You guys rock my socks off.
Thank you so much for all of your love and support on my last post. As a blogger, it’s not always easy to put yourself out there for all the world to see (and judge), but the benefits of being part of such a warm and loving community far outweigh the costs. Love you much *is smitten*.
. – . – . – .
So today was crazy for a couple of reasons.
First, our weather was bipolar…
[it’s raining, it’s pouring, Amanda’s [not] snoring (I hope…)]
[You are my sunshine… my only sunshine… you make my haaapppyyyy when skies are gray]
Second, and more importantly, my appetite was completely in.sane.
I blame breakfast…
… and the lack of chocolate in it. I had some strawberries that were on their last legs (can you imagine strawberries with legs?), and decided to make strawberry banana eggified oats this morning. Why I didn’t go the extra step and add chocolate is beyond me. Uhm. Amanda? Hello? Chocolate covered strawberries? Match made in heaven? Any of that ringin’ a bell? Apparently not. But never fear; chocolate did make an appearance later on in the day…
… or maybe two appearances…
[Chocolate pudding + almond butter = life changing. Trust.]
Fiiiiiine. Three appearances…
[Chocolate chip cookie dough ball and cocoa ginger snaps to go]
There may have also been some hummus and chips…
A pimped out rice cake…
(topped with cottage cheese (!!), almond butter, and honey)
A yogurt mess…
Aaaaaand a few handfuls of this stuff…
Lunch and dinner were also had, but will remain unpictured because I couldn’t be bothered to take a picture of lunch, and by the time I had satisfied my belly enough to operate a camera without having to fear that I might take a bite out of it, my dinner wasn’t looking all that pretty. Actually, I’m not trying to put on a show here – this is real life. And this is my half-eaten dinner…
… and probably the ugliest picture that you’ll ever see around here, so please don’t let this isolated incident scare you away. What you’re looking at there is the mangled remains of a quinoa bake (based off this recipe), some hummus, some cottage cheese, some blueberry jam, and a hardboiled egg.
Ugly, but delicious; and satisfying enough to tame my hunger… for now. Rest assured that another snack will be eaten before I call it a night.
So today has been a little crazier than usual in terms of how ravenous I’ve been feeling, and the strangest part of all was that it was a rest day. I was too busy with work this morning/afternoon to get a workout in, and when I finally got some free time at the end of the day, I just wasn’t feeling the exercise bit so I decided to sit down and do some blogging instead. Yay! 😀
Actually, now that I think about it, my appetite today wasn’t all that strange – ravenous rest days are a pretty common thing for me. I seem to be hungrier on days where I don’t work out than on days when I do…. especially if I’m feeling sore after a kick-butt lifting session (which I am today).
Do I feel guilty for eating extra and not exercising? No. Why? Because I take it as a sign that my metabolism is firing up, and that my body needs the extra fuel to repair and build muscle. Sure it’s kind of daunting to feel hunger creeping in every hour, and to constantly be making treks to the kitchen to satisfy that hunger, but it’s better than feeling my energy, performance, and mood plummet because I’m not fuelling properly. I enjoy being at the top of my game, and if my body needs a little bit extra in order to keep me there, then so be it.
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Do you find yourself hungrier on rest days than on days where you work out?
I googled hungrier on rest days, saw the name of your blog liked it, and clicked. Then I started literally laughing out loud – because the ridiculous concotions you cooked up look SO much like my day today….and most of my Sundays. Starving, raiding the pantry and making banana honey peanut butter wraps, oatmeal, carbs, carbs, carbs. I wrap everything I can think of in lavash and eat it. Thank you for the laugh and the normalizing perspective!
I’m not sure if I’m hungrier on rest days, or just more bored/snacky because I definitely tend to eat more!
Love all your eats – especially pimped out rice cakes. My current fave rice cake topper is chocolate pb hummus and chocolate sunflower seeds. Yum.
That quinoa bake sound so yummy! I’ve never tried makin one before but I love quinoa so I might have to try it soon.
I hate when I feel super hungry on rest days cause it feels like that doesn’t make sense or like my body is confused but I try not to feel guilty. It all balances out in the long run!
I’m definitely hungrier on rest days! But I guess I’m always hungry…. 😉
This is totally me, I take one day off from the gym and my stomach seems to never end the grumbling. Muscle repairs and building need lots of food!
I am always hungrier on lighter workout days!
I like food though 🙂
I actually do tend to eat more on rest days, because I’m around food more, rather than exercising. 😛 I don’t usually feel guilty, but theres some days when i do
I am in love with your photography! Makes my mouth water seriously..I am so HUNGRY after my runs. I don’t know if I am more hungry on rest days because I’m pretty much eating all day everyday. Also I found myself thinking about something you wrote about eating what your body craves. It’s so strange because today I experienced just that! I came back from a good run and had to cook because I was so HUNGRY. And somehow, I found myself wanting or ‘craving’ a sip of Coca Cola, not the whole can, just a little sip, or maybe two hehe! I NEVER drink Coca Cola because of the sugar concent etc. but also because I’m just not into sickly sweet stuff anymore. But after my run I was just craving it, and I was lucky that my boyfriend does drink it like it’s water:S so I had access to a can. After two sips I thought ‘well that’s enough coke to last me several years, I’m done with this’, dinner was also ready so I couldn’t really be bothered with anything else. What a long story about a sip of coke, haha! I just thought it was funny because this was probably the first time I had an actual maybe ‘bodily’ craving for something. X
yo, a girl can never have too much chocolate.
