A year and a half ago I got really interested in "tracking my macros" and my strict gym routine. I was determined to get shredded by going to the gym every morning at 5:30am and drinking my protein shake after... L O L! To say this approach wasn’t sustainable (or effective) for me would be an understatement, but anyway. Everything protein-based that I found in store and online did not compliment my preferred way of eating (dairy, grain, soy, sugar, legume free).

I researched bodybuilders and bikini competitors trying to figure out what they eat to compliment their workouts. Everyone that I found was sticking to a whey protein powder (which hurts my stomach), canned tuna, low quality bulk meat, supplements that are crazy confusing when you don’t know what they’re for and overall just bland recipes like grilled chicken and steamed broccoli. I’m sorry, but have you seen the way I cook?! This was not going to work for me and I knew it. However, I was still determined to figure it out!

The more I dove in, I realized that none of it was sitting well with me. I didn’t know what to do. I just kept thinking, "I don't want to sacrifice my standards for food in order to "look super fit"" "Why in the hell aren't there any clean protein powders out there?! What will I do when on Whole30 several times a year?!" "How are these people eating like this?! Rice, chicken, veggie. Every. Damn. Day."

I tried various plant-based protein powders for a while but they were all chalky and left a weird taste in my mouth. Plus, they have way too many ingredients for my liking. I asked my friends what they loved and all of it seemed pretty limited to the crap I’d been trying. For the sake of macros, duh. 

Thankfully, I stumbled upon CLEAN collagen peptide protein from grass fed cows. Everything on the package and website resonated with my beliefs around food and quality. Honestly, I was thrilled. Since last year, I’ve been consuming collagen peptides in my tea, coffee, baked goods and well…. everything. 

I’ve also given up on my macros excel sheet, haha! and fallen back to trusting my gut, literally, which is what works FOR ME.

Every body is different and should have the information and products to support what makes them feel best. Not feel forced into consuming something because they think it’s the only way to the result they want. 

Just because someone else does something one way, doesn't mean you have to, too. 

If you’re in a similar boat (okay, maybe not creating obsessive excel sheets to count your macros) you should definitely check out collagen peptide protein from Further Food. It's super clean and worth every penny. Plus, if you use the code HAILEY10 at check out you'll get a discount ;) 

And for those of you wanting more info...The proof in the (collagen) pudding:

*provided by my friends at Further Food

• Seventy percent of our skin is made from collagen, but in our 20's our body begins to produce less collagen as we age. Collagen increases skin elasticity and hydration: In a study among women ages 40 to 60, supplementation with collagen for eight weeks showed a 28% average increase in skin moisture levels, and 91% of subjects reported less dry skin after supplementation.

• Collagen decreases wrinkle depth and volume: Another study measuring the effect of collagen intake on skin wrinkles showed a statistically significant reduction of eye wrinkle volume in comparison to the placebo group after 4 and 8 weeks of daily collagen intake.

• Oral intake of collagen improves skin more than topical creams: While collagen is used in many skin creams and lotions, it unfortunately does not get absorbed by the skin when applied topically. Topical collagen usually contains full-length collagen protein molecules, which are too big to penetrate the skin. Oral collagen peptides are shorter-chain protein segments that are readily absorbed into the bloodstream and utilized by the skin. In order to reap the benefits of collagen, it must be ingested in peptide form to promote synthesis of new collagen fibers in the skin.

• The distinctive structure of collagen protein peptides has been studied and found to provide greater satiating ability over other protein types – including whey and soy protein – in the same quantity. This quality, along with collagen’s ability to suppress appetite and promote lean body mass, makes it a vital component of one’s weight loss journey. 

• Collagen Protein Positively Impacts Weight Loss: Protein is the most satiating macronutrient – research has shown consumption of a protein-rich diet reduces overall energy consumption by making you feel full longer. Consuming adequate levels of protein such as collagen is important for maintaining a lean body and supporting weight loss.

• Collagen Provides Fullness Unlike Other Proteins: One clinical trial found collagen to be 40% more filling than the same quantity of whey, casein, or soy, and individuals consumed 20% less at their next meal after collagen consumption than individuals who consumed other types of protein.

• Collagen Helps Retain Muscle Mass: As we age, our bodies lose muscle mass and often replace it with fat. This loss of muscle correlates with excess excretion of nitrogen in urine and increased dietary protein needs in elderly people. Research has shown collagen protein supplementation is effective in helping aging individuals maintain lean body mass and preserve nitrogen balance.

• Collagen helps digestion by holding water in the intestine, helping move food through the GI tract more smoothly. Collagen is a key component in healing the intestinal wall

• Further Food Collagen contains glutamine which is a key amino acid that prevents inflammation of the gut wall and helps heal leaky gut syndrome.

I did not get paid to write this post, however I am a brand ambassador for Further Food. Get a sweet discount with my coupon code (HAILEY10) to experience collagen peptide protein for yourself 😉 https://www.furtherfood.com/shop/

Also - Check out my first recipe with Further Food Collagen Peptide Protein - The Dreamiest, Most Perfect Protein Bar Ever!

-H