So, I'm lame. I know. We have just been so super busy that updating here has been the last thing on my mind.
I have still been doing Raw for the most part, with the exception of this past weekend. I fell off the wagon hardcore. I don't think I ate a raw thing at all. I also felt like crap and today totally feel like I am getting a cold. My throat is sore and my ears are itching. You know what I mean? Like deep inside? Ugh, I hate that feeling. I would rather be sick with the pukes, then have itchy ears.
I have been feeling really great doing this raw thing. I had all these lofty goals and was going to make these really elaborate dinner meals, but this is hard man. I really think it's almost impossible to eat full raw (meaning fancy "pasta" dishes and all) right away and have a family and other life obligations. It's easy to go full raw if you just eat salads, but that's not totally healthy.
I have just streamlined it and mixed it up a bit also. I do a green smoothie for breakfast usually every morning. Lunch is some sort of salad and I make sure I throw some sort of bean and nuts in that salad for some extra protein. I get a lot of protein from the smoothies, but I would have to have I believe 10 cups of spinach a day to get all the protein I need. I do about 5 cups a day so yeah, not enough protein.
An afternoon snack is usually another green drink. They are really super filling. They are literally packed with calcium, protein, and folic acid. I feel so good after I drink one.
Dinner is where I am going to tweak this raw deal a bit. I made this raw "bread" last week and have been having that smeared with avocado, pesto (parm. cheese in it and it's the only non-raw food I get) lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and sprouts. I have added a salad on the side sometimes, but not always. I honestly am not hungry at this point in the day.
The problem is, it's just not enough calories for me and here's why:
I have been doing boot camp at 5:30 three mornings a week and I am in love. I never thought that 5:30 would be my time of the day since I am a sleeper. I LOVE to sleep and if you know me, that is an understatement. That 5:30 camp though is my bodies time and I look forward to it. On those days, I find that I am less hungry than non-camp days, but I feel weak by the end of the day and usually get a headache.
Then, last night I got back in the pool (I used to be a swimmer when I was younger) with two friends who are training for a triathlon and I was in my element. Honestly, I really was. It was second nature to me and it's like it just all came back to me. I was even doing my flip-turns by the end (not great or like I used to, but doing them at least). I am going to add an hour of swimming to my work-out routine, but I am going to swim everyday in the evenings on top of morning camp, just taking Sunday's off. I could swim forever. I really could. Whenever I hear a runner say they could run forever, I never understand. I do enjoy running, but it's so hard for me. Obviously, I don't think I am the only person running is hard for. Any kind of physical activity is hard, but I guess, it's that I don't get excited when I get to run. Maybe? I don't know. All I do know is that swimming, while very challenging since I am not in great shape, is something that makes me happy the whole time I am doing it. When I push myself in other work-outs, I am not enjoying it the whole time I am pushing. I am glad after, but with the exception of some smaller exercises, every work-out is drudgery. When I swim and it's hard, I get excited. When my lungs are burning, I am usually smiling under the water because I am excited about pushing myself.
Since I really am going to be pushing myself with tacking swimming onto my routinge, and I already had not been getting enough calories, I really need to add something to help. I think I may add some tofu in my salad at lunch and a chicken breast at dinner. The protein will help with staving off hunger and it will add some healthy calories. I know that I could just eat more raw foods to get more calories and protein, but it's not easy to eat when you are not hungry. Eating raw really does curb your appetite and I also don't want to make my body eat when it's telling me not to. I think it's important to listen to when your body says to eat and when to stop. It's something I struggle with and I want to stay on top of that.
Sigh. I just feel good, well, with the exception of this past weekend anyway. I am so far away from the shape I want to be in, but for the first time in my life, I am really enjoying this season. Instead of looking ahead to the destination, I am taking the time to truly embrace and enjoy the journey along the way.
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