In case you need a little push.

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Over the past five or so months, my workout routine has changed.

A lot.

Once upon a time, I had perfected my regimen: driving straight from work to the gym — no second thoughts. Now, I work from my living room (sometimes straight from the couch, whoops), and work out in my not-so-spacious bedroom.

And let me just say: it’s gotten a tad repetitive.

There are only so many YouTube workouts you can stream before you start to lose motivation. I was looking for an extra push, but I’m not really into sugary energy drinks and those hardcore, stimulant-heavy pre-workouts my boyfriend uses are decidedly not my jam.

As a longtime fan of Vital proteins (their yummy collagen creamers are already a staple in my morning routine!), I was so excited to see them roll out pre- and post-workout powders with energy-boosting ingredients that sounded like just the change-up my routine needed.

The pre-workout powder is packed with ingredients like collagen peptides and branded-chain amino acids which support muscles and joints, as well as creatine to give an extra burst of muscle-supporting power. Caffeine from Coffeeberry® coffee fruit extract (a natural antioxidant, not a shot of espresso) acts as an energy booster to keep you going strong as you exercise.

I added the (surprisingly refreshing!) yuzu clementine powder to some ice water and drank it about half an hour before my workout. To really test its power, this was also the first time I had worked out after being on a week-long family beach trip where I did a lot more lounging than physical activity.

I picked a strength and conditioning routine which included sets of weight-training and cardio movements (think: squats, deadlifts and power snatches coupled with high-knees, ab work and burpees) It was a tough 50-minute workout that would have wiped me out even on my best day.

I have to say: I really think this stuff works. I’d be lying if I said I sailed through this difficult workout with complete ease (who would?), but I found my energy to be much higher than normal and I got through the whole routine without having to press pause (a rare feat!) I powered through every move and somehow didn’t collapse onto my mat an out-of-breath ball of sweat at the end. I even added on a 10-minute ab burnout because I felt like I could keep going.

I once heard a celebrity trainer say that you should replenish your body with nutrients about 30 minutes after you exercise in order to give your muscles and joints proper support. So, I headed to my kitchen and whipped up a little fruit smoothie and added in the Recover powder, a delightful lemon grape flavor that paired well with my go-to berry blend. While this powder doesn’t give the immediate boost that the Pre powder has, it’s how I felt after that has me hooked.

It works to refuel your body with 20g of collagen peptides to help build muscle and support joint and bone health, while rehydrating with electrolytes found in coconut water powder, as well as Himalayan sea salt, added taurine and essential vitamins and minerals help to replenish what you sweat out.

Now, while I genuinely recommend my newfound sips, there are other ways to prep and replenish your workouts. Before a workout, a banana with peanut butter adds a little potassium, complex carb and protein boost (great for muscle function!). And after a sweat sesh', a protein-packed snack like cottage cheese or a protein bar aids in muscle recovery and muscle growth. Together, you can reap similar reparative, workout-revving effects as the powders. Vital Proteins just makes it a little more convenient.

The new addition to my routine has not only made me feel like a true fitness guru but it’s also given me the motivation to keep up with my at-home workouts.

Even on days where I’d much prefer a post-work nap.