30 day Paleo for Athletes Challenge

How do you feel?! How'd today go? Hang in there the next couple of days!

Great! I'm feeling good too. Went to bed early last night, I was tired, and had a solid 8.5 hours. Feeling like I'm in the zone now!

Great job! I find those functions kind of hard. Usually not even the best, or most appealing food offered (as in, not real). 

I'm doing a race today and trying to do it Paleo. I even ate extra yesterday, totally Paleo. I had tons of coconut water, I roasted sweet potato 'chips' and had a big steak and veggies for dinner. Then more coconut milk & fruit for dessert. 

I made a bunch of food to carry with me during the race, to try different so-called 'energy bars'. I have no idea what will taste good over time or what I can handle, so I have options. I put the list in my log if you want to check it out.

Congrats! Sorry I haven't been here, I've just been busy. I'm going strong as well! I've got another 8lbs before I'm at my lowest adult weight, but I'm seeing changes and am happy with how I look. 

The race went ok. My nutrition wasn't perfect (I didn't expect it to be) and it was very warm for a Jan. race. That said, I stuck with Paleo foods and it was fine! I'm going to keep practicing with it and other types of Paleo foods as well!

Oh no! I'm glad you recognized the feeling awful, but you've done so well...WHY the slip? It's all mental. 

Have you read "It Starts With Food"? I highly recommend.

I made it through 2 weekends of racing, fueling before and eating well after...totally Paleo. I didn't know how I'd feel or if it could really be done. But, it can and I felt great! I felt so much better than using gels/shot blocs/sports drink. Unbelievable!

Why the slip...hmmm. You know, I think I still (still after 25+ years) view food as a reward.  I'm guessing my rationalization went something along the lines of I've done so well, it's the movies, we don't go out much, go ahead, have some processed fake sugar food!  Funny to type that out and think of it as a reward when it doesn't even feel good anymore.  I am back on track and feeling groovy again, so I'm happy about that.  I am going to check out the book you mentioned.  Food issues and I go waaaaaaaay back...it's only now at 42 that I feel like I have a handle on it rather than it has a handle on me--Paleo is a large part of that.  I feel so good eating this way.

By the way, I noticed a few of your posts on the Ultra thread--what is your experience with ultras?  I'm tossing around the idea of a 50K. I've done quite a few marathons, but I haven't considered an ultra until recently.

I really commend you for recognizing that it doesn't feel good anymore. However, I think you really should explore these feelings of food as a reward and the fact you threw away YOUR OWN CHALLENGE for some popcorn, on an impulse, as a 'treat'. 

I think many people struggle with this, I know I have before. However, when I think of 'rewarding' myself because I've been "good", I stop. I don't do it. YOU ARE NOT A DOG. Sometimes I have to even say it to myself.

They address it in "It Starts With Food." That once you've completed the 30 days, and are incorporating some other foods back in, if you feel that one day you REALLY WANT (not need, no one needs junk) some chocolte chip cookies or brownies, then make it an EVENT. Fix them yourself. Sit down with them. Light some candles. "Make love to the cookie" is what they said. Eat 1 or 3. However many it takes to satisfy the urge. Then stop. Embrace it.

Now, think about your popcorn that way. Did you *really* want it that much? Probably not.  

I don't mean to chastise, and we are not perfect, but this was entirely preventable! Eat before you go. Or address it in your mind before you get to the movies, "there will be popcorn, but I do not need it. I love myself more than that," kind of thing. Slip ups happen. Some people usually have those kinds of events during the first 2 weeks. I'm surprised it happened now. 

Ultras: mostly, they aren't that much worse than a marathon. It's just 5 more miles. Run it easy, take walk breaks, eat at the aid stations, have a plan. FUN. They're SO much fun. Usually much more fun than road marathons. The people are different, it's laid back. As for training, just do some trail runs. If you're in shape for marathons, you'll be fine.