🏋️ Coop Got His Hands on the Eleiko Heavy Mug

You may be shocked to hear that the most hyped piece of gym equipment this past year wasn’t a barbell or a folding rack, it was…a mug. Like a Stanly cup for lifters, the limited-edition Eleiko Mug quickly became a sought-after (and highly contentious) item among the fitness community. Here are Coop’s thoughts on this controversial drinkware.

What else is in today’s newsletter:

• We’ve narrowed down the 12 best weight benches of 2024

• 20 dietitian-approved high-protein meal ideas

• We tried the popular plant-based protein Kaged Plantein

Watch Party

The Mug That Broke the Internet

What started as an April Fools’ Joke quickly spiraled into a PR nightmare when Eleiko was unable to match the supply to the demand for its stainless steel, 20-pound heavy mug, leaving thousands of angry and unsatisfied customers.

Coop shares his thoughts on this notorious product and its history, how he was able to get his hands on one, and what he thinks the future might hold for the Eleiko Heavy Mug.

He also answers the pressing question, “Can you even drink out of it?”

Hit the Bench

Best Weight Benches of 2024

You’ve probably been asked the question, “How much do you bench?” before. Solid question. But at GGR, we like to ask, “What bench are you pressing on?”

Our team of certified personal trainers, competitive weightlifters, and home gym equipment experts have tested more than 50 weight benches and rated them based on the following factors:

• Stability

• Construction

• Training experience

• Foam and covering

• Adjustability

Check out which benches made our list.

Fuel Up!

20 High-Protein Meals to Try

High-protein meals are so important for both building muscle and controlling hunger. Protein, especially from animal sources, contains the critical amino acids we need to build muscle quickly and efficiently. Also, it is digested slower in the stomach than the other macronutrients, which makes it a great tool for minimizing cravings for extra snacks.

We asked Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD, to put together a list of flavorful and diverse high-protein meals (each has at least 28 g of protein) you can use to shake up your new meal prep or even make for dinner tonight (we also have a list of high-protein fast food if cooking is just not in the cards).

Supps Corner

Kaged Plantein Review

Are you looking for a plant-based protein that suits all your macro needs? We may have found the plantein for you: Kaged Plantein.

Pea protein is one of the most popular plant-based proteins and Kaged is one of the most popular sports nutrition brands, so the combination goes together like peas and carrots.

To help you decide whether their pea protein is right for you, we’re providing you with this comprehensive Kaged Plant Protein review.

Quick Hits

Want to Build Legs Like “Quadzilla”?

• Tom Platz (aka the “Quadzilla” and “The Grandfather”) boasted 30-inch quads at his peak. Build legendary legs with the Tom Platz leg workout.

• In the market for an inflatable cold plunge tub that you can easily store? We reviewed the Sun Home cold plunge tub.

• We asked an Olympic weightlifter and a registered dietitian to weigh the mass gainer pros and cons.