Because I have two stomachs. Let me explain….
[Matt Compton, if you’re reading, this is one of those times you’d roll your eyes at me in high school!]
I seem to have two sections in my stomach. One is right at the intersection of my ribs – up high – perhaps at the base of my esophagus? The other is lower – around where my belly button is. My stomach fills up like a measuring cup. When I am really full, both are full. But the upper stomach appears to empty first. Sometimes my upper stomach feels empty but my lower stomach is still full. Sometimes I am just thirsty in my upper stomach. It’s quite interesting to pay attention to. Can anyone relate?
So I share my stomach anatomy because today our sky had a rain front on the move that was inching closer. I could have used another hour or so of digestion before I went running, but I had to beat the rain, so I went anyways. My upper stomach chamber was nearly empty when I left.
I decided to run a fast 10K to try to beat my time from Saturday. It started out great for the first two miles, which were pretty much effortless. I felt swift:
- 8:26
- 8:28
And then right around mile two the contents of my lower stomach came back up into the upper chamber!!!! My pace dropped a ton and my stomach was sloshing a little…
- 8:44
- 9:07
- 8:59
And then for the last mile it went back down and I was able to sprint again.
- 8:28
- (.2) 1:30
I came in at 53:44. AVG pace: 8:41.
Moral of the story: I need to eat less breakfast if I want to run fast!!
I am also a cow because I would like to fill my rumen with used juice pulp crackers! More on that later….
I wasn’t very hungry when I got back from my run. Stretching was more of a priority. I feel totally spent from running so fast. I’m coughing up winter run lung juice!
But after getting out of the shower I was suddenly really hungry!
Couldn’t wait for more of those roasted veggies!! I put them over spinach, which was dressed with a drizzle of EVOO and agave, plus some of these toasted flax seeds.
We’ve had these for while, but since I usually put flax on sweet things like oatmeal and these are savory like popcorn I always forget about them. But they went into my juice crackers (which prompted me to grind some up) and so I put them on the salad too. They were great on a salad!
On the side: two small slices of Dakota with brie and plum jam
Going to go listen to this and read a little before getting back to studying: "La-la-laaaa-la we’re gonna make you pop-u-ler."
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
You are clearly in tune with your body if you can find that many stomachs, haha.
Plum jam sounds excellent. I’m definitely on a jam kick at the moment. Especially on yogurt where you can spoon it off the yogurt and just get a mouthful of jam 🙂
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
I definitely can relate to the multiple stomachs! It is a great way to descirbe the sensation, though! Delicious looking salad! LOVE the flax seed addition!
Estela @ weekly bite says
I wanna hear about the juice pulp crackers! Do tell! 🙂
Jessica @ How SWeet It Is says
Those crackers look quite intriguing!
aria says
I can relate. I also say I have two stomachs… one for food and one for dessert! Somehow the dessert stomach is always ready for dessert no matter how full the food stomach is. 🙂
Megan says
Idk about that stomach thing, but i’ll leave you with this:
Ephalba: You really dont have to do that.
Glinda: I know. That’s what makes me so nice!
Vanessa (Last Night's Leftovers) says
Juice pulp crackers, hey? Interesting. 🙂
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers says
haha too funny. i like cows. 😉 your crackers look great. creative way to use the leftovers.
Chloe (Naturally Frugal) says
Ha ha ha, love the cow analogy. I can’t run unless I digest at least and hour before hand, so I’m surprised to see your swift times! I get horrible side aches if I have food in my stomach during exercise.
Can’t wait to hear about the crakcers!
Julie @savvyeats says
I’m intrigued by these crackers.
“You’re gonna grin and bear it, your new-found popularity!”
Katie says
ah, so excited to hear about the crackers…
Cait (Cait's Plate) says
Ugh I hate when that happens on my runs! It’s seriously the worst! That salad looks amazing though!
Ameena says
I am also interested in hearing about the crackers!!
Pam says
Juicing is so yummy and fun!
Enjoy!
Sarah says
Hmm, interesting concept! 😉
Lindsay says
You and your two stomachs are too cute 🙂 Nice idea on how to use the leftover pulp!
Janna says
Hahaha “I am a Cow”. You make me laugh.
I am also intrigued about those juice pulp crackers.
Your eats look YUMMY!
Bronwyn says
Hahaha, I love the comparison.
I know what you mean, there’s totally like two different kinds of hunger and fullness sometimes.
I love the WICKED soundtrack. Everytime you mention them I just want to go and listen to them again and again!
Hillary says
That’s how the Lapband works! I’ve lost 120 lbs. with the help of a Lapband – it keeps your upper stomach full much longer…it gets full much quicker too!
Mama Pea says
I’m am so interested to see what is up with those pulp crackers. Every thing I’ve made with pulp tastes like…well, the contents of BOTH cow stomachs.
Erin says
Those crackers sound interesting…
I kind of know what you mean. Sometimes, I feel hungry but part of my stomach feels totally full (and yet another part feels hunger). And I’ve definitely had that “food moving around” feeling while running. strange!
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
Love whole flaxseeds! Can’t relate to your stomach anatomy–but I don’t think I’ve ever given much thought to my stomach chambers haha
Morgan @ Life After Bagels says
I don’t know if I have two stomachs like a cow, but my stomach seems to be the size of an entire cow . . . it’s never full! really it’s empty right now even!
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) says
I definitely can relate. I’ve learned that I need to fill at least part of my stomach before a run. But not too much!!!
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) says
If I’m going to run fast, I prefer to have an empty tum. However, if I’m going to run long (8 miles +) I definitely need some hearty fuel. One of my fav pre-run snacks is 1/2 clif bar (for short runs) or a banana with pb (for long runs).