Truth 😀
You seriously make the most delicious combinations of food! Definitely inspiring my eats for next week. 😀 And possibly ordering those cocoa gingersnaps..mmm! I’m hungrier on rest days usually because I have to watch what I eat on days when I work out because my stomach is sensitive.
I’m always more hungry on rest days, I just always see it coming. No big deal anymore, my muscles are recovering so obviously more food is needed 🙂
I don’t schedule in rest days, just take them as I need (I know the second I wake up if I need a rest day, and sometimes a restful morning is all it takes for my legs to ask to be biking again!). But I often get SUPER snacky and hungry on those days– it’s like my body is saying: “time to exercise you jaw today!”
PS: awesome breakfast! I would have totally put in chocolate sauce or chocolate chunks though ;). Also, I agree, almond butter and chocolate pudding is life changing. I like to layer almond or peanut butter with the pudding in a glass for the full effect!
I get hungrier on rest days too! I always think it’s odd, but I roll with it! Your food always always makes me SO hungry! Time for lunch 🙂
Love this post and the healthy attitude you have towards your extra hunger. When I first started working out that extra hunger thing really scared me. Although in my case I’m extra hungry on days I DO work out, as opposed to rest days. I guess my body just knows when it needs more fuel, so I try to just go with the flow of that and not overthink it too much.
Your breakfast looks DIVINE by the way. 🙂
Your eats look delish no matter what – half eaten or not 🙂
You make the best combos
I actually haven’t ever noticed whether I’m hungrier on rest days or not. How weird.. Now that I think about it I’m not really sure, but I think so. I’m have to find out now! I’ll be sure to take a note on my next rest day. I’m so curious haha. I have noticed that I get hungry much faster after my post-workout snack/meal than after any other meal of the day. I love your pimped out rice cake 😀 Oh and you have my craving ginger snaps! I need to find a recipe! haha.
ohhh Amanda I love your blog posts, there is always without fail something you have written that will make me smile, and for that i love you. Just thought id tell you. 🙂 Please dont take that as me being creepy, im not I promise.
Your eats look gorgeous as ever, even if they are half eaten before the camera gets to photograph.
I know what you mean, about being more hungry on rest days, I guess it goes to show that on the days you dont rest your body works so hard, so it craves more food.
I hope you are having a wonderful Friday.
Love Jess xx
looks just like a perfect lazy day!
And I think its great that there are other people out there who “pimp their ricecake”.
I love to put peanutbutter and fresh blueberries on mine or maple sirup with almond butter and cinnamon *yumyum* – perfect munching for a chill out day!
I am ALWAYS ravenous the day after a heavy lifting session! It used to be very difficult for me to honor my hunger, as I had an *exact* number of calories that I adhered to every day regardless of my activity level. I won’t lie and say that listening to my body is easy peasy now, but instead of denying my hunger cues, I DO nourish my body. I’ve chosen to reject any thoughts that question my actions. And once I do, I feel so empowered! 😀
Your chocolate pudding + almond butter combination is making my mouth water. I need to try that…like now. I’m still searching for a good pudding though. Maybe I should try making a homemade rendition…Have you ever done that?
Happy Friday, Amanda! I hope you have a lovely day, girlie! xoxoxo
I’ve never made my own, no. Err that’s not true. We used to make some when I was younger from those baggies you buy and have to add milk and cook, but it’s been a while. Have you seen the Zensoy ones around you? Those are my favorite!
haha real food could never be ugly to me =) I’d eat that in a heartbeat! and I loooove the idea of AB and pudding! Trying it! <3
ps: ahhhhhh is it time to move yet!?
34 more days for me!!! Woooo 😀 😀
i’ve lost all control
i binged again last night and especially on chocolate (like 3 oz) and granola and everything and was so sick (after eating 3 full meals and snacks too)…and zero exercise…its like i’ve swung completely the other way and i’m terrified where this will lead me…i’ve lost control…i do this nightly and daily………..i just plain don’t care anymore.
such a failure. i feel like such a failure.
YES I can’t seem to get full on rest days. For a long time it bothered me because it’d be logical to eat less on rest days right? But nope, if my body is asking for food it’s going to get it, even if it doesn’t make sense in my head!
I definitely find myself hungrier on rest days. It’s taken me a long time, but I am finally able to embrace it and know that there is surely a reason for me being hungrier.
Also, I’m a HUGE fan of rice cakes with almond butter, but cottage cheese too!? Brilliance!
Also x2, I buy those baked lentil chips whenever I see them at TJ Maxx (the only place I find them where I live.) I approve 😉
This is my first time commenting on your blog- I love it!
I just started a blog so I hope you can check it out 🙂
Oh and ravenous rest days.. check! Yesterday was also my rest day and I seriously just had to stay within feet of the kitchen. Oh well, no complaints here!
I actually get hungrier when I’ve worked out!
Yes I’m definitely hungrier on rest days, especially when they follow a day of lots of lifting. Doing weights makes my metabolism out of control!
I am usually hungrier on rest days too! I just eat a extra handful of nuts or yogurt parfait and I am good 🙂
I have noticed that I am more hungry on rest days! I think it’s because working out really quell my hunger and I don’t usually feel pangs for quite some time before or after a workout. I used to use this as a great time to NOT eat anything and there goes all my muscle mass…yay! 🙁 Glad that has changed!
I try to eat the same on rest days even though it feels a bit uncomfortable… working on that one for sure