At the beginning of April, I started a four-month phase (leading up to my son’s wedding) called “Make My Body Great Again.” Let’s have a six-week check in!
Meh. I’ve been doing Caroline Girvan’s Iron Series and so far I feel like all I have to show for it are a lot of aches and pains. I know I just have to keep with it- no one transforms their body in six weeks. But I also recently put on a pair of shorts that I haven’t worn in a while, and could barely get them buttoned. Going in the WRONG DIRECTION, stomach!!!
On the subject of food, I’ve been aiming for 100 grams of protein a day, and usually failing, But I’m getting more protein than I used to, and can usually get around 80 grams. This helps:
And so do these:
A typical dinner:
Here’s where I went wrong though. It’s a long story, but I apparently lost my mind and made a huge batch of Chex Party Mix.
You guys. When was the last time you had this? None of us could stop eating it. Now that it’s gone everyone is bereft, and I feel like I need to make more. I used this recipe, which claims to be better than the recipe on the back of the cereal box. (I used vegan butter and vegan Worcestershire sauce.)
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. More lunges and less Chex mix, Jenny! I’ll keep at it- there’s still over two months to make my body great again.
Do you track your protein intake?
Have you tried Chex mix?
25 Responses
Homemade chex mix tho! Yes I’ve made it and overeaten it as a result many times.
Eh I’m not sure about more lunges and less Chex Mix. Life is short, after all.
I’m on the fence with protein. I don’t love a lot of high protein foods so it’s very hard and unpleasurable to hit the numbers. For those brief times when I’ve hit the number, I actually don’t feel amazing. For grins I asked ChatGPT to recommend a high protein diet with no chicken, and it suggested yogurt and cottage cheese, so I’ve been adding those in and I would say that makes me feel a bit better and it isn’t too much of a chore to eat them. It’s a work in progress.
Yes, I can’t say I actually feel any better eating more protein. But once again… chex mix. It really doesn’t help. But you’re right- life is short! Maybe there’s room for lunges AND chex mix.
No Chex Mix here , but we did have a two day popcorn binge recently. I made it to keep a low calorie snack for my daughter. Umm, everyone ate it. The second batch didn’t make it either- my high school son ate most of it before any one else had a chance. And every time I make rolls, they’re gone in a flash.
Maybe you’ve built up muscles around your middle? Too much working out?
I don’t track anything food-wise. No goals here- so no reason to. And I’d probably cheat anyway on a specific meal plan. ( we are very different types of people.)
I hope you can make your goal while still being kind to yourself.
Yes, that must be it- I’ve built up a lot of muscle in my stomach. HA. Popcorn is another very binge-able food! Mmm. Now I’m craving popcorn.
I’ve been tracking macros for a long time but stopped doing it in detail because I’ve learned mostly what gives me enough protein (and I don’t want to pay for the tracking app anymore). I weigh my chicken/fish etc to know it’s close to my standard and that’s it. What I’ve learned reading various sources is that after a certain age you react less to protein so we need to eat more protein to get the same results as a younger person. Also, to build you need extra calories too. I think that’s the hard part!
It’s definitely a long-term game. It depends on the intensity of your training too, heavy enough and working to failure. My muscle-building has slowed down a lot and I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong or just have passed that beginner’s stage, right now I’m focusing on the quality of my lifts (when I don’t have to focus on balance like with Bulgarians, ugh) to make sure I get enough tension to the muscle.
Yes- I was shocked to learn that a post-menopausal woman needs more protein than a pregnant woman!!! So I need more protein than when I was growing an entire other human??? Crazy.
I am wondering about the Iron Series workouts- it’s a little lighter but with higher reps. I’m definitely working to fatigue or failure though. And like I’ve mentioned, it’s gotten me back into doing a lot of moves I was neglecting. When I’m done with the program I’m thinking I’ll have to get back to the gym where I can use heavier weights again.
I hardly get to 100 g of protein unless I eat a block of tofu a day. but i’m conscious about it and try to get in in all meals. my main sources are : protein powder for oatmeal, tofu, beans. i don’t like the taste of protein bars as they are too artificial. my next game plan is to make protein centered snack/freezer meal for easier access.
Yes, I put the protein powder in my oatmeal! To me, the protein bars taste like candy bars, which I like- but I don’t think you have much of a sweet tooth, so I can see why you wouldn’t like them. Tofu is definitely a great source. I get “super firm” tofu which has more protein than the regular.
