by Mollie Millington | Mar 5, 2020 | recipe
Here is another favorite recipe of mine. I have based it on the Better Homes and Garden’s banana bread recipe. I added course bran and substituted the sugar for natural sweeteners (agave nectar or honey) to make it a bit healthier. You could also use apple sauce instead of oil, but this might change the texture and/or baking time. Sometimes, I make two small loaves. We wrap one up and freeze for a later date when I don’t feel like baking.
If you would like to use measuring cups, pick some up on Amazon here.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups/ 215g whole wheat (whole meal) flour
- ¼ cup/ 15g course bran
- 1 ½ teaspoons/ 7g baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon/ 2g baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 egg
- 3 mashed medium-sized bananas (freeze fresh or brown ones for perfect mushiness)
- ½ cup/ 125ml agave nectar or honey
- 1/8 cup/ 30ml canola oil
- ½ cup chopped nuts, blueberries, or chocolate chips (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (~175°C).
2. Grease bottom and sides of 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan or two 7.5 x 3.5 x 2 inch loaf pans (links below to buy).
3. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Push to the sides of bowl leaving a space in the middle.
4. Mash bananas in a medium bowl.
5. Mix in egg, agave nectar/honey and oil.
6. Add wet mixture into dry bowl. Stir until flour is just moistened. It will be lumpy- don’t worry!
7. Fold in nuts, blueberries, chocolate chips or anything else you fancy.
8. Bake for 55-50 min for 9 x 5 x 3 inch (2 pound) loaf pan or 40-45 minutes for 7.5 x 3.5 x 2 inch (1 pound) loaf pan. Note that the less oil, the less time it will take to cook. If your batter is thick when you put it in the pan, you may need to cook for less time.
9. It is cooked fully when you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean (no mixture on it).
10. Cool for 10 minutes in pan.
11. Remove from pan and continue to cool.
12. Enjoy!
This post contains affiliate links which costs you nothing extra and help maintain the running of this site.
by Mollie Millington | Mar 1, 2020 | quickie
You can use a kitchen timer to keep track of your intervals. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial.
Please consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime.
Remember to go for QUALITY over quantity. Breath on the excursion (ie, exhale when pushing yourself up on the push up, inhale as you return to the ground). Keep your abs in as if there is a string from your belly button pulling through to your spine.
1 minute- Walk in place
30 seconds- Jog in place with high knees
1 minute- While standing with feet should-width apart, touch your hand to the opposite toe (or as close as you can without bending the knees). Come back to standing up with arms out to side (180 degree from each other). Alternate and repeat.
1 minute- Push/press ups against a desk, counter, or wall for beginners or on the floor for advanced readers.
1 minute- Sumo squats (feet wide apart and toes at 45 degrees) with heel lift. Start with one heel up off ground. Every time you come to bottom of squat change which heel is up. This works your inner thighs.
1 minute- Triceps dip on a stable/sturdy (aka not rolling) chair or bench. Elbows point straight back. Only your arms move you up and down.
1 minute- Split squat by assuming lunge position with right foot in front. Drop left knee almost to ground and stand up again. Feet stay where they are. Keep front knee over the ankle. Repeat.
1 minute- Split squat with left foot in front.
1 minute- Leg lifts. Start by laying down on your back. Start with your feet straight up in the air and lowers them as far as you can without your back coming off the ground. Beginners should be able to lower legs about 45 degrees, more advanced readers might be able to lower legs almost to the ground.
1 minute- Plank.
1 minute- Mountain climbers.
Repeat as many times as you would like. Get it done!
by Mollie Millington | Feb 25, 2020 | class review, relax
Some people exercise to relax, others bake, and a new option now is to float. Floatworks is a new studio in London with two locations (Vauxhall and Angel) where you can go to float, relax in silence in a lounge and enjoy a cup of tea. My mom had actually told me about floating before I had heard of it in London. There is a place in my hometown where her friends have already tried it. I was excited to be invited for a complimentary float at Floatworks Angel when they opened in July 2019.
What is floating? Clients spend 60 minutes submerged in salty water (each pod has half a tonne of Epsom salt) with no lights or sound. Epson salt reportedly helps with muscle soreness, reduces swelling and pain, and promotes sleep. The first 10 minutes offers relaxing music to help you settle in, and then the music comes back on five minutes before the float ends. Without any sensory input, you can completely switch off and relax, even enter a bit of a trance. The high level of salt allows you to float effortlessly and the water temperature is meant to be the same as your skin, which means you can’t tell where your skin meets the water.
