Hi all,
I thought I'd share why I chose to do this and a little bit about me and my background. I've done DietBets before but always lose interest about a week in, so I'm hoping that blogging during it will help keep me accountable and proactive within the process.
I've always been pretty athletic and have run since middle school cross-country. I did my first marathon in my early 20's, and kind of just played around with running for the next couple of years. It wasn't until I started doing triathlons in my late 20's that I became much more focused about training (leave it to the triathletes to be more type A about their sport!).
I started off with my first half ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) in 2007, and did my first Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) the next year (2008) in Lake Placid. That race remains my PR at the Iron-distance, about 13:11 or so, two more Ironman later. Mixed in there, between 2008-2014 are dozens of 10 mile runs, olympic distance events, half marathons, duathlons, etc. All with mediocre results. I'm over the middle of the pack results.
I REALLY, really, really want to beat that time this year. I'm signed up for a solid calendar of 2015 racing, capping off with Ironman Florida in early November. I'm all in for this year. I've signed up with a great coach who's helping me chart a path towards where I want to go, I've invested in a TON of stuff to make sure I've got the gear I need to perform at the next level (thank God for Cyber Monday sales!).
The one thing I can't buy or train my way out of is my weight. it's slowly crept up over the past ten years or so, hitting a high about two years ago when I bought my first house and started a serious relationship. Since then, I've relocated to South Florida, sold the house and ended the relationship. Now that I'm starting this new chapter of my life (which happens to have incredible training weather!), I want to really buckle down and be diligent about this aspect of my performance that's always elluded me.
(to be clear...I'm not obese, and I know that. My reasons for wanting to lose weight are a) so I can perform better and b) so I look better naked (as Mark Sisson says). I'm healthy as is for a normal adult, which I've had confirmed by doctors and Bod-Pod scans.)
I'm following the protocol layed out in the Whole30 program, but I probably won't be exactly to their specifications. I'm going to use things like Stevia, and I may partake of a smoothie or two after longer workouts. I'm trying to focus on eating meals that have a balance of proteins, fats and carbs, with my primary fuel source being fat. (I'm sure I'll talk more about this later...I've had some tests done that indicate that I am a rabid carb burner!)
Yesterday looked like:
Day off training, as I'm racing this weekend (in Key West!) and coach wants a recovery week.
Bulletproof coffee: I make mine with organic coffee beans, 1 tbsp ghee, a little coconut milk and a few drops of liquid Stevia.
Breakfast: 3 egg muffins with egg, spinach, mushroms and diced sweet potatoes
Snack: Coconut and Almond no-bake ball
Lunch: Stuffed delicata squash. I didn't use any eggs, and used chorizo sausage instead of whatever they called for. I only had half of it because I wasn't hungry.
Snack: Macademia nuts
Dinner: Ooopsie. I had a rough day (rough weekend, actually) and I just wasn't feeling it when I got home, so I made poor choices for dinner. I had pita chips, sliced cheese and dried cranberries. It's a big step for me to actually admit this bad choice...yea me! NSV. :)
Best of luck to everyone on the beginning of your journey!