Product Name, Description & Use: 
According to its website, the EPIC bar is a 100% grass fed animal based protein bar designed as nature intended; Paleo friendly, gluten free, and low in sugar. The EPIC Bison Bacon bar “delivers a substantial serving of our two most favorite meats; 100% grass fed and organic buffalo brilliantly combined with humanely certified uncured bacon!”

How I Found the Product: 
I was browsing around my local Whole Foods Market and saw a bright yellow and orange “Sale” sign, and went over to check it out.  I looked at the bars, and read the ingredient list.  For a packaged food, it was actually pretty clean.  I decided to purchase one each of the Bison, Beef and Turkey bars.

When & Why I Used It: 
I decided to keep these bars at work, for a time where I needed a decent source of protein between clients or after a workout.  I always try and bring food with me, but hey- I’m not perfect :-).  Sometimes I need a quick pick-me-up in a pinch.

Pros:
•   Real Ingredients- the first three ingredients say a LOT about a product, and the first three here are Bison (grass fed), uncured bacon (no nitrites or nitrates added), and dried cranberries. 
•   High Protein- its very hard to get a protein bar that’s not loaded with fillers, sugar, or gluten.  This bar does a great job at that- one of the best I’ve seen.
•   Portability- This bar is ideal for a health nut or Paleo-ite on the go. I can picture myself packing a few of these in my carry-on bag next time I fly.  There are NEVER any great food options in an airport, and dried fruit and nuts sometime do not cut it!
•   Filling- I ate this 200 calorie bar and was full!! I didn’t feel the need to seek out any more snacks after this.
•   Sale Price- I purchased 3 bars for $7 when they were on sale at Whole Foods, and I thought it very reasonable.  At that price, $2.33 per bar, I got a better deal than most other crappy “nutrition” bars. 

Cons:
•   Texture- this didn’t taste like an ordinary “jerky” bar that you’d expect.  It had lots of moisture in it, yet the texture wasn’t overly pleasurable.
•   Aftertaste- I ate the bar with a few sips of water and then went to train my next client.  It did leave a funky aftertaste in my mouth that made me want to get a mint, or brush my teeth.
•   Salty- this is to be expected with any meat that is preserved to sit at room temp.  If you can handle a bit of salt, its no big deal.  And for athletes and outdoors enthusiasts who may be working up a sweat, the salt will be a good replenishment for your body.  I just happened to think it was a bit much for my sensitive palate.


Overall Summary:
I love the fact that I have a go-to for a portable snack that has top notch ingredients, is high in protein, and has a clean ingredient list.  I will definitely purchase more of these to bring on my next airplane ride.  I am a person who believes in eating real, whole foods and I enjoy a home cooked meal as much as possible.  However, we are a busy society and people are often on the run.  I think the EPIC Bison Bacon bar is a great thing to have handy in the office, car, or gym bag when you need it in a pinch!

Product Name, Description & Use: 
HammerGel®, made by Hammer Nutrition, is described on its website as “an easily digested, concentrated source of complex carbohydrates with four amino acids added to enhance performance and prolong energy levels during intense training and competition.”

Typically, athletes such as myself, use this product to sustain energy and output during long endurance efforts such as cycling, running, triathlon, etc. 

How I Found the Product:  
I don’t know when I first came across HammerGel®, but it was long ago. It seems like its always been a front and center option for racing fuel amongst my peers and fellow athletes.

When & Why I Used It: 
When I went Gluten & Dairy free 3 years ago, I was happy to hear my then girlfriend, now wife, tell me that HammerGel® was the cleanest source of energy gel out there.  Their website also proudly proclaims that the products are Gluten Free, Vegan Certified, No Simple Sugars, MSG Free, and Kosher.  I ramped up my use of HammerGel® when I realized it was a “Paleo friendly” option.

Most recently, I have been using it for half marathon training, along with ENERGYBits®, to provide me with extra calories on a long run. 

Pros:
•    Portability- the packets are small, and easily fit in the zip pouch of my running pants.  They also pack easily in my triathlon bag.
•    Price- we buy the packets in bulk on Amazon, so they end up being pretty affordable
•    A flavor for everyone- my wife likes certain flavors of energy gels, while I like them all, so when we get a Variety Pack there’s something for both of us in there.
•    No artificial colors- So many products out there have Red, Yellow, Blue dye in them to create a color that matches a flavor.  I say its completely unnecessary.  HammerGel® does not use any artificial colors, which I appreciate.