The facilities at the Angel studio are fantastic. There are lockers to secure your belongings, a room to style your hair and apply makeup, a quiet lounge for relaxing before or after your float and another area to enjoy a complimentary cup of herbal tea. You can arrive early to start to unwind or stay a bit after your float to maintain that zen feeling. Much like a massage, I suggest leaving a few hours free after your float to chillax.
Each pod room has hooks and a shower for you to use, along with towels, earplugs, organic shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. The Hair and Mirrors room has Parlux hairdryers, GHD hair straighteners, organic body moisturiser, cotton buds, and vaseline. You can float naked, which is what I did, or bring your swimsuit. I found it a little chilly and the staff put a note in my record to warm the water another 0.5 degrees C to make me more comfortable. The rain showers were incredible and I had plenty of time after my float to shower and dress.
As you can imagine, I found it extremely hard to switch off for my first float. I was rinsing off in the shower when the music started. So I hopped in the pod and tried to keep my face dry (as the salty water can sting your eyes). I can confirm you definitely float around inside the pod (I gently bumped into the wall a few times). When the lights turned on at the end of my 60 minutes, I was sure the music didn’t turn on as a warning that my time was almost up. The staff member at the desk said I had zoned out so much that I didn’t hear the music, which happens often. I am impressed that I was able to tune everything out and actually relax. Working full-time, training for marathons, and blogging on top, doesn’t leave me much time to do absolutely nothing. Usually, there is multi-tasking happening, or I am thinking about how I can multi-task later. It felt good not to think for a short period of time.
I have another float booked in soon and cannot wait. Now that I know what to expect, I think I will be able to settle in and enjoy the float sooner. Are you curious and want to give it a try? Use the code FLOATMOLLIE for a 20% discount off your first single float experience. Here are all the FAQs in case you still have questions. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.
Thanks to Floatworks for the complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 23, 2020 | exercise, quickie
You can use a kitchen timer to keep track of your intervals. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial. Remember to consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime.
Go for quality over quantity. Breath on the excursion (ie, exhale when pushing yourself up on the press up, inhale as you return to the ground).
This week’s workout I am borrowing from CrossFit Thames (CFT). A few summer’s ago, I attended a few of their outdoor sessions and this was one of them. They gave me permission to share. You don’t need any kit but you will need 30 m of space to run.
Be sure to warm up by walking, running, or skipping rope. Once you break into a light sweat, you are ready to begin.
We start with EMOM (every minute on the minute) for four minutes. Complete the following (based on your fitness level) in one minute and then rest for any leftover time within the minute.
For beginners:
- 3 burpees
- 5 push/press ups
- 7 lunges (stationary or walking)
For intermediate to advance fitness levels:
- 8 burpees
- 10 push/press ups
- 12 plyometric lunges
Minute 5: Suicides/Shuttle runs from starting point to 10 meters, back to starting point. Then starting point to 20 meters, back to starting point. Finally, starting point to 30 meters, back to starting point. This needs to be completed within one minute.
Repeat the above five minute program four times through for a wicked 20 minute workout. Remember to listen to your body, as this one is a little more advanced. I encourage you to give it a go though. You will never know you can do it unless you try!
by Mollie Millington | Feb 20, 2020 | recipe
Smoothies are an easy, satisfying snack we have frequently in my house. In the summer, we serve ’em up (with a little whey protein thrown in) after workouts. Today I made them because I saw one at the mall and developed a craving. Since making my own, I never order them while out. I can taste the difference with the sugary, syrupy mix. Here is how I make them.
You will need: frozen banana (freeze your brown bananas for fresh banana bread or smoothies rather than throwing them away. My banana bread recipe will be up soon!), frozen berries (you can get mixes in the freezer section of your local grocery store rather than buy fresh), low-fat yogurt, orange juice, honey or agave nectar, and a blender.
1. Leave the frozen banana out on the counter for a few minutes to thaw slightly. By using frozen fruit, you won’t need to add ice.
2. Add 1/2 cup of low-fat yogurt (any flavor you like) and 1/2 cup of frozen berries (can be any fruit, even avocado, kale or spinach) to the blender.
