Eating MMA style

Howdy! I hope that everyone is having a dry day while the rain (at least here) comes down. 

If you haven't yet, click on over to yesterday's guest post by Heather. Thanks again Heather! What a great post that was! The protein debate is definitely a hot topic. High protein, low protein, low carb, high fat, whatever your nutrient intake may be, I bet it's different for you than for your neighbor. What does work for you?? Myself, I need a balance of everything. I cannot eat tons and tons of almond butter (ooooh but I wish wish WISH I could...) and hope not to gain a pound. I can't eat only green smoothies everyday either, although I need my daily morning one. Personally I need a little of everything, or whatever my body is craving. And honestly, if I try to cut one thing out of my diet, I usually just end up needing that forbidden food in the end.

So, whatever does work for you, I hope that you are listening to your body and giving it the energy it needs to perform the best it possibly can.

And what was my body telling me it wanted today??

6 a.m. Cardio Kickboxing class at the gym. Mixed Martial Arts style, baby. We did squats, jumping jacks, high knees, punches, upper cuts, jabs, back kicks, front kicks, abs, abs, and more abs. Oh it was glorious. I may be adding the gym's MMA classes to my workout routine, because honestly, it's a hell of a workout. And have you ever seen a scrony MMA fighter? No. Their muscles are cut. And after the class, my stomach told me exactly what it wanted for breakfast...

Thank you Whole Foods!

Fresh, still warm, vegan blackberry scone (with whole wheat flour and oats).

I do not normally eat baked goods that I haven't made but really, it was calling my name...

Last night we had a slightly different kind of meal. Ethiopian food to be exact, i.e. living-room-picnic style.

Might not be the loveliest meal, but full of flavor

Injera, I love you.

Now that you've (and I) have had our fill of food pictures, take a trip on over to The Chic Life where Diana is hosting an online bake sale for Haiti. All proceeds go to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund. This is a wonderful cause and you get to bid on some homemade magic (baked goods!).

See ya later!

Guest Post: The Great Protein Debate

Happy Monday!
Starting your day out right is important. It is a fact that we should be eating a solid breakfast in order to optimize our day. Along with breakfast, blog reading is another essential element to a stellar day, well at least mine. Yes, I love to read the news and catch up on current issues, but peaking into a bloggers day of meals, exercises, and thoughts, just makes me happy. 
So, thank you to all of you who blog. It takes time, dedication, a camera, and creativity, and we look forward to reading it. So, thanks!

Since today is Monday (again) and I would like you to start off your day, and week, right. Today includes a special guest post by a talented woman; Someone who has helped to put Almond Butter on the map! Well, at least she's made almond butter a household name for those dedicated readers of her blog. She eats like a champ, posts great reads, and creates amazing pancake recipes to boot! Without further introduction, Heather from Heather Eats Almond Butter.

First off, many thanks to Lori for allowing me to guest post on Run.Lori.Run. Lori, I'm honored. :)
OK, so let's talk protein...
...1 gram per pound of bodyweight...2 grams per kilogram...no no no, that's way too high, just use this calculator to determine your daily protein requirements...Anyone else out there confused about how much protein our bodies require? I am!
Anything health or fitness related always interests me, and the amount of protein we truly need seems to be a pretty hot topic. After all, the body is made up of over 50% protein, and we have to get the essential amino acids our bodies require from the food we eat. But again, how much do we need to eat?
See, the thing is, I want to look lean and muscular. To me, there is nothing more beautiful on a woman than a sculpted  arm. In fact, I've been known to approach complete strangers to ask how did you get such amazing biceps? Well, I have come to learn that even though a large part is diet, it takes some work to gain those muscles. Protein alone does not = bigger muscles. However, in attempt to gain lean muscle mass, I keep making the mistake of eating lean lean lean protein even though my body says no no no. Upping my protein intake has never given me bigger muscles, just a bigger stomach.
 Every time I try eating a diet higher in protein, I give up meals like this...

