fitness – Luv Saving Money

My Favorite Protein Powders

I have been on a health journey continuously now for over a year and still plugging away. I’ve lost 38 lbs so far. I’m only a few pounds away from my goal weight. Then the goal will change to maintain. I have done a lot of things to get to this point including focusing on my diet.

In the past I tried counting macros. Of course that works but it would stress me out. I’d beat myself up if I went over on carbs or fat and didn’t hit protein. It got to the point that I started to feel defeated even when I was making progress. Then a tip I heard from a influencer stuck. I thought, hmm I’ll try that. You know what, it worked for me. That tip was. “Concentrate on protein and fiber, and throw in some veggies here and there” So simple right?

That’s not to say that some days I dont’ struggle to hit my protein. But I don’t beat myself up when I used to. In fact, I’m happy when I get closer to my protein goal.

That being said, for a busy mom like me sometimes a protein shake is awesome on the go or when I’m just not that hungry. Having flavor varieties on hand so I have options is another winner for me. But protein powders can be expensive. I’ve definitely bought some that I just didn’t like in the past. But here are my favorite brands with my favorite flavors.

Oath Nutrition

These, are awesome. Oath Nutrition is clear whey protein. A lot of people that don’t like the regular protein powder find these more palatable. I like to blend mine with water and some ice. Every flavor I’ve tried has been awesome. It blends smooth and tastes like a smoothie or juice. I’ve tried the frosty lemonade, mango, strawberry kiwi, coconut colada so far. As I said they’re all great but the flavor I keep going back to again and again is the frosted lemonade. It literally tastes like a frosty lemonade.

Pros: awesome flavor and consistency. Easy to drink, doesn’t taste like a typical protein shake. Grass fed whey. Only 1 g of sugar

Cons: Only 18 servings per bag. Only 20 g of protein (there are protein powders with more)

Nutricost Whey Protein Isolate

If you have not heard of this brand, definitely check them out. I’ll admit at first glance it looks like every other protein powder out there but I had the opportunity to sample Nutricost Whey Protein Isolate and since then I’ve bought 4 more containers of it. There protein powder have 30 grams of protein, offers a nice selection of flavors (including unflavored) and every flavor I’ve tried so far has been great. My tip, as with most protein powders, I prefer to blend mine in a personal blender. I feel like you get a creamier consistency.

They have basic flavors like vanilla and chocolate or more unique flavors like strawberry acai and cake batter. I think the chocolate blended with unsweetened vanilla almond milk makes it tastes just like chocolate milk. My hubby’s favorite so far is the strawberry acai. A unique flavor for something different. I’ve used this just as a shake or I’ve used them in protein recipes like protein fluff, protein jello, and protein baked oats.

Pros: 30 g of protein. Nutricost offers frequent sales to be able to save some money. 24 servings in a 2 lb tub. They also offer 5 lb tubs. Good taste. Good flavor options.

Cons: Without a coupon can be just as expensive as the rest.

Save 10% off your order with my code: BEECHAN10

Quest Protein Powder

Quest Nutrition is a well known brand. A lot of people have tried the Quest protein powders or shakes. I think Quest has a lot of awesome products especially their line of protein treats. Their PB cups are awesome. Even my kids like them. I feel like their protein powders are hit or miss though. The Quest salted caramel protein powder is amazing. I like to blend mine with a little ice and either unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk. I think it tastes just like a salted caramel milk shake. Their vanilla is pretty good. Not a fan of their chocolate. The cinnamon crunch I feel is awesome in protein recipes like protein baked oats but a little weird to drink because it has almost like cinnamon cereal chunks in it. This brand is generally more affordable than the others on my list too.

Pros: some flavors like salted caramel are amazing. And cinnamon crunch is recipes is great. Generally more affordable that most protein powders and found at more retail locations. 26 grams of protein per serving.

Cons: flavors are hit or miss for me.

Summary

In the end, these are my personal opinions. There are a few brands I’ve tried that I just didn’t like such as Muscle Milk. While other people seem to like it. In the end find what works for you and get that protein in however you like!

If there are any you think I should try, let me know. Maybe I’ll do a protein bar list next.

**This post does contain affiliate links. I will earn a small commission from sales made through my links**

Possibly the Perfect Headphones for Summer – Mojawa Run Plus Waterproof

There are so many different ways to listen to music on the go. I didn’t realize how many ways there really were until the last month or so. I mean you have earbuds but you have wireless, wired, and you got the earbuds with the hooks that go over your ears. Then you have over-the-ear headphone and on-ear headphones. Then there bone conduction headphones and even air conduction headphones. Then you get into options like “sound proof”, “water resistant”, headphones with controls on them, just so many options.

I was recently approached with a newer bone conduction headphone that sounds truly different. Mojawa Run Plus bone conduction headphones have a lot of neat features that will make these perfect for summer fun and sweaty workouts.