3. Cut banana into smaller chunks and add to the blender.
4. Add a splash of orange juice. The more juice you add, the thinner the smoothie will be.
5. If using plain yogurt, I like to add honey or agave nectar as a natural sweetener. Vanilla extract works too.
6. You can also add flaxseed, linseed, chia seeds, protein powder, or other supplements for additional nutritional value.
7. Blend. You may need to stir the mix with a spatula if an air pocket develops in the bottom of the blender.
8. Serve.
Of course, you should experiment with fruit, yogurt, and juice flavors to find a combination you like. As smoothies break up the food for you, take your time to enjoy it. It will be easier to digest that eating the food whole which means your body will take less time to digest it. It may give you a temporary sugar spike that you are not expecting.
Let me know in the comments below what smoothie ingredients are your favorite.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 18, 2020 | running, WMM
It is with great sadness that I found out yesterday the Tokyo Marathon 2020 has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. While I know the decision was not made lightly by the organizers, it has sent many of us die hard runners (and 6 star chasers) into a limbo. We have been training for months, booked time off work, spent money on flights and hotels….. and now we aren’t sure what to do (except contact our travel insurance company).
I have spent a few hours researching marathons all over the world that take place from 22 February as alternatives to the Tokyo Marathon that still have entries open. Please check their websites carefully for all T&C in case I had made an error. And, remember that this list is not exhaustive. At the bottom of the post are links to additional lists of races.
Leave a comment below and let me know which race you are going to do or if there are any additional races to list.
22 February 2020, Red Rock Canyon Marathon, Las Vegas, NV, USA. Entries close 20/2/20.
23 February 2020, Glentress Trail Marathon*, Scottish borders, UK.
23 February 2020, Fort Ebey Kettles Trail Run, Fort Ebey State Park, Whidbey Island, WA, USA. Entries close 20/2/20.
23 February 2020, Ice Valdaice, Valdai, Russia*
23 February 2020, Banjul Marathon, Gambia*
26 February 2020, Marathon Day Marathon by SVN*, Kent, CT14 7LH, UK.
28 February, Tel Aviv Marathon, Tel Aviv, Israel. Registration is open until 22/2/20.
29 February 2020, Ras Dewi Sant*, St Davids, Pembrokeshire
1 March 2020, Atlanta Marathon, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Entries close 26/2/20. NOW SOLD OUT!
1 March 2020, Little Rock Marathon, Little Rock. Arkansas, USA. Online entries close 21/2/20.
1 March 2020, Napa Valley Marathon, Napa Valley, California, USA*. Use code NVMJUAN for a small discount.
6, then 9-15 March 2020, Enigma Running various marathons around Milton Keynes, UK.*
7 March 2020, Thames Meander, Kingston-Upon-Thames, UK Surrey*
7 March 2020, Spring Marathon by Phoenix Running. Walton-On-Thames, UK. Email Rik for 50% off registration fee if you were due to run Tokyo Marathon. PhoenixRunningUK@gmail.com
7 March 2020, The Woodlands Marathon, Woodlands, TX, USA.*
8 March 2020, LA Marathon, LA, CA, USA. Limited charity places available.*
15 March 2020, Barcelona Marathon, Barcelona, Spain.*
21-22 March 2020 Limmassol Marathon, Cyprus.*
22 March 2020, Rimini Marathon, Rimini, Italy.*
29 March 2020, Rome Marathon, Rome, Italy. Entries open until 15 March 2020 or until bibs run out.
26 April 2020, Southampton Marathon, Southampton, UK.*
There are lots of options out there so please also use these links (not all races still have entries open):
Saxons, Vikings, and Normans have lots of options over the next few weeks around London.
World’s Marathons list for February
World’s Marathons list for March
Ahotu list of of marathons around the world
*as of 17/2/20 entries still open
by Mollie Millington | Feb 16, 2020 | exercise, quickie
You can use a kitchen timer to keep track of your intervals. Perform once through and keep going if you can. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial.
Please consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime.
Remember to go for QUALITY over quantity. Breath on the excursion (ie, exhale when pushing yourself up on the press up, inhale as you return to the ground).
This workout can be done inside or outside.
1 min- Walk
30 sec- Jog with high knees
1 min- Squat with leg lift at the top. Alternate knees.
1 min- Jumping jacks/star jumps
1 min- Feet shoulder width apart, arms out to side in a letter T, touch opposite hand to opposite toe then come up straight and repeat on other side (work those obliques).
