Wow – I’m glad to hear you all are just as excited as I was about the smooth hummus tip! Be sure to let me know if you end up trying it out…
Lately, I feel as though my posts have been more recipe oriented with less personal life aspects thrown in so here’s a little update: After a three week break from most exercise (besides walking) my leg is feeling considerably better and my PT has recommend that I start incorporating more exercise back in my daily routine. Hooray!
As such an active person, resting was incredibly hard at first, however, once I warmed up to the fact that I didn’t need to workout every day to be happy, it was actually quite nice not to plan my day around when I was going to go to the gym. Plus, guess what? I didn’t gain weight, lose all my strength, or become a lazy bum!
The main lesson that I learned is that I don’t need to focus on working out every.single.day. I think, in part, over doing it is what led to my injury in the first place. So yes, I still love working out – it’s not only great for the body, but also for the mind, however in the future I want to be a little less hard on myself. Why not just count cleaning the house or walking Olive my cardio for the day? And who cares if I skip a workout to stay home and hang with Isaac and Olive. The gym will be there in the morning right?
Now that I got that out, here’s a little preview of what I ate yesterday:
Breakfast was a variation of the quinoa parfait.
This version had layers of quinoa mixed with cinnamon and bit of almond milk, plain greek yogurt, apple butter and a chopped plumcot (the delicious plum/apricot hybrid). It didn’t disappoint – hooray for pretty parfaits packed with protein!
People tend to think of quinoa as a savory dish, but it sweetens up quite nicely and tastes great with yogurt and fruit. I have some other breakfast options for quinoa as well. Maybe I’ll do a quinoa for breakfast post soon. 
For lunch I spread a tortilla with silky smooth hummus and stuffed in some veggies and a veggie burger.
I also had some tasty rice crackers on the side. Speaking of which, I just bought the bag last weekend and it’s already gone. Oops! I couldn’t help myself, the Sesame Seaweed flavor is super tasty – I might even go as far to say that the chips reminded me of Doritos. <– Although, I can’t be held liable for that statement because I haven’t had a Dorito is many moons. Apparently from the comments on my last post, lots of you all like these chips as well. I’m already planning to try some of your flavor recommendations!
Mid afternoon snack time rolled around and I munched on a Choco-lata-fun bar from Element Bars.
This bar is soft, chewy, chocolaty and really tasty. The only downfall is that it does have a significant amount of calories for a snack, weighing in at 265. When I realized this, I was half way through eating it so I told myself I’d wrap the other half up and save it for later. Well, let’s just say the bar was in my desk drawer for less than 10 minutes before I pulled it back out and consumed the rest. Basically, it boils down to this – if I open a bar I should just plan on eating the whole thing. It’s rare that I’ll ever actually save half for later… oh well.
I’ve tried three of Element Bars‘ popular flavors – Livin’ Lean, Detox Therapy, and the one above. Two were shared with me from Miss Amie and the other I was sent to review by the company. So far I’ve liked all the flavors I’ve tried and at some point I want to create my own personalized energy/protein bar on their site! Last but not least. I can’t wait to spill the beans about what else the company offered me (hint, hint – there might be a giveaway in the near future!)
When dinner rolled around I couldn’t get pizza out of my head. I almost went to the store to buy pizza crust when I remember that I had some whole wheat tortillas in the fridge.
20 minutes later I was munchin’ on a tasty tortilla pizza.
I love using tortillas and pita bread as pizza crust because they get super crispy. Each bite has some crunch factor to it!
Easy Vegan Tortilla Pizza (makes 2 personal pizzas)
Pizza Sauce
- 1/3 cup garlic hummus
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 1 t dried basil
- 1 t dried oregano
- sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
Pizza
- 2 whole wheat tortillas
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 2 mushrooms, sliced
- fresh basil
- 1-2 T nutritional yeast
- red pepper flakes (optional)
Prep:
- Preheat oven to 425°
- Mix all ingredients for pizza sauce together in a small bowl.
- Spread sauce onto both tortillas – using about half on each.
- Top tortillas with toppings and sprinkle on nutritional yeast.
- Bake on pizza stone or cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes watching carefully near the end so that the tortilla doesn’t burn.
