Cool Running (who I credit with my running because of their famous Couch to 5k plan) tweeted/twittered today about the 8 common nutrition mistakes. I didn’t and still haven’t made it past mistake number 1: protein intake. The article recommends .5 – .75 grams of protein per pound of body weight. This would mean I should eat between 87.5 and 131.25. I’ve actually thought about my protein intake a lot in the past and every time I have analyzed my food intake I was fine with protein (or so I thought). However, on the way home, I realized that with my new eating habits (particularly my salad lunches instead of my old standby wraps that probably had enough chicken and bacon in them to provide my daily caloric intake on their own) I may not be eating enough protein.
Breakfast: 6 g
Snack: 8 g
Lunch: 9 g
Snack: 5 g
Dinner: 18 g
Protein shake: 17 g
Total: 63 g
So I was right that is definitely: NOT ENOUGH! This morning I tried my first attempt at a Green Monster. I put 1/2 cup of Almond Breeze, 5 strawberries, 1/2 banana, 2 tablespoons of flax seed, spinach, and a 1/2 cup of crushed ice. It was….interesting. I had to eat it with a spoon and something about the taste just wasn’t great. I think tomorrow I’m going to try again but this time
- without the flaxseed (hello I’m an idiot and thought this was a great source of protein for some reason and it is not at all – I’m not sure what the benefits are in fact…perhaps I should read the nutrition label of these things before I blindly buy them because I see them on blogs; also I bought the seeds and not the meal so there were seeds throughout the shake and it was just not tasty)
- without the almond breeze (I think I may just not be a fan)
- with a protein shake (17 grams of protein that tastes like chocolate deliciousness)
.
I’m optimistic that this will taste good because I think the one today had potential but the sludginess and the seeds took away from that.
As planned on the schedule from yesterday, I woke up and did Level I of Jillian’s Shred. This evening after dinner, M and I went to the gym where I swam 1000 meters and then ran 1.5 miles. I used to like days that M did lower body (which are Mondays now) but now I don’t like them as much because we aren’t there as long. Oh well, still a good day and got what I wanted accomplished. On tap for tomorrow, shred again (I am going to amend the schedule and plan to do Shred every morning — I haven’t ever made it to level 2 
).
So are you eating enough protein?
I shoot for around 100 grams of protein a day. I do supplement with protein powder in things like oats, which helps. I also eat greek yogurt, which has a lot of protein! I try to make sure that there is protein in my snacks, too.
The flax seeds must be ground up before you eat them, as your body can't digest them whole. I put them in my magic bullet and grind the up (coffee grinder works just as well). Store in the fridge.
Hi. So I had a dream about you last night. You had come to visit and you looked AMAZING. Like thin and in shape. Hot. Haha.
Protein for me today: 9g – Protein bar; 1g – banana; granola – 5g; yogurt – 9 g; frozen lunch – 12g; chicken quesadilla – 25 g = 61g and I need 85!
It's especially hard for me since I don't eat beef or pork. But I should try for more protein-y snacks myself.