Hello! Happy Sunday!
Oh man, Friday I got to workout with my best friend Bob again and it was just awesome. I can’t wait to recap the day, but business is business and I’ve got a workout and a delicious pumpkin protein mocha smoothie recipe for you. I know I’ve been teasing with a GNC whey protein version of my coconut cookie dough crumble too and that will be on the way soon, hopefully with a STUFT in the Kitchen video. I know, exciting right?
So yeah, we’ve been doing a lot with my huge jug of whey protein.
We’ve been making smoothies,
(click here for the recipe)
using it in place of GNC chocolate soy protein powder for our protein packed pumpkin muffin
and even working out with it.
Yeah, that’s right,
the boys and I worked out with this bad boy.
Don’t mind Turk’s backside in the picture.
Hmm…. let’s see.
Let’s do the workout first and then some whey protein goodness. That’s how I like to do it here. Workout hard, and then have a little post workout protein treat. You too?
Good.
Great.
Grand.
Before we work it out though I just wanted to show you some silly mama who was featured on Fitnessmagazine.com the other day.
Fitness Blogger We Love: STUFT Mama
Yeah, I’m trying to play it cool, but I’m pretty darn excited about it.
Okay.
Workout time.
I posted this workout last week, but I’ve tried it out both with the stroller and with my boot camp ladies as our warm-up. It was a success both times. It’s a fun one that can be done anywhere.
I have to say that the boys love it too. The burpee stops are very entertaining to them for some reason. Burpees are also more fun when wearing a cute shirt like my Reebok Women’s Play Dry Short Sleeve Top. Ha ha.
Now for our first official fall inspired workout.
It was 90 degrees or so when we taped this, so it doesn’t quite have the “fall” feeling, but it’s quick and effective with just five moves and a five pound weight (or in our case a huge jug of whey protein).
If you don’t have a weight, you can use pretty much anything or just do the workout on it’s own.
I’m a big fan of HIIT workouts that are short and get your heart rate up quickly. This one will do that.
Here are the moves listed out for you just in case you don’t feel like being entertained by our antics while you do the workout.
Things I’m wearing in the vid: Lorna Jane outfit, Reebok Real Flex Shoes, BIC Bands headband
Okay, so you did the workout, right? Now we can make a smoothie. Ha ha.
My favorite creation over the past week (besides the protein coconut cookie dough crumble) has been this thick pumpkin protein mocha smoothie.
It was inspired by the pumpkin mocha from the other day. It’s even better though because it’s super thick and packed with whey protein goodness.
I’ve been limiting dairy in my diet for awhile, so I was a little hesitant to add some whey protein back in the mix. My stomach seems to handle this GNC 100% Pro Performance Whey Protein pretty well though. I usually don’t use a full serving when I’m making smoothies. A full serving has 24 grams of whey protein, so even if I’m just using half a serving I get 12 grams of protein. This protein mixes well and taste good. I actually prefer the taste over the soy protein powder.
The benefits of whey protein and complete supplement facts can be found here on the GNC website.
Here is the smoothie that’s been making an appearance frequently over here.
Pumpkin Protein Mocha Smoothie
makes one serving
1/2 serving (2 tablespoons or 17 grams) GNC 100% Pro Performance Whey Protein
2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
1 tablespoon instant espresso (or instant coffee)
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
sweetener (1 tablespoon sugar or sweetener of choice- I use 1-2 packets of stevia)
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
1/4 teaspoon guar gum (optional- for thickening)
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional- for thickening)
3/4 cup crushed ice
Mix all ingredients in blender.
Recipe notes:
You can sub in other protein powders (soy or egg).
You can eliminate the espresso if you don’t want the caffeine.
The almond extract is optional also. I just love almond flavored anything.
Feel free to omit the xanthan and guar gums, I just add them to make the smoothie extra thick.
You can also add additional protein if you want.
This smoothie is my current favorite. It’s thick, rich and chocolaty, packed with protein, has some caffeine and has some added nutrition with the pumpkin. It’s just fabulous friends. You’ve got to try it.
Okay. That’s it.
