Recover – product review with Matt Bloom

This is the first in a series of posts where we interview some of our customers to get an indepth understanding of why and how they are using their chosen product.

1.What’s your name?

Matt Bloom – Age Group Triathlete and Ironman
Instagram – @mattbloom91149

2. Which product are you reviewing?

Recover – banana flavour

3. How do you use it?

I drink the shake immediately after returning from a run, bike or swim and once Covid allows me to go to the gym again, that’ll be thrown in there too.

4. How does it make you feel?

I notice a huge difference in the way I feel the next day. I feel less tired, less sore and this allows me to be more consistent with my training. It also contributes towards the reduction of injury risk.

As someone that trains 6 days a week, recovery is obviously important. Recovery is not just about improving bottom-line performance, it is also about preventing injuries. For me, exercise is the most important part of my day. It is a workout, meditation and a part of my social identity all rolled into one. I have my own goals of reaching the Ironman World Championships in Kona but more important than that, is benefiting from the happiness exercise brings me consistently. For me, a reliable protein powder is one of the key components of any nutrition strategy and recovery process.

5. What does it taste like?

The shake tastes great and doesn’t taste synthetic like so many protein powders I’ve used in the past. It doesn’t taste like it has rafts of artificial sweeteners added, it tastes natural and mellow. I mix it with water, it blends really easily, never has any lumps and is incredibly easy to drink.

It’s not just about the taste either. I regularly make the mistake of leaving my empty shaker in a bag for a few hours (that I’d taken to my workout). With protein powders I have used in the past, if you make this fatal error, it is more appealing to throw it away than open it as you unleash it’s putrid fumes. That doesn’t happen with Protein Rebel. I have forgotten to wash the shaker a couple of times and in both scenarios, I opened and washed it with no rancid pollution of my immediate environment. Your family/partner/housemates will love you for making this change!

6. How does it differ to other protein powders you’ve used?

I have been using protein powders for a number of years with varying degrees of success. There is no question that having a shake after your workout makes you feel better the day after. I have always, however, had the unfortunate reputation of having a nervous stomach – to put it politely. This is caused by many foods but my stomach’s arch nemesis has always been protein powders. They have always had the deceptive power to make my stomach angry, uncomfortable and resentful. The symptoms can onset shortly after drinking a shake or up to hours after, by which time I am unassumingly going about my day amongst society. To say this effect is inconvenient is an understatement! Having done some research I was relieved to find that I wasn’t the only one in the world with this problem – after all a problem shared is a problem halved, regardless of how dirty!

Since using Protein Rebel, these symptoms have reduced drastically and it is now rare for such symptoms to arise post-shake. Places I regularly go, that aren’t traditionally used as toilets, can now feel a lot safer thanks to Protein Rebel. This is the first big tick in the green column for Protein Rebel vs other protein powders.

The second, most obvious and most important is the sustainability of its product. It is now common knowledge that the use of animal products globally has a negative impact on the environment. Many people may not even know whey protein, which is the source of most protein powders, comes from animal products. Whey is a by-product of the cheese making process, it is the liquid that is left over once the milk has been curdled and strained. Now I love cheese as much as the next person at Christmas, but I can’t say I’d like it, or anything associated with it to be mixed in with my next drink.

I myself am not a total vegan, or even a vegetarian. I eat chicken or salmon at least once a week. What I am, however, is very aware of the sustainability and quality of the foods that I put into my body. The production of red meat and dairy in particular creates a high rate of greenhouse gases per kilogram; shockingly meat and dairy production accounts for around 14.50% of global greenhouse emissions.

I’ve always been of the opinion that a balanced diet and lifestyle is the best way to go. Making changes like using Protein Rebel instead of whey is a convenient way you can reduce the environmental impact of your nutrition strategy, without changing the enjoyment of it.

 

Take me to Recover protein powders