Protein. Water. Blend.  Protein. Milk. Blend.

As bodybuilders, we get into habits of keeping things simple by just taking in what we need. A perfect example of this can be found in our routine making a protein shake.

Rather than adding different ingredients to change the flavor and texture of the final product, bodybuilders often just mix up some powder with a liquid in a shaker cup and drink. Effective? Yes. Tasty? Sometimes. Redundant? Absolutely.

After a while, you will not look forward to a watered down chocolate protein drink. You’ll need some new options. Something with some taste and flavor. Something with a little thought and creativity behind it.

And if there is one personality in bodybuilding known for being creative, it’s Antoine Vaillant.

The colorful Canadian takes us through his soon-to-be world famous Anabolic Tropic Shake so perfectly crafted for summer that it could melt the snow in the coldest parts of the Great White North.

Not only is it jam-packed with top quality nutrition from Universal but it also has a hearty serving of antioxidant-loaded fruit, blended into a delicious smoothie.

It’s just like the fancy drinks they serve you on the beach of an island resort except for one major difference–the Anabolic Tropic Shake doesn’t only taste insane, it just might help you make gains.

As only he could wax so poetically, Antoine sets the stage:

“Muscles are pumped under the hot summer sun. Hot girls roller bladin’, post-workout endorphins flowin’… What more could you want? A frosty cold protein shake, right? One to cool you down while setting your gains on fire. I’ve got the right one for you: The Anabolic Tropic Shake. The greatest summer-themed post-workout shake ever imagined!”

With the stirring introduction out of the way, let’s get down to business.

The base of Antoine’s shake is coconut water. High in potassium and excellent for hydration purposes, coconut water is an optimal beverage for replenishing electrolytes and minerals as one sweats in the extreme summer heat.

Put 1.5 cups of coconut water into your blender followed by a fistful each of mangos and strawberries and one banana, peeled primate-style, please. Last but not least, add ice liberally, as no good blended shake is complete without it.

Sounds like something you’d get while on a cruise ship, right? Wrong.

Here’s where the shake gets highly “anabolic”.

Add 1 serving (3.5 scoops) of Universal Real Gains Banana into the mix. This will add over 600 calories, 53 grams of protein and 84 grams of carbs (most of which are complex carbs, not simple sugars).

The combination of the natural tropical ingredients (coconut water, strawberries, mangos, banana) with the bold banana flavor of Real Gains creates a smooth, fruity shake capable of waking a slumbering bodybuilder’s taste buds out of a deep hibernation.

Don’t get it twisted, this isn’t the light fare of a beachfront cabana.

Antoine’s Anabolic Tropic Shake is mega high in muscle-building calories. It boasts a total of 1320 calories, 5 grams of fat, 264 grams of carbs and 55 grams of protein. It would be best used as a meal replacement or a post workout shake for someone who requires high calories or is looking to add maximum muscle mass fast.

So while your friends are sipping on pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris by the pool this summer, you can add this recipe to your regimen and enjoy all of the ice cold, fruity flavor while still getting the nutrition your muscle-building goals demand. And do as Antoine says, “Sip it slowly, relax and delight in the summer breeze while your muscle recovery is put at ease!”