Addiction

[Michael Korczowski]

to almond-hazelnut butter.

I've put away about 16oz. in the past 2 days. It hasn't been constant, but for the past few weeks I've just been eating very large quantities. Generally I take 3 large celery stalks and every bite is slathered in lots of almond-hazelnut buttery goodness. It's a lot of nut butter.

Are there any ramifications to eating so much? I'm a novice crossfitter, 5'10 average build, etc... definitely not on the 'athlete's zone' but probably consuming even more fat from these doggone nuts than would be recommended for an athlete trying to gain/maintain mass!

Are there any serious reasons for me to try and tone it down a bit / break the addiction?

Maybe I just need a therapist. This stuff is soooooo good.

[Brian Stone]

If you aren't putting on weight too quickly, or otherwise having a noticeable negative reaction, then no there is nothing physically wrong with that level of consumption.

[Derek Weaver]

I'm guessing your bowel movements are going to become interesting experiences.

The only issue is, like Brian said, that you may plump up a bit.

When you say an athlete trying to gain/maintain mass... which one is it?

[Michael Korczowski]

@Derek

My wording was bad—I didn't mean I was trying to gain/maintain mass, I meant the amount of nut butter I've been eating would be a lot even for someone who was.

Personally I just want to feel good, be healthy and make performance progress in WODs.

I guess it's probably best for me to try to tone it down a bit either way... but this thread was just to see if there weren't any known issues with too much almond butter.

And also to recommend almond-hazelnut butter to anyone who can find it...

[Michael Korczowski]

For whoever's interested, Robb Wolf and Andy Deas do mention address the issue of over-consumption of nuts/nut butters in the latter half of the first "Paleolithic Solution" podcast.

[Michael Korczowski]

OK, they also discuss it in episode two.

Turns out eating jars of nut butter is NOT such a great idea.

Problems = gut irritation / antinutrient content somewhat similar to grains; and too many calories.

[Mike ODonnell]

Maybe it's your body's response to being "underfed" for a while.....as most people who jump into CF and start the Zone usually don't eat enough and do activity overload....

Sometimes if your body is telling you something....it may be for a good reason.

[Dominic Sirianni]

I was doing strict paleo and eating a ton of almond butter and I gained about ten lbs. I am trying to go down not up. I was at 240 and went up to 250 in 7 weeks. It was all lean mass, but not what I wanted/needed. Now I am doing Paleo with about 70% modified zone proportions and am back down to to 240. I am trying to get to 215.

[Garrett Smith]

Nuts/seeds are the most commonly "abused" food on the Paleo plans.

Too much nut/seeds, whole or butters, often cause all sorts of gut issues, typically constipation, sometimes loose bowels. None of them are desirable.