Sharing Discounts and a Giveaway

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

I have some very good news to share with you before the end of August so I will get right to them.

The first... because I am a nuun ambassador this year I occasionally get a discount code to share with friends and family... this one is valid through September 1st at either the nuun American site (nuunlife.com) or the Canadian site (nuuncanada.com).

My friends at Nuzest are celebrating their 5th birthday this month!

To celebrate their 5th birthday, Nuzest is giving you $5 off every order over $20 this month!  Use the promo code happy5th at checkout on your order over $20.

Just click on the picture to find the shopping link.

And here is something special... also from Nuzest... if you have been wanting to try the new JUST FRUIT AND VEG plant-based smoothie mix, you can order a single packet and get free shipping!

Use code freeship2 at checkout.

Just click on the picture to find the shopping link.

And finally.... you only have till the end of the month to enter the August Giveaway at Nuzest.

Such a great way to try out all of their delicious and plant based products.  

Just click on the picture to be taken to the giveaway page.

How do you stay hydrated on hot Summer days?

Premier Protein Shakes and Bars Now Available in Canada

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Premier Protein. The opinions and text are all mine.

You already know that I like to get my days off to an active start… a run, a workout, a tennis match or a golf game… and that definitely means fuelling up with a high protein breakfast so I have the energy to power me through the morning. It is often in the form of a protein shake with fruit and/or spinach blended into it. I like to keep a variety of fruits and spinach in the freezer so I always have some on hand.

But when I am running short on time, or for a special treat, I will often reach into my fridge for a Premier Protein premixed shake. Vanilla? Yummy. Chocolate? Perfection. These delicious shakes pack a whopping 30g of protein into each one and in only 160 calories… low fat, low carb, high protein, fabulous taste. That is a win in my books.

Yes, they are shelf stable and do not require refrigeration… but I like to drink them very cold when I can, so I keep a few tucked away in my fridge so they are always ready for me or for The Captain when we want one. They are so handy… for breakfast, after a workout, or even as an afternoon pick-me-up.

And you can find them now at Costco stores throughout Canada. These are pictures of the displays in my own local Costco store… just so you will know what you are looking to find.

This is the Chocolate shake display in the supplements/vitamins area

Premier Protein shakes also make a terrific nutritious coffee creamer, and they can be blended with fruit and/or veggies if you are looking for a more substantial meal… but did you know that they can also be used to make parfaits? Have a look at this beauty!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups Premier Protein Vanilla Shake
• 1 Box of Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
• Strawberries
• Clementines
• Mangoes
• Kiwis
• Blueberries
• Optional garnish: Granola

DIRECTIONS:

1. Whisk Premier Protein and pudding mix for 2 minutes, and let sit for 5 minutes.
2. Layer pudding and fruit into a glass cup and enjoy!

Doesn't that look so inviting? I almost want to lick the screen!

Premier Protein also has a variety of delicious and high protein bars, also available at Costco stores throughout Canada. They come in such delicious flavors as Chocolate Peanut Butter, Yogurt Peanut Crunch, and Dark Chocolate Mint.

I bet you won't be surprised to learn that the Dark Chocolate Mint is my current favorite.

I like to keep a bar or 2 in my day bag so that I can reach for a nutritious snack or even meal replacement when I am in a hurry or cannot find a healthy or appropriate meal choice when away from home. I love that they do not melt or get gooey because of the warm temps we are having lately.
And I also enjoy them as a sweet tasting healthy treat at home… I just cut one up into several pieces and nibble on them… slowly to savor every bite. If The Captain is lucky, I will even share with him.

Look for Premier Protein shakes and bars at Costco stores throughout Canada.

So let's talk flavors… Vanilla or Chocolate?

Mocha Protein Freezer Pops

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

If you are a chocolate lover like I am, you might think that there is no better treat on a hot Summer day than a fudge-flavored freezer pop.  And I would have agreed with you until I got this latest batch of samples from Nuzest, that contained a couple of pouches of REAL COFFEE flavored protein powder.

I knew immediately that MOCHA freezer pops were on my Summer must try list. I love the flavors of coffee and chocolate blended together... and with the added benefit of low carb vegan protein, and no added sugars, what could be more perfect?  So I whipped them up this morning, and they are fabulous!

I have a few different freezer pop molds, and this particular set is a favorite. I won it in a giveaway a few years ago from Kristina who writes the plant-based recipe blog spabetti, (and if you haven't checked her out, you must) and have used it a lot since then.  It is a good quality plastic and the handles/sticks fit securely into the molds, which sit snugly and firmly in the base. No worry about spills in the freezer. Nice bonus.  And it makes good sized treats.

The first thing you will want to do is find out how much volume your freezer pops hold. I know from experience that mine hold 3 cups.  So, I used a packet each of Nuzest Rich Chocolate and Real Coffee protein powders, 2-1/2 cups of unsweetend almond milk and 1/2 cup of leftover cold coffee.   You can vary your liquid ingredients according to your own freezer pop measurements, and if you have some leftovers, drink up and enjoy!

