If she can lift it, it’s fair game!
Once finished, the family is out of the house until early evening. As you can imagine finding healthy convenience food when you’re on-the go can be a challenge. But, thanks to Subway, finding eats that fit your lifestyle just got easier! Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with other FitFluential ambassadors and Subway’s corporate dietitian, Lanette Kovachi who oversees the nutritional information of menu items, to discuss exciting changes happening to Subway’s menu.
One such change is Subway’s new and improved grilled chicken. I actually had never eaten a grilled chicken sandwich at Subway, so I was quite excited to try it out. Since it was my first time, I thought I would go all in and have the Monterey Chicken Melt. Sounds pretty indulgent right? Well, I was pretty surprised to learn that my splurge had less than 400 calories AND packed in 29g of protein. Boo-yah!! Being the HANGRY girl that I am, I doubled the meat for even more yumminess. Yeah baby!
Monterey Chicken Melt – Double Meat!
Subway sandwiches are made to order, so I opted for the 9 grain wheat bun which is made with more than 50% of whole grains and has 4g of fiber for a 6-inch serving. Then I added cucumber, red onions, tomato and avocado. Delicious! The grilled chicken can be served on a bun, like mine, on flatbread or on top of a salad. Here are some reasons Subway’s grilled chicken sandwiches and salads are a great option:
- No artificial preservatives or flavors
- All white meat, high protein
- Lightly seasoned and tastes great, not bland
- Sodium is down 30% over all for all sandwiches, and the Monterey Chicken Melt has less than 600 mg
- Indulgent tasting, but won’t wreck your nutrition
- With over 40,000 locations, you can always find a Subway in a pinch!
For the most part, I prepare and carry my own food with me, but that does not always work out, especially when you are more often on your kids’s schedule rather than your own! And finding protein is always a concern when on the run.
My girls have been subway fans for a couple of years and now mommy is one, too. Not only is it great tasting, it checks a lot of boxes on my nutrition list. If you haven’t tried the grilled chicken yet, do it!
My always-on-the-go kiddos love Subway!
This post is sponsored by FitFluential.
by EM2WL | Sep 5, 2014 | Reviews
I recently came back from another extended vacation to the West Coast and — after picking up all of my accumulated mail from the time away (and crying over a few expired coupons/offers) — I was excited to see that my WIN Detergent samples had arrived while I was away!
As a Fitfluential ambassador, EM2WL occasionally gets some goodies to review – and this one came right on time for me. Granted I didn’t get bombarded in Reebok apparel and romp through the parks of NYC like Trish, but hey EVERYone has to do laundry at some point right? And we are talking to pretty decent sized bottles here, that are made for getting sporty smells out of workout clothes.
I will say that our household certainly gave WIN a run for it’s money, lol. As a personal trainer and avid exerciser I definitely contribute my share of smellies to the laundry pile. Did I mention that I workout at home — in a converted garage — with an AC that only works if I remember to turn it on 30-60 minutes in advance? :P
But my own sweatfests aside, my guys also use the home gym in the evenings…long after I’ve turned the AC off again. And if I can barely remember to turn the AC on in advance, you can only imagine the sweatbox that they workout in. Ick. Hubs also works in construction. Technically he owns the company, but apparently that doesn’t stop him from wearing construction adhesive, sawdust, dirt, and sweat like the latest fad.
And oh yeah, there’s the kid. He’s 17. Plays basketball all.the.time, bathes/showers/get dressed “as needed” – especially in the summer. Double Ick. Did I mention he’s 17? Yeah…so laundry gets done like…the day after never. BUT, the kid pays top dollar for all of his athletic apparel, and LIVES in it. Seriously. Eats, sleeps, and even swims in basketball shorts. Apparently, mesh (or whatever those shorts are) are the new denim?
Anyway…with all that said, I was pretty interested to see how WIN would hold up to the test (especially of the basketball stuff that gets washed who-knows-when?).
My usual detergent is ALL Free & Clear, and though we have the occasional sample of GAIN (my MIL is addicted and always trying to convert us), that’s the basis of my comparison.
So first things first: smell. WIN (regular) had a great light/fresh scent, while the green version had no smell (as expected). The scented version was not so perfume-y that it would merely cover up the “funk,” and it really left a pleasant after-smell once the clothes finished washing. Considering how bad a monthly – if that – washed laundry pile in a teen boys room can smell, this is no small feat.
The smell of the laundry before did not disappoint (for testing purposes) and the smell after was actually rather pleasant for the scented version. The after wash smell of the scent-free version was simply a “clean” smelling pile of clothes, pretty much comparable to what we’re used to with ALL. They didn’t stink, but they weren’t a bed of roses, lol. Although his every day apparel is basketball clothes — and he does plenty of activity in them — I’m thinking that this would be an even better trial run next month when basketball season starts back.