2 whole eggs with sweet potato fries and almond butter.

for meals like this...

Green Protein Shake

So not fun, and the thing is every time I try eating higher protein, I gain weight...and trust me, it's not on my biceps. I know what works for me, and I don't know why I keep straying from a diet high in fat, with moderate carbs and protein, as it's the way of eating that helped me lose weight as well as maintain my current weight. So, for me, no more counting grams of protein. Since I eat meat, I know I'm getting plenty, and if it's stronger biceps I want, then I'll hit the yoga mat for some chaturangas. In the past, they've done more for my arms than any amount of egg white omelets ever did.
My point to this whole post is to remind all of you that what works for some is not going to work for others. I know that many people thrive on a high protein diet. I don't...my body simply converts the excess protein into glucose, and it goes straight to my belly. For me, the focus needs to be on higher amounts of fat, not protein. Trust me, I've learned the hard way. Listen to YOUR body my friends, and it will tell you what it needs.
What about you? Are you a protein junkie, a lover of all fats, or a carb addict? What works best for YOU?

Thanks Heather!!

Have a great day everyone! Hope that filled you up!

I am whole

Hey everyone! Happy Sunday!

I managed to get today started superbly! After laying in bed this morning, for quite a while, catching up on some of my favorite blogs, I took a trip over to heathereatsalmondbutter.com, knowing that Heather always has great looking pancake recipes. In the mood for a green smoothie breakfast break (only a slight break), I decided to try out one of her recipes. Now, I need to point out that her pancakes are not like conventional pancakes, filled with sugar, floury gluten, and dairy. Heather's pancakes have a different texture, as they are allergy free and loaded with good for you proteins. After browsing her recipes for a while, I decided to make a mixture between her Coconut Flour Pancakes and the Protein Pancakes.

Oats, coconut flour, chocolate hemp protein powder, egg whites, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder

The verdict? Some of the most uniquely delicious pancakes ever. And they were topped with one of my favorite things... Tahini (and agave)! So good. Definitely hit the spot.

I just couldn't help but suffocate them with the good stuff (tahini)

After, I cleared my plate, I hurried out the door to the yoga studio. This morning we had an amazing power yoga class. And really, who needs a steam room/sauna when you attend a VERY crowded power class?? Not I. It was glorious.

Later, to my surprise (best day of my life), the Whole Foods Market, located only 20 miles from my house, opened up a Cafe Gratitude inside. Honestly, I could not be happier. You just do not understand. I love Cafe Gratitude. A raw, vegan, delicious, (expensive), cafe. My paradise. And needless to say, I wandered over to become Whole with their macrobiotic bowl of shredded kale, sea vegetables, steamed quinoa, house made kim chee and sprouts with garlic-tahini sauce and teriyaki almonds.

I am Whole.

Raw food dream come true.

Yes, it was amazingly good. I also decided to become a little Effervesecent with the house gingerale (Ginger, lemon, agave and naturally sparkling water on ice). Refreshing.

My day has been fulfilled. All I need to do now is get a new cell phone (fiasco described at the end of the post). It's been two full weeks without one. And actually, it's kind of nice not having one. But, I'm caving and purchasing one tonight.

Get ready for Monday!

I give you my heart

Hi everyone!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

I do love Fridays. Hope your Thursday night went well. I wanted to recap for everyone my week in exercise land. I am posting what I did in terms of calorie busting sessions just in case you'd like some variety in your exercise regimen. I love variety when it comes to working out and I've definitely been making sure I'm mixing up my workouts. And honestly, the P90X program helps out a lot with this. (For any clarification of an exercise, just let me know)

