Are you still afraid of fat? Truth of the matter is, I’m not but used to be. Back in my high-school days most often my lunch was a can of Tab. Do they still sell that stuff? I have no idea how I had the energy to run!
Once I went to College, things changed a bit. I usually had a really good breakfast after my early morning run and session in the campus gym, but most often it consisted of a large bowl of grape nuts, fruit, and low fat milk. Rarely any protein and definitley no fat. Most often I skipped lunch because I was too busy studying. Again I have no idea where I got the energy to run as much as I did.
Once I started working full time in my Chem Job, it didn’t take long for my body to crave more nutrition to keep up with my activity level. I had a few injuries, mostly minor, my most serious being a chronic tight periformis muscle. I was tried A LOT and my runs started to not be any fun. I attributed my fatigue to getting up every morning to run at 4 am and then hitting the gym.
I have always run fasted which is probably why my body has accustomed to running this way which turns out not to be a bad thing. Unfortunately however, I wasn’t feeding it enough post runs or throughout the day.
Luckily I got help before it was too late. As I learned more and more about nutrition and incorporating Shaklee Protein plus a variety of food supplements, my health took a dramatic turn. I am forever grateful to my friend who introduced me to Shaklee and to my family for not giving up on me, espeically my dad in heaven. As hard as this was on him, he continued to love me, support me, and most of all believe in me.
I miss him as much today as I did almost 28 years ago but I do know this, he’d be proud of his little girl! He watched me run my very first marathon and every marathon I have run since, he’s watched me from heaven.
I am a much healthier runner now. Trust me everyone, fat is in, and it’s here to stay. The days of marketing low-fat and no-fat products are slowly fading with the growing body of evidence and experts in support of the right healthy fats.
What are healthy fats?
For many people it’s the missing link to boosting energy. We all know, not all fats are created equal, though, I do believe it’s worth sorting through the staples to keep in your kitchen and the ones best to throw out—for the sake of your health!
I love incorporating good fats like grass-fed butter, avocado, grass-fed ghee, unrefined coconut oil and MCT oil, extra-virgin olive oil (unheated is best), omega-3s (fish and fish oil supplements), and crispy nuts (not roasted, ideally soaked and dehydrated).
Are there benefits of a high(er)-fat diet.
The short answer is eating more healthy fats will improve everything in your life (or at least health, but honestly, what’s the difference?). If you don’t have your health, life is much more expensive and uncomfortable which is why I choose to take a variety of food supplements, eat a good balanced diet, exercise, and get ample sleep, all for prevention and good health.
Did you know higher-fat diets tend to make life more productive because you can go longer without needing to binge on some carby snack every couple of hours to fix your blood sugar dropping. It’s why I start my morning off with a delicious smoothie and Bullet proof coffee. I never count calories.
I’ve also learned that eating more fat helps you burn more fat for energy….If you want to learn more I wrote about why I Intermittent Fast for athletic performance and this article is very interesting too.
Can you eat too much fat (and oil)?
Yes, add them into your diet in moderation. Most people can handle a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil, for example. The good news is your body will likely adapt over time to better digest the increased fat consumption. I include lots of leafy greens and other veggies into my diet to balance the effects of fat. You should too?.
Are you ready to make your own fat bites?
Almond Butter Protein & Fat Bites
INGREDIENTS:
- ½ cup crispy almonds
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained (optional)
- ¾ cup natural almond butter (or your favorite nut butter)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of raw honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ to ½ cup dark-chocolate chips (or cacao nibs my fave!)
- ½ cup toasted shredded coconut
- 2 scoops of Shaklee Life Protein (chocolate or vanilla)
DIRECTIONS:
- Line a tray with parchment paper.
- In food processor, process almonds until you have fine crumbs.
- Add chickpeas and process until fully broken down.
- Add nut butter, honey, and vanilla; process until smooth.
- Stir in dark-chocolate chips or cocoa nibs.
- Roll into small balls, and then roll in toasted coconut and place on tray.
- Freeze for 20 minutes before serving.
- Store them in freezer or refrigerator until ready to eat!
If you drink coffee, have you tried bullet proof?
What’s your favorite high fat snack? If you haven’t tried my crispy nuts, you’ll be hooked!
What is your favorite nut butter? Almond butter or Nutzo all the way!
Have you tried intermittent fasting and if so I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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