What’s On The Menu – Peanuts For the Peanut

Last week’s menu spotlight touched on the prevalence of the peanut allergies among children. In an effort to combat the likelihood of our little Ella developing this burdensome allergy, we asked our pediatrician when and how we should introduce her to peanuts.

Shannon and I were already aware that recent research suggest exposing certain children at a younger age to peanut products could reduce the chance of them developing the allergy, but we wanted to get the OK from Ella’s doctor before going off and feeding her spoonfuls of peanut butter. Thankfully at her 6 month check up, the pediatrician told us we could start introducing peanut products at anytime and suggested a specific type of food.

She suggested using Bamba peanut snacks as the peanut introduction vehicle. They only have 4 ingredients, 1 gram of sugar per serving and are composed primarily of peanut paste. They do contain a fair amount of refined grains (corn to be specific) so once we determine if Ella can tolerate peanuts, we’ll most likely start giving her more wholesome  foods that contain the faux nut.

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Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – An Interview with @loelizabethblog author Lauren Shuster

We’re back with another Thursday episode of the Addicted to Fitness podcast, which means another interview with a health & fitness pro. This week’s guest is yoga instructor, wellness blogger and world traveler Lauren Shuster.

Lauren is also a Tampa resident, which means we were able record our conversation face to face outside a local coffee shop.  Lauren and I discuss teaching yoga to toddlers, exercises you can do on a plane and her memorable trip to New Zealand.

Make sure you listen to the entire episode to hear the rest of the health & wellness topics Lauren and I explore. If you’re interested in viewing more content from Lauren,  subscribe to her newsletter at loelizabeth.com and follow her on Instagram (@loelizabethblog).

Lauren pod

Don’t forget that we’re always looking for suggestions on compelling individuals from the field of health & fitness to ask to come on the podcast. Please send your recommendations to TheATFpodcast@gmail.com and don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast.

Links to this episode

Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sYlSFfPhaIzgZj8pmNEyd?si=y_aVO0fnRQmlWLd_Uzd53g

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/an-interview-with-wellness-blogger-lauren-shuster-0

What’s On The Menu – The Superior Nut Butter

Much like coffee creamers, the variety of nut butters has seemed to increase almost exponentially over the past 5-10 years. I imagine that the increase in childhood peanut allergies (21% increase since 2010) has been a major contributing factor.

For those of us that aren’t stricken with that terrible affliction, deciding on whether to buy peanut butter or almond butter can be a constant struggle. Well no need to worry because this menu spotlight will tell you which nut butter is nutritional superior.

Both are a great source of monounsaturated fat, fiber and plant based protein, but almond butter has more vitamin E, iron and calcium. Just make sure the only ingredients are almonds and maybe a pinch of salt. You don’t want to negate the nutritional benefits by buying something full of sugar and additives that prevent oil separation.

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Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Tips on Staying Healthy During Holiday Travel

On the road again, I can’t wait to take Addicted to Fitness on the road again.

I’m no Willie Nelson, but I am very excited for this special “on the road” ATF episode. Shannon and I decided to podcast during our recent trip up North to visit my relatives for Easter. Here are the highlights

Listeners Talk Back

ETTampa member and close friend Adrien (@authenticadrien) is showing us tons of love by frequently commenting on ETT (@ettampa) and ATF (@TheATFPodcast) Twitter posts. She loves the fact that we’re always investigating new health trends & stories.

We also received a comment from Tampa International Airport when we posted the pic of Ella and I (which you can see in the episode pic below) on my personal Facebook page. They apparently thought that Ella was the “cutest luggage” they had ever seen. I’m bias but I have to agree.

Staying Healthy While Traveling

This was Ella’s first plane ride. We know her immune system is still developing, which is why we wiped down all the chairs, arm rests and tray tables with antibacterial wipes. We wanted all her surroundings to be sanitized since she is in a “put everything in her mouth” phase. The good news is that Shannon discovered that her saliva can act as a partial barrier against germs.

I was fighting a head cold while on the trip which, in addition to the dehydration associated with air travel, compelled Shannon and I to drink a giant bottle of water while on the flight. I focused on eating non-inflammatory foods, which included lots of protein, healthy fats and veggies & fruits, for most of the trip. I also doubled down on immune boosting supplements (probiotics & herbs).

Roadie pod

This was a two-part podcast and in the second half we give a wrap up of our first multi-day trip with Ella and admit to indulging in holiday treats. If you did some traveling during the recent holiday weekend, we’d love to hear how your experience went. Drop us a line on the Addicted to Fitness podcast Facebook page.

You should also bookmark our new podcast website, addictedtofitnesspodcast.com, and our sponsors website, hempcoffeeexchange.com. As ATF listeners you can get 20% off The Hemp & Coffee Exchange’s awesome super coffee by simply entering the promo code “ATF” at checkout. Consider it a little thank you gift for the iTunes rating & review that you’ll be giving us in the near future.

Episode Links

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2&i=1000408477144

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/00QQYZorEDayFPTNaOvzvB?si=a50WTU7oQf2RVdw6o4ThOw

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/tips-on-staying-healthy-during

 

Weekend Workout – Gotta Keep that Core TIGHT!