Sunday
P90X: Chest & Back
Done straight through, then repeated
Standard push-up- 20 regular, 30 total (10 on knees) x 2
Wide front pull-up- using band, 30 x 2
Military push-up- 25 on knees
Reverse grip chin-up using band- 23; 20
Wide fly push-ups- 18 reg, 30 total; 20 reg, 35 total
Closed grip overhand pull-up- 22; 20
Decline push-ups- 17 reg, 30 total x2
Heavy pants- 15 reps @ 15# x 2
Diamond push-ups- 24 on knees x 2
Lawnmowers- 15 reps @ 25# x 2
Dive-bomber push-ups- 7 reg, 20 total; 30 on knees
Back flys- 15 reps @ 10# x 2

P90X: Ab Ripper X
All exercises 25 reps
In & outs
Seated bicycle
Seated bicycle reverse
Seated crunchy frog
Crossed leg/ wide leg sit-up
Fifer scissor
Hip rock 'n raise
Pulse-ups/ heel-ups
Roll-up/ v-up combo
Oblique v-up
Leg climb
Mason twist- 50 reps
1 hr, 15 min

Monday
Power Vinyasa Flow
90 minutes

Tuesday
P90X: Plyometrics 
All done for 30 seconds, 4th move done for 60 seconds.
Jump squat
Run-stance squat
Airborne Heisman
Swing kick
repeat 1-4
Squat reach jump
Run-stance squat switch pick-up
Double airborne Heisman
Circle run
repeat 1-4
Jump knee tuck
Mary Katherine lunge
Leapfrog squat
Twist combo
repeat 1-4
Rock star hop
Gap jump
Squat jacks
Military march
repeat 1-4
Run squat 180 jump switch
Lateral leapfrog squat
Monster truck tires
Hot foot
repeat 1-4
Bonus round, all 60 seconds
Pitch & catch
Jump shot
Football hero
58 min

Wednesday
P90X: Shoulders & Arms
Alternating shoulder press- 15 reps @ 15#
In & out bicep curls- 15 reps @ 15#; 20 reps @ 10#
Two-arm tricep kickbacks- 15 reps @ 10#
repeat
Deep swimmer's press- 15 reps @ 10#
Full supination concentration curls- 15 reps @ 15#
Chair dips- 30 reps
repeat
Upright rows- 15 reps @ 15#
Static arm curl- 15 reps @ 15#
Flip-grip twist tricep kickbacks- 18 reps @ 10#
repeat
Two-angle shoulder flys- 16 reps @ 10; 20 reps @ 5#
Crouching Cohen curls- 15 reps @ 10#; 18 reps @ 10#
Lying-down tricep extensions- 20 reps @ 10#
repeat
Bonus round
In & out straight-arm shoulder flys- 16 reps @ 10#
Congdon curls- 15 reps @ 15#
Side tri-rises- 22 reps
repeat 

P90X: Ab Ripper X
See above
1 hr, 15 min

Thursday
P90X: Cardio X
15 minutes Yoga
15 minutes Kenpo (karate/kickboxing)
15 minutes Plyo
15 minutes Core synergistics
60 min

Friday
Foundations of Flow/ Vinyasa Yoga
90 minutes

And after all of this exercise, a girl gets huuuuuuuungry!

Last night we had falafels with cabbage salad and tahini sauce. SO GOOD. One of my favorites.

 

And then with the amazing leftovers, today's lunch was grand.

Giant salad with tahini dressing

And for dessert, Chocolate Almond Butter Hearts (raw and vegan)!

A mixture of recipes by wonderful Averie with her Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cups (her's looked much better than mine...) and Ani Phyo's Liquid Chocolate from one of her books.

To make:

Put some almond butter, agave, nutritional yeast, vanilla, and salt into a bowl

Put into a mold of choice, filling mold half way, leaving room for chocolate layer

...then...

Melt some cacao butter

Stir in some cacao powder, agave, and vanilla

 Pour over the almond butter layer in the mold

(Hearts! Thanks Ikea!)

Place in fridge or freezer until hard and pop out of mold.

Enjoy. From one heart to another!

Again, happy Friday! Enjoy your night!