2022 Product Round-Up

10 Things I Discovered and Loved This Year!

As usual, I’m constantly on the hunt for smart products or trends that make healthy lifestyles easier for me and for my clients, or gets better results faster. A big part of my work is being “Google” for my clients – I know things so they don’t necessarily have to. I love providing shortcuts so that people don’t have to get stuck overpaying on barely-useful products, or spending too much time on ineffective plans or trends. And sometimes, I have the advantage of crowd-sourcing ideas and wisdom from my clients, too! In that spirit, I’d like to present the 2022 Product Round-Up!

Here are some things that I discovered that either I’ve used personally, or I know clients have used successfully in their own healthy lifestyle journeys. I hope it helps you too!

Here is the 2022 product round-up of 10 foods, pieces of exercise equipment, or trends that I stumbled upon and loved this year. If you want help incorporating these ideas into your lifestyle, get in touch for a free coaching consultation.

Naked Whey

Naked Whey (of Naked Nutrition) is a product that I am really enjoying right now. Full disclosure, this is a paid collaboration – but I wouldn’t endorse this product if I didn’t really love it! At 25 grams of protein per serving, Naked Whey is completely free of additives and sweeteners, which means it really disappears into any food or beverage. Texture-wise, I appreciate that the whey is very light and “fluffy” instead of sandy/grainy like some whey protein powders can be. I use it frequently in cooking – I’ve made delicious brownies and pancakes with it, and literally as I type this, protein cookies are baking in the oven!

Chobani Complete Greek Yogurt Drink

I’m not sure how long this product has been around, but the Chobani Complete Greek Yogurt Drink only made it onto my radar this year thanks to a few clients (like vegetarian Caitlin) who did a little hunting of their own for on-the-go pre-made protein shakes. At 25 grams of protein per serving, it’s competitive with previous drinks I’ve recommended, like Fairlife’s Core Power product, or Evolve’s pre-made protein shakes. A major edge this product has, however, is the probiotic content from the yogurt, which can improve gut/digestive health and thus overall wellness. I haven’t tried it myself, but I love that my clients are using it and enjoying it!

Walking Pads/Mats

This isn’t just for work-from-home days! The small size and foldability of mats like this Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill (thank you to my client Jessika for this recommendation) or the very small WalkingPad Folding Treadmill (thank you to client Melissa) makes it practical to have one of these models at the office, too. I absolutely love products like these because they integrate fitness into everyday life, turning a sedentary office job into an active, on-your-feet lifestyle. It’s a great way to have some of the benefits of a treadmill without a large piece of equipment in your house or office.

The Good Bean snack brand

What do my clients almost always need more of? Convenient, packaged sources of fiber and protein. This year, I discovered The Good Bean brand, and I absolutely love products like this Sea Salt Favas and Peas mix. Single-serve packages like these crunchy Sea Salt Chickpeas are also ideal for an on-the-go protein break. I have recommended Bada Bean Bada Boom snacks for years (and yes, the obsession continues), but this one is new to me, and they’re extremely tasty! I highly recommend products like this for clients who may not have enough time to cook frequently – they can help to address a deficit in fiber intake.

Anyday cookware

My client Hailey recommended this product to me, and while I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, I think the concept is genius yet simple! Anyday uses glass containers for cooking food from scratch in the microwave. You can use them for cooking or food storage, and they’re plastic-free, heat-safe, and dishwasher-safe. So many of my clients are short on time, and a product like this makes dinners fast – proteins like chicken or shrimp only take 3-7 minutes to cook. I’ve never been able to get into the air fryer trend (I really dislike “extra” kitchen equipment), so products that double as food storage make me happy.

Poppi

I happened to grab this with a friend on the way to the movies earlier this year (my first post-baby, pandemic theater experience!), and Poppi was a memorable part of the film! I was shocked at how absolutely delicious this sparkling prebiotic soda, which uses apple cider vinegar as its “secret ingredient,” really is. I had Raspberry Rose, but it comes in tons of flavors. It’s low in sugar, good for gut health, and doesn’t taste at all like ACV.

TikTok Walking Trends

When it comes to TikTok health trends, there are two that I fully endorse: the Hot Girl Walk and the 12-3-30 Workout. These are both trends that emphasize consistent low-impact exercise, and I am showing up for these ideas!

I contributed to an article about the Hot Girl Walk for Well+Good, but basically it’s just going for a long-ish walk, listening to music, and thinking positively. It’s a trend that was started by Mia Lind, and while it may seem obvious, many people overlook the power of walking in favor of extremely intense exercise. This trend helped walking gain more visibility again as a viable form of exercise and mental self-care. While I listen to podcasts instead of music, I think the principle still holds.

The 12-3-30 Workout, again, is fairly basic. Created by Lauren Giraldo, it’s simply turning up your treadmill to a 12% incline, maintaining a 3 mile-per-hour pace, and doing that for 30 minutes. Basically, it’s like steep hiking for 30 minutes. Incline treadmill walks are a fantastic way to improve fitness and get a good workout without the impact of running. Try it – it’s not easy!

Both of these “workouts” are ways to get in high-quality movement without having to turn on your brain, too. Sometimes, the mental engagement of strength training is just too much, and you need a more “checked-out” workout. It doesn’t mean it’s easy, though – the 12-3-30 workout will definitely have you sweating.

Barebells Protein Bars

I don’t even know where to start with these. They are so unbelievably tasty, it stretches credibility that it’s actually a protein bar and not a candy bar in the wrong wrapper. I first saw them in one of my clients’ food logs, and then I spotted them in Trader Joe’s a few days later. I tried the Cookies and Cream flavor first, but ultimately Salty Peanut is my favorite, and Hazelnut Nougat is Michael’s favorite. But you can’t go wrong with literally any flavor – they are all delicious. Thank you to my client Shiva, for introducing me to this product!

Edamame in General

This really happened because of my wonderful vegan client Megan. I like to think that my clients pick up a few tips from me, but I know for certain that I learn from them, too! Megan was a wizard with plant protein, and the ways she used edamame to hit her protein goals really inspired me. Edamame products like The Only Bean Edamame Pasta (which I still haven’t tried, but it’s at the absolute top of my list!) and Sea Point Farms Dry-Roasted Edamame (which I always have in my pantry) are fantastic for adding more protein and fiber into your diet. In the future, Megan and I will be collaborating on a plant-based protein post. Stay tuned!

Creatine

This is not a new trend by any means, but I was introduced to creatine by my own coach (thank you, Marcus!) in early 2022. Prior to using it myself, I had erroneously assumed that it was a pre-workout only taken by gym bro’s who were playing fast and loose with “workout supplements” (really heavy quotations there, by the way).

But I was wrong!

What I learned instead was that creatine is found naturally in most animal protein sources, but taking a concentrated form (5 grams per day) helps with muscle growth and workout recovery, and is perfectly safe to add to your diet indefinitely. Contrary to my misunderstanding, it is not a pre-workout, in that it doesn’t confer any special energy or benefits prior to a workout (like caffeine or carbohydrates). You just take it every day, regardless of working out or not, and it can increase your lean muscle gain, energy, and performance overall. Throughout 2022, I also learned that it’s especially helpful for demographics like athletes, people with plant-based diets, or post-menopausal women who might otherwise have more difficulty building lean muscle.

I recommend the brand Nutricost.

Did you discover anything that you loved for your health and wellness in 2022? Shoot me a note to tell me about it!