- Sprinkle on red pepper flakes if using, slice and enjoy!
I’m all about easy weeknight meals and these mini pizzas totally fit the bill. I ate one mini pizza and one slice of the second then decided to be nice and share the rest with Isaac. 
Alright, it’s time for me to get some things done around the house. I’m excited that tomorrow is already Friday. This short week is going by so quickly! I love it!
Question of the evening: Do you workout everyday? Do you get bent out of shape when you have to skip a workout? Whatever your answer, why do you think you feel this way?
Brittany Mullins, HHC
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
You are so right!!! I always get so discouraged when I skip a workout. Lately, its been pretty bad for me because I’ve been on 2-a-day workouts and even when I skip my 2nd workout of the day I get discouraged. Somethings wrong with that!!! I already worked out once for the day, so there is no reason to be upset about not getting in the bonus session. It was actually tonight that I was feeling bad and you’ve just made it all better!
Love you girl!
Yum I’m going to have to try using quinoa at breakfast, that parfait looks delicious. I LOVE using WW tortillas and pita bread for pizza, especially if I’m in the mood for tasty pizza that I can eat more of without filling up on pizza dough– not that I’m hating on dough
I’ll have to try your homemade pizza sauce, though! Looks great.
hooray for being able to work out more — but i totally understand what you mean too. i’m just like lauren said: when i’m doing my 2-a-days, i get so frustrated when i miss one of them & that is just so irrational of me. with classes starting back up and working full-time too, i’ve cut back to once a day, though everyday, and i feel like sometimes it’s not enough. it’s a terrible thing, but so common!
I love your workout realization. It’s hard for me to break out of the routine of working out every day because I know part of me fears that I’ll get into the habit of skipping work outs or end up gaining weight, and that’s not a healthy way to view things. I mean, I walk multiple miles a day around campus just getting around, so that counts for something, right? I should start adopting your views.
I really appreciate your post tonight! Although I have kicked my eating disorder, I still get stressed out if I miss a planned workout session. Buuut I am really working to change that and I skipped spin class tonight because as I was walking home from work I thought, “I am feeling so run down and the thought of going to spin is just so unappealing.” So I didn’t go! Walked the dog, did a 25 minute yoga podcast, and called it a night. And I feel great
Also, my friend was in rehab from an eating disorder and one thing her therapist made her do was skip working out for two weeks straight. It forced my friend to see that it really doesn’t have a huge effect – like gaining 5 lbs – and should be something enjoyable, not stressful!
Thanks for sharing your realization with us–I think we can all use a reminder every now and then that there is more to life than working out. That being said, I do get cranky if I am inactive for too long, like when I had my jaw surgery and couldn’t jar my head in any way for two weeks!
Oooh I love quinoa for breakfast, but have never considered it in a parfait. Such a fabulous idea! I am a big fan of enjoying life and fitting exercise into my schedule in an enjoyable stress-free way
I am a huge fan of tortilla pizzas…I ate them for three weeks straight earlier this summer (can anyone say obsessed?) Yours looked so yummy, and I may have to start making them again. I also loved your beautiful breakfast parfait. Putting your food in a wine glass can make any ordinary meal feel and look extraordinary! And congrats on being able to integrate some physical exercise into your day!
As someone recovering from anorexia and exercise bulimia I find it really disturbing that there is more than one reader who exercises twice a day (seemingly seven days a week) and then feels guilty for occasionally missing the second workout from time to time.
Are we really supposed to believe that you are doing this in the name of health? You’ve got to be kidding me. When I work out two (or three) hours a day I realize that what I’m doing is destructive to my body. Maybe some of you need to come out of the closet.
Anyway, Brittany seems to have a healthier outlook. Congrats on getting better from your injury and I’m happy you’re making an effort not to be so hard on yourself.
The pizza looks great! Thanks!
I’m so all-or-nothing, that I either exercise every day or hardly at all. It isn’t good and I’m working on it! But that first day that I don’t exercise, I beat myself up pretty bad, even though I KNOW rest is good for me. I’m still working on finding a balance.
I love making pizzas on pitas — they are the perfect size!
