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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I just made this with coconut milk as I have an almond allergy. Delicious!
Inspired by this recipe, today I made a similar smoothie but had to be creative because I had no coffee. 1 sweet potato with 1 cup of water 1 scoop NZ vanilla whey and lots of cinnamon and nutmeg. I don’t care what anyone says about my food, the smoothie and juli’s recipe are DELICIOUS, and so… I will make them again. Thanks Juli! Keep up the great work. Your positivity and accepting nature is inspiring. Keep Spreading the love 🙂
Fantastic recipe – thanks for posting. I’m going to try this using protein coffee (http://www.bulkpowders.co.uk/complete-protein-coffee.html) and chocolate whey – see if I can make a mocha!
made this today and its awesome. I used a banana as the sweetener and added pecan butter. Im honna have this all the time now!
I loved hearing your Crossfit back story – it was my first time – and your perspective on toning it down so it felt right to you is just DEAD ON.
Crossfit has been totally life changing for me, too, in almost an opposite way. I have been a die hard yogi and distance runner for years, but I was feeling really stuck in my life. Yoga was making me too passive (this isn’t a comment about yoga but about how I was implementing it in my life). I started Crossfit about a year and a half ago, mostly to get my husband moving, and it TOTALLY LIT A FIRE UNDER ME. I started crushing life, both inside and outside of the gym. Then I started getting frustrated with my lack of progress, ie why aren’t I as strong as the other women? Now, I’m working on balancing the passive and active sides of me and my workouts. It’s always a process isn’t it?
PS- Thanks for sharing this recipe… I think it will be lunch today – even if it’s not post workout!
This is a very interesting recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
Do you think instant coffee would work as opposed to ground coffee?
yep!
This shake is fantastic! Just finished a workout at Alpine CrossFit and wanted a good recovery smoothie. It’s got everything! Omega-3’s, carbs, protein, and a great taste. Will be making this more often…thanks!
Juli,
I love your website, and I love your cook books. The only thing I don’t like about your website is that people here comment about your posts WAY more than your recipes! I wish all the ratings and comments about the actual RECIPE were first, and then all the chatty stuff showed up after the recipe ratings and suggestions about the food!. Had to read a novel here just to find out if anyone commented on the thickness of the shake.
Again, I’m a super fan of your food, but found the ranting on this recipe too much.
I did a copycat of this recipe because I prefer chocolate protein over vanilla. I do a chocolate protein, sweet potato, honey, almond butter and coffee grinds. It is DELISH and I consume it about 5x a week. Thank you for the idea of a frozen sweet potato in my smoothie! Although my family does not crossfit, they have started drinking it too.
Looks like healthy and yummy pre-workout drink! I tried smth like that with pumpkin – was pretty good. Will check this too.