Good Hemp Protein - or how you can keep your muscle mass during endurance training

Endurance athletes' one of the biggest nightmares is loosing muscle mass during and after hard training sessions, races. It doesn't make the situation easier and less complicated, if you are vegan! 

If you say vegan, lots of people think on a skin and bone, unhealthy looking person. It is not true! Yes, most of vegan are very skinny and they do not carry around unnecessary muscle mass and excess fat! I am 62kg (183 cm) and my body fat is around 5%. I have enough muscle to be strong, very strong on the bike! My FTP is well over 5 watts/kg, it means I am a strong cyclist according to the papers.... 

When I started to follow the vegetarian- vegan way, I had a quite big dilemma! Protein! Where am I going to get my protein?! In the past, I used a lots of different whey supplements... most of them worked... not too well, but worked! I think, anyone who ever used whey products are familiar with the side effects. Bloating, stomach ache, digestion problems and turning into being acidy. So,I had enough and I decided to stop using whey! I had some research and I got the right answer! Hemp! Yes, hemp protein is the way forward. 
Why?

Hemp is the only plant based protein, which:

• Contains all 20 Amino Acids
• Contains all 10 Essential Amino Acids
• Naturally Rich in Omega 3 (with SDA)
• Over 30% of the Daily Recommended Intake of Omega 3 per Serving
• Source of GLA (Omega Gamma Linoleic Acid)
• Good Fibre Content
• High source of protein (47%)
• Free from Gluten, Dairy, Lactose & Soya, GMO, Hexane
• Free from Pesticides and Herbicides, Additives and Preservatives
• 100% Plant Based Protein
• Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans

After all of these, I just had to find a supplier. I found Good Hemp Nutrition and after couple of emails, I received a sponsorship for my upcoming season! 

• I am using Good Hemp products over 5 months and I can give an honest opinion now. Before Good Hemp, I tried couple of other vegan proteins. I have to say Good Hemp's products are far the best on the UK market. I was well surprised, when I tasted all three protein supplements. All taste very nice and not just ok! Actually lots of times I crave for them. 
  But not everything about the taste! How does it work? It works brilliantly! I didn't have any protein related stomach issue in the past 5 months and I kept my weight and muscle mass stable during the winter training period! But, the real test began in January! I went away to do a training camp on Tenerife! Two weeks riding, with very small amount of recovery days. Very long days in the saddle, no really time to eat and recover. I ate a whole tub of Good Gym Shake in 12 days. I rode 63 hours, 1537km and climbed nearly 35.000m! I ate only planet based and I didn't take any other protein supplements! I weighted myself with a special Tanita scale before the camp and I did the same when I returned home. The result was unbelievable! I lost weight (300 grams), but only fat! Not a single grams of muscle. It was a very Good sign! In the last few years I had a major recovery issues after training camps. I used to loose lots of muscle mass and I struggled to get recovered after heavy sessions. 
  But one test is not enough! I wanted a real evidence! My second training camp came up first week of March. Luckily I just received a full tub of sample from the new Gym Shake with Stevia. I went away to Gran Canaria this time and I rode harder then ever before! 10 training days, 1850km, 42000m climb and nearly 76 hours in the saddle! If you make a rough calculation it is more than 57.000 burned kcal during the rides! The whole big tub of Gym Shake got consumed again. I checked my weight before and after the trip. This time actually I gained nearly 300 grams of muscle during the two weeks! 
  So, two very tough test done! Now I am 100% sure, Good Hemp Protein products are very good and useful. They are parts of my training and everyday diet. I highly recommend them to everyone! Not only vegan or vegetarian people! 

  
  

  You can read more about Good Hemp's benefits on the company's site! Click here!

  
  

  Little bit about the product range:

  Good Hemp Food has a very wide range of healthy and tasty products. 

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Good Hemp Milk: 
  

  very good alternative to milk or soy milk. After the first taste I straight swapped to hemp from soy! Find out more here!

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Good Hemp Oil:

  
  

  It is a very delicious, nutty taste, raw oil! I love it on salads and in dressings! Find out more here!

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Shelled Hemp Seed:

  
  

  One of the best ever healthy snack in my life! Whole box can disappear from my cupboard in days! (with a little help..my girlfriend is addicted to this...) Also very nice in salads and cereals! Click here!

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Good Hemp Proteins:

  

  You can find 3 different products in the protein range. First is the Gym Shake, which one has the highest protein contain and now it comes sweetened with Stevia in chocolate flavour! I use this one after very heavy sessions and for night recovery.

  
  

  The next one is the Fit Shake! This products is for people with active lifestyle. It is sweetened with Xylitol and has added Green Tea extract. You can buy it in delicious strawberry flavour. This is my everyday protein. I use it in smoothies or just simple with water for snack.

  
  

  The third one is the simple Raw Hemp Protein. Nothing added, nothing taken out. It has a very nice neutral flavour, it is very good for cooking or baking. Also really nice in shakes and smoothies!

  
  

  You can find more info about the protein range here!