Post workout shakes are like getting rewarded after beating yourself into the ground in a workout. They were totally invented as positive reinforcement. Not because they refuel you, but because they taste like heaven.
If you have read my blog for a little now, you know I love working out. Absolutely love it. Mostly in the form of CrossFit. I don’t like going to 24 hour fitness or other globo-type gyms and just lifting weights or running on the treadmill. I love being in a class format with my close friends, sweating a ton, lifting quickly and doing cardio at the same time, going through a lot of pain in a short amount of time, and seeing results. That’s what CrossFit is. CrossFit to me is about working hard for your results. It’s not about judging other people or feeling uncomfortable in the gym. It’s about finding your inner fire and learning about your body. I know that sounds lame, but I’m serious. CrossFit gave me confidence, it made me a hard worker, and it’s brought me closer to people I would never have known without my gym. CrossFit has honestly made me the person and I am today and I truly love that person.
Quick back story if you haven’t read my blog for very long. STORY TIME YAY. I started CrossFit around 2010ish. I competed in CrossFit Southwest Regional twice in 2011 then 2012. I ate, drank, and breathed CrossFit. It was the only thing I did. I wanted to get stronger and faster AND sexier. For me, that didn’t seem to be possible. When I started to compete, I put on about 30 pounds, mostly muscle, I think. I got stronger AND faster, but I didn’t fit into any of my clothes other than my Lululemon spandex, and my acne was out of control. I went back and forth about how I felt in my skin, but it was a bit exhausting not feeling comfortable regularly. After Regionals 2012 and an injury soon thereafter, I decided that I didn’t want to compete in CrossFit anymore. I wanted to feel good in my skin and be comfortable with myself. So I did what was very hard for me and cut back in my weights in workouts. I stopped trying to beat others in workouts and just concentrated on myself.
After probably 3-4 months, I had lost almost 10 pounds. After over 1 year, I think I’ve lost about 15 pounds, but I try to not get on the scale because the scale doesn’t mean sh*t. I don’t know what my weight is now and I probably won’t until I go to the doctor and that b*tch makes me step on a scale. Dumb. But I am finally comfortable in my skin for the first time in years. I still CrossFit usually 6 times per week, but I tend to not go very heavy in my workouts. I eat more than I used to and I don’t worry near as much about being super strict with my diet. I honestly believe that my hormones were so out of control from lifting so heavy, that my body just couldn’t handle it. The less I lift super heavy, the more my body evens out and the happier I am. The happier I am, the more my body does the things I want it to do. It’s weird.
So anyways, I sometimes like post workout food and sometimes don’t. Yesterday, I did. So I made a shake that would refuel me AND keep me even more hyper than I already am. It did the job. I was bouncing through the roof while I taught my CrossFit classes. They were annoyed. I was thrilled. It was awkward. And based on the length of this post, I’m still really hyper. I’ll stop now.
Post Workout Sweet Potato Coffee Protein Shake
- Yield: 1-2 1x
Ingredients
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed, cooked, and frozen* (about 1 cup)
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1 scoop Vanilla Primal Fuel (or any protein you prefer)
- 1 tablespoon sweetener (honey, maple syrup, etc.)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2–1 teaspoon ground coffee (depending what you prefer)
- 1 tablespoon groundchia seeds (this is optional, but it thickens the shake a bit)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a Blendtec (or other blender/food processor) and puree until completely smooth.
- Drink up buttercup!
Notes
I cooked the cubed sweet potato at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes, then let it cool and froze it over night. If you don’t have frozen, cooked sweet potato, just add a cooked sweet potato along with 2 cups of ice
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Juli, I love your post!! The recipe from Meg’s website sounds awesome!! What better combination than sweet potatoes and coffee!!
To some of the people on here body shaming, it is unacceptable!! Like Meg, I have many problems with eating food, like lactose intolerance, peanut free foods and avoiding pasta, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, kiwi, bananas, melons, grapes, citric fruits, green vegetables, corn, rice, oats, eggs (allergy), shellfish allergy, anything greasy, fatty, spicy, chicken, or dairy! I had gallbladder surgery and now suffer from discomfort, bloating and pain phantom gallbladder attacks all caused by the foods I eat.
Prior to and after gallbladder surgery, I weighed 110 lbs. and was 5’8″. I know what it feels like to starve to death and it wasn’t by choice or eating disorder; it was caused by the gallbladder failing to function normally. By the time I had surgery, it was only functioning 27%. I was on my death bed then. I had gray, spongy skin, sunken eyes, a walking skeleton with every bone being visible and clothes that wouldn’t fit because they were too big.
Now, I am averaging around 150 lbs. and still 5’8″ with more muscles than when I was suffering from gallbladder disease without gallstones.
Recently, I have tried adding Benefiber and it has been a life saver!! I can now enjoy foods that I had to give up for 10 yrs. after I had gallbladder surgery. Instead of drinking cow or goat milk, I drink Silk soy milk which has also been a lifesaver! Wowbutter (soy) has also helped since I couldn’t eat peanut butter without getting sick.
A word to the wise, unless you have walked in someone else’s shoes, don’t knock them down or shame them for something they cannot control. They are not there to please everyone else!!