Evolution of Eating

Our eating started out as a eat whatever you want, however much you want, whenever you want.  There have been several small steps to where we are now.

1.   We focused mainly on the glycemic index.  The reason why carbs have a bad rep, is because of the way they react in the body, and certain carbs make your blood sugar levels go way high, so then your body releases insulin and it quickly changes into fat so that it can be absorbed by the body.  Complex carbs that don't increase your blood sugar level so drastically are not going to affect your body the same way as simple carbs.  Most people forget that veggies are actually carbs.  Low glycemic foods also make you feel full longer.

2.   Calorie counting + low glycemic index.  I was shocked when I found out how many calories I was actually consuming, especially when going out places.  One tiny crisp bean burrito from Taco Time is about 350 calories, and I would easily eat three, and a taco.

3.   Planning snacks and Cooking once a week - It gets really hard to make smart choices when you get so hungry.  So I started planning out meals and snacks for the week, and cooking them all on Mondays.      One of the things I really like about this is that I actually look forward to dinner, instead of dreading going home after a long day of work to make dinner.  Different books say different things about eating through out the day, but most of them do recommend it.  At first I did the biggest loser thing with 3 meals at 300 calories each, and three 200 calorie snacks.  I then switched to what Chi Running recommends, and I'm in love with it!  You eat a large breakfast and dinner - like 400-500 calories each, and then eat small calorie snacks a few times during the day.

4.    The last thing has to due with the documentary "Forks over Knives".  The documentary explains that a diet with large amounts of animal food (butter, milk, meat, etc) and oil raises the chances of cancer and heart disease.  The documentary is very much about being a strict vegan that also doesn't consume any oil. While I agree with the main point, I still believe the most important thing about eating is to be balanced.  So that is my very long way of saying that we have switched to almond milk, and do eat butter, milk, and meat, but sparingly.  Can I tell you, that I feel great!  I have so much energy nowadays. Even on the days when I only get 4 hours of sleep, I still feel like I can get through the day.

So that is what we do.  We also have Friday night date night that we use as kind of a free night.  We eat whatever we want, and then get dessert.  One of the books that I read said that one of the keys to losing weight and keeping it off, is to find what works for you.  So while this is what works for us, I encourage everyone to find what works for them.

The Transition

So I have run several races since the very first half marathon, and even though I love running, there is something I love even more - swimming!  I'm I good at swimming? No, but I would literally swim for hours everyday if I could.  When you are running or biking, there comes a quiet peace and meditative quality.  Swimming magnifies that aspect 50 fold.

I also do not have a body made for running.  I had a gait analysis, and I am a pronator, big time.  Even with the right shoes, I still have knee and hip pain if I run for more than 5 or 6 miles...sometimes less. :(  Last year I made the mistake of pushing myself too hard.  It's kind of a long story, but basically I made a stupid mistake with my sock choice the day of the half marathon, got blisters the size of gumballs at mile 4, had bad form the rest of the race, and hurt my hip very badly. The worst part was that I only took about a week off and then went on to run my fastest 10k 3 weeks later.  Now, even though I think it was totally worth it. (I beat my pr!) I could not run the Nebo half in September because my hip was still giving me problems.

So, that was just a long way of saying that I'm going to try a tri! lol.  I'm a bit nervous for the bike part though.  I love riding bikes, but not when racing...scary.

Last thing for today.  I was going through my journal a little bit today, and found this from an old fortune cookie.  "You cannot love life until you live the life you love."

I'm sure some people out there are thinking that I'm obsessed with this stuffed, or that maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, or would she just shut up about running already.  The truth is that when Greg and I were eating whatever we wanted, and playing video games for hours and hours, I was still mostly happy. It feels good to do whatever you want.     But I did not love my life.  I did not feel good about my body, my career, and most days I just felt inadequate, and that this was not who I wanted to be. 

Running changed me in a way I cannot fully explain.  I can honestly say now that I love my life.  Nothing's perfect, and it's never going to be, but I'm no longer letting myself down.  I accomplish goals everyday when I say I'm going to run at a 6 pace for 15 mins, and I make it for 20.  I can tell you that I am amazing, and can do amazing things, and so can you!  I can also tell you that my body is amazing.  I put it through so much wear and tear, and after the first 3ish times of running 13 miles, I'm only sore for about a day after.  Long distance running is the only time that I have felt truly connected mind and body.  Once you are at mile 11, and you think you can't go any more, your body keeps going.  It won't let you down, and it knows what you can do.  It even knows that if you are truly determined you could keep going 100 miles like some of these ultra runners. lol. Anyway, I'm now, mostly, living the life I love.  Doing and eating what we wanted brought momentary happiness, but having self discipline, and participating in life has brought us pure joy.