Optimal Fueling for Weight Lifting
We’ve nicknamed Energy Pods the “Lifter’s Chocolate” because if you were to take a chocolate bar and replace all the fillers and unhealthy ingredients with high-quality ingredients that support lean mass gain while offering a world-class dessert experience, you’d get our Energy Pods!
For maximum muscle hypertrophy, besides the actual act of resistance training, our body needs adequate protein and high-quality nutrients. Energy, though important, becomes the lever that controls our fat mass. However, an extreme reduction in energy and the absence of foods that provide enhanced satiety beyond protein alone make the journey to cutting fat while gaining lean mass extremely challenging. If you ask any coach or nutrition researcher what the top reason is why a diet fails, they would tell you that people can’t stick with it. This is where the Energy Pods solve many problems in one go:
How Energy Pods Help Lifters and Athletes
To maximize muscle protein synthesis, our body requires adequate protein intake. On a high protein diet (30% protein or above) and simultaneously reaching 1.6g/kg of bodyweight of protein. Whether you’re a trained athlete, hardcore gym-goer, or seasoned veteran in the realm of resistance training, maximizing protein inherently isn’t an issue: protein shakes, aminos, lean chicken breasts, eggs, steak, protein bars, and other lean sources of protein can easily get us to our desired protein intake thresholds. However, here’s the clincher: it is the foods outside of the proteins that make it or break it for us! That extra tablespoon of oil, that dollop of whipped cream, the fat and sugar in the coffee, that ‘protein’ donut that adds up to 700 calories, and so on! This is where the Energy Pods provide a whopping 10g of protein(extremely high for a pure chocolate product!), a rich and satisfying texture, almond-based nutrients to support muscle growth and recovery, and fibers to compound the protein-driven satiety! Just adding one Energy Pod per day or a few times per week can really cut out cravings, provide nutrients, and enhance satiety.
Now you can see why Energy Pods truly are a lifter’s chocolate! So how do you consume Energy Pods to maximize your gains and fitness results? Here are some ways we use them and they can work for you too:
- Use alongside your pre-workout(or coffee) 45-60 minutes before your workout or alongside your post-workout protein shake
- Consume at times when you crave something sweet, rich, and chocolate-heavy
- Add half an Energy Pod(or CocoZen) into your protein-enriched smoothie to get a light cocoa and almond punch.
- Dip your favorite protein bar or fruit into an Energy Pod(or CocoZen)
- Slather some Energy Pod or CocoZen on your protein pancakes or waffles
- Keep Energy Pods handy in your car to help curb hunger when out and about so you can hold over till your evening meal or healthy lunch. You can think of an Energy Pod, from a nutritional standpoint, as a very compact ‘salad!’
A massive perk of bringing Energy Pods into your fitness lifestyle and diet is that you will save lots of time and this will likely end up boosting productivity outside of the gym or box. Another positive aspect of Energy Pods is that because of the fine texture and processing of the Energy Pods, nutrients are more bioavailable for our body to absorb and therefore easier and more readily available for our body to uptake.
Energy Pods are a staple at our local gym in Napa which also serves as a second birthplace of the product. If you’re new to resistance training or a veteran, we are confident that you’ll find a benefit in bringing Energy Pods into your life!
FAQ
How do Energy Pods and CocoZen support weightlifting and resistance training?
Energy Pods and CocoZen provide a balanced mix of proteins, healthy fats, nutrients, and fibers, which are essential for sustained energy and facilitating muscle growth, satiety, recovery, and long-term sustainability of a hypertrophic diet.
Can I use Energy Pods as a meal replacement instead of a protein bar?
Energy Pods with 15% protein contain essential nutrients from almonds and high-quality whey protein which in conjunction with other ingredients make them a compact meal replacement food product. However, compared to some very high-protein bars, Energy Pods may be considered as a protein-enriched dessert and snack add-on option more so than a high-protein product, thereby supplementing, sustaining, and balancing a high-protein diet. Let’s say that if lean chicken was the engine of a high-protein diet, the Energy Pods would be the comfortable interior and seating!
How do Energy Pods and CocoZen fit into a muscle-building diet?
Energy Pods and CocoZen add a protein, fiber, and nutrient-enriched dessert and meal replacement product that helps dilute very lean protein foods such as chicken, protein shakes, and lean meats, by pairing alongside them for an intentional and functional diet, both critical to muscle-building.
Can I use these products if I'm on a calorie-restricted diet?
Absolutely but in moderation. In low-calorie and high-protein diets that many bodybuilders and athletes use to cut fat while gaining muscle mass, one Energy Pod per day or occasionally will help keep the cravings away while keeping you on track towards your fat loss and muscle-building goals.
Can I store Energy Pods in my gym bag?
Energy Pods are completely shelf stable and come in a crush-resistant cup making them an easy and essential part of your gym bag.
Can Energy Pods be used on non-training days?
Certainly! If you’re craving something sweet and dessert-ish, Energy Pods are a perfect guilt-free treat that won’t take away from your muscle-building goals.
Is there a limit to how much I can consume in a day?
We recommend consuming a maximum of 1-2 Energy Pods per day, especially at the start. You can build tolerance or modify as you need.
Do Energy Pods and CocoZen contain any artificial sweeteners or additives?
No, they are sweetened naturally with the antioxidants erythritol and monk fruit extract and do not contain artificial sweeteners or harmful additives.