Almond Flour Pizza Crust

Crust:
2 cups Almond Flour
1 cup Arrow Root
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Himalyian Sea Salt
tbsp Italian Seasoning
3 eggs
1/2 cup Almond Milk

Heat oven to 425 degrees.
Blend all ingredients together. Use either stoneware or rectangle baking pan. Grease the pan. Place mix on the pan and spread out on the pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and place your topping on the pizza. My favorite is Greek Style. Spinach, tomatoes, olives, feta with either tomato sauce or basalmic vineger. Cook again for 10-15 minutes.

Try using pesto instead of tomato sauce. Load the pizza with all that left over zucchini from the garden.

Not Quite Vegan Yet

It has now been a month on this vegetarian journey. It is not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I thought I would miss my daily chicken, especially buffalo chicken, but no. I use to eat grilled chicken for snack or lunch everyday and I don't miss it. I have absolutely no cravings for meat, even eggs. Occasionally I eat eggs but I don't crave them anymore. I would normally eat 4 egg whites with plenty of vegetables with salsa on top. Now I eat just the vegetables in a stir-fry or oatmeal with protein powder or sweet rice bread. Those are pretty much my staples for breakfast.

I am enjoying the new vegetarian foods that we are consuming. The tastes are explosive. I am feeling more energetic and am less bloated. I feel really great. I still get tired in the afternoon and need my pick-me-up. However, yesterday I didn't need it. For breakfast I had a smoothie with bee pollen. I think that gave me the extra energy to get through a busy day at work and teach boot camp at night. I am going to try to do more smoothies for breakfast or snack.

So far the only problem I have run into with this diet is the amount of carbohydrates that I am consuming. Before I was eating protein at every meal. Now my protein level has gone done but the carbohydrates have increased. I have not gained weight but haven't lost any either. Everything I read about vegan bodybuilding said that I should have 80% carbs, 10% protein, and 10% fat. It is the fat and the carbohydrates that can cause the weight gain. The carbohydrates open the cells to allow the protein or fat to go into the cells. So why would you want to put fat in your cells? We want protein to full those muscle cells to become stronger. However, the carbohydrates are extremely important to a body builder. They help to put on the bulk. What I need to figure out is how to lose weight on the diet? How do I eat healthy food that is not laden with carbohydrates? I know I need to change my thought process on this but I am so tuned into protein and less carbs which makes it hard change. And I can only eat so much vegetables.

We have been making vegetarian pizzas by using almond flour for the crust. Then we load up on vegetables. It is so good but it has many carbs. Scott had burritos last week and vege lasagna. Last night he made vege burgers with all the trimmings. I am lucky that he is an excellent cook and loves to cook. When I cook, we have a salad.

We have not been able to give up diary yet. I am sure that is helping to keep the weight on. Diary is high in fat even though we are using fat free or low fat cheese. But to be vegan and healthier, I need to eliminate it altogether. I usually only have cheese at dinner. Cheese is going to be the hardest to give up because it makes everything taste better. We have been trying to switch to goat cheese instead of cow cheese. Our body has the enzymes to break down goats cheese but not cow. And watching the videos about what they do to cows to get them to produce more milk is barbaric. I can't believe what the US allows to happen to these farm animals. Every time I think of eating chicken, I picture that video in my head. I don't think I can ever go back to meat again. If those farm houses had windows, everyone would be vegetarian.

Eating meat or diary causes your body to become more acidic. This acidity causes the calcium to be leached out of the teeth and bones to try to neutralize the acid. Why does the diary companies promote drinking milk but we still have a high rate of osteoporosis in this country? Why is our country so over weight? You do the research and decide for yourself.

Starting Vegetarian

My husband has been doing a lot of research lately on veganism. He is reading the China Study which explains why we should be vegan. It talks about how casein, an animal protein, and aflotoxin in peanuts can cause cancer when eaten in combination. The meat products and diary activates the aflotoxin and makes it dangerous for our health. Since reading about this, we have been watching videos, like Food Matters and Veganism. These movies show how animals are treated. I will not go into it here because it is too awful to talk about.

Since reading the book 1 month ago, we started going vegetarian. We haven't made it vegan yet, but we are working on it. We still occasionally eat eggs for breakfast and diary with meals. I am trying to eliminate diary but that is proving very hard. I am feeling great staying away from meat. I thought I would miss it, but I don't. I use to feel extremely full and bloated when I ate meat and wheat. Sometimes I looked like I was pregnant. It was such an uncomfortable experience that I had to do something.

There are many varieties of food to chose from. The hardest part is finding snacks and dinner food that isn't full off carbohydrates. Since I always at low carbs, I am struggling with what to eat. I can only eat so many salads. I think I have "saladed" myself out for a while. I have been eating oatmeal with protein powder in morning. Lunch has been a salad, or vege sandwich, snack is nuts, cacao, and gogi berries, then dinner is soy and vegetables with diary. (Shepard's pie, hot dog and beans, vege lasagna with no noodles) Scott is a great cook but we need to start eating healthier.

I am researching what vegans eat on a daily basis so I can get an idea about the direction to go. It is easy being an unhealthy vegetarian, but I want to be healthy and continue to build muscle. I have taken some time off on working out except for the occasional run. Last week I started hitting it hard again. I love the feel of sore muscles. I am looking forward to sculpting my body again and leaning out. This time I intend to continue this way of life and not go crazy after competition. I am not training for a figure competition, just for myself. I do have the Spartan race this Sunday, the Seacoast Road Series, a duathalon, and 3 half marathons this year. My goal is to run twice a week and bike once as well as lift 3 times per week. I should be able to lose weight properly while nourishing my body with plant protein.