Cons:
•   Disappointing ingredient- on my most recent run, I brought a packet of the Peanut Butter flavor, and saw that there is Hydrogenated Cottoneed and Rapeseed oil in the ingredient list.  I know partially hydrogenated oils contain trans fats, a BIG no no, but literature says fully hydrogenated oils do not contain trans fats.  Still, it was a huge turnoff to me to see the word “hydrogenated” in the ingredient list.  
•   After taste- I try to follow up my HammerGel® with at least a few sips of water to wash it down.  However, drinking more than that all at once can upset my stomach.  The after taste can be brutal if enough water isn’t consumed.
•   Packet waste- When I’m done eating the HammerGel®, I try to stuff the empty gel packet back into the zip pouch of my running pants.  This doesn't always happen with 100% success.  Additionally, athletes who are carrying quite a bit of race nutrition might not have room, forcing them to become litterbugs.  I’d love to see the packet be a bit more environmentally friendly.

Overall Summary: 
I appreciate that there’s a company out there who supplies Gluten free race nutrition in a variety of flavors. I know many athletes, including myself, who have used this product to maintain energy and athletic performance during endurance efforts, and have been satisfied.  I’m still really put off by the hydrogenated oils, and don’t know how quickly I’ll reorder another Variety pack.  As a person who always chooses real, whole foods whenever available, I may try and use kiddie single serve apple sauce as an alternative.

Product Name, Description & Use: 
ENERGYbits®  are tabs made out of 100% spirulina algae.  They are used to increase physical energy, mental vitality, and have the highest concentration of protein in the world.

How I Found the Product: 
I connected with the company’s Community Manager and he told me about the ways in which the product could benefit my athletic performance.  I was intrigued at first, but not totally sold, so I asked him to send me a sample.

When & Why I Used It: 
I received a single serving sample pack (30 tabs) and lots of literature about ENERGYbits® and how they stack up to the competition.  I took the tabs right before a run instead of my usual energy gel.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that I felt GREAT.

The literature explained that ENERGYbits® are a real food, not a supplement, and the percentage of protein in these algae tabs beat out everything from eggs to meat, nuts to milk, protein bars to shakes, and all the rest. 

Pros:
•    Portability- these tabs are tiny, and a single serving of 30 tabs fits easily into the zip pocket of my running pants
•    Real Food- there’s just one ingredient: organically grown algae.  No chemicals, no fillers, no unnecessary junk.
•    Happy Belly- because they are made of a single ingredient, they are kind on my belly.  No upset stomach during a run, or afterward.  I can swallow a whole serving with a few sips of water in the middle of a long run, and all I feel is GREAT.
•    Paleo Friendly- I eat grain/dairy/soy free, and it can be so frustrating to find an energy source that is “clean” enough for my finely-tuned body and dietary preferences. 

Cons:
•   Price- the only downside I immediately identified was the fact that the tabs are only available in a BIG bag that has a steep price tag.  However, once I did the quick math, I realized that ENERGYbits® are right on par with protein shakes, gels, and bars.  $3.25 per serving is perfectly reasonable to me, for a high-quality source. 
•   *Once I became a brand ambassador for ENERGYbits®, they hooked me up with a GREAT discount code that I can share with you.  Enter code lucky13 for 15% off every purchase!

Overall Summary: 
After using ENERGYbits®, and reading so much about the benefits of algae & the ways it fuels my body, I fell in love.  There’s no other product out there that gives such a high percentage of protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and at only 1 calorie per tab.

For the first time, I have signed on to be a brand ambassador to a product, and that product is ENERGYbits®.  I say this proudly, after years of being approached by other supplement and food products who offered me the opportunity to sell their product to my clients.  Until now, I had always politely declined because I truly believe that real, whole foods are the way to go.  And now, with ENERGYbits®, I’ve found a product that I USE myself, and that I truly believe in.

I highly recommend this product for anyone- and I invite you to take advantage of the 15% off discount code: lucky13fitness