Have a wonderful day! Enjoy your last day of September!
Ahhhhh……. really? Is it October tomorrow? Yikes.
Are you ready for a new month? Yeah, me either.
FitFluential LLC compensated me for this campaign. All opinions are my own.
What supplements do you recommend for weight loss and toning? Also when do you recommend whey be consumed and do you recommend caesin at night?
I wrote you back on instagram. I’m not an expert on this kind of stuff, but hopefully I answered some of your questions.
You should enter one of those body building contests!!! Your muscles are amazing…all your eating/protein/exercise certainly shows off on your body!!
I have such flab on my thighs its gross….I suppose the only trick there is time and a ton of more exercises!
plus eating right? OK..I better do your exercise vid and stop complaining!
Oh Kathy- be nice to yourself. Oh, and no contest for me. I don’t like that kind of pressure, but thanks for the compliment. Let me know if you tried the workout!!!!!
LOL! I love the head bands and that you use the protein for a goblet squat. So resourceful here. Now, about that pumpkin muffin. oh mama, gimme!
congrats on fitstop!!!
Isn’t that head band funny? He loves wearing them around and saying that he’s going to “run a race”. LOL.
I have been adding pumpkin to everything around here lately. Pumpkin pancakes are a Fall regular. I will definitely try that shake soon, too!
Kristi- Isn’t it so easy to just add pumpkin to anything? It’s almost addicting. Ha ha.
DANG.
you are sooooo go go go and still balanced.
Um, NO!!!!!!! I’m barely hnaging on the end of each day. I need more MIZ life lessons.
Your arms are ripped!!!! Looking great!
It’s all about the jug. LOL.
YESS i’ve been waiting for this recipe since you mentioned it!!! Cannot wait to try it out
Jessie- Let me know if you do! I love it!
I made the pumpkin protein shake this morning and it was fabulous. I added the almond extract (love that stuff!) and left out the espresso and added a tablespoon of flax seeds to add some healthy fat. I LOVE that its SO thick. Its a good thing I have some leftover pumpkin in my fridge because I will definitely make it again! Thanks for the recipe.
Brittany- so glad you liked it!!!! I”m planning on having it this afternoon before teaching classes! Oh and yes, isn’t almond extract the best?
Yeah! Your blog found its way into my inbox this time! I can’t believe Andrew had to bring up where raspberry flavor (allegedly) comes from….while I was serving 8 gallons of raspberry tea!!! That’s right- I can no longer stomach drinking the raspberry tea myself, so I iced a bunch and was serving it at the party to get rid of it!!
Ha ha. Too bad he spilled the beans to the others who were drinking it.
Sorry I was such a dud.
Your videos are just the best, the boys are the cutest. And love the pumpkin protein smoothie! Mine is pretty similar minus the chocolate, since I found out I can’t have any?! That was sad news. Oh, and you HAVE to try adding coconut flour to your pumpkin smoothies. Or any smoothies. It is amazing stuff!! It gets so thick, and lovely tasting!
Wait, why can’t you have chocolate??????
I suffer from migraines and my nutritionist said to avoid it since its a trigger for them!
Have to say…best blog post title EVER! I really do wish GNC would make a rice protein. It just goes down better for me.
Ooo… that would be great, wouldn’t it? I’ll tell them and I’m sure they’ll get right on it. Ha ha.
You are a fitblogger I love!!! Very cool
I’m so inspired when people change behaviors that are really difficult to change.
thank you for offering this giveaway!
I am so inspired when people change behaviors that are difficult to change.
Thanks for offering this giveaway!
P.S. I wrote this message earlier but it didn’t seem to post (or perhaps there’s a delay). If you get it twice, I should only be entered once in the giveaway.
Happy running.
lol! I always love your videos!! Can you just personal train me?? I think I would get a 6pack from hanging out with you and the boys from laughing. You all are too fun and cute!
Sure thing Brittany. You CAN burn a lot of calories just laughing. LOL.
I run because it gives me that amazing since of accomplishment and fulfillment that I love. I also run to be the best mommy I can be and set a great example for my boys!!
Tweeting now!!