Now I know that not everyone is an almond milk fan.  If you prefer, use another nut milk, or even cow's milk if you drink it.

After assembling my freezer pops, I blended the ingredients together in a large measuring cup and then carefully poured it out evenly into each mold.  If you haven't made quite enough you can top them off with more almond milk or more coffee... just make sure to leave a small space at the top of each so they will not overflow when you set the stick into the liquid.

Then insert the sticks...

and put them in your freezer for a few hours until they are firmly set.

The hard part is waiting for them to freeze solid... but once they have, you will know it was worth it!

These make not only a delicious and healthy treat on a hot day, they are also a good quickie pre-workout/run treat for those of us who like to get it done first thing in the morning.  They have just over 7g of protein each and only 43 calories.  And if you use regular coffee, there will also be a wee bit of caffeine too... which is nice pre-workout as well.

If you want to order CLEAN LEAN PROTEIN, or any of the other terrific new products from Nuzest you can get 15% off your order with my discount code eatrunsail and don't forget that shipping to the U.S. or Canada is free with an order of at least $50.

So, are you a freezer pop fan too? 

And what about flavors? Chocolate or Mocha?

Just Another Sunday Run Day

This Summer running has become a Sunday morning pastime. I am playing tennis a couple of times a week now, as well as golfing and walking/hiking as much as I can fit in.  These legs will just not run more than once a week right now.  But that is okay with me.

On Sundays I like to get up and drink a fruit and protein shake before heading out to run a 4km loop around my neighborhood.  And it is generally pretty slow and quite enjoyable. It has been very warm and dry here for the last 6 weeks so the earlier I can get out, the better.

Then when I come in, I stretch leisurely and sip a nuun drink before having another small snack and eventually, a shower.

I really enjoy this start to my week. Not only do I like the running, it makes me feel like I am doing something good for my body and my mind. I usually run with my husband and we chatter about the upcoming week or things we see along the way.  He is a much faster runner than I am but always paces himself to stay alongside me and it is nice to have the company.

I usually wear compression socks when I run.  I have some by Tiux that are fairly easy to get on, but because my fingernails are cut quite short right now for golf, I decided to wear a pair by SLS3 that are quite tight and much more difficult to get on. They are such a lovely blue color.  But, WOW! I had such a tough time with them that I couldn't even really get them straight.  I took a picture with the sun shining in the window that makes the color look a bit odd... You may have seen my post on Instagram about them.

I cannot imagine being able to get them larger... the feet are a too long already and the socks are quite long too... my legs are not heavy so I wonder why they are so tight?  The ProCompression socks I have are pretty much the same.  And I also have some dressier compression socks by Tommie Copper that are a more relaxed fit as well.


Do you have any trouble getting on your compression socks? 

What is your favorite brand? Please take this opportunity to show them some love!

Facing Forward

July started out with such hope and promise... a new food plan, a few pounds lost.... some running, tennis and golf... and then out of the blue, the devastating news that my older and only Sister had passed away suddenly in Calgary.  We scrambled to put together travel plans and flew home to be with family and honor her at a lovely memorial ceremony, and visit and share memories with friends and extended family at a reception afterwards... it is all a bit of a blur as you can imagine.

It took me a good couple of weeks after that to shake the mental fog and realize that my wonderful husband was having a birthday during the last week of the month. I know I am still in denial somewhat, but a birthday was just what I needed to give me a change of focus and a reason to smile again.  We had several fun outings and visited new restaurants every day of the week... and on the last day of July we had a coffee date with a cousin I had recently reconnected with after many many years of not having seen her.  It was really quite qnice and we have made plans to get together again in a few weeks. She lives in Calgary but has a home here on the Island and travels back and forth fairly often.

All in all a very emotional month... am I glad it is over?  You bet, and I am looking forward to August and getting back into a groove.

I have joined a 7 day challenge to clean up my diet... for me that means concentrating on eating whole, real foods... staying away from alcohol and the processed stuff as much as possible.  I do feel so much better when I eat this way and my weight is naturally easier to maintain too. Even at that, a lot of the freggies I eat are conveniently packaged and or frozen unless I make an effort to visit a farmer's market... hmmm... must put that on my August list...

Running seems to have become a Sunday morning activity.  And for now that is all right. I am playing tennis on Tuesdays and sometimes Thursdays, golfing on Wednesdays, and walking and hiking as much as I can throughout the week as well.  I am missing my strength training and so have added yoga to the mix... all the downward facing dog poses at least keep my upper body working and the stretching feels amazing.  I do love to stretch!

So... we are somewhat caught up... it is my natural tendency to retreat when faced with unpleasant situations so this has been a tough post for me to write and I am looking forward to having happier things to talk about!

Tell me, what are you looking forward to in August?  I would love to hear your plans.