How More Efficient Protein Powder Can Help Optimize Performance

This post has been sponsored by Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes through Kitchen PLAY. All opinions are my own.

I am all about making my personal world more efficient so that I’m set up for success in all areas of life including optimizing my time, optimizing my money, and optimizing my health! I’ve been known to run to the gym to knock out cardio before strength-training, I “Marie Kondo’d” the heck out of my sock drawer, and I’m all about meal prepping to stock the freezer, fridge, and pantry with foods that support my active lifestyle. All these life hacks save time, save money, and support my physical and/or mental health! How Prohydrolase is helps me digest protein better to optimize my workouts and recovery

You know another thing I’ve got working for me? Optimizing how various types of protein supplements can benefit my body thanks to ProHydrolase. ProHydrolase is an ingredient found in some protein supplements that has been proven to increase digestibility, thusly increasing the potential for muscle-building and muscle-recovery. Read on to learn more about my experience with ProHydrolase:

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Margarita Protein Mug Cake and My Visit to Optimum Nutrition HQ

This post is #sponsored by Optimum Nutrition however all opinions, comments and enthusiasm remain my own.

So, a few weeks ago, I was invited to head out to Chicago to visit the Optimum Nutrition headquarters. I was pretty excited about this because 1) I’m a fan of their products for all phases of my workout and running nutrition (including my own recipe creation) and 2) my inner food nerd can’t resist an invitation to get a behind the scenes look at how the research, development, manufacturing and marketing stages are executed for various brands.Jennifer thefitfork.com Optimum Nutrition HQ

Read on to see what I thought about the whole trip, learn about some of their new products, and also get an easy-peasy Margarita Protein Mug Cake recipe that I created in honor of the trip (and the following Mexico trip I barely got home in time to make!): Continue reading

How to Lower High Blood Pressure with Lifestyle Changes

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA); however, all opinions and editorial comments remain my own. All content at thefitfork.com is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute the providing of medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgement, advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Did you know blood pressure is the second most common cause of preventable death in the United States from any cause and that nearly half of all adults in the country, an estimated 103 million, have high blood pressure? These startling statistics really caught my attention, especially since cardiovascular disease runs in my family, and I’d like to do everything I can to maintain a healthy blood pressure level and prevent a future heart attack, stroke or other life-threatening condition. Lifestyle Changes that Lower Blood Pressure

May is National High Blood Pressure Education month and I decided this was the perfect opportunity for me to keep sharing about and motivating people to get on board with my two life passions – eating a balanced “real food” diet rich in fruits, veggies, and lean protein and engaging in some form of exercise daily. Read on to learn more about these and other actionable lifestyle changes you can make to help control your blood pressure in a positive way. Continue reading

Keto Chocolate Orange Smoothie with Extra Fiber

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LighterFeelsGood #CollectiveBias

The weather is warming up, and I’m back on my spring breakfast smoothie routine to power up for the busy days that lie ahead. My Keto Chocolate Orange Smoothie is a rich, creamy, crazy-delicious blend of goodness that almost seems like it should be called dessert – but it is sugar-free and has all the nutrients needed to support my low-carb breakfast. Keto Chocolate Orange Smoothie with FiberFind out how I used the new Metamucil Premium Blend (sweetened with stevia) in this sugar-free smoothie to up my daily fiber needs – a problem nutrition gap for many devotees of Keto, high protein or otherwise low-carb diets who avoid fruit and skimp on vegetables.  Read on to learn more and get the keto smoothie recipe: Continue reading

Spring Break Detox: Jump Start Summer Health & Fitness Goals

This post is sponsored by adidas, however all opinions, comments and enthusiasm remain my own!

Spring Break has come and gone for most of us, sigh. Whether you were celebrating with no responsibilities on a beach somewhere fabulous or partying down with the kiddos at an amusement park, chances are you probably overindulged on food and drink and short-changed yourself on sleep among countless other possible indiscretions (!) Now worries though, life is about balance and it’s easy to get back on track with your health and fitness goals with my holistic “Jump on Summer” Spring Break Detox.

jennifer thefitfork adidas Spring Break Detox

When most people hear the phrase “detox” in a health and fitness connotation, they immediately think strictly a DIET detox, maybe to the extreme like fasting or just drinking juices. But, I’m not really a fan of such food-restrictive detoxing – while my “Jump on Summer” Spring Break Detox incorporates getting back into a clean-eating routine (but not starvation mode), it also attends to the other parts of our lives that may need a gentle (or hard) reset. In addition to eating nourishing foods, focusing on hydration, sleep, meditation, exercise and optimizing free time are all other areas where you can detox and get a fresh start for the remainder of spring and summer. Continue reading