Hope you had a terrific Tuesday (couldn’t resist)! Nothing new to report, just a relatively productive day..
FITNESS
Lovely. I hiked Camelback this morning. I was trying to beat my previous time, but ended up learning 2 lessons instead: 1) Don’t wear new orthotics for a hike, 2) Slow and steady has it’s benefits. Yeah I totally made a rookie mistake. I was all gun-hoe about beating my time, and took off up the mountain at a fast pace, but then about 8 minutes from the top I completely hit a wall and had to stop, boo. I ended up being pretty close to my previous time, but my competitive self was hoping to beat it. Ah well, next time.
Later in the day I lifted with my trainer, working Shoulders & Back. Afterwards we met to make a few changes to my workouts, specifically adding lifts to target my areas that need the greatest improvement (Fitness/Figure competition-wise). It was super helpful and I’m looking forward to hitting the gym with specific intentions!
NUTRITION
What the heck are you trying to tell me body?
Lately I’ve been craving Nuts & Nut Butters like crazy, and when I start, I don’t want to stop. Instead of being down on myself I decided to look a little deeper. Most of the time, if you have a craving, your body is trying to tell you something. There is something about what your craving that your body needs, and it could be physiological &/or psychological. It’s your job to decipher what your body is trying to say. I by no means think I ‘need’ Peanut Butter, but there’s something about what it gives me that my body needs. So lets break it down:
Nutrients
Flavor: Rich, Earthy, Heavy
Texture: Cool & Creamy
Associations
Yin/Yang
Funny, it all sort of fits together. I thought that it might, but when I really went through and did this analysis, I was still amazed!
I realize that Peanut Butter is something I crave when I’m feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stressed &/or sad. I also only tend to want it on colder days, when I’m stuck inside all day, or late in the evening (after I’ve been inside for a while).
The Yin/Yang philosophy is one that I’m really just starting to explore, but I find it so interesting because like with any healthy approaches, it’s purpose is to find balance.
So based on that, I’ve decided to focus on a couple things to reduce my craving and prevent overindulgence:
And to conclude, please don’t get me wrong.. I think Nut Butters are an amazing component of a healthy diet, but eating a jar in 2 days isn’t doing me or my waistline any favors. This is just a few of my personal ideas to reduce an ‘I want it now’ craving to a standard level of enjoyment 
I found this article interesting & referenced material from it: Yin & Yang Nutritional Philosophy
The Food
Before the hike, I enjoyed Cake Batter Cottage Cheese (2/3 c Cottage Cheese + 1/2 scoop Cake Batter) topped with a few Almonds & 1/4 c Vanilla Almond Galaxy Granola..
Lunch was all green, but yet no veggies were involved. I mixed up a Vanilla Chai Vega & Cake Batter Protein Shake (1/2 scoop Vega + 1/2 scoop Cake Batter Protein Powder) with 1 tbsp freshly ground Flax Seed, 1/4 tsp Xantham Gum & 3/4 c UVAB. I also had about 1/2 of an Apple, and lots of Teeccino!
A couple unpictured snacks include: 1/4 c Cottage Cheese, 1.5 oz wild Salmon, 1/2 Pure Protein Bar
Post-workout I had 1/2 c TJ’s Fat-Free Blueberry Muesli that I had previously mixed with 1/2 c UVAB and let chill in the fridge for a few hours. I topped that with Fitness Cake Batter (1/2 c plain Greek Yogurt + 1/2 scoop Cake Batter Protein Powder) and 1/2 tbsp Chia Seeds. This was the first time I tried this and I really liked it. TJ’s mixes in flakes to reduce the calories. It was a good portion and tasted great.
By the last meal of the day I was out of starch carbs, but was craving Carb texture, so there was only one logical solution.. Protein Pancake! And I whipped of a fantastic new recipe.
Lemon Cheesecake Protein Pancake
1 scoop Cake Batter Protein Powder
1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar
3 tbsp Egg White (equivalent of 1 egg)
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1/4 c Cottage Cheese
Mix it all together with a hand mixer and bake stove top.
This recipe was delicious! Unfortunately, I forgot to spray my old pancake pan with non-stick so the actual pancake turned into more of a scrambled version. So the output wasn’t pretty, but it tasted fantastic! Then distracted by the upcoming deliciousness, I forgot to take a picture of the final version that I topped with Walden Farms Calorie-Free Syrup & Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (why coconut & lemon go so well together I don’t know, but it’s lovely).
