High Protein Snacks

If there is one thing I struggle with when trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, its eating healthy snacks. I have a sweet tooth and love chocolate, cake and sweets, but they really aren't helping me to achieve my goals.  I have done quit a bit of research lately into healthier snacks and I wanted to share my favourites with you. Of course fruit and nuts are the best healthy choices, but with winter on its way a lot of my favourite fruit is unavailable, due it been out of season. 

As a busy uni student I can often get distracted by the the unhealthy food that surrounds my university campus. I wanted to find snacks that I could easily pop in my bag and eat between lectures or munch on before or after the gym. 

Trek Bars are one of my favourites on the list. They are Protein Flapjacks without the nasty protein texture or taste. The bars come in a range of different flavours to suit everyone's tastes buds.  The majority of the different flavoured bars have 10g grams of protein packed into them, which will keep you fuelled for longer.  I was also shocked to learn that Trek bars are vegan friendly and contain no wheat or gluten. They retail for around 99p-£1.50.

I will admit I am not huge fan of the taste of Nakd products but I do like the idea of them. I feel the majority of the products taste the same and its usually because the ingredients are practically identical. I like how they do a range of products from nibbles to bars and how easy it is just to pop them in your bag. Nakd products are also vegan friendly and contain no wheat or gluten. I hope in the future they improve on the flavouring. Nakd products retail between £1-£3.  

Bounce is a new company that I have recently come across and I can tell you so far that I am extremely impressed with there protein balls. Unlike most protein products they don't have that protein/powder taste however they do have that chewy texture. They aren't as chewy as other protein bars I have tasted, but it could still be improved. I give the flavouring of the energy balls a 10/10 they taste exactly like what is said on the packet. My favourite Bounce Ball flavours are Cocoa Mint, and Peanut Protein Blast. All the Bounce Balls are high in protein, gluten free and suitable for Vegetarians.

If you are looking for healthier snack choices that are high in Protein then I highly recommend checking these companies out. All opinions are my own and this post is not sponsored by any of the mentioned companies. 

Kayleigh

x

Delicious Coconut and Date Protein Balls!

Omgosh! I think I just created the most delicious healthy and vegan snack. If you like chocolate and coconut you are going to love this. I have seen this recipe before so it's not fully originally however I did change it a little bit.  This is also in english measurements as I have only found this recipe in cup measurements previously. 

For the ingredients you are going to need:

• 15 Pitted Dates blended in a food processor (I used a smoothie maker).
• 8 Tablespoons of shredded coconut (you will also need extra for rolling the balls in).
• 5 Tablespoons of melted coconut oil.
• 2 Teaspoons of raw cocoa powder.
• 3 Tablespoons of chia seeds.
• A dash of coconut milk.

Makes 10 snack sized Protein Balls.

• Blend your pitted dates together until they are fine and sticky. In a large microwave safe bowl melt your coconut oil.

•  Once your coconut oil has melted, add in your shredded coconut and mix.

•  Add in your dates, raw cocoa and chia seeds mixing between each ingredient.

• Stir the mixture until it comes together like a biscuit dough and add in a dash of coconut milk. If the mixture is too wet add in more chia seeds.

• leave the mixture to stand for 20 minutes to allow the chia seeds to soften. After letting it sit the mixture will be ready to roll in your hands to create small balls. Put some extra shredded coconut on a small plate and roll the balls in it until they are covered. You can keep them in the fridge or freeze them.

Enjoy!

Kayleigh

xx

My Diet!

A lot of people start on a weight loss journey but give up because there not seeing any results. Most people believe exercise is enough but it's not! You have to eat clean. Nutrients are key for the body to function and protein gives you energy whilst helping to re-build your muscles stronger. I flick through the weight loss and healthy eating hashtags on Instagram and see things like chocolate, baked beans on white bread and a bowls of cereal. these are certainly not healthy nor full of key nutrients for the body.  I never used to eat healthy, I'd eat what I want when I want. Luckily I have never being a big portion eater and usually eat little and often.