1 min- Stand with feet together, bring one foot back and drop that knee almost to the ground for a reverse lunge. Keep front knee over the ankle when you are down and then bring your back foot to the starting point. Repeat on the other side.
1 min- Pilates 100 Remember to inhale for 5 counts and exhale for 5 counts. Don’t pull with your neck and keep legs in table top position and shoulders off the ground. If your neck hurts, stop.
30 sec- Side plank on your right side. Keep the top leg’s foot in front of the bottom foot.
30 sec- Side plank on your left side. Keep the top leg’s foot in front of the bottom foot.
1 min- Russian twist. You can hold a weight or ball if you want to add resistance.
1 min- Crab dip not an appetizer but rather a way to work your triceps. Start with your hips high and tummy tight. Bend elbows to lower hips.
1 min- Frog crunch Have your legs in a butterfly stretch position while lying on your back. Keep your heels up but toes on ground for extra challenge. Or you can bring your feet up as shown in the video. Keep your tummy tight and don’t pull with your neck.
10 minutes and you are done! Add a cool down by walking for 1 minute. Stretch a bit too as your muscles and joints will be warm. Make 2020 the year of flexibility.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 14, 2020 | eating, nutrition
Happy Valentine’s Day! A day to celebrate the ones you love and have lots of goodies in the office. Maintaining a healthy diet is all about balance. You need to behave at least 80% of the time to allow for the times you slip. Having a little wiggle room also let’s you indulge in a portion-controlled treat.
But if you are like me and can’t pass up free food, wine, or chocolate, here are a few tips to help you remain in control today.
1. Write down everything you eat today. You may not realize that every time you go to the copier you are picking up a cookie along the way. Writing a list of what and how much you eat will help you be conscious of your food intake of the good and bad.
2. Have a piece of fruit first. Fruit is naturally sweet and might satiate your craving. Plus you need at least 5 servings of fruit and veggies a day. If you are still ‘hungry’ after the fruit, have a small treat.
3. Occupy your hands. This might be tricky in the office, but at home you can knit, paint your nails, clean the bathroom, or play patty cake with your kids. You might distract yourself and allow the craving to pass. (I will feature another post on cravings in the future) At work you can type up an email you have been meaning to send, do push ups against your desk or the wall, or take a 10 minute walk outside.
4. Drink a glass of water. Similar to eating a piece of fruit, this technique helps fulfill your requirement of 64 oz of water a day, plus leaves you filling a little fuller. Sometimes when our body tells us we are hungry, it really is saying we are dehydrated.
5. Have a solid comeback. If your office mates are trying to peer pressure you into eating another candy bar, blame it on me. Say “My personal trainer will be disappointed if I eat two candy bars today” or “I am working towards a goal of living a healthier lifestyle so I am going to pass, thanks” or “Maybe later.” Then stick to your guns! The lovely members of the Slimpod Club (part of Thinking Slimmer benefits) also gave these retorts:
- My body, my life, my choices.
- I’ll do it my way, thanks.
- I’m not depriving myself, or using willpower to not choose something, it’s merely that I truly don’t want THIS, I want THAT.
- Say very politely “no thank you, I am not hungry and don’t need to eat anymore” and if they get pushy just laugh and add “feel free to eat mine too if you like.”
- Say “what I WANT (or don’t want) instead of what I CAN or cannot eat.” There should be less discussion about things you want, and there is a lot of discussion possible about things you can or cannot eat.
- Avoid referring to a diet or lifestyle change, just explain how you feel when you would eat something. For example, “I do not want bread/croissant/cheese because eating more makes me too full/sick/sleepy/irritable/sleep bad.”
- My heart and my health choices for a hopefully long life.
- I do not want any, thank you. I really don’t want any!
- You go ahead. You are allowed, but I’ve had enough thanks!
6. Bring in a healthy option to share. Take the lead by bringing in fruit salad, trail mix, granola bars, yogurt parfaits as a healthy alternative for your office mates. They will probably be grateful!
Do you have any other tips on how to control food consumption at holiday time at work?
