Product Review: Designer Whey Sustained Energy

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Try a new (to me) protein source?  Yes, please!

Full Disclosure:  I was provided these protein powders from Designer Whey through my partnership with Fitfluential but, as always, all opinions are 100% my own.

If you've read this blog in the past couple of months you may have heard me mention how I've been increasing my protein levels.  One of the ways that I do this is by including a protein shake into my day and I am a HUGE fan of the Designer Whey products.  Therefore, it should come as no surprise that when an opportunity to try a new kind of their protein shakes came that I jumped at the chance.

Designer Whey recently released the Sustained Energy protein powder.  The powders are described on the website as:

"... specifically formulated with our proprietary Endurance Blend™. Designed to give you balanced, stimulant-free, sustained energy through fast absorbing whey protein and slower absorbing soy and casein proteins, giving you a steady supply of essential amino acids while helping you control hunger with fiber.  Packed with 16 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 19 Essential Vitamins & Minerals and naturally flavored and sweetened – all for only 100-good-for-you calories!"

I received a can of the Chocolate Velvet and a can of the Vanilla Bean and was eager to try them out.  The first one that got cracked open was, of course, the Chocolate Velvet and I made my favorite shake.  Cold coffee, frozen cherries and chocolate velvet protein powder.  Normally this combo is a winner for me but with this powder the texture felt grainy.  I thought that maybe I just didn't blend it enough so I made it again the next day and blended it much longer but it still tasted grainy.  A few days later I opened the Vanilla Bean canister and made another shake but did not care for the flavor of the vanilla.

Not wanting to give up on the powder just yet I tried one more thing to see if I'd enjoy the Chocolate Velvet
.  I baked with it.  I found a recipe for chocolate zucchini muffins that used protein powder.  Being a HUGE fan of both chocolate and zucchini muffins I thought this would make a perfect combination.  They looked good going into the oven and made the house smell really fantastic so I really wanted to love them.  They turned out a little less sweet than I'd hoped but they were still a little tasty.  Dan liked them very much so this batch is all for him!

Based on the mixed reviews I'll likely stick with using the regular Chocolate protein powder for my shakes but would use the Sustained Energy for baking/cooking.  I'm going to continue playing with the zucchini muffin recipe once we have more zucchini in the house because I think it could be good.

Small Changes

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I have a little golden key!!

This was not the original topic of this post but I felt that it was so super important that I had to write it.  This week we talk about the ripple effect.  When I joined Weight Watchers nearly three years ago (it'll be my anniversary in eight days!) one of the things that my leader, Karen, said to me really stuck with me.  Make small changes/set small goals.  Each time I'd ever tried to lose weight before I felt like I overhauled my entire life.  I changed everything I was eating, tried to work out like crazy, etc... and those things would work for a few weeks and then I'd give up because I was exhausted and I just wanted a cookie.  Or twelve.

This time, however, I made the small changes.  I started by just calculating and tracking everything that I ate.  I saw results at the scale and kept going.  I drank more water and focused on the good health guidelines and the scale kept moving, mostly in the right direction.  Until it stopped.  I kept saying I needed to add activity and a few weeks later I finally did by starting to walk on the treadmill.  The scale started moving again and I kept feeling great about the things I was doing.  I was walking farther, faster or sometimes both!  I was also bragging about these accomplishments which also helped motivate me to continue.

All of these small changes ripped into my weight loss.  In the time I've been a Weight Watchers member I have lost 215 pounds and tonight I received the most awesome of all the rewards.  Tonight Karen handed me the little golden key that means I am a lifetime member.  All because I made small changes which became lifestyle changes and just a part of my routine.  How amazing is that?!

What small change can you make that can make a big difference in a month?  A year?  Three years?