1. My first tip for eating better and losing weight is eat smaller portions (unless you already do). Make sure your having breakfast, lunch and dinner and no more than a couple of snacks a day. 
2. Cut out sugary drinks like pop or soda and Juice drinks as there usually full of sugar. Stick to water and tea. I also recommend lemon detox water.
3. Cut out sugary and fattening snacks like chocolate and crisps. Replace them with fresh fruit which can be frozen so they don't go off, peanut/cereal bars, and yoghurts.
4. Swap your white bread for brown.
5. Eat more eggs as there a great source of protein.
6. Swap cereal for porridge and top with frozen or fresh fruit and a teaspoon of Nutella or pea nut butter.

My daily food intake is around 1200 calories sometimes 

maybe less. I start the morning off by having my Protein World Slender Blend which usually takes me up till lunch time. For lunch I will usually have something like egg and soldiers or salmon on crackers and then a yoghurt, humus 

with fresh veg and fruit, or meat and salad. In the evening I like to have a normal cooked meal such as chicken in sauce with brown rice, quinoa paella, or homemade sweet potato fish pie.  

Changing your eating habits is not hard and I recommend it to everyone! I feel so much happier and healthier and the weight is coming off. 

Kayleigh x

My 25 minute home workout which has results!

I noticed the key to getting fit is interval training and it's used by top trainers such as Jillian Michaels.  I started out by doing her thirty day shred however I soon became unmotivated and bored with it and that's because I didn't find it fun and it's not tailored to you personally. So I thought why not create my own which is fun and motivational. I first started out by picking a work out track list with my up beat favourite songs. Select a track list around 25-30minutes long. mine includes songs such as Real Love by Clean bandit and Ellie Goulding Burn.  
The first song you need to start of by doing cardio as this gets the heart pumping and you warmed up. Do cardio exercises which you enjoy for  like 30x each or like half a minute.  For my cardio warm up I do exercises such as

• Jumping jacks
• On the spot skipping (you can do this without a rope)
• Frog jumps (go down to a crouching position like a frog and jump straight up) 
• Jump twists
• High knees

Once my first track is finished I then move onto strength. I added weights to my work out which include tow light weight hand weights and I found my brothers old weights bench so I also use a bar with two 5lb weights on.  If you don't have weights at home don't worry you can just do strength exercises such as push ups, burpees and squats. 

• Squat stance punches with hand weights
• Squat and arm raises with hand weights
• Chest press with heavier weights
• Over head press with weights 
• Dead lift bar 

On the third track I then move onto my ab workout my favourite part of the circuit. Choose your  favourite abs focused moves. I do

• Reverse crunch
• Crunch 
• Full sit ups
• Plank
• Bicycle
• Abdominal twist with a weight 

After your third track has finished re-peat the circuit again starting from cardio. When you have done the circuit twice your work out track list should have finished.  I have seen really good results from doing this but make sure you are eating healthy too. 

Follow me on social media for my journey to a healthier lifestyle :-) I will continue to post my progress, healthy recipes and work outs. I also challenge you to warm up to Taylor Swifts Shake it Off without stopping. It's a lot of fast paced jumping, shaking and dancing put it gets the heart pumping and is lots of fun. 

Kayleigh x

Protein World Slender Blend Review

I recently started on the Protein World Slender Blend after hearing so many positive things. At first I got to admit I thought it was all lies due to being heavily celebrity endorsed however it has certainly proved me wrong. I have lost half a stone in 3 weeks and I believe I could have lost more quicker if I would have taken two a day like the company say. however I choose to have one shake a day as I was already a healthy weight I just wanted to loose around a stone and most importantly tone up. I chose the chocolate flavour Slender Blend which goes really nice with milk. it can be quite sickly so I don't recommend drinking it fast or in big gulps. I have also tried it with water which I did not like at all as it tasted like chemicals. I would certainly recommend this product to anyone wanting to loose weight or tone up. Please remember to eat healthy and exercise daily whilst taking the shakes. the shakes alone wont make you loose weight that's impossible as its protein. You don't need to be a hard-core gym addict or even have a gym membership. You just need to spare 25 minutes of your day to workout at home just like I do. I will do a follow up blog with my home work out.

 

 

The tub Costs £30 and can be purchased from Proteinworld.com

 

Kayleigh x