What is the best type of collagen for joints?

Collagen is the main protein in your body and is a major building block of your bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. There is at least 16 types of collagen, but there are four main types. Type II collagen is great for active and aging joints! It is packed with fibers which helps cushion your joints!

When is the best time to take collagen?

There is not a set time to take collagen. It is a personal preference, but taking it after a tough workout is a great time to fuel your muscles to help with recovery. You want a quality, fast-absorbing source of protein, paired with carbs to replenish glycogen stores drive amino acids from the protein into each cell! However, taking collagen before bed has also been proven to promote a better night sleep.

What ingredients should I stay away from in my protein powder?

• Artificial sweeteners – Sucralose, aspartame, saccharine, ace-k, etc.
• Artificial dyes – red 40, blue 1, yellow 5,6 … no color/number combo is a FOOD!
• Artificial flavors
• DATEM – Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Monoglycerides
• HFCS – High Fructose Corn Syrup, corn syrup, corn syrup solids
• Hydrogenated Oils
• Mono and diglycerides
• MSG
• Nitrates and nitrites (not naturally occurring)
• Sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, palm oils
• Artificial preservatives – BHT, BHA, potassium and tri-calcium phosphate, sodium phosphate, sodium benzoate, TBHQ (Tertiary butylhydroquinone), etc.
• Modified food starch
• GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) ingredients – most soy, corn, canola (or other vegetable oils) are GMO and should be avoided.

*List Source: Karalynne Call with @just.ingredients.

How often should I exercise?

The amount of physical activity is different for everyone depending on your condition and your fitness goals. When you are just starting out, you may want to only workout two or three days a week and then slowly work your way up to five or six days. Although, 30 minutes of moving your body everyday can improve your overall mood, decrease stress levels, and increase you cardiovascular health! Our bodies are designed to move!

What if I can’t make it to the gym?

We have all been there! Life gets too busy and getting the gym can be difficult. The good news is that you are able to exercise and sweat just as much as you would at the gym from the comfort of your own home! A great alternative to lifting weights at the gym is to resistance train at home. Resistance band training adds variability, improves your overall strength and helps to break through training plateaus. You can take your training to the next level even if you can’t make it to the gym! For resistance band exercises, head over to the home page and watch my “how-to” tutorial.