Sorry for no post last night. Life gets busy, but I need to find someway to keep my blog friends in my life π
I receive a weekly email from a speaker who once spoke at my school with a weekly quote or life lesson. This week’s quote stuck with me.
“Think of what you are and
all the fantastic potential of you.”
Next time you have “fat talk” or think down upon yourself, think of your positives. Think of those in your life that appreciate you for who you are on the inside. Think of all the good that you do on a daily basis, and the amount of lives that you touch.
Along those same lines, Amanda Beard, the U.S. Olympian swimmer, came to speak at my school tonight. Having been a big swimmer in the past, I was extremely excited to hear her speak. Especially since she was speaking on the issue of eating disorders. It was extremely moving and insightful. A couple points she made that really stuck out to me included:
- “I’m 20 pounds more than I was at my competitive weight. And that’s okay with me. That’s what’s great – is that I’m happy how I am now. I may have a little tummy, or a bigger butt, but I hold my son and none of that matters. I say ‘Look at my son! Look at what I made!'”
- She also mentioned how she looks back on her eating disorder days with such regret – that she spent so much time worrying about how skinny she was and how focused she was with her appearance, that she let her competitive swimming slip to the side. She didn’t enjoy her life. And what’s the point of life, if not to be enjoyed?
I’m glad I got the opportunity to see her speak π
Instead of boring you to tears with a play-by-play of my Monday and Tuesday, I’ll just leave you with a photos of the meals.
Breakfasts have consisted of
Pumpkin oats
and Banana bomb muffin with sunbutter, along side yogurt with pomegranates and banana slices.
I made Angela’s banana bomb muffins the other night again. They are truly one of my favorites. My roommates seem to love them also since 3 were missing in the morning! π
Both lunches have been delicious pumpkin soup found at Cost Plus. It made a huge batch on Sunday night, so I’ve enjoyed it 3 days in a row now π
Topped with avocado slices, parmesan cheese, & Mary’s Crackers.
The original recipe called for heavy whipping cream but I subbed in plain yogurt. I also added a can of pumpkin for good measure π And it came out delicious.
To go alongside my soup, I made something that Meghann seemed to popularize around blogworld.
They turned out a little to dry for my taste, but I might have over cooked them since I made individual sized ones in a muffin tin. Either way, my roommates also enjoyed these as well π
For today’s lunch, I enjoyed the other half to my butternut squash as a side to my soup.
Mmmmm so so so good.
Dinners have been –
BBQ sunshine burger + carmelized onions + avocado + pear salad (crappy phone picture)
And a quinoa dish with a mix of nuts & craisins. Topped with a pumpkin sauce I whipped up the other night. Sidenote: I originally cooked up 2 servings of quinoa, thinking I could save some for later. But quinoa portions are teensy! I can’t believe the small amount that is 2 servings! Needless to say, I ate it all tonight π
I originally made the sauce to go along with pumpkin pasta Β this weekend. Β I started to follow a recipe, and then kind of just winged it. I combined on the stove:
- ~1/2 cup FF sour cream
- ~1/2 cup pumpkin
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, & salt
- Chicken broth
- Garlic
Actually pretty tasty!
In exercise news, I gave my knee a rest yesterday (after the hike) to do 30 minutes upper body strength + 10 minutes of whittle my middle challenge.
Today, I got in a 4 mile TM run + 5 minute whittle my middle moves consiting of:
- 1 minute scissors
- 2 x 1 minute side planks with under body arm twist (1 on each side)
- 2 minute front plank
Well it’s late, I’m tired, and I have to be up in a little over 6 hours. So good night all!
I want to eat my computer screen after looking through your food. Roasted squash is heaven.
Amanda Beard is so right! However, it takes a long time to realize that you’re good the way you are.
Hehe I actually remember being jealous of hear after the Sydney Olympics because she apparently had an affair with Ian Thorpe and I had a huge crush on him ;).
Love your eats by the way. Roasted squash is calling my name!
that might just be my new fav quote! i love it!! i’m jealous that you got to hear amanda beard speak, i’m also a former swimmer and i def look up to her so much π
I really like these quotes π Have a great day!
That quinoa looks delish! Um and I’m with you on the teeny portions…I always need more than one!
Such a great quote. Amanda sounds so inspirational. I’m glad you got something great out of it π
I keep seeing spaghetting squashes everywhere! I need to go get one and bake it pronto! The pumpkin sauce on your quinoa sounds pretty tasty, too.
i reallly like that quote! π
everyone is making cornbread recipes and they look so good, so i def think i’m going to try this out! π
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I like the pumpkin sauce! Looks good and something I never would have though of.
That quote is great as is the speaker. I would like to listen to her. It’s true when your in an ED you don’t love life, you didn’t live you just go through the motions. Never really taking time to appreciate anything good in your life. Glad to see she is at a healthy place now.
I’ve read a lot of people w/ one and it’s definitely interesting the similiarities in how people think.
She sounds so inspirational.
I really like what Amanda Beard had to say about her eating disorder. So many people try to lose weight because they think the key to their happiness lies in being skinny, but nothing is further from the truth. Often, an obsession with weight loss can have opposite effects. And emotions are always present regardless of our size!
That soup and cornbread I could just gobble down
Cornbread. Yes. Please. This is a super seasonal post lady – lotsa pumpkin goodness!
Awesome quotes, so inspiring! π We have a some similar messages posted around my school spreading that same message – the only ideal for our bodies is HEALTH, not a specific size, weight or shape.
Also, that soup and avocado combo – yum!
I loved this post π
oh wow! I need to make some pumpkin cornbread!!! oooh. paired with pumpkin chili!! π
great post girl!! pumpkin cornbread..oh my gosh sounds amazing
Glad you enjoyed going to see the speaker! It sounds like it was well worth your time!! I’m loving all the pumpkin up in here – how fitting given the fall π
PS. Thanks for the camera 411!
Yayy for pumpkin cornbread. π
I love the idea of putting avocado on top of your soup! Thanks for the idea!
oh Tay — thank you for this post, it speaks volumes to me! thinking back to the worst of my ED days it kills me how much of my life I lost to the disorder and how many exciting experiences I sacraficed and deprived myself of. Never again! Life is far far far too short.
lots of love to you!
pumpkin cornbread?! HELLOOOOO genious idea! and pumpkin soup…damn girl, you have been mucho busy π looks so great!!
that sounds like a great speaker and she had some great points taht she got across!
have a great night Tay xo
pumpkin soup yummyyyyyy.
Amanda Beard sounds like she was an amazing speaker. Her quotes just make her sound so real and down to earth!
Hmmm I’ve never liked cornbread, but I think pumpkin could be the key to getting me to LOVE it:)
I love all your oumpkin-y creations. I just tried pumpkin oats a few days ago (or was it last week?). Totally in love, I can understand your addiction!