Good morning!
It looks like my long run on Friday and lack of sleep on the weekend really did me in because my body is not bouncing back as quickly as it usually does. I am feeling quite run down this morning!
The difference between me now and pre-injury (January 2009) is that I now listen to my body as much as I can. I feel more in tune with my body and I can tell when it is not 100% whereas before I would have just ignored all signs. I find that running when I am not feeling my best leads to longer recovery time and more stress on the immune system.
My solution is rest, eat healthy, Green Monster it up, laugh, smile, and be good to yourself. You only get one of you! My run will be waiting for me when I am ready.
What didn’t have to wait is a delicious breakfast.
I haven’t had a Vegan Overnight Oats Parfait since before my Chicago trip. The excitement overwhelmed me.
High Protein Chocolate Pumpkin Vegan Overnight Oat Parfait
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1.5 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 serving Vega chocolate protein powder
- 1.25 cup Almond milk
- 1/2 cup pumpkin
- Banana soft serve
- Unsweet coconut, to garnish
- Pumpkin seeds, to garnish
Directions: In a small to medium sized bowl mix the oats, chia seeds, protein powder, and milk with a whisk until all clumps are gone. Now add the pumpkin and stir well. Place in fridge for 1 hour or overnight. In the morning make the banana soft serve by processing 1 frozen banana in food processor with a splash of almond milk. Layer your parfait and top with coconut and pumpkin seeds. Enjoy!
Oh Banana soft serve it has been too long, too long, my dear friend!
The high protein chocolate pumpkin VOO!
Do I even have to say this was delish? :)
I had a mixture of Teaopia chia mate and Four O’Clock Japanese Sencha loose leaf teas.
It’s that time again! I missed last week due to traveling, but I am back with some great health and fitness links from the past week.
Health News Round Up
- 5 ways to avoid running injuries – Fit Sugar
- Do toning shoes really work? – Thats Fit
- 20 ways to detox your home – Huffington Post
- Healthy potato salad with no mayo– Thatsfit.ca
- Is your favourite ice cream made with Monsanto’s artificial hormones? – Huffington Post
- Have you seen the newest Healthy Living Blog resource to hit the scene? – Healthy Living Blogs
- Vegan Chocolate Chili recipe – Vegnews
- Avocado and tomato salad with pumpkin seeds – Thatsfit.ca
- What are the latest workout trends? – National Post
- Do you air dry your workout clothes? – Fit Sugar
- Race addicts: Mad for marathons – Globe and Mail
- Leafy greens can cut diabetes risk – National Post
- 10 dirty and 5 clean fruits and veggies – Huffington Post
- Side stitch: What causes it and how to prevent it – Fit Sugar
Spottings:
- Healing cabbage, Potato, & Tomato Curry Stew – Cleen Teen Kelsey
- Healthy Carrot Cake Power Scuffins – The Runners Plate
- Banana Soft Serve Vegan Overnight Oats – Why Deprive
- Vegan Overnight Oats – No More Schlumpadinka
- Soul Soothing Quinoa Curry with couscous – Red Head Yellow Dog
- Creamy PB + J Oatmeal Parfait (and a carrot showgirl haha!)– Hooked On Health
- Easy Roasted balsamic green beans – San Diego Health Buzz
- Homemade Salt + Vinegar Chips– The Thom-Speeds
- Healthy Zucchini Power Scuffins – Coach Potato Athlete
- Mexican Tortilla Pie – Coach Potato Athlete
- Salt & Vinegar Chips – Chasing Ambulances
- Salt & Vinegar Chickpeas – Cooking In Japan
- Frosty No Bake Glo Cakes – Learning To Love Live Laugh
Today’s question: Do you feel like you are in tune with your body’s needs? Do you find it easy or hard to listen to your body?
I LOVE your teacup! Where did you buy that?
I think I listen to my body fairly well in terms of when it needs me to do less or eat more, but I’m not as good at pushing myself when my body tells me I can do more. That is…. if my body says I can run another half mile, I’ll do it, but if my feet whine at me during that run I might let myself walk even when I know my body can handle running. I guess I have lazy feet. :-p I’m also still learning how to recognize when I’m full – especially if I’m eating pizza :-p
I’m definitely working on being more in tune with my body’s needs. Thanks so much for the health news roundup! I found the article on 5 ways to avoid running injuries very helpful :)
OK that parfait is seriously GORGEOUS. It looks like a wonderful dessert – my goodness!
I find it to be a real balance when it comes to being in tune with my body. I know that when I am I feel SO much better. My body craves good food and exercise and when I don’t give it that, I am a cranky beast!
Hi Angela! I just want you to know when I ran this morning I thought about you. I actually cried, not because I was tired or in pain, but because I’m dealing with alot right now and I ran further than I’ve ever ran in my life today.
You can read more about it at my brand new site: www.heather-mcclees.com and also on my regular blog with recipes:)- www.thesoulfulspoon.com
Thank you for your inspiration!
