Hi Designer Whey! My name is Maggie and I am 29 years old. I am happily married stay at home mother of two great children and this is my story…
 
My battle with weight began in 2002 when my son was born. I figured I was young and that my body would bounce back after I had him…boy was I wrong! The 75 pounds (yes, you read that correctly) that I gained during my pregnancy stayed and over time I gained even more! I dealt with some postpartum depression after the birth of my son and that made it all the more difficult for me to get motivated to get healthy again. If anything the depression made me want to eat more! I found myself in a vicious cycle and I could see no light at the end of the tunnel. In 2005 I became pregnant with my second child, a little girl. I gained the “normal” 25 pounds during that pregnancy and after her birth I was weighing almost DOUBLE what I did before I had children. At that point I think I was feeling comfortable in the life I was living. I wasn’t educated on healthy foods and the benefits of a proper diet and exercise. I was feeding my family processed garbage and exercise wasn’t even a part of my life. I had been ignoring warnings from my doctor about diabetes and I was getting used to the CPAP machine for my sleep apnea. I honestly figured I’d just be fat for the rest of my life and that there was no getting “me” back. I was stuck…
 
In 2007 my mother had to undergo emergency brain surgery to clip an aneurysm. This was the scariest time of our lives. I had never been so close to losing a loved one and it really impacted me in a serious way. I knew that I had to start taking my health seriously and change my life…for myself and for my children. They didn’t deserve a mother who couldn’t run and play with them…a mother who lost her breath after a trip up the stairs. I knew I had a lot of weight to lose (over 100 pounds) and I wanted to So I started looking into gastric bypass surgery and after a year of educating myself on the risks and meeting with doctors etc. I underwent the surgery on August 17th of 2009 at 240 pounds. I am happy to report that I have lost 96 pounds and counting! I have completely changed how I eat and how I feed my family. I exercise every day and I’ve never felt so good mentally and physically! It’s amazing! I have my life back and it’s better than ever! The surgery was a huge tool in my weight loss and I know that unless I keep up with a proper diet and exercise that I will just gain it back. I am determined to not let that happen. I can’t imagine going back to that!
 
Your products have been a huge help in my weight loss journey. I have tried lots of protein products and nothing compares to Designer Whey! Thank you so much for making such great products!
 
Peace & Love,
Maggie St. Jean

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Dear Designer Whey,

First of all, I will say that I have been HEAVY all of my life.  Well, scratch that – I have been heavy since I learned to feed myself.  I would hide food, eat at my friend’s house then come home and have a second dinner with my family, and I’d lie about what I had eaten — to anyone who would listen.  I remember in 8th grade we all had to go to the nurse’s office to be weighed.  After weighing me, the nurse handed me my weight sheet and some bozo classmate snatched it from me.  He screamed at the top of his lungs that I weighed 180 pounds — more than anyone else in the whole school.  That was devastating — so I went home and ate an entire Kentucky Butter Cake.  I would isolate myself from everyone, and I ended up with very few friends.  I didn’t believe that I am worth the time and energy it takes to be my friend.  Food never chose someone else over me, food never betrayed me, and food just made me feel so good.

My whole life changed on February 16, 2010  when I took control of my life and had RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery.  I was 28 years old, 5′10″ tall, and I weighed 324 pounds. 

It has now been about 5 and ahalf months since my surgery, and I have lost 94 pounds.  This journey has not been easy at all.  I have landed myself in the hospital several times due to dehydration, and my brain is having a hard time adjusting to all of the new attention that I receive.  I have also had to learn to eat more nutritious foods and to exercise at least five times per week.  However, the one thing that has made this journey much easier to handle has been my love of the Designer Whey protein shakes.  Without my daily Designer Whey shakes, I would be lost.  These smooth and delicious shakes satisfy me and provide me with all of the protein I need — and I need A LOT of protein everyday!

