🏋️‍♀️ the best-tasting protein powders on the market 

Today’s newsletter is presented by WHOOP. If you need a wearable that accurately tracks your weight training progress, WHOOP’s new Strength Trainer feature offers a deep dive into your workouts. And since you’re a BarBend reader, head here for a free WHOOP 4.0 strap, one free month of the service, and a $0 signup fee.

Here’s what’s on tap today:

• Do the perfect crunch for better abs.

• We run down the best-tasting protein powders on the market.

• Why you need a deload week.

Exercise Tips

Do a Better Crunch

Some people love them, while others absolutely hate them. Crunches may be one of the most contentious ab exercises out there. The caution about crunches is understandable — if you only focus on this move, you’re paying attention to your “six-pack muscles” and risk neglecting to train your core from all angles.

It’s true that crunches alone don’t make a complete core workout regimen. But if you combine them with other core-strengthening moves, this oft-maligned move can be a valuable ally in your search for a strong set of abs. Here’s how to do the crunch properly, and why you should always have it in your routine.

From Our Sponsor

A Wearable for Weight Training

Struggle to track exercises and progress during weight training sessions? In the past, fitness trackers have been great for tracking heart rate and calorie burn during cardio, but they've always fallen short on weight training.

WHOOP has put all that frustration and guesswork in the past with their latest update: the Strength Trainer.

This all-new feature works by measuring the exercises you perform, the number of reps you do, and the weight you use to accurately track how your strength training routine impacts your body and recovery.

Just select your workout from nearly 200 different strength exercises in the app (everything from back squats and bench presses to pull-ups and kettlebell swings) or opt for one of WHOOP’s 15 pre-built workouts. These custom workouts cater to different experience levels and target specific objectives like strength, power, endurance, or hypertrophy.

It's time to gain a fresh perspective on your weight training with the Strength Trainer from WHOOP. For a limited time, we're offering a free WHOOP 4.0 strap, an extra month of service, and a $0 signup fee.

Nutrition

Best-Tasting Protein

There are about a trillion different varieties of protein powder on the market, so finding the best-tasting one is no small feat. Though many of these powders have similar ingredients — 20-plus grams of protein, carbs, fats, and amino acids — the actual tastes run the gamut. Some are overly sweet, while others are chalkier than a powerlifter’s palms. (How’s that for a visual?)

We’ve noticed this problem and decided to do a thorough deep dive into some of the most popular powders on the market to find the ones worth dancing on your palate. From classic chocolate and vanilla to fruity cereal and blueberry muffin flavors, we took on the role of protein shake sommelier to help you make the right choice.

Recovery

Deload With the Best of ‘Em

In the never-ending pursuit of more strength, it’s easy to overdo it and run the risk of injury. To protect yourself from the effects of training too much, it’s vital that you take time to rest and recover. Enter the deload week.

Put simply, a deload week is a break in your regular training regimen aimed at improving your recovery. It’s typically scheduled out in advance and repeated roughly every four to eight weeks. The break could mean lightening your workload that week or completely avoiding the gym.

With so many influencers or athletes telling you to be in the gym every day or to never miss a Monday, it gets hard to know how often you should actually train. Regardless of how much you typically train day-to-day, if you’re training hard over the course of your program, you’ll want to take a deload week.

We’ve partnered with Wodify to bring you weekly advice to take your gym to the next level by providing you with valuable insights from their expert Retention Intelligence Team and top-performing fitness business owners each Monday.

Today’s advice comes from the owner of CrossFit Montrose:

“Start moving forward and focusing on your own progress, rather than comparing yourself to others! Once I embraced my own journey and, despite the initial fear, made the switch to Wodify it made such a positive difference for both my members and myself. I am so glad I made the switch and prioritized doing what's right for my gym!” - Simone Kelly, Owner, CrossFit Montrose, @crossfitmontrose

Book a demo and find out what’s right for your business.

Everything Else

Get Your Scoop On

• Wait, ice cream is healthy? The science is complicated, but it’s worth considering next time you’re in the mood for a little soft serve.

• Six-time CrossFit Games champ Tia-Clair Toomey gave birth to a baby girl last week. Check out what she said about her new bundle of joy.

• The CrossFit Semifinals start on May 18, and we now officially know which workouts the Individual division athletes will compete in.

Sound Off!

One More Q