FUN
Giveaway!
Yay, so excited for my 1st Giveaway! Drum roll… a copy of Integrative Nutrition. I know I’m a little biased, but this is really a great book and I’m so excited to share it with someone (yes yes, lots of cheesiness, but it’s so true)! After enrolling at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, they sent a bunch of materials, including a copy of this book. After reading it I was even more confident in the decision I made to become a student x 2. No matter where you are in your healthy journey, this book has something to offer (and includes a whole chapter on Deconstructing Cravings). I talked about their Food Pyramid in an earlier post. The infamous Deepak Chopra said, “Integrative Nutrition brilliantly blends the art and science of nutrition with the personal growth aspects of love, relationship, fitness, career, and spiritual practice to help people find their path toward health and happiness.”
Lots of ways to enter:
I’ll announce a winner Friday!
A Couple Other Items..
I gave in and created a FormSpring Account.. ask me anything!
Saveur is accepting votes now for the Best Food Bloggers! I think there should be a Fitness Food Category, don’t you?
Allison at Eat Clean, Live Green is doing a Sun Warrior Giveaway!
Make it a wonderful Hump-Day!
Fun Links
I love Sweet Potatoes with Vanilla Oikos! I am also a nut butter junkie
ohh man! very fav food?! PB PROTEIN OATS!
haha! such a foodie answer- i know
that pancake sounds GREAT! the worse it looks-better it tastes!
following you!
fave food
chocolate
twitter following!
and LMK how the brownie oats turn out for you!!!
Hey Alyson!
GREAT GIVEAWAY!!!
Check out my last post or just go to :
http://www.madhecticfoods.com/id2.html
It looks ridiculously good, and I thought of you and a few other bloggers I wanted to share this with! Let me know what you think!!
My favorite food: anything really- it’s all about how you season it up! Tuna, veggies, bread, pie, corn bread, stuffing, chicken, protein powder etc.
Love
Barbara
Hmm…i have to pick just one?? I think my favorite food is probably green beans
Nut butters are one of those things that I can’t stop eating once I start, I’m an addict! I love them so much but it’s a little dangerous. I’m not so worried about the waistline but my poor stomach just doesn’t handle half a jar of PB all that well haha. The yin and yang theories sound so interesting! I’ll have to look into that.
So choosing a favorite food I think would be really hard! obviously the standard oats, apples, anything squash or orange. Highlights of today though were a cinnamon raisin toast spread with mashed avocado and homemade ginger apple butter. If you haven’t tried avocado + something sweet on toast, DO IT.
And right now for my bedtime snack I’m having a chopped apple, sliced strawberries, lots of cashews, topped with so delicious coconut milk coconut ice cream. Tastebud heaven!
I’m already subscribed
I also have binge-y tendencies with almond/peanut butter…yummm…didn’t keep it in the house for a long time…recently i brought it back. You did an excellent job with deconstructing your craving- love it! It’s true that there may be more than meets the eye, such as your body craving omegas…Fav food: tough call! err there are a lot of foods that I love but don’t allow myself to eat?? how about peanut butter ice cream???
Wow, the Yin/Yang philosophy is so interesting. I love learning more about it from your posts. I’m the same, I get caught up in front of my laptop a lot and next thing I know, it’s dark outside and I’m wondering where did the sun go.
I need to start getting outside more often too, my pale and dull looking skin is a sign that I need some fresh air! And omega 3s as well. 
My fav food is: scrambled eggs, fried mushrooms and grilled tomatoes with rye bread and some mango chutney.. I eat it for breakfast pretty much 3-4x a week but sometimes eat it for lunch and dinner as well.. I love eggs! 
Not sure whether I qualify for your give-away as I don’t live in the States. So no worries!
I am like you, I love being a student. I spend so much money on school I consider it my investment. I am currently in grad school for special ed as well as studying for my personal training test. I love to read and am always studying for something!
My fav food is boring, but it is pizza. I could eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner. My favorite type of pizza is w/ pepperoni and mushrooms. I am also a follow on twitter
I crave peanut butter often too. Strangely, just last night I Was thinking that the only fat I get is in the form of EVOO and peanut butter, or walnuts and almonds. I made a list of different “Fats” I need to start buying! I should start using more flaxseed, for sure. I guess I do eat fish too..