Other than these bone conduction headphones being super waterproof (which is a huge plus for the summer) They also happen to have 32G of storage to store your music. The idea, if you’re swimming, running, playing a game of volleyball, etc you probably don’t want to or can’t have your phone with your. In this way you can load your fave music right to the headphones and leave your phone in a safe space without fear of it getting splashed or full of sand.

With controls right on the headphones themself you can adjust volume or switch play modes. When fully charged these headphones have 8 hours of battery life. But maybe your friend asks you to go for a hike and you realized “darn it, my headphones are almost dead” guess what, these headphones are fast charging. Only 5 min of charge needed for 90 min of play time. I think that’s awesome.

If you love getting your music to sound just right the Mojawa Run Plus has an app with smart EQ settings. So you’re rock, rap, country, techno, whatever will sound like you want it to.

Mojawa Run Plus will be available in black, white, orange, and blue. These are an upgraded version of the Mojo2 if you’re familiar with that model.

Here’s a summary of all the features of the Mojawa Run Plus.

IP68 Waterproof: 2M underwater.
Touch control: touch to switch playing modes, slide to adjust the volume.
Bluetooth and 32GB of Storage: either way, hands-free.
8 Hours of battery life & Fast charging: 5-min charging for 90-min playing time.
Patented Mojawa broadband tactile motor: stronger, louder, better sound.
Double springs design inside: Stability enhanced. Anti-drop.
App available with smart EQ settings.
Super lightweight & Secure fit: enjoy music in comfort, never fall out.

I received a sample of the Mojawa Run Plus in black. It comes with a charging cord, ear plugs, and storage bag.

I used these while out cutting down trees and weed eating in my yard. I love that I can hear the music but also hear what’s going on around me. It took some getting used to for me to learn to use the controls but once I got it, it was nice to not have to pull my phone out of my pockets to change the volume or answer a call.

The sounds is pretty good for bone conduction headphones. With the added features of the swim capability, 32 GB of storage, 8 hr battery life, and still being able to hear what is going on around you, these are the perfect headphones for the summer or outdoor chores.

SHOP Mojawa Run Plus on Amazon

This post does contain affiliate links. I will earn a small commission from sales made through my links.

30% Off and 2 FREE Shakers with this Evive Nutrition Deal!

Evive Nutrition offers blender-free smoothies and easy vegan frozen meal options. When you subscribe to Evive Nutrition you get to choose from an array of flavors for quick and nutrition meals or snacks on the go.

Simply choose your flavors and how many. Evive is shipped to you frozen. Stick the wheels in your fridge and pull them out for a quick, delicious, and healthy blender-free smoothie.

Use half a wheel for snack use a whole wheel for a meal. Drop it in your liquid of choice: coconut milk, almond milk, or oj are some good options depending on the flavor. They also give suggestions for liquids.

Evive is sweetening the deal all through February. Use code: DUO30 to save 30% and receive 2 free shaker bottles.

Healthy food made easy >> Evive Blender-free Smoothies

For me, working out was rarely the hard part. Once I got started, I almost couldn’t wait to workout again. The hardest part of trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle is lack of time and meal prep. This solves all those issues. I don’t even have to wash my blender!

EVIVE BENEFITS:
– Plant-based, gluten-free
– Consume more fruits & veggies (3-4 portions of fruits & veggies per wheel)
– Integrates more superfoods and adaptogens into your diet
– Minimal cooking efforts with maximum plant-based nutrition
– Stop skipping breakfast, and enjoy a smoothie packed full of superfoods and protein to get you through your morning

Ready to give it a try? Choose your Evive blender free smoothies HERE and don’t forget to use code: DUO30 for the 30% off and 2 free shakers! Kids love Evive too!

This post does contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission from sales made through my links

Smile Brilliant Night Guard Review + Giveaway

You might have seen my review of the cariPRO Ultrasonic Toothbrush from Smile Brilliant in the past. I’m still using that same toothbrush today. I do keep a supply of new brush heads on hand. My dentist was impressed with how well it keeps my teeth clean. She actually asked for the name of the toothbrush. But a newer issued came along at one of my dentist appointments a few years ago.

About 2 years ago, while at my dentist appointment, my dentists commented about my gums receding. She says there’s a few reasons it could happen but one reasons is from teeth clenching or grinding my teeth. I had a coworker that had a similar problem. She ended up having to have cadaver gums to fix her receding gum line. The idea of that just doesn’t appeal to me. They did give me some hope that there has been advances with injecting collagen into the gums and seeing results with that treatment. Unfortunately it was just starting on the west coast and hadn’t made it’s way to the east coast yet. It’s obviously something that dentists will need to be trained to do as well.

I started to pay more attention. I noticed I did clench my teeth when working out. I sometimes grind my teeth when I’m bored. It’s possible I clench or grind my teeth at night. I don’t personally know that I do and my husband has never said anything to that effect.

