A Tasty Recovery & Giveaway!

Now that I have a marathon under my belt, I’ve become quite the pro about fueling before and after long, tough workouts. And today I want to tell you about three recent recovery products we received here at FBG HQ. (Say that three times fast.) Are they effective? Worth the price tag? Even remotely delicious? Read on for these answers and much, much more (read: giveaway)!

Myoplex Strength Formula Shakes

After my first 20-mile training run, I felt a lot of things: pride from running that far in 20-degree temps, exhaustion from running that far in 20-degree temps, and frozen from running that far in 20-degree temps. One thing I didn’t feel? Hunger. Believe it or not, eating is the last thing you want to do after running for 3+ hours. However, it’s the one thing you must do. And the sooner, the better. That’s why the EAS Myoplex Strength Formula nutrition shake went over well in my household. EAS sent me the banana cream flavor to try, and although it was too sweet for my taste buds, I could easily chug it down after a long run without feeling sick. And the re-closable, 14-ounce plastic bottle packs in 25 grams of protein and a mix of 23 vitamins and minerals that are excellent for recovery. It’s just a little more than 200 calories for the whole bottle.

If banana isn’t your bag, the shakes also come in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. A 12-bottle pack of the stuff retails for $34.99, which is dang pricey. But when you’re training for something big, and you want every workout to count  (and you want to feel good the next day, too), it’s worth it if you have the extra dough to spend!

Myoplex Strength Bar

This chocolate mint protein bar that EAS Myoplex sent us can’t be guzzled down after a hard workout like the banana cream shake can, but it can be nom-nomed. In a really delicious way, too. Like really, really delicious. Like as delicious as a candy bar. And did I mention it’s chocolate-mint (aka the flavor that drives me wild)? Like the shake, this bar has 25 grams of protein, and mad vitamins and minerals.

The bar is definitely more dense (and tastier) than the shake, but it also has more calories. One bar is darn near 300 cals. And each bar costs at least $2, even when you buy in bulk. Ouch. But, again, when I need some protein and am having a mint-chocolate attack, this is my go-to feel-better treat!

Vega Vibrancy Bar

It’s well documented that we’re fans of Vega products (see here and here and here). So when Vega offered up a new one for us to try—its new Vibrancy Bars—heck yea, I was game! What I love most about the bars is the ingredient list. Each bar is filled with super healthy stuff: 4 grams of Omega 3- and 6- essential fatty acids, 5 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber, and 10 grams of plant-based protein from sprouted buckwheat, hemp seeds, sprouted almonds, brown rice and pea protein. For you raw foodies, the bars are also 85 percent raw.

At about 200 calories a bar, you can choose from chocolate, berry or “green synergy” flavors. I honestly couldn’t tell that much of a taste difference between the bars, but thought they all tasted good. They’re sweet and have a lot of dates in them, reminding me of a Larabar, only the Vega Vibrancy bars have a pleasant yet slight crunch to their chewiness. Overall, I liked! And thought that the ingredients were worth a higher price tag ($36 for a pack of 12).

If you’d like to try some yourself and live in the U.S., leave a comment below, and one lucky commenter will win a Vega Vibrancy bar prize pack!

The final verdict? These recovery products may be pricey, but in a pinch they can be worth it. I still prefer whole fresh foods to refuel after a long run or workout, but convenience is, well, convenient. And sometimes that’s what a girl needs—along with some mint chocolate. Mmm… —Jenn