I’m definitely getting better but my nutrition sucks. Fever is gone and the head isn’t so stuffed up but all this hacking is upsetting my stomache. I don’t have much of an appetite. I’ve been drinking lots of liquids – soup broth, tea, Gatorade, cranberry juice, McCain’s goji juice – immune support, ginger ale, Boost (to get some vitamins and minerals in me) – protein shakes might be next. Occasionally, I’ll grab a few nuts or a fruit and nut granola bar by Nature Valley. On Monday, I ate some home made hummus with baked pita chips. I had breakfast for the first time yesterday – Crispx cereal. Last night Marc wanted to make something for my birthday – all I wanted was an all beef hot dog. He also made some baked chips by slicing a few potatoes with a mandolin slicer and sprinkled some salt overtop. I ate those - couldn’t finish the hot dog.
I’m not nauseous. I just don’t seem to want to eat – and I get full fast. I’m sure my stomache has shrunk. I’ve noticed my pants are fitting a little looser in the hips. Some people might think that’s great. I, however, do not. I always had skinny legs and no bum. Thanks to all the weights, plyometrics and bike training, I added some wanted inches. Now I’m scared I’m going to lose what I gained.
I can feel my muscles atrophy while I write this!! AAAAHHHHHH!!! I’m shrinking!
Enough with the drama. With every bad there’s good – or a lesson to be learned. I’ve been focusing a lot more on my nutrition lately. I’m not eating right now – but I certainly haven’t been eating properly over the last few years either. I eat at bad times of the day. Sometimes I skip lunch. I love junk food. I don’t watch the sodium content on canned food. I don’t eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables. I like red meat. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Maybe for some people but for people like Marc and I, we need red meat in our diet. Everyone is different. But I need to balance that with carbs and fruit and veggies. I don’t drink enough water.
So it got me thinking – being sick has been almost like a cleansing. I had my first beer in a week yesterday. It was good – but I really didn’t want another one. Now is also a good time to start looking at better eating habits. In the past, I’ve made attempts at eating small meals 6 times a day because someone told me I should but that isn’t consistent – probably because I didn’t fully understand why. And I don’t really know what my particular requirements are never mind a distance athlete’s requirements. So it’s time to do some research instead of listening to my boss or what a friend’s co-worker does or what Marc eats. I have a book about female triathletes – written by a female triathlete – and I’ve read all the chapters on equipment and training and training plans and mental training and what to pack on race day - but I don’t bother with the nutrition. Why? Because I find it not only overwhelming but the recipes time consuming, exotic vegetables and legumes hard to find or costly and I feel like the recipes are for people who are dieting – not eating nutritiously to enhance performance. So I am now on a nutrition mission – the quest to find food that will make me a more efficient machine!
I’d see a dietition but I don’t know if that’s going to cost me money. That’s probably my best bet though. But I’ll also research different triathlete websites and magazines – look at women with my body type (not what I want my body type to be) and see what they’re doing. I’m going to delve into the science of fuel for the body – break down into micro nutrients what it is that the body needs and what food is the most efficient.
I’m realizing more and more that to do well in a sport, you really have to know more than how to swim or bike or run. You have to know the science end of it too – physics, biology, mechanics, chemistry. So now I’m not just training 2 times a day 6 days a week – I still have a lot of learning to do. Nutrition is the next phase – and I’m on a nutrition mission!