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I Tried Optimize Protein for a Week — And It Kept Me Full for Hours

By Kiona McCormick
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October 14, 2025

I’ve been looking for a protein powder that could actually do it all: give me light fuel before workouts, work as a quick breakfast when I don’t have time to cook, and help me recover and build muscle.. It sounds simple, but I hadn’t found one that checked all the boxes.

Plant-based powders were clean and easy to digest, but most were just protein from a single source. They weren’t complete, and without anything else — like fiber — they never kept me satisfied for long. 

On the flip side, whey-based powders packed more complete protein, but they left me feeling bloated and heavy. Not exactly how you want to head into a workout.

What I really wanted was an all-in-one powder that was filling, gut-friendly, and versatile enough to use throughout the day. That’s what led me to try Optimize Protein + Fiber Powder for a week.

The first smoothie that actually felt like breakfast

On the first morning, I mixed two scoops with almond milk before heading to the gym. It was creamy, delicious, and the malt flavor tasted like a perfect combo of a vanilla and chocolate milkshake. It was not chalky, and it didn’t have a weird aftertaste like so many powders I’ve tested. The real surprise was how it kept me full for 5-6 hours.. I finished my workout, got into my morning routine, and realized I wasn’t immediately looking for food.

By day three, it was clear: Optimize wasn’t just pre-workout fuel. It actually worked as a full meal replacement. One shake kept me full until lunch — something no other powder had managed to do, as I’m usually hungry after an hour or two with other powders.

The surprising shift: no more constant snacking

Normally, my mornings go like this: a light snack before the gym, a workout, and then by 10:30, I’m rummaging in the pantry for something else. Later in the day, I usually hit that 3 p.m. crash and reach for whatever’s quick just to get through.

But that week felt different. I wasn’t chasing food all morning, and even in the afternoon, I noticed the cravings weren’t there. The shake actually kept me satisfied, and I stayed more focused instead of planning my next snack.

Part of that is the way Optimize is made. Instead of relying on one plant protein source, it combines organic pea protein with grass-fed, grass-finished beef protein — a complete protein that supports both energy and recovery. Each serving delivers 45 grams of protein and 10 grams of prebiotic fiber, so it feels more like a meal than a supplement. And since it’s dairy-free, I didn’t get the bloating that always came with whey powders—thank goodness.

See the full list of ingredients here. 

How I fit it into my routine

I found the sweet spot was once a day, usually in the morning. If I was short on time, I just shook it up with almond milk before the gym. On heavier days, I blended it with berries and nut butter for a nourishing breakfast. And sometimes I saved it for post-workout recovery with half a banana.

Whichever way I used it, it kept me full for hours — without the heaviness or discomfort I’d gotten from other powders.

Why I’m Sticking with Optimize

I started Optimize hoping for a clean, gut-friendly protein I could use around workouts. What I didn’t expect was how it would change the time in between. For the first time, I wasn’t grazing all morning or crashing mid-afternoon.

With its rare combo of complete protein and fiber — and the bonus of being dairy-free — it was the first powder I’ve tried that actually kept me full. If you’re looking for a clean protein powder that can fuel workouts and stand in as a real meal, Optimize is worth trying.

Try Optimize here and get 15% off site-wide with code CLEANPLATES.

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