So, what do I do? I ask my dentist. She suggested a night guard. Unfortunately she says it’s not covered by my insurance. They could do a custom one but it would cost around $500 or I could buy a pre-fab one somewhere like Walmart. So I went with that option. The pre-fab one I bought only cost about $20. Unfortunately you get what you pay for. It didn’t fit my mouth right. I had to cut the ends so it fit in my mouth without feeling like it was gagging me. In the end it didn’t work out.

I was starting to seriously consider shelling out the $500 to avoid cadaver gums. But then Smile Brilliant entered my life. It was exactly the solution I needed.

Smile Brilliant offers custom night guards you can get in the convenience of your own home. Smile Brilliant Custom Night Guard costs a fraction of what i would have paid my dentist but still getting the custom fit I need. They send you a kit in the mail to create your own custom dental guard at your convenience. They have an easy to follow step by step guide.

You kit comes with a mold and stuff that reminds me of silly putty that you have to mix together. They give you enough for two tries just in case you mess up on the first one. I’ve used the same method for their teeth whitening trays. I usually get it on the first try but did end up having to use the 2nd set this time. No worries if you still need more, you just have to contact them.

The whole process really only take about 10 min start to finish. The instructions have high resolution, color pics. They are are truly step by step. I personally suggest reading through the entire directions so you can anticipate what you need to do next. It’s not a hard process but you do only have so much time to work with the molding solution before it starts to harden.

Smile Brilliant also provides an envelope, postage paid, to send your impression back for your bite guard to be created.

It took close to three weeks for me to get my bite guard in the mail but when I received it, it was a perfect fit. It’s a nice flexible material. It’s comfortable in my mouth.

When your finished bite guard is sent to you, you also receive a convenient, vented storage container to keep your bite guard in.

How Much Is Teeth Whitening

Smile Brilliant offers several high quality and custom oral care products including the cariPro Ultrasonic toothbrush, Water flosser, custom teeth whitening kits, and more.

Save 20% off your order when you use my code: 20angiewith2

GIVEAWAY

Choice of T3 Sensitive or Light Custom Night Guard Giveaway link:
https://www.smilebrilliant.com/g/angiewith2

Just for entering you get an additional discount at Smile Brilliant!

*Eligible countries: US, UK, Australia, & Canada

**This post is in collaboration with Smile Brilliant. I was compensated with free product for this post. This post does contain affiliate links and I can earn from sales made through my links. Any opinions expressed are my own***

Great Tasting Energy Tea from Zest Tea

When you think about tea, what do you think of? Honestly I have so many thoughts. I think of a cold refreshing tea on a hot summer day. I think about a nice warm cup of morning tea to start my day. I think about a beverage that has benefits beyond quenching my thirst pallet.

Zest Tea offers a variety of energy teas to enjoy anytime you need a boost of energy.

This high caffeine tea is delicious, refreshing, and just the kick you need without the crash.

Zest Tea loose leaf tea and tea bags are available in 6 different flavors:

blue lady
pomegranate mojito
earl gray
cinnamon apple
spicy masala chai
superberry samba

The Zest Tea sparkling teas are available in different flavors and varieties

Passionfruit Berry (this is the flavor I sampled and LOVE IT!)
Sweet Chai Infusion
Pomegranate Mint
Blackberry Lime Zero Sugar
Blood Orange Mango Zero Sugar
Cucumber Melon Zero Sugar

So what is in a cup of Zest Tea caffeinated tea?

ENERGY: Up to 150mg caffeine = 3x regular tea
FOCUS: 40mg L-Theanine = no jitters, no crash
HEALTH: Natural, Non-GMO certified ingredients

Honestly, I loved all the teas. The flavors, the quality of the tea, the fragrance, it was definitely high quality.

One thing I really loved though was the Sparkling Teas for the summer. Cold, refreshing, crisp, just what I need on a hot day. I took several cans with me when we went to the beach. Because Zest Tea is the tea with the most caffeine, it’s great for long road trips. The added focus benefit was awesome too.

I’m usually the one driving when we go on roadtrips. My husband actually enjoys the fact that I drive and it benefits me because I get motion sickness as a passenger. I’ve tried a lot of caffeinated drinks during road trips but this was by far the best. I’m gonna have to order more for our next trip. We’re headed to State College in November to see Kane Brown, just me and the hubs.It’s a long awaited overnight getaway for me and the hubs. That hasn’t happened without the kids in a couple years.

With the kids starting back to school I’ll be enjoying my sips of hot Zest Tea on the porch while waiting for the bus to drop them off. That way I’ll be sure to meet them with the same energy they meet me with.

You can check out Zest Tea out here. I haven’t had the opportunity to try the zero sugar but the flavors sound amazing. I’ve been trying to cut sugar out of my beverages because it’s a pretty easy way to start reducing daily sugar intake.

GIVEAWAY

1 US winner will win a 20 ct package of Zest Tea tea bags.

I received sample products in order to complete this post. Any opinions expressed are my own.