Danny Hirtler
Personal trainer
Danny Hirtler
Personal trainer
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Product Recommendations

Clients often ask me about my favorite fitness supplements, the types of protein shakes I prefer, and other product recommendations. So, I thought it would be helpful to compile them all in a handy list. 


Full disclosure: I earn a small percentage from every purchase, so if you're interested in trying any of the fitness supplements I recommend, you can support me by using the links below.

Container of Animal Ready-to-Go Creatine capsules for muscle and cognitive support.

Animal Creatine Capsules

This is the creatine I take as one of my favorite fitness supplements. I prefer it in capsule form because it’s much less messy than a powder, and I don’t have to worry about it dissolving in my drink. I take 4 capsules every morning, which adds up to 5g a day. It’s a great addition to my routine, especially when paired with my protein shakes.

Slate Ultra Protein shakes in salted caramel, chocolate, and vanilla flavors.

Slate Ultra Protein Shakes

These are the protein shakes I like for my fitness supplements routine. They offer 42g of protein and range from 180-200 calories depending on the flavor. For my money, they're the best tasting high protein drinks I've found. Plus, I appreciate that they come in a can rather than a plastic bottle.

Premier Protein Mixed Berry Almond Cereal with 20g protein per serving.

Premier Protein Cereal

I eat this almost every day for breakfast. If you're looking for a quick and easy high protein breakfast, my go-to is one serving of this plus 100g of blueberries mixed with Oikos Triple Zero yogurt. This meal is not only delicious but also a great alternative to traditional fitness supplements, providing 325 calories with 36g of protein. It's a perfect start to the day, especially if you enjoy protein shakes as part of your routine.

Variety pack of Fitaid Recovery fitness drinks in three flavors, 12 cans total.

FitAid Recovery drink

I love these fitness supplements! I drink one just about every day. They're fantastic for recovery (but don't neglect your protein shakes) and taste good too. This company has a whole line of great drinks, from energy to party recovery and everything in between, making excellent product recommendations.

Caramel protein iced coffee with 20g protein per serving and real espresso coffee.

Chike Protein Coffee

If you enjoy iced lattes, this one is perfect for you. With tons of delicious flavor options and 20g of protein per serving, it's a great choice among fitness supplements. They even offer a triple shot of espresso option for an extra pick-me-up, making it one of my top product recommendations for protein shakes.

Legendary Foods Frosted Blueberry Protein Pastry with 22g protein and less than 1g sugar.

Legendary Protein PopTarts

These are the protein Pop-Tarts I like, which are great fitness supplements for anyone looking to boost their protein intake. There are quite a few flavors available, and while they are waaaay more expensive than regular Pop-Tarts, they do pack 22g of protein or about the same amount of calories. If you're interested in product recommendations, these could be a tasty addition alongside your favorite protein shakes.

Eight David protein bars in various flavors with gold wrappers.

David Protein bars

These are the protein bars I like for my fitness supplements routine. At 150 calories and 28g of protein, they offer the best bang for your buck that I've found among my product recommendations. There have been some controversies regarding claims that they have more fat and calories than advertised, but I remain convinced of their value. In terms of flavor, they're fine and definitely not worse than other protein bars or protein shakes I've tried.

Grab the Gold snack bars in Chocolate Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter & Jelly flavors.

Grab the Gold Energy/Protein bars

I've been a fan of these fitness supplements since I first discovered them a decade ago in Nashville. With just under 200 calories and 11g of protein, they may not be as nutritional as David bars, but man, do they taste a whole lot better. They're similar to a no-bake cookie but much denser. I keep some in my glove compartment in case I need a little snack, especially when I'm not in the mood for protein shakes.

Box of EPIC Chicken Sriracha Bars with rooster illustration.

Epic Chicken Sriracha bars

If you're looking for a savory protein bar that fits into your fitness supplements (and you eat meat), then this is my go-to choice. Chicken Sriracha is the only flavor I've found to be really good, but maybe you'll enjoy the others as well. Each bar has 100 calories and packs 11g of protein. I like to pair one of these with string cheese, making a tasty snack that clocks in at 180 calories with 19g of protein. For those who prefer liquid options, don't forget to check out my product recommendations for delicious protein shakes too!

Assorted healthy meals including grilled chicken, steak, veggies, breakfast sausages, and dessert.

FitLife foods meal prep service

If you're looking for a meal prep service that delivers and has a storefront, my favorite is FitLife. They're located in Buckhead, really close to Johnny's Hideaway. Their food is delicious, with a solid nutrients and protein content, and they offer different sizes to fit various fitness goals. Alongside their meals, they also have great product recommendations for fitness supplements and protein shakes. If you order something from them, use code 6WENEOK6 or tell them I sent you when you go in.

Outwork Nutrition Pre-Workout supplement in strawberry lemonade flavor.

Outwork Nutrition Pre-Workout

This is the pre-workout I like, which fits perfectly into my fitness supplements routine. It covers all the micronutrients I want in a pre-workout, and it doesn't have a proprietary blend. This means every ingredient and dose is listed individually, so you know exactly what you're getting. 


My go-to flavor is strawberry lemonade because it's also available caffeine-free. I like to mix one scoop of the regular version with one scoop of the caffeine-free option. That way, I get the full dose of all ingredients with only 150mg of caffeine, which is still almost two cans of Red Bull. For those who prefer a caffeine-free option, this product is a great choice among my product recommendations for effective fitness supplements. 


The caffeine-free version is below.

Caffeine-free pre-workout supplement in strawberry lemonade flavor.

Outwork Nutrition Caffeine Free Pre-Workout

This is the same pre-workout but it's caffeine free, making it a great option for those who are caffeine sensitive or prefer to work out in the evenings. It's one of the top fitness supplements available, offering everything you want in a pre-workout without the excessive energy boost. For reference, the regular version contains 300 mg of caffeine per double scoop serving, equivalent to nearly 4 cans of Red Bull. If you're looking for product recommendations that fit your needs, this is an excellent choice, especially when paired with your favorite protein shakes.

Black adjustable push-up bars for fitness exercises.

Free standing dip bars

If you've visited my home gym, you've likely used these for pushups, dips, or possibly inverted rows. They're an excellent multi-purpose piece of equipment that is very affordable. Alongside your fitness supplements, I often suggest incorporating product recommendations like these into your routine. Personally, I recommend not using the connecting bar so you can lay them down for pushups and use them individually, similar to how you might enjoy a protein shake for recovery.

Set of five resistance bands with different weight levels and a man demonstrating one.

Resistance bands

These are the resistance bands I use in my gym. They're great quality and very reasonably priced, making them one of my top product recommendations for fitness supplements. I generally recommend ordering two packs so you can do double arm exercises with them or mix and match, especially if you're also incorporating protein shakes into your routine.

Fitness Product Recommendations

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