I have attached my before and “mid-way” pictures.  The pictures on the left were taken the morning of my gastric bypass surgery (324 pounds), and the ones on the right were taken today (230 pounds). I look forward to continuing my journey with the help of Designer Whey …..my absolute favorite protein shakes!

Thanks!
Melinda Andrews

Posted in DESIGNER WHEY Healthy Minute | 1 Comment

Let’s face facts. Sometimes working out is not the easiest choice to make. Do I spend another hour between the sheets hugging my dogs, or do I get up and sweat? Do I go get the “Double Bypass Burger” or go for a run during lunch hour? Human nature makes it easy to go the wrong way.

At Elite Fitness in Huntersville, North Carolina, we support three different charities. We participated in two events this year for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, for which we raised over half a million bucks. Thank you. One for the Dove House Women’s shelter, and two for the Greg Biffle Foundation for the welfare of animals. The latter proved to be a bit of a challenge. It’s not as easy to get people to donate money for animals, when human based charities are in serious need.

So here was my idea: “Benches for Pooches”. We challenged our members to go out and get pledges, per pound, for their best bench press. We would all come in on a Saturday morning and do our best bench press. Then go back and collect for the new no-kill animal shelter in our town. My rescue dog Mocha was the official spokes-dog of the event.

People went nuts. Forty members signed up. Dewalt, Subway, Europa, and Designer Whey all contributed product and prizes. We awarded all weight classes, best over all bench and most money raised. The local Great Dane rescue brought down two dogs who sat on either side of the front door.

At least half of us did a career best bench press. We gave everyone a month to get in shape for the contest, and it made for some great inter-gym competition and trash talking.  Our top lady benched 225 pounds, and our top male lifter benched 585!

So here is the end result: It made for great morale around the gym. It got members excited about working out. And we actually had two people join after the gym after the contest. They were crazy dog lovers too!

So here’s our advice: Pick a charity, set a goal and challenge you friends. We promise you’ll feel great afterwards.

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My story can pretty much be summed up as your general “the fat kid” kind of story. All of my life, from 2nd grade until recently, I was always the fat kid. As can be expected, I received more than my fair share of insults, crude jokes and awful treatment from mostly everyone. I had the typical attitude about all of it, pretending as though it didn’t bother me, convincing myself that I was OK with my weight and that if I wanted to change I could do so with out any problem. The reality of the situation, however, was that I wasn’t OK with my weight and I didn’t know how to change it. I would always mope around, internally disgusted with myself but never able to muster the will power to do anything about it. Well, that attitude finally changed one morning, when at the age of 24, at weight of nearly 300 lbs and with a 2-pack a day smoking habit, I decided that I no longer wanted to constantly wake up with back and knee pain, barely able to catch my breath.

Starting in the Summer of 2008, with the help of my wonderful wife (who also dieted with me and lost 60 lbs!), I stopped smoking and began a diet and exercise program that would finally rid me of the moniker of “the fat kid”. I started off with a sensible eating plan, generally sticking to the same foods on a daily basis. Wheaties and a Banana for breakfast, yogurt for a snack, turkey sandwich and apples for lunch, chicken breast and brown rice for dinner and another snack after an hour of walking. After I began noticing the weight dropping off, I added light weight training into my regimen, and this is where Designer Whey enters the story. I initially started using Designer Whey on the recommendation of my older brother, who had recently lost a good bit of weight with the help of Designer Whey and a weight training program. I purchased a container of the Chocolate flavor, skeptical of how good a protein powder could really taste, and was shocked to find it to be just as good as my brother had made it out to be! The taste alone was enough to get me to continue using it, but the results it helps me achieve are even better! From that day forward, I have always ended my workouts with 2 delicious scoops of Designer Whey mixed into 12 ounces of milk.

Two years have passed since I decided that I was going to make a change, and I am currently at 187 lbs. I have now shifted my weight training program towards the goal of adding muscle, and Designer Whey is a prime ingredient in helping me do so. I am currently one month into my new workout routine and have achieved noticeable muscle gain. I would recommend Designer Whey to anyone, whether your goal is to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, or to increase muscle mass, Designer Whey protein powder is a wonderful choice to help you meet, and exceed, all of your expectations!  

