I can’t believe I’m 83% done with my MBA! Just 1 class and 2 projects left before I graduate May 15th! I finished up my take-home exam due today last night, then curled up on the couch in front of the TV with a class of wine and proceeded to start to catch up on my DVR que (Big Love and Project Runway specifically). I have the next week off of school, but it’ll be a busy one. I have lots to do as far as getting things going for my business, including writing a business plan and funding proposals, and staying up to date on Integrative Nutrition coursework. But I’m so excited to get going on all of this!
So the last few days were all over the place. I did fit in a couple lifting sessions and went to a great Flow class Wednesday night. Today I’m going to work Arms & Chest, definitely need to get a HIIT session in (after sitting on my bootay studying for the last few days, then the most relaxing Yoga ever.. sunset overlooking Camelback Mountain. After that I’m heading out to do a little 83% done celebrating, should be fun 
NUTRITION
What’s Your Pyramid Look Like
I think it’s been a whole few weeks since I mentioned how much I am loving my experience with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition! One of the things that really attracted me to IIN over other similar programs was their approach to nutrition from a holistic standpoint. When I say holistic, I don’t mean “granolay,” raw food eating, spending hours a day meditating and only relying on alternative medicine (though I’m fully supportive of all of those things), but the original meaning of ‘holistic’: Concerned with wholes rather than analysis or separation into parts (from dictionary.com). For someone to be truly healthy, it isn’t just about getting into the gym five days a week or only eating organic food, it’s also about relationships and feeling complete in your professional life. The USDA recently came out with the MyPyramid, which is ridiculously better than the previous disaster that was suppose to guide America’s eating habits. It’s no shocker that we’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic when we’re emphasizing processed carbs and cheese. Any who.. I digress.. lets look at the positive, the new MyPyramid attempts to incorporate acitivity and acknowledges that each person is different (they sort of ignored vegetarians, or gluten-free eaters in the last attempt). Here’s a comparison of the old & new pyramids (source: Washington Post)..
So progress is being made.. and I dig the dude climbing the pyramid :p But now lets take it one step further, which is exactly what IIN has done.
The Integrative Food Pyramid is all about the individual, what’s best for YOU, not what’s best for society as a whole. I particularly like how it incorporates not just Physical Activity but also Relationships, Career & Spirituality, and how each of these are intertwined, so if one is off, the others will be effected too. You may also notice the absence of ‘diary,’ which I’ll talk about in a separate post. Basically, as growing humans we need calcium, but there are so many other wonderful sources. What do you think of the Holistic Food Pyramid? What would your pyramid look like?
Recap
My eats were anything but exciting the last few days. My cupboards are bare, so I’ve pretty much been living off whey protein + cottage cheese or greek yogurt + Kashi Go Lean.. seriously. A few highlights..
Kashi Go Lean topped with 1/2 c Cottage Cheese + 1/2 scoop Cake Batter + 1 tbsp natural PB
And again.. haha, told ya!
This salad is amazing! It was takeout from AJ’s Market. Mix Berry that I topped with Tempeh..
Sweet Potato topped with PB Protein Yogurt (1/2 c plain Greek Yogurt + 1/2 scoop PB Protein Powder)..
Sweet Potato topped with 1/2 c Cottage Cheese + 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast..
FUN
I made a couple website updates! I added a Yoga section (if you have or know of any good articles please send me links), updated the workouts section and did a little reorganization of recipes. Hope you like the improvements.
I also discovered a couple fantastic new suppliers (to me) for my OpenSky Shop, so I should have new Fitness products up soon!
Phoenix’s first Professional Figure/Bodybuilding show is tomorrow! If you’re in the area come check it out at the Mesa Art’s Center.
Fun Links
That salad looks fantastic. I was just talking to a coworker about how much I’ve been craving salads lately. That’s pretty much all I want for lunch.
To tell you the truth I could live off of those staples (cottage cheese, protein powder, sweet potatoes, and pb) and be a happy camper! LOL
Do you know of any good protein bars that are also low in sugar?
Twitter: NourishedFit
says:
There are quite a few that are low in sugar, but they are filled with all sorts of artificial gunk (technical word :p). I’ll email you a spreadsheet I came across. I do really like to make my own, but I haven’t perfected a recipe quite yet
Hi Alyson! Thanks for your comments on my blog! The Integrative Food Pyramid is an interesting take–I’m not familiar with it at all, but I like it! I like that it doesn’t just center on physical nutrition but other aspects of well being as well.
Lovely salad, by the way. I adore fruit in green salads!
I love the Holistic Food Pyramid. It puts everything together and frankly, relationships, career and spirituality are as important as physical activity. I like it goes in line with the Body, Mind & Spirit concept.
Good luck with your business plans! I’m sure you will do very well!
I read another blog & the lady is taking weekend course in NYC at, I think, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I will have to double check but I thought she wrote about it the other day. I love the sound of that & their pyramid. I am all about what works for you & we are all different. None of that my way or the highway stuff!
Congrats on school! Good luck with your business plans too! I wish all this stuff was out there when I was young!
Glad to see the USDA updated the food pyramid. I like the holistic food pyramid even better! That is so true that if one aspect of your life is “off” such as your career it throws everything else off! I’m definitely dealing with this now and it’s a challenge.
PS-I love how you have the peanut butter spread out in dollops in that one pic, I just glob it on!
I love that pyramid! Unconventional pyramids always make me think. Your cottage cheese creations look so beautiful. Definitely worth doing more than once!
I think it’s cool that the IIN pyramid also included the oh-so-important WATER! I also found it interesting that it didn’t include dairy. I still think that both pyramids may deemphasize fats too much. In my opinion, healthy fats should be incorporated into a healthy diet. And I agree with you, each person is different, so each person could have a unique food pyramid.
That pyramid is seriously cool. What we take into our bodies have so much to do with what’s going on in our lives!
ok so I tried cottage cheese in the past and didn’t like it…mabye I need to try it the way you make it.
Love the new model!!
Twitter: NourishedFit
says:
Different brands also taste very different, maybe try a couple different kinds. And of course mixed with Protein Powder is delicious!