I’ve worked hard for this blog. I’ve seen it grow for three years now. I went from all the time in the world, no job, taking care of a small town house and a small baby….to looking after 3/4 of an acre of yard and gardens, a three bedroom house, two crazy kids, two crazy dogs and two jobs that I manage from home. But I can’t let this blog die…I just can’t. Besides an utter feeling of failure I would be lost without it, really I would. I love this space, I love my readers, I love Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and all the things this blog has brought to me. Not to mention the free goodies.
So from now on, expect more posts, but expect them to be brief and maybe not so much time consuming photography. Don’t get me wrong, I will take dSLR pictures, but expect a lot of the bulk to be iPhone shots. I can barely sit at the computer for five minutes these days let along a couple of uninterrupted hours.
So let’s get on to this amazingly awesome recipe shall we?
If you work out hard, run, lift weights, bicycle, swim, power walk, or get sweaty in any number of ways, then you need protein to repair those muscles and build up new ones. Proteins carry vital amino acids unattainable from any other source and we need those amino acids for muscle growth and recovery. Here’s a quote from Muscleandstrength.com:
“Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and also muscle tissue. And they also play a major part in physiological processes relating to our energy, recovery, mood, brain function, muscle and strength gains, and also in our quest for fat loss.”
So yeah, protein is important. Aim for at least 1 to 1.5 grams per pound of your goal weight. But drink plenty of water to ensure your kidneys are not being taxed by all that extra protein.
I’ll break down a day for you in macronutrients:
To maintain my weight of 119lbs (I’m 5’4″) I need to eat AT LEAST 1800 calories. More on days that I expend more energy. So If I burn 800 calories during a 90 minute sweat fest at Bikram Yoga, I add more calories. Usually about 500 extra, but sometimes I just can’t eat that much!
At first it was difficult to find the right protein powder for me because, well let’s be honest, some forms of protein cause some pretty bad digestive “issues”…if you know what I mean. So we settled on an isolate, which is a highly purified (read: processed) form of whey. It contains no lactose though so is safe for most people. We tried the vegan protein powders for a while, but they fall short in both flavour and levels of protein in my opinion. Whey has a lot of protein per serving and fills in where you can’t get it in your normal daily food rituals.
But sometimes you don’t want to make another shake. I wanted a treat, but I didn’t want to ruin my progress by eating tons of fat. I did crave something decadent though. So I came up with this recipe for a protein powder “ice cream”. It’s lactose free and can be made vegan depending on the protein powder you end up using. Play with this recipe, use different flavours of powders, add hunks of fruit or different milks. It’s a treat that you won’t feel guilty about and will keep your cravings in check for days to come.
One Year Ago: Spot Prawns and Polenta (Shrimp & Grits)
Two Years ago: Steak and Pineapple Skewers
Ingredients
- 240g chocolate protein powder
- 240g ripe banana
- 3 cups non dairy milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
- 1 tsp xanthan gum (optional, for thickening)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon or cardamom
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until completely mixed and smooth.
- Chill for an hour or two (I didn't but this will make the ice cream form faster in your ice cream maker).
- Place in ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions OR place in a metal bowl and set in freezer. Stir every 30 minutes until a soft serve consistency is achieved.
- Serve!
Disclaimer: I am by no means a nutritionist, dietitian or even a fitness trainer. Any of the suggestions, advice or other information listed on my site is purely my own opinion and garnered from 11 years of being either dieting, weight lifting, working out, researching nutrition or otherwise being face first in health and fitness related materials. Before beginning any diet or exercise program, be sure to speak with your doctor or other health professional.