Ryan M. McCallister

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As many of you know I have been on tour with Famous Footwear this summer criss-crossing the country.  It has been so much fun.  One of the things I didn’t realize is that being on the road is completely different then traveling a lot.  Yes I travel ALL the time but usually I am home in between, so most of my trips are between 24 to 48 hours.  Because of such short trips and so many different airports and hotels I often feel like George Clooney in Up In The Air.  I am a pro at what to pack and how to pack it so that I get through the security in the shortest amount of time and out of the airport as soon as I land, so as you can imagine I only check a bag under dire circumstances, which hardly ever happens.  Until my Mind, Body, Sole tour, that is.  You see although the tour was only 20 cities, I would spend 2 days in each city doing all different things like Twitter workouts, hospital visits, TV appearances, radio, and store events and then of course I had travel days to get back and fourth from one place to another.  I also had all the other stuff I do already scheduled so Famous Footwear planned around my existing schedule like the Healthy Woman speaking events I do, I went to the GNC show with Designer Whey, where I met Erin Stern. I was so excited to meet her and she was so excited to meet me.  I had so much fun and my Chocolate Mint Protein shake was a huge hit, I love when people love what I love   I also had different races and Health Expos and such so I literally had to change my whole routine.  I could just pack a carry-on when I wasn’t going to be home for anywhere from 4-6 weeks at a time and most importantly my traveling food routine wasn’t going to work!  Usually I would pack enough food for my entire trip just in case my options on the road weren’t the best, I swear the TSA thinks I am completely nuts with my food bag.  On any given trip it would not be unusual for me to have a bag filled with chicken breast, hard boiled eggs, fruit, almonds and of course my 2Go Protein packs.  These days my one and only staple has been the 2Go Protein which has been a God-send for me and the new Protein bars are an answer to my prayers. Look for them on the shelves SOON.

One of my favorite accidental discoveries this summer has been my Lemonade popsicles.  You guys have to remember I am from Arizona, so as you can only imagine I love me some popsicles!  I had mixed up a new Lemonade 2Go pack in my bottle water and stuck the unfinished bottle into a hotel fridge which must have been set wrong because when I went to grab it, it was slushy, which was the bomb!  Since that time I have taken all the flavors and made little popsicles and they are fabulous!! I either make it in little Dixie cups or even a ice cube tray sometimes.  You should try it – especially if you have kids.

So I was thinking…and you guys need to let me know… maybe we should do a poll or something to get together for a race of some sort.  I’m up for almost anything from a triathlon, cycling, or running.  My idea is that we all pick a race somewhere in the States and train together through the blog here and have a huge presence at one of the races, what do you think?  Send in your ideas and let’s figure something out.

Posted in Ali Vincent | 1 Comment

If you haven’t heard of Krav Maga (pronounced “krahv muh-GAH”), you will soon. It’s an intense, calorie-torching workout that’s sweeping the nation. Developed by the Israeli army, Krav Maga literally means “contact combat.” Developed by Hungarian boxer and wrestler Imrich Lichtenfeld in the 1930s, the technique was first used by Israeli underground paramilitary organizations. When Israel became an official country in 1948, Lichtenfeld was appointed Chief Instructor and Combat Trainer for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Since then, Krav Maga has spread, and it’s now practiced in over 30 countries around the world.

If you’re in need of shedding a few pounds AND looking to learn a little self-defense, Krav Maga might just be the ideal workout for you. The following are a few advantages that you can experience from Krav Maga training:

1.  It’s a Great Way to Get in Shape. FAST. Krav Maga is one of the most physically demanding forms of self defense in the world. As you train you’ll start losing weight while building up muscle. You’ll build up stamina, strength, as well as flexibility and endurance. Most Krav Maga trainers report that a one-hour class can burn up to 1,000 or more!

