Let's talk a little bit about the "E" word today. What's the "E" word you ask?
Exercise.
Raise your hand if you have every used exercise to make up for what you ate. (My hand is raised.) Raise your hand if you have ever exercised to try to change the way your body looked? (Again, my hand is raised.) Raise your hand if you have ever done a particular exercise or exercise routine in order to get _______ (insert body part) just like someone else. (I better just keep my hands up even though they are getting tired.)
Why, why do we do this?? A lot of it has to do with our attitude toward exercise and our attitude toward our bodies.
Before I move any further, let's take a moment to remind ourselves of the whole science of our bodies. No matter how much we work out, diet, etc., our body structure is our body structure. So no matter how many sit ups we do, our abs will never be Jennifer Aniston's abs. NEVER.
But then a Shape magazine lands in our lap at the doctor's office and we see how another celebrity did it and we sink right back into the trap.
What's the trap? The trap is the message we are sent over and over and over and that is that exercise is a means to an end. And the end is to change our bodies. This may come in the "name of health" to reel us in, but at the end of the day, if you look at enough magazines, enough fitness programs, and enough diet crazes, it all adds up to getting us to think that we are meant to want to and try to lose weight/change our bodies/look different.
I'm not planning to go on and on and on today about this. What I really want to do today is push you to think about a few things and then we will dive deeper in another post. So I will pose a few questions:
- Why do you exercise? (Be completely honest with yourself. And know there can be more than one answer.)
- How does the food that you eat tie into the way you move?
- What are the thoughts that run through your head as you are exercising?
- Do you listen to your body when it comes to what movement you do? (how vigorous, when you need rest, etc.)
- Are you exercising because you love your body or because you hate or want to change your body?
Over the next week, I want you to think about exercise and movement and what they really are to you. I want you to notice your thought patterns while you do so. Notice how you feel if you miss a workout. Just pay attention to what you are really moving for. Perhaps you even journal a bit as well.
We will come back to these questions and discuss a bit further, but first, I hope you will do your homework! Ha!
Ok everyone, it's play time today! Get out your Spiralizer!
I make frittatas quite frequently. They are super simple and the varieties are literally endless. I pulled out my spiralizer the other week and cracked through a couple of sweet potatoes to make noodles for my favorite Sweet Potato Noodle recipe.
I just so happened to have some extra leftover and decided they would be perfect in a frittata. Sweet potato noodles cook really nicely and much quicker than cubed sweet potatoes so a fritatta on the quick side was gonna happen as well.
I also had just received a shipment from my friends at Green BEAN Delivery that included local, farm fresh eggs. There is nothing like an egg like that. I mean, the flavor is unreal. And these eggs were also right at my doorstep which is an even bigger perk. Sam and I have made it together to the grocery once since he was born and that was an adventure in itself. The cold and a baby don't make errands the easiest. Not one bit.
I decided to add one more egg to the mix but clearly did not whisk it well enough! So just an FYI you will have white swirls too if you do the same. Ha!
If you are lucky enough to live in the midwest like me, then you may also have the ability to take advantage of Green BEAN Delivery and they are also offering a special discount to my readers. Simply use the promotion code "BEWHOLEBEYOU" at greenbeandelivery.com when you check out and you can enjoy 20% off of your order! Make sure you are in an area where they deliver first! Local farmers and products as well as many of your favorites you can find at your local grocery.What are you waiting for?!
So back to the frittata. If you need to go dairy free, skip the cheese or use a dairy free substitute. Also, a dairy free cream may work better than a plant based milk, but if that's all you have, you should still be ok. It just may not be as rich. Load that skillet up full of veggies and then pour egg mixture over it. Bake and you are done!
I was provided products from Green BEAN Delivery used in this post but all opinions are mine. Thanks for supporting brands that I love!
Ingredients
- 9 large eggs
- ¼ c milk fuller fat is best
- 1 medium sweet potato peeled
- 2 handfuls baby arugula
- 1-2 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
- ⅓ c shredded parmesan
- ½ tsp parsley
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut the sweet potato ends off and insert into your spiralizer. Spiralize according to your spiralizer instructions.
- Whisk together milk, eggs, red pepper, Parmesan, sea salt and black pepper well.
- In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil and add minced garlic. Heat until fragrant.
- Add in sweet potato noodles and toss to heat. (about 3-5 minutes)
- Add arugula and toss to mix in with the sweet potatoes until they start to wilt.
- Pour egg mixture over sweet potato and arugula mixture.
- Transfer to oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through and edges begin to slightly brown.
- Allow to cool 5 minutes and then serve.
I exercise just so I can eat recipes like these as much as I want and not feel guilty! Not that this isn't healthy but too much of anything is bad.
Thak you for the amazing recipe, Lorie!
Enjoy!!! I’ve definitely been all over the place with exercise. Finally at a place that feels really good!