Once I reached the half way point in training I realized that I hadn't thought much about everyday nutrition. I started to feel hungry about every couple of hours and want to make sure that I was consuming enough to keep myself fueled for my workouts but not over do it.
I'm actually the worst about this. I've been known to go for 1:45 runs on nothing more than half a granola bar. I've been feeling sore, a lot, and I think a lot of that may be due to the fact that I'm not properly fueling throughout the day.
I started reading Racing Weight: How to Get Lean for Peak Performance. I was definitely not looking to lose weight but I did want to gain information on how how much I should be eating. Not only did it outline how much and how often I should eat, but it also described what I should be eating. And I can tell ya, I haven't been eating properly. My approach toward food while training has always been with a "well I earned it" mentality. But instead, I should be thinking more about what nutrients my body needs (and has earned) to perform at the level I'm asking it to.
So, for the past two weeks I've been a lot more mindful about what I've been consuming. I've been trying to drink more water, get at least 3 servings of both fruits and vegetables in a day, eat more nuts and focusing on consuming only whole grains. And I have to tell you, I'm still sore. Haha, but I actually feel more energetic (which is amazing with how much energy I'm outputting) and generally feel lighter (although the scale says I weigh the same). I'm really digging this new approach to eating so I thought I'd also share what specifically I've been eating lately!
Breakfast:
A smoothie which includes fruit (preferably high in carbs), greens (spinach or beet tops), protein powder, yogurt, and coconut water. It's simply the best! Today I put beets in my smoothie and it was to die for!
I'm actually the worst about this. I've been known to go for 1:45 runs on nothing more than half a granola bar. I've been feeling sore, a lot, and I think a lot of that may be due to the fact that I'm not properly fueling throughout the day.
I started reading Racing Weight: How to Get Lean for Peak Performance. I was definitely not looking to lose weight but I did want to gain information on how how much I should be eating. Not only did it outline how much and how often I should eat, but it also described what I should be eating. And I can tell ya, I haven't been eating properly. My approach toward food while training has always been with a "well I earned it" mentality. But instead, I should be thinking more about what nutrients my body needs (and has earned) to perform at the level I'm asking it to.
So, for the past two weeks I've been a lot more mindful about what I've been consuming. I've been trying to drink more water, get at least 3 servings of both fruits and vegetables in a day, eat more nuts and focusing on consuming only whole grains. And I have to tell you, I'm still sore. Haha, but I actually feel more energetic (which is amazing with how much energy I'm outputting) and generally feel lighter (although the scale says I weigh the same). I'm really digging this new approach to eating so I thought I'd also share what specifically I've been eating lately!
Breakfast:
A smoothie which includes fruit (preferably high in carbs), greens (spinach or beet tops), protein powder, yogurt, and coconut water. It's simply the best! Today I put beets in my smoothie and it was to die for!
Morning Snack:
I've also been including a morning snack. Ten AM rolls around and I'm suddenly starving! I made my own Larabars from the Whole Grain Mornings Cookbook that I reviewed a couple weeks back which includes dates, dried cherries, roasted cashews and some oats. Easy!
I've also been including a morning snack. Ten AM rolls around and I'm suddenly starving! I made my own Larabars from the Whole Grain Mornings Cookbook that I reviewed a couple weeks back which includes dates, dried cherries, roasted cashews and some oats. Easy!
Lunch:
I've been making recipes out of the Racing Weight Cookbook and have really been enjoying them! This week, I'm eating vegetable "pizzas" (sorry no pic) and this yummy kale crustless quiche with grapefruit and a couple barnana dark chocolate bites. The second pic is of a stuffed acorn squash dish I had last week for lunches.
I've been making recipes out of the Racing Weight Cookbook and have really been enjoying them! This week, I'm eating vegetable "pizzas" (sorry no pic) and this yummy kale crustless quiche with grapefruit and a couple barnana dark chocolate bites. The second pic is of a stuffed acorn squash dish I had last week for lunches.
Afternoon Snack:
Either I finish the rest of my homemade Larabar or I eat some nuts or a handful of Annie's Cheddar Whole Grain Bunnies.
Either I finish the rest of my homemade Larabar or I eat some nuts or a handful of Annie's Cheddar Whole Grain Bunnies.
Dinner:
Usually dinner consists of a meat, a carb, and a veggie. In the past, I've actually not been super good about making sure there's a carb with every dinner but I learned that I'm supposed to be consuming 206 grams of carbohydrates a day!! So I've been much more mindful of it. Below is a pick of grass fed ground beef stuffed poblano peppers before it was baked (no carb!!)
Usually dinner consists of a meat, a carb, and a veggie. In the past, I've actually not been super good about making sure there's a carb with every dinner but I learned that I'm supposed to be consuming 206 grams of carbohydrates a day!! So I've been much more mindful of it. Below is a pick of grass fed ground beef stuffed poblano peppers before it was baked (no carb!!)
Dessert:
I'll eat a couple squares of dark chocolate, fruit, brown rice puffed chocolate cereal or yogurt for something sweet at the end of my day.
So far, I'm really loving how I've been feeling. YES! I miss baked goods and YES I do cheat every now and then but it has been way less often and a lot more purposeful than before.
I'll eat a couple squares of dark chocolate, fruit, brown rice puffed chocolate cereal or yogurt for something sweet at the end of my day.
So far, I'm really loving how I've been feeling. YES! I miss baked goods and YES I do cheat every now and then but it has been way less often and a lot more purposeful than before.