2. You’ll Be Able to Defend Yourself and Others. Krav Maga will teach you how protect yourself in almost any dangerous situation. Learning how to keep yourself safe in actual day to day situations is important, and Krav Maga can help you learn these techniques.

3. Build Self-Confidence. Having self confidence is important in everything you do. Krav Maga helps you work on your “reactions” and the more you learn and train, the more you will build up your self-confidence.

4. Improved Self-Awareness.  When you are learning Krav Maga you will learn how to be aware of your situation at any time. This is an important technique to learn because self defense on your part will actually begin with you being aware of your surroundings.

5. Stress Relief. Taking Krav Maga is great for relieving stress, since you’ll learn how to deal with stress and how to function even when you are under great amounts of stress. The physical activity will release endorphins, help to clear your head and reduce overall stress.

6. It’s Fun.  Many people who train in Krav Maga say that it’s a really fun way to get in and stay in shape. You’ll enjoy getting to meet new people who are on the cutting edge of fitness as well as learning invaluable ways to protect yourself.

Posted in DESIGNER WHEY Healthy Minute, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Well, I wanted to get to everyone today and just touch on a few subjects. First, I came back from my 10-day long vacation and found that I had lost 2 pounds! That’s pretty good considering I didn’t do a lot of working out over those 10 days, other than some taking some walks and moving a lot of furniture. It just goes to show that so long as you stay dedicated to your diet, and do just a little bit of exercise, you can still lose weight. Now, to be fair, I would have loved to lose more than 2 pounds over those 10 days, but without access to a decent gym (yes, I’m a little spoiled!) it was difficult for me to get a proper workout. And, I didn’t take my running shoes, since I already had a full suitcase, so that didn’t help me either. But the important thing is that I stayed focused on my goals and I was able to shed a couple of pounds, which kept me going in the right direction. So for all of you that are planning late-summer vacations, feel free to keep up that diet and do a little exercise, and your summer strives towards skinniness won’t be shot down the drain.

Next, a matter of relaxing by the TV. I do it A LOT! To be completely honest, I probably watch way to much TV to be healthy, but I really enjoying keeping up with all of my favorite TV shows, even if they are re-runs during the summer. But that doesn’t mean I can’t get a good workout in. My best friend Jessi is always telling me to add a workout to my couch potato time, and I’ve finally taken her advice. I do 20 push-ups during the commercial break, which takes me 20-30 seconds. It may not sound like a lot, but with the average 30-minute TV show having 3 commercial breaks, 1 every 7-8 minutes or so, watching TV for a couple of hours will also bring in well over 100 push-ups in a night, with plenty of rest in between. The first couple of sets go by pretty easy, but once I’m at that 4th or 5th set, they get a lot harder, and that’s when you’re getting your benefits. All put together, those push-ups will work the majority of your upper-body muscles, burning calories while sitting on your bum, and if you’re watching TV at night like me, it’ll burn calories while you sleep too, using calories to rebuild the muscle tissue. How about that, losing weight while you sleep! Nobel Prize, please!

Another thing to think about is that diet. I struggle probably more than anyone with overeating, because I’ve been doing it for years. I can out-eat almost anyone (except Joey Chestnut, the world-record setting Nathan’s Hot Dog eating champion), and I’ve been known to put down an entire large meat-lovers pizza by myself, in one sitting. Now, it doesn’t take an expert to tell me that that is neither healthy nor good for my weight loss plan. However, I’ve done it, and there’s nothing that can be done about it now. But that doesn’t mean I should keep doing it! That goes with everything bad for you, like eating a bucket of ice cream or tons of cookies. That little bit of cheating on your diet will take you several steps backwards in your weight loss goals, and you’ll only feel guilt and shame afterwords. Instead, you have to find something to snack on in between meals, and your meals need to be sensibly sized and portioned in order to keep up your weight loss. In the long run you’ll be a lot happier that you had a turkey sandwich instead of a whole pizza.