I have spent the last 6 weeks losing the holiday weight that I gained after the GSO. It was very hard to continue my diet during Christmas and New Year's Parties. I had about 10 pounds that I needed to gain after the show. I was very thin and it was impossible to maintain a weight that low. So I slowly watched the scale go up and up. However, it didn't stop. It kept going. I just looked at pizza and gained 2 pounds. I was spinning out of control. I was warned that this would happen if I don't be careful. Many body builders face this same situation. I went from a year of dieting to eating normal. it's not like I was eating very bad, just at the parties. I ate healthy during the week but splurged on the weekend. My metabolism was very efficient that I burned 300 calories on a hour long run. I use to burn 500 calories.

So now I am back and in control of my life. I need to keep blogging so as to stay focused for you and myself.

The last 6 weeks has been great for me. I have been off sugar and wheat. During a seminar I found out I was sensitive to wheat and now I need to stay away from it for 90 days mimimun and then get retested. This seminar has made me motivated to grow my nutrition practice to help others achieve their goals. I also have started a 12 week program with Marcia to help clients change their life style. You can check these out on my website www.naturalfitnesssolutions.net

Wolf Hollow Half Marathon

Yesterday, I ran my second half marathon in Nashua. The race started at 8:15 AM. It was extremely cold. The Will Run for Beer Series last winter was never this cold. Fortunately, we were able to remain in the local YMCA to stay warm.

 At race time, we preceded to the starting line. Scott and I went to the back so we could stand in the sun. He decided to run with me the entire time so that he can work on slowing down for his Goofy run in January. We were at a constant 10 minute mile. At mile five, I needed a potty break. We lost about a minute. Scott wanted to run faster to make up this time. We did. Then the small hills hit and I had to slow down again. At mile 9, Scott wanted to speed up and run a 9 minute mile. I obeyed. I thought I was going to die but I pushed on. (Nine minute miles are not that big a deal, but after nine miles, they're hard.) Half way through he asked if I wanted to slow down. Of course I did but I kept going. Finally mile 10 arrived. Yeah!!! I slowed right down to catch my breathe. Then the hilly part came again. We kept catching up to groups of people, so Scott kept weaving in and out of people because he doesn't like being caught in a group. So I had to keep speeding up to stay with him. I wasn't happy. I was exhausted and my legs were sore. I was breathing heavy, which I don't like to do. I like to run slow to keep my breathing steady. During mile 11, Scott said that we need to push it out at mile 12 to the end. I had to give it everything I had, which wasn't much. He started breaking away from me at 11 1/2 miles. I couldn't keep up anymore. I needed to reserve a little for the end. Slowly, the mile 12 marker appeared. I was almost done. Thank God. I kicked it into gear again. Another hill I had to run up. I passed a few people. Running down hill was faster and easier. Then the trail went flat. I had to slow down. I couldn't hold the pace anymore. Then I turned into the parking lot. I could see the end of the race. I kicked it up a notch. Normally, I sprint to the end. I couldn't. I left everything on the trail. I ran as fast as I could across the finish line. I was done. I wanted to puke. (Yes, for everyone I train, I almost did.) I completed the run in 2 hours and 11 minutes with a 9:57 minute pace. Holy cow!! I run a 10 minute mile for my 5K, not a half. I was too sore to be excited. My calves were on fire. My legs felt like lead. But I did it. Thanks to my wonderful husband who pushed me way out of my comfort zone. However, the rest of the day I was cursing him. Everything including waist down, hurt. It hurt to move, to walk upstairs, to straighten my leg while sitting on the coach. I was a mess. And what did Scott say, "Your welcome for breaking your record." He laughed every time I groaned. I had to take Advil last night so that I can sleep. I am still sore today but not anywhere near as bad as I was yesterday.

 I am happy that he pushed me because I have a tendency to stay in my comfortable zone and not push on runs. I always want to make sure I can finish the race. I usually push myself at the end when I have plenty of reserve. Now I know I can go harder and faster. My goal now will be to run the 5K with a 9 minute mile. Look out Marcia. Start training now.

Turkey Trot 2012

This year Marcia and I created the Impromptu Turkey Trot of South Berwick. We sent invites to a few close friends to come run with us. She mapped out a 5K route and a 5 miler. We had 23 people run/walk in their santa hats. Everyone had a great time. For some, this was their first 5K. We plan on organizing an annual Turkey Trot in South Berwick. Next year, we envision 100 people running and celebrating. Its a great way to burn off some calories before the holiday festivities begin.
Plan on joining us next year for this great local run. We also plan on organizing another run in March to support the local cub scouts. Look for info to follow for sign ups.

 

Thank Thanksgiving

I am happy for Thanksgiving. A time to eat turkey, stuffing, potaoes, and dessert. A time to overindulge for the day without any guilty feeling. A time to spend with family and friends to celebrate everything that we are thankful for.  A time to eat left overs for three days. However, I am thankful no more. My stomach is expanding, my pants don't need a belt anymore, and I feel "yucky". Time to get back on track. I do not want to go up in pant size again. I like fitting into a size four. I know I need to gain some weight in the off season to be able to build muscle. However, enough is enough. I refuse to keep gaining. It's time to cut back before the holiday parties put me over.

 This week I will go back to contest prep diet ( with a little extra) to drop some of the fat that I gained. This lifestyle is truely a head game. Should I eat this? Should I eat that? If I can work the calories off, why not? Will that one lindt chocolate really hurt me? How about two or three? Should I eat the kids left over chicken? It's only a bite? I know I shouldn't, but I do. It's crazy. I had these craving under control. I need to find that place again or I will gain my weight make. I need to learn how to control what I eat and only eat what it good for me. I will perservere, again.