Of course the next question would be: did they actually come clean? Well, we weren’t dealing with any really tough stains or anything, so I can’t vouch for any special “stain fighting properties”– though I don’t know if that’s even a WIN claim. No dramatic brightening or whitening, but I was also washing mostly darker clothing (reds and blacks are the kids staples). No colors were faded, which is a huge plus because our household is big on that (I also don’t put certain items in the dryer, which helps of course). But I can say that I didn’t notice anything really go in dirty, and come out looking as if it had never been washed. It cleaned pretty comparable to what we’re used to with ALL.
Packaging. I’m assuming that the newer bottles that I was sent are an accurate representation of what would be on the market. I thought the shape/design of the bottle and labeling were pretty cool. The bottles were easy to maneuver and pour for someone with smaller hands like myself. I love that you can pretty much look at the label and understand that it’s a sports detergent. Also the allergen-free bottle being called and colored “green” makes it obvious for marketing to specific population needs. My only issue with the bottle design, was the the multi-layer cap. As with most detergent bottles, the cap is the measuring cup. Only in this case, there’s a cap under the cap — so one screw-on cap, and one that sits atop that one. The measuring cap only fits with the screw-on in place, or it would simply come right off without it. When I’m in my laundry zone, I just wanna uncap, pour, recap, and go. Not uncap, unscrew, pour, rescrew, recap, and go…
The other issue with the cap (and this is true of other detergents as well), is that the recommended amount of detergent to use exceeds the amount that the cap will hold. With the recommended minimum being 1.5 oz (see label pic above), you need to use one and a half cups per load. Not a deal breaker, of course, but I just don’t get why manufacturers do this.
All in all, I would say that in my brief trial (about 2-3 loads with each detergent), WIN is definitely a win. The ability of the detergent to high perform as promised, more than outweighs the awkward cap issues. Currently going for about $10/bottle on Amazon, you’d probably look to use WIN to supplement your usual laundry stand-by, allowing each laundry to do what it does best. I still have an econo-sized container of ALL left, so I’ll be using it up for our regular scheduled laundry. But I’ll be breaking out the rest of my WIN samples next month when my son’s basketball seasons is back in all it’s full (smelly) glory.
by Trish Adams | Jul 2, 2014 | Reviews
The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Reebok.
Last week I had the awesome opportunity to check out Summer in the Square, which offers a series of outdoor fitness classes and other free events held in NYC’s beautiful Union Square park. The park, best known for NYC’s oldest Greenmarket, is amazing with its many statues and greenery. With all the hustle and bustle going on around the park, it was the perfect setting for an equally energizing, sweat session.
Make no mistake, just because we weren’t in a gym, the WOD was still super challenging using just our body weight. The class was led by two impressive CrossFit coaches, Jay Adams and Christina Gryte, providing great cueing, demonstrations and kept the motivation on high throughout the class. Much of the class had no CrossFit experience, myself included, but you would never know it and that is thanks in part to the two of them.
Coaches Jay & Christina
The hour-long class started off with a warm-up WOD which consisted of 10 minute toe-tap/push up intervals. By the time it was over, we were all good and sweaty and ready to get down to business.
The WOD alternated sprints with two additional exercises- squat jumps (performed in a descending ladder) and, everyone’s favorite, burpees (performed in an ascending ladder). As you can imagine, by the last round, doing the last set of 10 burpees was brutal!
If we are connected on Myfitnesspal you may have heard me complain about my knees in the past and have all but sworn off any type of high-impact exercise. Because this was my first official CrossFit class, I wanted to give it my all and get the full experience which meant making the fewest modifications possible. I even had my right knee taped by my physical therapist the day before.
Well, I must say that I actually impressed myself with how well I performed on the squats jumps, completing all rounds without any modification. Even afterward, there was no delayed aches and pains which I was totally anticipating. Although I’d like to take the credit, I have to give credit where credit is due – the Nano 4.0.
Admittedly, this was my first time wearing any Nano so can’t compare them to previous versions, however, I can compare them with my current trainers and the Nano surpassed them in the areas most critical to me – stability, cushioning and shock absorption. And all of this on cement no less!! Additionally, it was a very humid day and while the rest of my body was drenched in sweat, my feet stayed pretty dry – another plus!
If you have the opportunity, get out of the gym and get into the park for this great CrossFit class. The classes are free, don’t require any existing CrossFit experience and are going on throughout the summer. While you’re at it, check out the Nano 4.0! Locally you can grab them from Paragon Sports or visit reebok.com.
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