Since I’m taking a break from marathon maniac status, I decided now is a good time to make some changes to my diet. Well, “changes” is an understatement since the plan I chose would ask me to eliminate almost everything I love.
Whole9’s original program designed to change your life in 30 days. Think of it as a short-term nutritional reset, designed to help you restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, calm systemic inflammation and put an end to unhealthy cravings, habits, and relationships with food.
No cheese, no beer, no sugar…..no beer?? IDK if that’s possible! Spoiler Alert – Since the title says days 1-7, obviously I made it 7 days.
The Good
No cravings: Actually, the first week has been easier than I imagined. I don’t miss anything as much as I thought I would. I do miss beer…but cheese? Not really. I have a history of falling victim to cravings, but they haven’t been hitting like before. Part of me feels like knowing I couldn’t have something, rather than making me want it more, made me figure out what else sounded good that was allowed. Almonds have replaced cheese. Flavored coconut water has replaced beer. That seems to work so far.
It’s that delicious
Full with less calories: Another good thing, I am never hungry!! Anyone who does multiple marathons a month will tell you – you are always hungry like the wolf. Take away the foods I like….and I was picturing the 30 days to be full of…
…but it’s really the opposite. I’m well under my calorie goals according to My Fitness Pal (I use it more to record what I’m eating than to track calories) and I’m very satisfied.
Weight-Lifting: I’ve done Body Pump classes twice this week, using my normal weights, and I’m not experiencing the normal muscle soreness. Usually after siting for a while, my quads scream when I stand and my first steps mimic Frankenstein. This week I walked like a normal human. It’s nice.
The Bad
Running: While weightlifting is going well, my running has sucked. I’m supposed to be maintaining my base before starting training 7/14 so my normal “run whatever the eff I want” plan should be easy. My runs have been anything but easy. I constantly feel like I’m at mile 22 and I haven’t had a gel since the half. This is the only time I ever want sugar….and I want it BAD. This is definitely the worst part of the diet for me.
Foggy head/Crankiness: The dreaded sugar withdrawal wasn’t terrible, but I did feel a bit foggy days 2 and 3. I had a slight headache and I constantly felt like I had taken some allergy meds that make me check out. When your job requires a lot of attention to detail, that’s not good. Luckily by day 4 I felt pretty clear. I’m also feeling like my cranky pants are too tight…
This may or may not have happened in real life
Irregularity: Runners talk about poop all the time so I’m not going to beat around the bush – I’m not pooping. I’m not constipated….I’m just not pooping. I’m eating a lot of veggies so I just keep looking and my tummy and saying, “Where is it all going???” BA Ultrarunner Gumbo suggested I was eating too much fiber and not enough fat, so after 4 days of not pooping, I ate a whole avocado Thursday night and finally managed to go on Friday. Hoping to get it together soon.
Overall, I feel pretty successful. I expected this week to be a lot worse….I just hope that once the magic starts to happen it’s not a subtle as the changes have felt this week.
Jenster's Adventures 