Kristen says
I only like to eat before I run if I do it first thing in the morning but I can’t eat too much or the same thing happens to me. What a yucky feeling. I, like everyone else, can’t wait to hear about the crackers! They look really interesting!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i think i’m a cow too! i had a weird stomach gas pain the other day – but only in what felt like my upper stomach, not where i usually have tummy aches.
Kath says
I had that too – and I think it was too much fiber!! It happened after that Zoe’s with inulin.
Kelly says
I have two stomachs, one for food and one for dessert. No matter how full the food one is I always have room for some fruit or something sweet in the other one 🙂
Sue says
That was one surreal post!! 🙂
best chicken recipes says
I have just one stomach, but it is very large and like to be full.
Hallie says
Too funny. I think I have two stomachs too…but one is in my tummy and one is in my brain…the brain stomach wants lots of chocolate and cookies, and the tummy stomach wants greens and yogurt and sweet potatoes
Kristen @ Simply Savor says
a song just came on my Pandora Holiday playlist and made me think of you! It’s called Christmas Canon Rock by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It’s Pachelbel’s Canon and Xmas music combined in one! 🙂
and i’m obsessed with the Wicked soundtrack too. My H.S. yearbook graduation quote was lyrics from “Defying Gravity”!
Kath says
Love that version of Canon!
Wendy says
Technically, a cow has one stomach with four compartments. Sorry to be anal, but I have a master’s degree in dairy cow nutrition. 😛 But your juice pulp DOES look strangely like the squeezed out contents of a cow rumen. Did you know that some dairy farms feed their cows citrus pulp?
Bovine digestive anatomy aside, that is really interesting about your stomach – it makes total sense! I am impressed with how well you listen to your body. 🙂
Kath says
Thanks for the clarification 😉
Sarah R says
I can relate to having two stomachs. Especially in the morning. I’ll eat breakfast and then two hours later (when I know I’m not truly hungry) I start to kind of grumble. Usually if I just have something to drink I’m find until lunch. I never thought of it as having two stomachs, but it makes perfect sense!
amanda says
If I run right away in the morning I tend to eat something around 100 calories or so to give me fuel and not slow me down. Great job on your pace anyway!
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
oooh that lunch looks fabulous! What a great way to use the roasted vegies 🙂
Anne [email protected] Weigh of Life says
Those crackers sure look fantastic!
Melissa says
Pop-u-ler…lar?
Just saying. LOL. 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Haha, definitely interesting theory about the stomach. I suppose there probably is some scientific reason as to why your stomach behaves that way!
Loving the leftover veggies!
Adi (oatonomy.com) says
I think I have one stomach, that always wants food, that I inevitably over-feed. 🙂 Woops!
That still seems like a fast run to me!
Mastering Public Health says
Funny analogy. Sometimes it does feel that way… (the “second”, lower stomach giving that awful ‘pit’ feeling, when you’re really famished). Pulp crackers look very interesting! Like seaweed.
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty says
Holy yum!! That salad looks amazing.
I might have to have roasted veggies tonight just because!!
🙂 Enjoy your second stomach!! hehe
Jenna says
the english muffin with brie and plum jam looks soo good!
jenna
Naomi(onefitfoodie) says
ohh I would love to hear that recipe!!! 🙂 looks delicious
great time on the 10k, Kath!!
Susan says
I have dos estomagos as well! One is my “snacky” stomach and one is for my meals haha!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Mmmm…that jam toast looks so good 🙂
About the crackers: I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued 🙂
Sounds like an awesome run!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I can totally relate to that feeling of “two-stomach-syndrome”…haha! Sometimes I’ll feel full but hungry at the same time, depending on which “stomach” is doing the talking. Sometimes it’s because I’m thirsty, but sometimes I actually feel “food hungry.”
Funny how we don’t learn about this in anatomy and physiology? 😉
christie @ honoring health says
I love the first photo of the salad, so pretty!
Susan says
Loved the anatomy lesson! I’m all for “fuelling” up before workouts. I find a solid snack before a spin class can make a world of difference for me in terms of energy. But running is the opposite. I need a near-empty belly to push it. That’s why running first thing in the morning is best 🙂
Rita says
I stand corrected. Definitely not Ew. Once I saw them. I would totally crumble them over that salad.
Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run says
Lovin’ the “holiday” toast : )
Lisa @ Snack-Girl says
That toast looks yummy.
Eileen says
Your Vixen and Prancer holiday ware are too cute!!! I often have two stomachs- it is a not so gentle reminder to us runners to eat less before the run and more afterward. 😉
Meagan says
Ahh, I always get belly-aches in my lower stomach. My upper stomach only hurts if I eat WAY too much!! 😀
Errign says
Loving your reindeer plate/cup – where did you find them?!
Kath says
They’re from Pottery Barn
Erin @ Big Girl Eats says
I never thought about putting flax in salad! Good idea.
Chandra says
I saw Wicked over the summer (my first live musical!) and that was one of my favorite songs during the show. 🙂
Sarah says
Cabin Fever…Yes I know how you feel. I am reading your blog while I am actualy supposed to be studying (how ironic is this) the human digestive system for physio. You may not have two stomachs per se, but you do have verious control centers within the digestive system that makes hunger/fullness tricker than you would ever imagine.
Cady says
I have a massive hiatal hernia (where the top part of your stomach slides up into the esophagus and sometimes it gets stuck) and it can bring food/stomach acid/etc. up into the esophagus and stay there for hours at a time. So, two stomachs! Kind of. Maybe not, but there are two halves which each have a definite mind of their own.
Something to think about, at least? And I don’t know what it is about those crackers, but they look incredible to me.