I mentioned in a recent blog post that I would write something soon about nutrition. I really want to share my experience with my fellow mother runners because it’s making such a difference for me, at least so far. First, you should know that my diet used to be horrid. I’m talking fast food, Diet Coke, basically, I had no filter. I ate what I wanted, when I wanted.
When I started running, I changed my diet. I gave up Diet Coke, (although I still have it sometime as a treat), I started drinking water, eating fruits and vegetables, and mostly wheat products. When I made these changes and I wasn’t losing any weight, I made more changes to my diet. I started cutting out calories and fat wherever I could. Fat free sour cream, fat free cream cheese, 100 calorie bread servings (2 slices), and the list goes on. I was surprised, but mostly pissed off, when I was eating sub-par foods and still not losing any weight. I heard athlete nutritionists talking about eating naturally, but I guess I just thought that advice was for “real” runners, not heavy, slower runners like me.
I was recently at a friend’s house. She is my new trainer and she can really kick my ass in the gym. When we first met about my goals and abilities, she asked me about nutrition. I told her that I was eating these low fat and fat free foods, thinking I was doing pretty darn good with nutrition. I’ll never forget her reaction: “Throw that shit away! The only thing it’s doing is making you fatter!” You want me to eat real butter, real sour cream, real food? Well, ok then, since you’re twisting my arm.
Since then, I’ve cut out all high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils, I’m only eating whole grains rather than refined grains, and I try to make much more natural food choices. For example, the meats I choose are from vegetarian fed animals and doesn’t contain nitrates, preservatives, hormones and other crap and a lot of the foods I eat are organic.
I’ve actually seen the needle on the scale move downward. I can’t claim that my new food choices are the only reason, but I know that aspect has been instrumental. I’ve been keeping a very close eye on my calories in, calories out scenario each day so I’m sure that has helped too. What I do know is these foods taste way better than the cardboard type diet food I was eating before. I am thrilled that I never have to eat another fat free food again!