I recently made a POM Quinoa parfait for breakfast:
http://couchpotatoathlete.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/pom-quinoa-parfait/
Hi Chica,
Where did you find those Rice Chips here in Richmond? I have not seen them at my regular places. I am trying the apple butter recipe this week with my lovely CSA apples, don’t ya just love that Charlie and Gina have been bringing those lovely apples to the markets! Thanks so much and happy weekend.
Kroger in Carytown.
A few years back I struggled with this sort of “exercise addiction” in that I felt as though skipping a workout for a day or 2 would be detrimental… even avoiding going out of town, etc. so that I didn’t mess up my workout routine. What a way to live life right?
Now I definitely don’t workout every day, I’d go nuts! I think it’s important to allocate your time to all parts of your life, not only the fitness aspect but also being with the people you love and enjoying other things you love outside of workouts. I’d find it very hard to do that if I was working full time and also working out every single day, don’t know how you did it girlie?!?!? I aim for 3-4 times a week, it’s the perfect schedule at least for me!
I definitely still don’t like going more than 3 or 4 days without a workout though, makes me feel all icky even though I know it’s only mental!
So glad you are able to resume exercise though, but take it easy girl, no more injuries!
I love Element Bars. I’d love to make another batch…
No, don’t workout everyday. Sometimes there are long stretches, sometimes there are few day breaks — so random.
I definitely try to have a regimented workout routine each week, but I try to be flexible if I’m not feeling well or there is a schedule conflict. I try to make it up by walking more or taking the stairs more.
I’ve been wishing I could incorporate more “natural” activities into my week. So instead of sweating in the gym for 45 minutes, I’d like to go for a hike or, as you said, do housework. I think it’s important to count ALL activities as contributing toward our health – not just the ones where we spin ourselves silly on a bike or ride the elliptical to nowhere.
I was pretty much under the impression that if I didn’t work out in a day that the world would end. I over did it an now I am going to a specialist to see if they can figure our what is wrong with my knees. I have stopped exercising save for yoga and pilates and it was difficult at first, but I have warmed up to it. I miss terribly running and things like that, but it is time to take some time off from it. I think I will look to your pizza for some comfort.
I used to workout every day… but now I am spinning about 4-6 times a week. I think that some times my body just screams for a day off… so on those days I take the dogs for a really really long walk, good for the soul.
Exercise guilt is one of the more persistent reminders that recovery (from an ED) is a process…food isn’t really that loaded for me anymore, but a day without activity and I start feeling inefficient (efficiency is a word that runs through my mind far more than I’d like it to.) I don’t exercise every day, but I still allow myself to be affected, usually negatively, on the days that I choose to take it easy.
I used to run everyday and would feel bad if I didn’t. Now I take every other day off. Its good to give your knees and body a rest. But..I do feel weird if I can’t walk during the day. I think its vital to try to be active but I don’t freak out if I don’t. Some days it feeels good to be lazy. Lol
Thanks Brittany for your updates and recipes. As a vegan, I am soo excited to try tthis pizza.
Once again..thanks!
Brittany! That pizza looks delicious. Definitely making that beauty next time i’m home
Have you ever tried crumbling up a veggie burger on top?? That adds a nice protein punch too and it’s sooo delicious with a tomato and/or hummus sauce!
Ps, so glad to hear that you’ve eased up on the exercise. Most people seem to have this realization at some time in their life or another, so i’m happy to hear that you’ve had yours
Enjoy the time with your fam and work out when you have the free time and can squeeze it in! As you’ve seen–it’ll all balance out! xoxo
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for posting this!!
I fell last Friday on my hip and somehow pulled my groin/upper thigh muscle. I’ve been resting from my cardio workouts ever since (I still do some strength for my upper body though) because the muscle hurts when used and MORE after I attempt to work out! (after 2 tries I realize it’s a stupid thing to attempt). However, I walk a lot daily and I feel…more free than when I worked out everyday. It’s odd.
I did have the “oh no i’m going to get fat/blobby” fears, but my own logic and your post helped that!
What kind of whole wheat tortillas do you use? I can never find any good ones.
Hi Tamara, I like the Ezekiel Sprouted grain tortillas and I was like the whole wheat, low carb variety at Trader Joes.