I tried the £8 'mushroom powder' shake for my new year health kick

Every time January 1 rolls around I promise myself this is finally the year I'm going to achieve a sense of 'new year, new me'. Whether it's starting a new hobby, making a change in my work life or getting fitter than ever before, I start every new year with a sense of hope that I can improve myself.

And 2025 is no different - after a sluggish December I've resolved to find my motivation once again and hit the gym hard, as well as trying to maintain a more balanced diet packed with healthy food and lots of protein. As part of my new year health kick, I've been booking into a few of my favourite gym classes to get the extra push a trainer can provide.

Barry's Bootcamp opened its Liverpool studio in 2022 and I was an avid fan of its classes in the first few months after the location launched on the top floor of Flannels. But I stopped going in the second trimester of my pregnancy and I was a bit scared to get back on the horse. Anyone who's been to a Barry's class will know they aren't for the weak - but my fear was unfounded because I've always found the classes to be open to all ability levels, as long as you're willing to give 100%.

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I headed down to the 5:30pm class on Friday, January 10 to sweat it out and head into the weekend with a bit of an endorphin rush. The class was as solid as I remembered, but I loved every second of it and the instructor kept the energy up after a long week.

My way of motivating myself to head to a tough gym class is often the prospect of a little treat at the end - and Barry's is the perfect place for this thanks to the protein shake bar they've got on site. After my Friday evening visit I noticed a new, limited edition shake had been added to the menu and decided to give it a try.

The 'Mane Event' shake costs £8 and it's made using powder from protein brand HERMOSA, in collaboration with supplement brand Dirtea. This new menu item only launched this week on January 7, and is available in the Liverpool studio until February 13.

It's made using vanilla and chocolate protein, Dirtea Lion’s Mane mushroom powder, almond milk, strawberries, almond butter and cacao nibs. Barry's say this combination of ingredients was designed to aid both body and mind, with Lion's Mane believed to help the body repair and refuel more effectively after training. It's also thought to elevate brain function, enhance memory, sharpen focus, and boost mental clarity, as well as aiding digestion.

The shake packs a whopping 40g of protein per serving, which anyone who tracks their macros will know is pretty impressive for a single shake. Despite being slightly unsure what a mushroom powder shake would taste like, I decided to give it a go while I was still riding the adrenaline wave after my class.

To my surprise, it was absolutely delicious, and tasted more like I was drinking a milkshake than a protein shake. I've previously found that protein shakes can taste chalky and synthetic, but this was creamy, thick and actually quite decadent for what was essentially a health supplement.

If you're looking to push yourself with a challenging class as part of your new year's resolution to hit the gym and get in better shape, I'd always recommend a Barry's class to help you kick things up a level. And the 'Mane Event' shake felt like a nice bonus to round off a virtuous hour after work.