Finally, just to put everyone in a positive mood and the right frame of mind, as of today I am down 30 pounds from when I started my diet and exercise plan! I’ve had my share of downfalls, pitfalls and stumbling blocks, as well as a few “I quits” in there, but overall I’ve kept at it and have continued to lose weight in the long run, and that’s the important part. I am much, much lighter than I was in January. I may not be where I wanted to be as part of my original plan, but I’m still headed in the right direction, and that’s what really matters! So, even if you didn’t lose your 20 pounds in 21 days (which was my goal over my summer break from school, which I didn’t meet), having lost weight over that time period is still a success, so take pride in that and keep going. Eventually, you’ll reach that goal, and when you do, you’ll be more proud of yourself then you thought possible. Keep it up everyone!

Posted in Nathanael Mulder | COMMENT ON THIS BLOG

Designer Whey is joining the ranks of socially responsible companies who are reducing their packaging, thereby reducing their carbon footprint.  Coming soon, look for your favorite Designer Whey products in new packaging. Yes it’s a different look, but it’s the same great product.

Sometimes making a difference isn’t just about looking good. It is about doing good. Designer Whey’s new eco-friendly design now uses 25% less packaging. And because the new packaging is smaller and the walls are thinner, it requires less energy to make – resulting in a smaller carbon footprint.  

So let’s all do our part to reduce, reuse and recycle. Designer Whey…good for you, good for the planet.

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Q: When did you start getting into fitness & bodybuilding? What made you decide to get into it?

A: I used to watch WWF wrestling on TV all the time. I used to get all pumped up when Hulk Hogan would say ”train, say your prayers and eat your vitamins “. I  always dreamed of inspiring others and having that same effect on people all over the world. I started competing in fitness competitions back in 1996. I entered my first show, the Mr. Fitness contest and came in 3^rd place out of 30 guys. I went back the next year and won the competition. After that I started competing as a natural bodybuilder. The first show I entered was in 1998, the NPC New York State Natural, where I took first place. I live to inspire others, I feel that’s my gift in life. I have a “never give up” attitude in life. I feel we’re all here for a reason and I’m glad I found mine.

Q: What are the most important things you’ve learned since you started working out,  about yourself, about your training, nutrition?

A: I turn 40 years old at the end of this year and I’ve been training now for almost 25 years. WOW! That’s a long time! The most important thing I’ve learned is that we’re all different so what may work for someone else may not work for you. It depends upon your body structure, your shape, your metabolism, etc. I always tell my clients to have a balance in their training and nutrition. You should never lift too heavy or too light, your cardio should never be too extreme or too moderate and your diet should never be too strict or too sloppy. The bottom line is that it all comes down to balance and harmony. That’s the key to success in any field.

Q: As a Personal Trainer, what’s the single most important thing you tell your clients about nutrition?

A: Diet is so important when it comes down to looking good and feeling good. Too many people eat the wrong things and expect to have a six pack. I hear this everyday: “Tony, how do I get abs?” The truth about getting abs is simple, you have to get your body fat down so you can see your abs. We all have abdominal muscles. Yes, the more you work them the more dominant they will become but you’re not going to see them if they’re covered with body fat. I recommend a diet of 5 meals a day. In this diet, I also recommend that you have a Designer Whey Protein Shake 2x daily.  You also have to keep your calories low. I said it many times, just because something is good to eat doesn’t mean you should eat a truck load of it!  Portion size and moderation is key. A great diet would go something like this:

Breakfast: 3 egg whites 1 yolk, ½ cup of oats mixed with ½ cup of strawberries, 1 slice of toast with natural peanut butter

Snack: 1 to 2 scoops of Designer Whey Protein with cold water

Lunch: Grilled chicken on salad with balsamic dressing

Snack: 1 to 2 scoops of Designer Whey Protein with cold water

Dinner: 1 cup of pasta or a sweet potato with mixed steamed vegetables

Q: What do you feel are the biggest misconceptions about exercise and diet?