Note, this post contains affiliate links, which costs you nothing more but helps cover the cost of running this blog.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 13, 2020 | cycling, exercise, spinning
With Storm Ciara blowing all sorts of weather around the UK, your morning run or ride is bound to be brisker. Have you also noticed the sun is rising later than you? The winter is a great time to take advantage of your local fitness facility programs. As an athlete, you should try to change your workout routine every so often. Periodization offers new challenges to your body, which creates improved performance as well as prevents boredom. “Spinning®” or “group indoor cycling” (GIC) is a low-impact, high-cardio workout that compliments many types of sport training. If you enjoy a class that gets your heart pumping, GIC might be the class for you! Being indoors on a stationary bike allows you to maintain your intervals, distance, and/or sprint training without the dangers of running in the dark or slipping on ice.
If you have never attended a GIC class before, I have a few tips for you in order to survive your first class. First, arrive to class about 10 minutes early and let your instructor know it is your first time. The instructor will be able to fit the bike to your height. The seat and handle bars can be moved up/down or front/back, tailoring the bike to your body size. Bikes have markings making it easy to set up again at your next class without help. You can either write these down in order to set up your bike the next time or snap a photo on your phone. Feel free to adjust the bike during class if it feels uncomfortable (as long as the studio isn’t dark). Be sure you understand how to adjust the resistance and how to brake too.
Thanks to Mel Thomas for the photo.
Second, bring water and a small towel. You will probably sweat and become thirsty during class. Most instructors don’t mind if you need to step out of class for a drink or some air, but it is best to be prepared. For a 45 minute spin class, you need to drink 1.2 liters (or 40 ounces) of water (yes really). Take little sips throughout class to avoid getting a stitch (cramp for you Americans out there). If you don’t finish your bottle of water during class, aim to finish it over the next hour or so.
Clothing can be key for an enjoyable class. Longer shorts prevent chaffing and shoes with a firm sole are best to keep your feet flat on the pedals and avoid foot cramps. If GIC something you enjoy, consider investing in a pair of cycling shoes with SPD clips (check with your gym that they will work with their bikes) as they promote effort throughout the pedal stroke. Both your quads and hamstrings will be working hard during the class. Personally, I like to wear sleeveless tops when I spin to keep cool as my facility doesn’t have a fan or air conditioning. Long trousers with a loose hem can easily become stuck in the pedal. If you want to cover your legs, consider leggings or something that is tight around the ankle.
Thanks to Isabel for the photo. Visit her website www.onmytrainingshoes.com
Finally, be prepared to try GIC five times before you decide if you love it or hate it. The first class, you will probably be out of breath and your bum will be sore. If you need a rest during the session, remember to keep your legs moving (but with less resistance or slower cadence). Remember, if you don’t like the method of one instructor (or their music selection), there are many others out there that could be the right fit. If you can’t make it out of the house, do some research on Peloton or Bkool as options to train in your home on a stationary bike. You can ride along to these two Global Cycling Network videos I am in if you fancy a giggle. Setting up your road bike on a turbo trainer is not safe for mimicking the movements of GIC. Please be safe and sensible. Feel free to take these videos to you gym if a class is not scheduled and use the appropriate bikes there.
Fat Burn Fast – 20 min (I am teaching this but it is not my voice. if you have been to my class, you know my script!)
60 min class (you can see me in the one)
Go out and try a cycling class. Let me know what you think about indoor cycling in the comments below.
My friend, Carrie, enjoying her Peloton bike.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 11, 2020 | health, nutrition, product review
This post might be a little TMI and includes a photo of blood. Read on at your own risk. You have been warned!
When I run, I have several issues to worry about. One of them is how much my nose runs, which causes an annoying cough that tends to concern everyone I am running with (I assure you that I am ok and just as annoyed about my cough as you are). The other is trying not to go to the bathroom while I run. It looks like caffeine, along with my cough, tends to induct stress incontinence (something I have talked about previously here on the blog) upon occasion when I run. Currently, I am working on my core and pelvic core strength to help with this. The other problem I often have is a runner’s tummy, which causes my stomach to gurgle and me to worry if I can make it to the next available loo or have to pull a Paula Radcliffe on the side of the road. Through trial and error, I have now developed a morning routine to fuel early morning runs. It involves have porridge at least 2 hours before my run, followed by a nap, a trip to the loo, and then quite possibly another loo stop along the route. Wearing a bum bag on my back tends to accelerate my digestion, so now I wear it on my hip or choose a running vest instead. Interesting, huh?
