In the four months leading up to the marathon, I lost 10 pounds of body fat. This was a commitment to having and wanting a lean/mean machine on race day. In my mind and in the photos, I still have 6 pounds to go. Most of this loss came at the end of my 16 week training program when I was part of the Tweightloss Challenge.
*The Tweightloss challenge has also helped me stay accountable- if even to myself as well as to my team members.
* Exercise- but more than the running, it was the lifting. 2-3 times per week, I was able to squeeze in a quickie upper body strength training workout while my kids were playing. Personally, I love looking down at my arms and seeing even a hint of definition!
*Kale, Collard Greens, Dark Leafy Greens at dinner time. SIX MONTHS ago, I would NEVER have touched Kale! I was also still cooking heavy Italian meals every single night. Been known to feed half my street on a nightly basis-thanks to Emeril or Giada Di Laurentis.
* LIMIT carb intake. Big bowl of oatmeal at breakfast, then the carbs taper down as the day goes on. My children and husband still require carbs at dinner, so if I was making pasta that night, I would just load up on the protein and salad instead.
*Alcohol. Limit your servings to one per week. It’s high in calories and doesn’t do crap for your training.
*Dark Chocolate. Love. Ate one square a night. Savored it.
* Protein. I make a huge pot of this on Sunday’s and can snack on it throughout the week. It’s a mini- meal of high protein, no fat and it’s cheap. Whey protein powders (if low in carbs, artificial sweeteners) is also an option.
*Big Breakfast- Around here it’s protein pancakes, smoothies or oatmeal and a smoothie. In the Eat-Clean Diet, Tosca’s eats, oatmeal (with flaxseeds, bee pollen and wheat germ), 2 cups of egg whites, and berries.
*Planning. This is a tough one. You must plan your meals so that you have enough protein + veggies to get through the day. In a usual day, I was enjoying greek yogurt (berries, nuts and agave nectar) and one cup of soup.
*Coffee drinks! Iced coffee is wonderful. Love it. Add your milk and sugars wisely- I like stevia liquid instead of sugar.
*Water, water, water
One book to check out is the Eat-Clean Diet. I love the philosophy and am so surprised by HOW MUCH she actually eats in a day. Meals are different, unique and they look tasty. Your bread choices with this is Ezkeial bread, whole wheat wraps, brown rice, and quinoa. There’s a section on recipes that I love- “Grandmother’s Favorite Oatmeal Cookies” looks delicious- yet is minus white sugar (got to save this one for a special occasion).
Yes, I did lose some weight using the clean - eating approach. These are just the tips that have worked for me recently. Once you get into the habits of leafy greens and a BIGGER b-fast, it becomes more of a habit than a diet.
Tips, comments or suggestions to share?
6 responses so far ↓
1 M // Oct 9, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Good advice as always….great read. Thanks!
Ms last blog post..Worrying - Control it
2 Rachel // Oct 9, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Certainly don’t have all the answers and the three days post marathon have been a carby festival, but, this is a way of life for me. Eating clean, carbs in the AM, big meals in the morning, and then tapering down the rest of the day.
Rachels last blog post..Lean up with these healthy tips
3 Dave Jones, CPA // Oct 9, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I love raw almonds. High in protein and also high in calories! Great to snack on & they fill you up. Great work on a marathon, I would love to do a 5K.
Dave Jones, CPAs last blog post..Dave’s Top Ten Quotes
4 Rachel // Oct 10, 2008 at 2:44 am
Thanks! I love almonds too. I put them on my yogurt in the mornings.
Rachels last blog post..Lean up with these healthy tips
5 WeightingGame // Oct 10, 2008 at 3:31 pm
i can’t limit my carb intake but I’m all for a big bowl of oatmeal in the a.m. About to eat some right now, in fact!
WeightingGames last blog post..5 Ways to Master Your Emotions
6 Lance // Oct 11, 2008 at 9:35 am
The key I believe - one of your last lines — “…it becomes more of a habit than a diet.”. This is key - when we make changes that become habits - good habits - then we’re making changes that can have lasting effects.
Lances last blog post..Coaches…Not Just For Football Players
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