So this giveaway is fantastic!! I would LOVE to win this book and get a better idea of the nutritional concept of integrative nutrition
Favorite food: PEANUT BUTTER!
Also, I am now following you on Twitter, AND I Tweeted!
LOL! I’m laughing at the pancake
I’m sure it was still yummy!
Already a tweeter!!
Already a bloggy!
That pancake sounds really interesting. I’m not normally a pancake fan, but the flavors sound too good to pass up! I have too many favorite foods to name just one!! LOL Does pizza count
Oh bog.. my food potato chips. So not healthy
Overnight Oats with a little almond milk, plain yogurt, flax, Biochem whey protein, a little almond butter, cacao nibs and tons of cinnamon on top to soak in overnight. I’m obsessed!
I always suck at picking a favorite food… which I guess is a good thing since I like a lot of variety! But since I have okra in the oven right now that is most definitely going to be dunked in spicy ketchup, I am going to go with “dippable foods”. Which makes me think of Dunkaroos from my childhood. Ohhhh memories
And I already subscribe to your blog!! (ps I’m SUPER jealous of the Galaxy granola!! Do they sell that in stores? Or just none of the stores that I shop at…
)
i totally think I was eating so much PB because I was missing protein! Let’s see my fav food is actually PB …but if I could eat a chocolate chip cookie daily I would!
link love is spread! http://runtothefinish.blogspot.com/2010/03/mental-marathon-long-run-routine.html
I always crave peanut butter! maybe I should start taking a multivitamin.. haha!
Food looks amazing as usual. I think we share the same taste buds
My favorite foods.. oh jeez.. peanut butter, sweet potatoes, chicken, cottage cheese, salmon, I could go on and on! Sorry that’s more than 1. LOL!
And I follow you on twitter!
Peanut Butter is my fav food of all time!
I am a subscriber.
I am craving it, so right now my very favourite food is almond butter
And I am subscribed to your blog!
my favorite food is watermelon!
following you on twitter! @carrothead
I linked you too!
OMG I have the same mini pan as you, ha ha! I love that bad boy! Oh and by the way, I love your blog, it’s so fun to cruise around!
My fave food is hummus. Yup!
I’m in love with avocado…on my way to the kitchen…n.o…w…!!
Bread!! I love it.sandwiches, toast,with olive oil.I love it!!cc
My favforite food is raw almond butter.
runningmatey@hotmail.com
OMG, I am totally having the same nut butter/nuts cravings these past few days. I swear, I eat like 2 cups of cashews a day PLUS a few tbsp of almond or peanut butter. Ya…gonna have to do some serious cutbacks on my diet in the next few days plus some added cardio. Your philosophy is interesting though because I have TOTALLY been stressed out lately. Thanks for the post!
I think right now my fav food has to be nuts (cashews) and nut butter (almond butter).
PB for me is a huge comfort food and of course delicious, I can go totally over the top with it. We’ve always heard that old adage “listen to your body”, but recently I found that my body tells me the wrong things. When trying to lose weight, my body will go through stages of sweet cravings, PB cravings, serious hunger pangs, however, this is the body’s way of signaling survival mode and helping us to prevent starvation. I have discovered if I listen to the signals my weight loss progress will stall. If I ignore it in as many ways possible, drink more water, put fingers in ears and scream “la, la, la…”, have another cup of tea…anything….my weight loss goals progress and eventually the body will shut up for a few days.
kabocha is my all time favorite food! just steam it and freeze 5 min, the best simplest and most comforting food in the world for me.
I write some traditional chinese medicine posts, check them out if you’re interested on Yin/Yang philosophy, that’s part of the TCM.
I linked back!
thanks for holding this amazing giveaway. i’ve heard so much about this book! my favorite food would have to be chocolate. i can always count on it to put a smile on my face!
subscribed to your blog!
My favorite whole food? PUMPKIN! I love this stuff up. Second place is protein powder, of course! Although I’m not sure this qualifies as a whole food, does it?
What brand is the Cake Batter protein powder? Sounds too yummy not to try in my oatmeal!
The book looks like a great addition to my library. Congrats on your first giveaway, as well
Twitter: NourishedFit
says:
I use Muscle Gauge (sweetened with Stevia) or All the Whey (Splenda). I believe they are actually sister companies
My favorite food would have to be chocolate (preferably dark) with peanut butter
I just signed up to follow your blog