Which shake is right for your workout? 

~ By Carin Aichele

At The Blend, we offer a variety of shakes for every workout need and flavor palette. All of our Blend shakes are made with organic non-GMO ingredients and are formulated to be a balance of the six necessary nutrients including: Carbohydrates, Protein, Fat, Water, Vitamins and Minerals. 

Over the next few months we will highlight the benefits of the types of shakes and supplements and help you understand why you might choose one over another. 

Your workout at MLF likely includes both Aerobic or Anaerobic energy expenditures. An aerobic workout assumes extended periods of activity with adequate oxygen to keep you energized - think a 5-mile run or a 20 mile bike ride. Anaerobic exercise assumes shorter bouts leaving you completely winded or the muscle being worked to complete fatigue. This is all-out expenditure where you are left breathless and cannot talk or absolutely cannot lift, pull or press the weight or resistance another rep at the end or the interval. MLF classes and personal training sessions generally include both aerobic and anaerobic segments. The total energy or caloric expenditure is then based upon how intensely you worked during each of the segments. For example, in a weight training circuit class (WTC) one person may truly go all out on the HIIT stations and be at > 90% of their max heart rate while others may complete the HIIT stations at 70%-80% of their max. Similarly with the strength training stations, some people may push their muscle to complete failure while others only feel mild fatigue in the muscle at the end of the interval. Some days you might feel fantastic and able to push your limits while other days, you may do your best to get through the class. Below you will find shake recommendations based upon caloric expenditure. 

Shakes for Anaerobic and Aerobic Exercise: 

If your workout was a bit light, burning 250-400 calories, (typical for Yoga, Mat Pilates, Ageless Fitness, Pure Stretch or a less intense Short Circuit class) you might consider 

• Strawberry Slam
• Berry Berry Good
• Hawaiian Harvest 
• Chocolate Thinny Mint
• Cracker Jaz 
• The Caffeinator 

If you came in a bit early and did some cardio then pushed hard through your workout burning somewhere between 400-500 calories, (typical for average intensity in Cycle Abs, Boot Camp, Cycle Circuit, Step Interval, Functional Strength or Weight Training Circuit class) you might consider 

• Java Jolt
• Trail Mix
• Or add banana pieces to any of the shakes in the light category above

• Peanut Butter Cup
• Trail Mix 
• Banana Nut Blast

Supplements: 
If you just finished a personal training session with one of our trainers, a Functional Strength class or an independent strength training session, try supplements that support muscle strength and recovery including Creatine and Glutamine. If you want to speed recovery before your next workout, Get Recovered is an excellent choice combining Glutamine and essential vitamins to boost your recovery.