Heather
Echoing a lot of people here – I think I’ve made a great deal of progress in listening to my body in the recent past, but it’s an uphill struggle differentiating between what your mind wants and what your body needs.
Eating and exercising in a routine manner helps a lot, as well as sticking to real food rather than snacking through mild hunger. In this respect I think you can condition your body by getting used to eating better, so hunger pangs are less frequent but more genuine when they arrive. Ploughing through sugary sweets and loading up on (too much) caffeine can leave our bodies exhausted and confused, craving more of what we don’t need.
I think the best thing to do if you feel crappy and like you’re not giving your body the right things is to step back and really force yourself to evaluate your lifestyle choices. Easier said than done, but a few of weeks of treating my body better than usual will leave me in no doubt that the difficult choices and hard-won willpower are worth it in the long run.
Sorry for the long one! I must try to make the VOO soon, they look delicious…
I listen to my body. We have a slient communication for the most part. It lets me know what it needs and when it needs it. Right now it needs more rest….so I am resting. When it’s ready to rock and roll again I’ll be right there with it since I have no place else to be. I only get one body and it’s the suitcase for my soul….
Thanks for the link!!
I definitely have an easier time listening to my body now than I used to. I used to know full well when something was about to go wrong, but I ignored it. I was the “push through the pain” girl, and that got me into trouble. Now I make a point of taking it easy if Im not feeling 100% – its just not worth an injury.
This post absolutely SPEAKS to me today!! I just blogged about this: my body is just not feeling right at the moment – unfortunately I didn’t realize (or even FEEL) it until I was in a spinning class… half way through I just crashed and burned!! It’s frustrating because I am usually very good at listening to my body and being cautious about pushing myself too far. Now I am totally pooped in a bad way and I wish I hadn’t taken spin.. boo :( Ah well. It’s a lesson learned to be extra diligent in listening to my body!
Yummy breakfast :)
Wow…this post could not have come at a better time! I’m really bad at listening to my body and am currently paying for it…On my last long run I felt this strange twinge in my hip/glute area. It didn’t really hurt so I kept going. Fast forward two days and I could not walk without hobbling, let alone run. Turns out it is piriformis syndrome, probably caused by too much mileage and/or improper stretching. Long story short; I’m going to be off of running for a while and I’m not sure what the longterm prognosis will be. Your post is a great reminder to LISTEN to the signals your body is sending you, even if they are difficult to decipher. Up until my injury, I didn’t feel run down or like I was “overdoing it” but I should have listened to that little twinge when I was running and called it a day. Now I have to drop out of the Labour day half-marathon I was planning and I am very sad. Boo.
Great advice about listening more to your body’s signals. I’ve been training and have had several days recently where I just didn’t feel it. I ignored my pains and exhaustion and they’ve just gotten work. Luckily no injuries, but it’s about time to start paying more attention and respecting my body. Thanks for the reminder!
I think it’s great you’re listening to your body! It’s taken me a LONG time to learn that lesson– after plenty of injuries and getting run down! It’s still a struggle sometimes for me to take a “rest day” when I really WANT to run… but I know my next run will be better if I take it easy when my body says to! Plus, enjoying really healthy foods makes any day better! (esp. if it includes banana soft serve!) ;)
omg… are we really at the time of year for pumpkin?!?!
I’m so not ready! Where’s summer going!??!
I’m still in the process of learning to listen to my body. Especially when it comes to food. It’s usually my mind that makes me make bad choices, not my body.
I am being more mindful of everything, and that includes being in tune with my body. Angela, I want to give thanks for a post you did a month ago because it really got my thinking about life. I discussed it here: http://www.raspberrystethoscope.com/2010/08/mindful-living.html
Your parfaits just getter better and better. I love the temptation of pumpkin and fall being right around the corner.
What type of teapot do you use? I’m trying to find a good one but can’t decide. I’ve gone through too many!
Loving the pumpkin recipes I have been seeing lately. I am trying to hold out, but I might just have to break open a can of pumpkin this week for myself!!
so cool that so many ppl make your recipes!!! :)
omg i LOVE dried mango! i also love dried figs, pineapple, cherries, plums (prunes), grapes (Raisins)!! all sooooo good. nature’s candy!
I am recovering from an eating disorder so since I have spent so much time “ignoring” my body’s natural cues, I find it hard to listen and trust my gut (no pun intended) instinct.
On average how many calories would you consume? That parfait looks exquisite.. nutritional information please :)
I am FINALLY starting to listen to my body. I recently started to make sure I have a rest day scheduled every week and I found it really helped lessen my injuries.
There is that tricky balance though of knowing when you need to stop and rest and when you’re just being lazy. But even those times when you’re just tired and being lazy I guess that kinda counts as listening to your body, huh?
I had pb&J voo parfait this morning. I don’t know if I’ll ever get sick of it! Hard finding pumpkin though lately. guess I’ll just have to stock up this fall!
Aw, thank you for mentioning my post. I loved that stew. :)
Oh my! Looks delicious!