"Hello. My name is Mendy and I am addicted to junk food!"
Seriously - I've been known - during a certain time of the month - to live off a diet of mostly chocolate and french fries! Even when I am in weight loss mode, I still find that much of my "low-calorie" options are things like pretzles, low-carb ice cream and protein "candy" bars.Lately, I have been feeling yucky.
Sluggish/tired/depressed and my eating has been out of control. 12 days ago I gathered my nerves, put on my big girl panties, and stepped on the scales.
Whew! Only up 4 lbs.
But that extra weight was slowing me down. I run with water bottles on a waist pack during the summer, and I figured this was like carrying 8 extra bottles during every run! So those pounds had to go!
I fell back to my tried and true 1200 cal diet - but now that I'm also running 25 miles a week, that's just not cutting it. Running makes me hungry. Legitimately hungry, not just head-hungry, and when I start denying myself food while being actually hungry, I binge eat.
A few weeks ago, I ordered a book I thought might help - "Racing Weight" by Matt Fitzgerald:
This is not a review of that book. I haven't had time to really study it and, while I did get some good info from it, I think I need to take a baby step approach to changing my present eating rut. One thing it did impress upon me was the need to "clean up" my diet and eat healthier, The problem with a non-foodie like me is that I don't know where to begin. When I look up "simple" healthy dishes, they almost always contain ingredients I've never heard of and multiple steps.
My definition of easy is - peel back cover and heat in microwave for 4 minutes!
Which leads to the two sites I stumbled upon.
#1 - The Best Minimally Processed Foods For Runners
I placed the graphic for these foods on my sidebar. but they are :
- Sweet Potatoes
- Eggs
- Black Beans
- Salmon
- Berries
- Yogurt
- Bananas
- Lean Beef
- Almond Butter
- Quinoa
- Coffee
- Almonds
- Eggs
- Sweet Potatoes
- Whole-Grain Cereal With Protein
- Oranges
- Canned Black Beans
- Mixed Salad Greens
- Salmon
- Whole Grain Bread
- Frozen Stir-Fry Vegis
- Whole Grain Pasta
- Chicken
- Frozen Mixed Berries
- Dark Chocolate
- Low-Fat Yogurt
I am now on day 12.
Day 1 - was fine. I had cocoa-roasted almonds for the first time ever. What a revelation! When I finished my 100 calorie pack I actually stopped. I felt satisfied. Hmmmm.... there might be something to this almond thing.
Day 2 - I craved junk all day. I only gave in a very little and had a few Skittles. Please tell me I am not the only one who craves Skittles! Sour Skittles are the best!
Day 3 - I had a headache all day. I suspect this was my body's way of rebelling against me for taking away the junk it has learned to live on. But, on a positive note, I sent this text to my husband:
"I just ate the best baked sweet potato I've ever had in my life! Absolutely nothing on it mmmmm-mmmmm!"
Day 4 - I cooked salmon for the first time ever. In fact, I cannot remember ever even eating salmon before. It was absolutely delicious! I used this super-simple (really!) recipe.
Day 5 - Everything suddenly fell into place. I felt great and I finally lost that constant desire to eat. I did eat ice cream after dinner, but it was planned and within my calorie limit. (I am eating 1500-1600 calories on non-running days and 2,000 to 2,500 on running days) And it was *real* ice cream - not the fake stuff.
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I haven't stepped back on the scales, but I really don't have to. I feel better and that is what matters. I believe I will get over the tiredness after my body has more time to adapt. Or when I up my calories again. By then, maybe - just maybe - I'll be a lean, mean, running machine!
Are you happy with your diet?
Do you have any super-quick and easy recipes you care to share?
May you run happy today!
