This Ford Was Out of Gas!

I had a good weekend of training. It started on Friday and a 3400 yd swim that felt good. Saturday morning was the Graduation 5K race for the Run for God group my wife and I lead at our church! I am so proud of each one of those runners, they all did great and we even had 2 award winners! So after the 5K, I took Stella (my bike) out for a 2.5 hour ride outside on the Greenline! It was awesome and hott, so I ran out of water or I would have gone further. So Sunday morning rolls around and I am planning a 10 miler that morning before church. So I set my alarm for 5AM and I am out running by 5:40 (Yeah I hit the snooze a time or two, but it was planned out that way).

It was the worst run I have had in a really long time. I only managed about 5 miles in 1:15!!!

And I know why!

Here is what I ate on Saturday:

• water before the 5k
• 2 donuts at the race
• banana with PB before my ride
• 3 gels and Gatorade while riding
• hot dog after my ride
• 2 BLT sandwiches for dinner
• half a milkshake
• nothing on Sunday before my attempted run

Basically, I had no gas in the tank. I was running on empty. No bueno!!!

I sometimes tend to get so focused on the workouts that I forget my body needs fuel! And for some reason, I am worse at it on the weekends. Next weekend is going to be another step up in mileage on the bike, so I have to remember to fuel my body. I also have to find something that I can eat prior to workouts. I do not want to start Redman with nothing in the tank because that will set me up for failure right from the jump!

It Makes Perfect Sense to Me!

I feel like I have been pretty good with my diet so far. I did not gain any weight after my vacation, which was a surprise, but also a huge win, cause we ate good! My goal weight for Redman is around 175 lbs, which is only 5 lbs away currently. So what am I doing?

Not much actually, just eating sensibly.  I try to not snack throughout the day. I try to eat to not stuff myself. I also try to not eat late at night. I still have my weakness for Taco Bell though, but that is not what I want to talk about. (Cause no matter what you say say, Yo Quiero Taco Bell!!!!)

One thing I am doing is I am having one day a week where I could care less about what I eat. If I want ice cream, I eat it. If I want chips and salsa, I eat it. If I want three or four Cokes, then bottoms up! Now does this work as a weight loss program? I seriously doubt it, but I am not a doctor.

This is MY philosophy!

But it does make this journey more realistic for me in a weird sort of gluttonous type of way.  These days are not necessarily planned either, I mean I do not wake up and think, "today is my day, now feed me!" It just kind of happens and then I go with it.

Today was one of those days. Coca Cola was my poison today, along with prime rib, mash potatoes, sweet tea, ice cream and chips and salsa, bite size candy bars, cinnamon jolly ranchers and a couple of Tootsie Rolls!

Don't judge me.

I Had Good Intentions...

It started out harmless. I had been wanting a mini fridge for my office for quite some time, but I never wanted to give up the money to buy one. I know they are not that expensive overall, but I was having trouble giving up that money. So when I received a gift card in the mail a few weeks ago, I knew it was fate. By using that gift card and my discount I get at work, that fridge was mine. So, I went out and bought it, found the perfect place in my office and plugged that sucker in to start cooling. It even doubled as a place for my printer, so yeah, it was fate.

My plan for this fridge was simple. It would save me money. I could place drinks in there and that would be a lot cheaper than me buying my coke out of the vending machines. Snacks, I could bring snacks, which again, saves money. I am all about saving some green, so it made perfect sense.

Another reason for the fridge, which should be evident, is I could eat and snack healthier. I can now cook healthy foods for lunch. I can bring healthy snacks and eat them. Protein drinks!  I have no excuse for not having a protein drink or recovery drink after my morning workout. It is hard sometimes to work in a good run, and get back in time to shower and eat breakfast. Fruits and veggies, now that will be perfect for a late afternoon snack when I get hungry around 2 o'clock in the afternoon. These two points alone, plus the discount and gift card were enough to sell me on the need for the fridge in my office.

Well, unfortunately my intentions have been noble. I was doing fairly well before my marathon of keeping some cold water in my fridge and my coffee (I have a little 6 cup coffee pot in my office, Starbucks is way too expensive). That was about all I kept in it. I wanted to bring leftovers, but with three boys, this maybe a challenge in itself. But if you were to look in my office mini fridge right now, I am afraid of what you'd see.

I have  a six pack of A&W root beer, 2 cans of Pepsi and three chocolate cover marshmallow Santa Clause (I love those). And that is all that is in there. The root beer is a definite problem, but it is such a tasty problem! Nothing beats ending the day with a super frosty cold can of root beer. I know you know what I mean. The Pepsi's are there because I hate buying drinks out of the vending machines. Rip Off!  When I am behaving on my diet, I usually try to limit myself to one coke a day, and usually I am pretty good about that. Now for the chocolate covered marshmallow Santa's...I have no excuse. It's just marshmallowy goodness that I can't resist. I am the same weakness around Easter for the bunnies and Valentine's hearts. I like marshmallow filled chocolate things OK!  Don't judge me!

Anyways, like I said, I had good intentions and still do, and as I am drinking the last of those root beers and stuffing my pie hole with marshmallowy chocolate covered goodness, I will fell pretty bad about it. Besides, i am in a recovery phase, and I don't start training for my next tri until Jan 9th. I figure I owe myself that much since I had a HIM and a marathon in 90 days! Eat on my brothers and sisters!

****Stay tuned, the 2nd ever Daily Trainings giveaway will be next!***