Got another core centric superset workout to kickstart your weekend. As if core exercises weren’t challenging enough, these exercises will all be executed from the plank position. That means you’ll need to utilize much more than core muscles to complete the workout.

Performing five 10 rep supersets of this workout will help improve strength in your ENTIRE core, not just your 6-pack (rectus abdominis). For those that need a refresher on supersets, they require you to perform a desired number of repetitions for 3 separate exercises in succession. Don’t forget to warmup and modify the workout to match your fitness level.

Let us know in the comment section below if you completed this or any weekend workout. ENJOY!

ETT Weekend Workout 4-7

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – An Interview with Obstacle Course Racer Kyle Alexander

We’ve been reaching a bunch of podcast milestones as of late, but today’s episode marks one that I never thought would become a reality. This ATF podcast is our 100th episode and I’m extremely proud & honored that it features an interview with a truly compelling fitness pro.

The guest on this episode of ATF is obstacle course racer and Navy veteran Kyle Alexander. Kyle and I discuss exercise options while on deployment, the benefits of obstacle course racing on mental health and being an Operation Enduring Warrior athlete. I encourage you to learn more about the Operation Enduring Warrior (OEW) charity by visiting their website and donating to their cause if you’re able. You can also follow them (@operationenduringwarrior) and Kyle (@kyle_donald_alexander) on Instagram for updates on OEW races coming to your area.

Kyle pod pic

We’ll keep bringing you interviews with health & fitness pros each week, which means we want to hear your suggestions on who we should have on ATF. Send your recommendations to TheATFpodcast@gmail.com and don’t forget to please share the podcast. We’d also love it if you gave us a rating & review in the iTunes store

Links to this episode

iTunes: https://goo.gl/aEKcen

Soundcloud: https://goo.gl/4kzVE7

Website: https://goo.gl/fHQdi2

What’s On The Menu – The Vegans Got This One Right

My dietary preferences are broad to say the least. Animals, plants, fungi and even bacteria are all menu options for yours truly. That means that all wholesome food options, whether they be paleo, keto or vegan, are literally on the table for this omnivore.

One such vegan item that I’ve been putting on pretty much everything as of late is this pesto from Trader Joe’s. It has a short list of whole ingredients and is high in that oh so important macronutrient, FAT.

If I could change anything in it I would substitute the cashew butter for walnuts & nutritional yeast. Shannon is a former vegan and we’ve made a lot of vegan pesto. I can say with the utmost confidence that adding nutritional yeast gives it a much more “cheesy” flavor.

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Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Life Update & FabFitFun Unboxing

I apologize for the tardy publication of the show notes for this episode of Addicted to Fitness. We had a very busy, yet rewarding trip to see my family for the Easter holiday, which you guys will hear more about on next week’s episode. But we’re living in the NOW, so here’s a recap of this week’s podcast

Listeners Talk Back

Received a brand new 5 star iTunes rating and review from a health & fitness pro who happens to be on an upcoming ATF guest. You can read her review by visiting the iTunes store, and while you’re there please let us know what you think of the podcast by leaving your own rating and review.

Training Recaps

I finally led my first Stick Mobility group class at Tampa Strength. Stick Mobility exercises/movements utilize 4 to 7 ft pliable sticks that act as “force multiplier(s)” to improve mobility, flexibility and muscle activation. The video below demonstrates how the sticks can enhance well-known exercises.

Shannon has stayed super active this week thanks to the awesome Florida weather & the desire to get Ella outside. She walked on the Riverwalk, visited local markets and even strapped her in the body carrier and moseyed around our neighborhood. All this exploring led to her surpassing her iWatch step goals several days in a row.

Life Update

Ella turned 6 months old a little over a week ago and she has made a ton of progress. She’s communicating with us, sitting up on her own and has started experimenting with solid foods. Her new nutrition options have helped us be more adventurous when it comes to grocery shopping. We are also back to our old meal prepping ways.

If you have a little one at home that is reaching milestones & helping you be more cognizant of your health, please let us know about it on the Addicted to Fitness podcast Facebook page.

FabFitFun Unboxing

Shannon wanted to share the “unboxing” of her seasonal subscription box from FabFitFun. Subscription boxes are a pretty popular trend and Shannon decided to invest in this one because it focuses on fitness as well as beauty, wellness, and fashion products. You’ll have to listen to the entire episode to hear about everything that was in the box but my fav’s include:

  • A vegan “leather” travel eye mask that has a cooling insert
  • A massage roller that fits into your carry-on luggage
  • Guava body butter – smells terrific

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Thanks for listening & sharing ATF. Don’t forget to check out our sponsors, The Hemp & Coffee Exchange. Head to hempcoffeeexchange.com, read about their awesome products, and use our exclusive promo code “ATF” at checkout to get 20% off your order.

Links to this episode

iTunes: https://goo.gl/vKYU7C

Soundcloud: https://goo.gl/deZRFx

Website: https://goo.gl/b74rMs