Daniel Terrell: Recent Questions (and My Responses) from Readers

Hi, guys!

I love when readers/followers reach out with questions for me – it’s such a great way to connect with you guys on a deeper level. It also helps me identify topics and areas that you guys want to know more about, so keep those inquires coming! And, with that, here are some questions that I recently received and my responses!

On your Instagram Stories, you always show videos of your espresso machine. Can you tell me what kind it is and whether you would recommend it?

Ahh, yes, if you follow me on Instagram Stories, you probably see my espresso machine just about everyday! Haha! I received it after attending a special blogger event at the Nespresso Boutique in Boston. Fun side story: I was newly pregnant and hadn’t told anyone yet (not even my friend Elizabeth, who was at the event with me), so I ordered all decaf espresso and coffee and felt like I was acting like such a weirdo. Maybe not, but I felt super awkward hiding my little secret!

Anyway, the model that I have is the Maestria, and I absolutely love it. I’m drinking a lot more espresso nowadays, so it’s the perfect way to quickly brew up a couple of shots and not spend a fortune at Starbucks.

Photo by Jeremy Ricketts on Unsplash

At the gym, I typically focus on lifting, as that is what I truly enjoy, with a bit of cardio mixed in here and there. I was wondering if you could recommend a good weight lifting shoe, that I could still wear on occasion while doing some cardio. I would rather not have to change my shoes from one activity to another, if possible.

Right now, I’m loving the Reebok CrossFit Grace. I lift in them and then wear them for the WOD (Workout of the Day). The soles are flat and stable, but they have plenty of flexibility for jumping, running, etc. Basically, they’re a nice mix of both worlds!

I know I’ve reached out to you in the past, but I was hoping you could shed some light on the topic of macros. I was tracking them perfectly all summer, to the point that I felt it became a little too perfect. I was hitting my numbers every day to the point that I would feel so bad if I didn’t. With that being said, this past week I fell off the macro wagon. And it feels like I fell off the healthy wagon too. I’m eating things I didn’t all summer because they didn’t fit my numbers. Obviously, I will go back to my healthy ways, but I’m wondering if you ever have gone through a slump after tracking. And how you get back on track without being so crazy about the numbers. I guess I’m basically looking to get back on the healthy track without tracking macros.

I’ve definitely gone through slumps with my eating habits and sometimes it’s really hard to get back on track. Instead of focusing on the numbers, how about keeping things simple and just focusing on eating wholesome, minimally-processed foods (fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and healthy fats), but allowing for some “fun” foods about 20% of the time. I love the 80/20 balance – it’s just so realistic for the long-term. Another idea to get back on track and not focus so much on the numbers is reusing some of your old meal plans (like if you’re tracking in MyFitnessPal) to guide your eating. If you felt good over the summer, you could always go back to those days and repeat them (but not count macros). And, finally, try to pay attention to your hunger/fullness without tracking macros. Focus on eating well to feel well!

I’ve been searching your blog everywhere looking for a link for that child jacket-with-built-in-gloves that you used for Qman. I need one for my little 15-month old guy!! What brand is it?

It’s called a Cubbies – and they are AWESOME! I’m definitely going to order another one for Qman this winter. FYI: I think they run a little small, so if your little one is in between sizes, order up!

Do you have a good wing recipe that you recommend for football season? I’m not the best cook, so the easier the better!

You’re in luck! I actually have two DELICIOUS and EASY recipes that are serious crowd-pleasers: Grandma’s Wings (only 2 ingredients) and The Best Friggin’ Wing Recipe.

How do you eat your coconut butter?

I lovvvveee the vanilla cake batter coconut butter from Nikki’s. I typically eat it straight from the jar with a spoon, but it’s also delicious melted and mixed with fruit (mashed banana, berries, microwaved apple slices), mashed into sweet potatoes, stirred into oatmeal, and incorporated into baked goods (there are lots of recipes on the Nikki’s website) as well as no-bake desserts (my favorites: No-Bake Vanilla Cake Batter Bars and No-Bake Almond Joy Cookies). I also hear Nikki’s coconut butter is delicious stirred into hot coffee. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s on my agenda for as soon as the weather turns cold. Imagine vanilla cake batter with pumpkin spice coffee… OMG.

I know you have your L1 Crossfit Certification but don’t currently coach anywhere. Would you recommend getting this certification even if you don’t plan on coaching? I’m a personal trainer and nutritionist who LOVES CrossFit and I am open to coaching in the future for sure. The L1 (as you know!) is expensive so I was just wondering if you thought it was a worthwhile investment for yourself as a fitness professional.

I loved the CrossFit L1 course! I thought it was such a cool experience, and, it you’re a CF fan, it’s THE BEST. When I took it, I wasn’t sure if I’d coach; I really just wanted to the knowledge for CNC and personally. You learn a lot of the usual fitness info – but with a CrossFit spin and why the sport does the things that it does, which I thought was really interesting and, for sure, impacted how I think about fitness. Overall, I definitely think it was worth it!