A: There’s so much misleading information out there it could make your head spin. I found that the best advice comes from your own inner voice. Your body will always tell you what it needs, not what you think you needs. The body and mind must work in harmony together so this means creating a balance in ones self. Don’t get caught up reading magazine after magazine or searching the internet high and low. The truth about diet and exercise is that it’s hard work! You have to train on a daily basis. Your body eats everyday and will store calories as fat everyday unless you burn them off.

Q: What advice do you have for anyone who needs to lose a significant amount of weight?

A: Have patience.  You didn’t get out of shape overnight so why would you expect to get in shape overnight? You have to understand that you alone can get you into shape. Yes it’s great to have a motivator or a trainer to help you, but what happens when that trainer is gone? You have to be the one that keeps the fire burning, you’re the one who has to “Get Serious”.  My whole life I said to myself “I want to be the best, I want to be known as a Super Hero” when it comes to inspiring others to get into shape and live a healthier life. Our society is filled with too much food!  Everywhere you look there’s junk food and fast food. What does that says about us? We have to be the ones who take back our lives. We have to be the ones who say enough is enough!

Q: It’s easy for some people to stray from their fitness goals. What advice do you have to stay on track?

A: I always say “You can’t fly like an eagle if you hang around the chickens”. Try to surround yourself with dream builders, not dream breakers! Your environment is crucial to achieving your goals in life. Join a gym and make friends with people who are in shape. Keep on your plan. This doesn’t mean eating good and working out for 4 days in a row and then taking off for 4 days and then starting over. It has to be day in and day out. Just like when you get up in the morning and get dressed. The same goes for working out and dieting. Everyday must be the same, day in and day out.

If you need help please contact me.  I’m a never ending ball of motivation. You can also visit me on facebook where I post “Tony’s Tip of the Day” and much more inspirational messages and photos.

- Anthony Catanzaro

To learn more about Tony, please visit his website at www.anthonycatanzaro.com

Posted in DESIGNER WHEY Healthy Minute | 2 Comments

For most of us, including myself, the 4th of July is a time for vacation and relaxation, a time for cold beers and grilling out.  And that’s all fine and dandy.  But what about that strict diet that you’ve been on for some time now?  Like for me, I don’t drink alcohol any more.  Now, I fully enjoy a burger or two (so long as they take longer than 30 seconds to make), but overeating during the holiday relaxation period is really easy.  Couple that with the easy excuse of “I’m on vacation” to not work out also, and you’re whole weight loss routine is completely out the window, and you’ll likely find startling results when you step on the scale the next time.  All that beer and all those burgers, brats and buns will do a number on your bum, especially if you’re not running a couple miles or swimming a few laps before your days of sun and indulgence.  So here’s my “intra-mural” advice for you: don’t over-do it! It’s perfectly fine to have a burger or two, but don’t pig out on 5 burgers and 30 hot dogs.  Also, when you’re packing all that wonderful beer into the cooler, perhaps grab a few of the beers designed to not have as many calories, like an MGD 64 or Michelob Ultra (just some suggestions, not a product endorsement).  At least that way you won’t be drinking 150-200 calories per beer, and the effects will be minimized.  Or, better yet, don’t drink at all! Volunteer to be the designated driver for everyone you can, and let them pack on the pounds while you drink Protein Waters, staying hydrated and nurished, all the while not working up a killer hangover.  Just a thought.
 
And, just because you’re on vacation, doesn’t mean you can’t work out! I may have left my running shoes at home while I came to visit the parents, but with all the work around the house I’ve been doing I definitely haven’t been skipping my workouts.  And even on top of that, with some of the time I’ve had off while they were at work, I walked around the neighborhood a few times, getting at least a little exercise.  It may not have been the 3 miles I ran the other day (yeah me!), but it was healthier than “I’m on vacation.” Which everyone knows is a cop-out, and that those calories still count.  So watch the food and the cookie intake, walk around the block a few times, and enjoy your 4th of July weekend.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!

Posted in Nathanael Mulder | COMMENT ON THIS BLOG