Chex mix would be dangerous.
My downfall is cookies and ice cream
No I don’t track my protein. I have no idea if I get enough.
Wear spandex all the time. My solution. lol.
Ha, spandex would definitely help.
When I stopped eating sugar, I promptly became addicted to salty, crunchy foods. My brain obviously needs to be addicted to something! Sigh.
I can see myself gorging on that Chex Party Mix (it’s the first time I’ve ever heard of that kind of thing, it sounds just like the post-marathon food I would enjoy).
As a non-vegan, non-vegetarian I think I get enough protein. The other day, I was inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo’s diet, which is mainly veggies, chicken and eggs, but absolutely no dairy. I think I’ll try that for a few days and see how it goes!
I’ll be interested to hear how that diet works out for you, because a lot of people have trouble digesting dairy! You might feel amazing. And- chex mix post-marathon is a brilliant idea. I’ll definitely have to make this for my next race recovery.
Homemade Chex Mix sounds amazing though! Maybe there’s a way to make it higher protein, like add roasted chickpeas to it?
I don’t really track my protein but I try to get some in every meal, though breakfast is usually harder. I would do a smoothie with protein powder but that’s not as easy to bring to work as my usual breakfast options. But for dinner, I usually eat something with tofu or I do Banza chickpea pasta!
For breakfast I usually do oatmeal with protein powder added, or a breakfast sandwich with tofu. ANYWAY HOW WAS YOUR RACE?????
I just had Chex Mix yesterday for the first time in forever and now I’m jonesing for more – I blame my son who just got home for the summer for bringing it into the house LOL.
I feel like I’m in a constant struggle to get more protein – I’ve been tracking lately and some days are great, other days not so much. A work in progress for sure.
That’s a odd coincidence- that you had chex mix the day before I wrote about it! And yes- the protein thing is a work in progress, for sure.
I would love that Chex mix, ha. I wish you could eat dairy – lower fat dairy is just so protein dense (well, some – like light string cheese and 2% cottage cheese and greek yogurt though I only like the first two on this list!).
Yes, it’s definitely harder to do on a vegan diet- but not impossible. It just takes a little effort.
Oh, Chex Mix! A little old lady who lived across the street from us always had a huge tin of it. She was my adopted grandma–my own lived far away–and I spent lots of time over at her house, eating Chex Mix and Hydrox cookies. So did her enormously fat cocker spaniel, Tuffy. Grandma Marjorie was also immensely obese. She also made a stunning chocolate cake with chocolate frosting that we all devoured, too.
I get a lot of my protein from Greek yoghurt and chicken. And beans, beans, beans of all kinds. I try not to worry about it much, however; as Birchie said, ‘life is short.’
Okay well I’m not saying this is a direct correlation… but a “huge tin” of chex mix and an immensely obese person… see what I’m saying here????
I love Chex mix but it’s off limits for me since it has gluten in it. It’s such an addictive snack!
I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself. You look great now and you will look great at the wedding. The dress is very forgiving in your middle region which helps!
I try to track my protein, too. It is hard to get enough. I like salads but unless I eat a lot of meat on it, it’s kind of a low protein meal. But it’s an easy thing to eat at work. I put protein powder in my oatmeal and eat cottage cheese and Greek yogurt.
Lisa, I’m pretty sure you could make a gluten free chex mix! But I’m not sure you want to go there.
Thank you for the kind words! My dress is definitely forgiving, so I’m not stressing too much. i knew better than to buy a form-fitting dress with the intention of having a “flat stomach” by the wedding! That would be a nightmare.
I don’t track my protein, though I try to eat it with every meal. I know I need more as I’m 60 now, but it’s really hard. I remember hearing a nutritionist on the radio once, talking about women wanting to gain muscle without gaining weightafter menopause. His response was kind of…’Uh…that’s really, really hard.’ We may have to give ourselves some grace.
Yes, you’re right. It’s a little hard to accept, but some things just aren’t going to be possible at this point. I’m still hoping to move in the right direction, but I won’t have the body I had when I was 20. (Funny thing- I was critical of my body back then, and now I would LOVE to have it. There’s a lesson here somewhere…)
IT IS SO HARD TO EAT ENOUGH PROTEIN my goodness. And vegan? A whole other wrinkle.