Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Clean Eating

Over the past few weeks, my eating has really not been good.  A few weeks ago was my birthday weekend with lots of eating out and cake.  After that was the Forth of July with all the picnic foods and desserts.  Then there was my daughter's hospitalization.  It is so easy for me to fall of the clean eating wagon.  When I allow my husband to do the food shopping, he brings home donuts and chips.  These things are very hard for me to resist!

Since I fell off my clean eating plan, my running has greatly suffered.  I was averaging about 12 minute miles for my shorter run and 13 minute miles for my longer run.  During the past few weeks my short runs have been around 14 minute miles and my long runs have been 16 minute miles.  Now I know the heat played some roll in this, but the slow down really disturbed me.  When we got home from the hospital with my daughter this weekend, I recommitted to my clean eating plan.  

Clean eating is when you eat mostly whole foods--foods straight from the earth.  These foods have not been processed.  This includes whole grains, lean proteins, fresh fruits and veggies.  I went to the grocery store yesterday and picked up some much needed clean food.  I got cherries, apples, watermelon, carrots, green beans, chicken breast, tea bags, Chobani greek yogurt, eggs, brown rice, some olive oil, and some almonds.  I restarted my Shakeology lunches.  Shakeology is a clean food, plus I love all the new flavors it comes in.  One "non-clean" meal a week is allowed.  I am happy as long as 80% of what I eat is clean.  

Since I resumed eating clean on Saturday, I can really feel a difference when I run.  I ran last night at my local high school track.  I did not feel sluggish like I did last week, and I was much faster.  Just last week I did the same run and ran at 14:34 per mile.  Last night my time was 12:25 per mile.  Not to shabby!

I am now a firm believer that what you eat directly reflects in your performance.  Have you ever tried clean eating?  Do you think it affected how you run?

A dream is a wish...

--Amy

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5 comments:

  1. I am really working on clean eating too - it is so hard sometimes when packaged process food it always so easy to grab.

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  2. :) The right fuel makes all the difference ~Anna-Marie

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  3. I struggle with eating too. I hate to cook but love to eat. But because I don't like to cook I go for the convenient food...and that's the stuff that is not good for you. I DO believe eating affects your running for sure! I just need to follow what I believe! ;-)

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  4. I endeavor to eat clean as much as possible. Feel great when I do. Ever heard of Clean Eating magazine? They have fantastic recipes! ��

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  5. i have never tried or even heard of "clean eating' until now! But I have been trying to incorporate more fruit into my diet such as grapes, watermelon and even picked up some chobani yogurt!

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