When lifelab testing offered to provide a complimentary complete body test, I was both curious and relieved. Maybe now I could get to the bottom of what causes me all of these issues. I would do almost anything to be a runner that never wees themselves, doesn’t plan routes according to public loos, never has a runny nose, and can hear what other people are saying. But alas, I will never be normal. I could only hope the results would offer some incite into what my body prefers and doesn’t like.
lifelab testing offers several different test kits:
- Basic intolerance test
- Basic allergy test
- Complete intolerance test
- Complete body test
- MyDNA test
(BTW lifelab testing is having a 25% off offer using the code VALENTINE until 20/2/20. Pretty sweet, huh?)
Within a day or two or requesting my kit, it arrived with instructions and all the kit you need. You need to prick your finger to send 300 uL of blood back to the lab for IgG and IgE testing. Due to postage delays and sending the sample at ambient temperature, life lab testing suggests collecting and sending you sample on a Monday or Tuesday. This ensures your sample is processed in a timely manner and doesn’t degrade with any delays. I strongly suggest you also follow their instructions on how to get blood flowing to your fingers. I had to prick four fingers to get enough blood but I think this may have been due to my mild clotting disorder. I ran my finger under warm water, swung it in the air, massage the palm and finger, etc as the kit instructed. Luckily, I had a sterile needle in my foot blister kit from the Wadi Rum Ultra to help me finish the job. Another tip is that you also need to press the lance very hard for it to penetrate the skin (I didn’t do this on my first try and therefore wasted the lance. Luckily, two lances are included in the kit. Probably not a good idea to use something else.). I sent off the sample on my way to work and had the results via email within a week’s time.
lifelab testing requires you to create an account which includes your results. Alternatively, the report can be downloaded as a pdf. There are two important sections in my report: allergies and intolerances. You can read more about the difference between the two here. Allergies (measured by IgE levels in blood) tend to be a quick response that can be as extreme as anaphylaxis, and a food intolerance (measured by IgG levels) is when the body has trouble digesting something which results in discomfort hours or even days later.
I was surprised by the by some of the results. For example, I had a mild allergic reaction to soy (which is in lots of processed foods?), dog hair (no!!!!!!), horse hair, cockroaches, and almonds. These were all low on the sensitisation scale which is a bit reassuring. To the best of my knowledge, I do not react in a typical allergic way to these items (sneezing, cough, tingly lips, closed throat, etc). With my runny nose and cough, I thought I might be allergic to pollen or grass but these results were negative (guess it is just me then, or exercise-induced rhinitis).
The intolerance tests highlighted a lot of food that I might have trouble digesting. Each person’s body responds differently though, meaning that a high intolerance score does not necessarily manifest in physical symptoms. The table below summarizes my intolerance to various gluten-containing grains.
While not ideal, it is becoming easier and easier to avoid gluten and wheat products. However, I also tested for high intolerance to quinoa and amaranth, leaving only buckwheat and rice for me to enjoy. Other high intolerance levels were noted for:
- soy
- green beans
- egg white
- egg yolk
- milk and other diary (casein, cow’s milk, sheep’s milk, and goat milk, gouda cheese)
- bananas
- almonds
- peanuts
- walnuts
- cashew nuts
There are 16 other food items not mentioned that I have low level intolerance for. Many of the foods on the list are staples for runners. Ironically, I am not allergic or intolerant of any seafood (remember I am a marine biologist by training). Originally, my intention was to eliminate the foods that might be causing me trouble to see if I can determine how they effect me when re-introduced. Lifelab testing recommends eliminating any foods that are flagged in the allergy section (almonds and soy but I will not give up on dogs) and then performing an elimination diet. They also offer optional nutritional therapist session to coach you through it. A paleo diet or the Whole 30 seems best suited to my results but also requires a lot of commitment, planning, and negotiating with my flexitarian husband. Could I live without eating another apple or orange if it means no more stomach upset or bloating?
What’s next for me? As Tokyo Marathon is only a few weeks out, I am going to carry on as normal. Once I am back, I will start to eliminate gluten and wheat. Once I have a handle on that, I might try milk too. It seems weird to not have peanuts or almonds, but if I want to feel more energetic, less bloated, and run without the stress of runner’s tummy, then I need to give these results a chance. The good news is that I don’t have to give up Kraft Mac-n-Cheese but just know it will probably make me feel like crap for a few days.
What food(s) could you not live without for your active lifestyle? For example, peanut butter, bananas, porridge….
Thanks for lifelab testing for the complimentary test. All opinions are honest and my own.
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