Sunday, April 29, 2012

Let's Get This Party Started!

Today I got my schedule from The Dirk (as Oscar calls him) for the next 3 weeks.  Whoa.  Let's just say, training for IMCdA has begun!  Time to get this party started!  I was giddy with happiness looking through each day and wondering how I would do it all.  I definitely saw some of the most challenging workouts I've ever seen - Dirk isn't holding back now (or maybe he is still...which scares me).  I do love me a fresh new schedule that holds so much promise.  Time to get down to some serious business and go about the day to day task of getting the work done and recovering from it so I can do more.  This is the part of the sport I love!!  :)

So the next 2.5 weeks will keep me good and busy and tired.  I have a little break to race Columbia and then I'm sure I'll get back to work again before I taper for CdA!

In the mean time, I've made a re-commitment to eat well.  This coincides well with a hard block of training if I do say so myself!  Let me explain some - we always eat relatively well.  I am a dietitian after all!  But I do have some bad habits - one of which is to turn to quick and easy dinners (including going out to eat) when I'm tired and too lazy to cook.  This often means I don't eat enough fresh vegetables (I'm the queen of fruit...veggies...not so much) and not enough whole foods (quick and easy foods come out of a box...BAD BETH!).  This certainly isn't the end of the world but I know I can do better.  And I know I HAVE to do better.

So we've been filling up the fridge each week with tons of fresh vegetables and I've made a rule I'm not allowed to throw anything away!  It's either eat the veggies fresh and when they are good or eat them when they are rotten.  ;)  I've also been trying some new grains including barley.  I've never had barley before.  It was pretty good! 

The barley is on the left there.  There is chicken under the tomato/avocado pile and the stuff on the small plate is apple/carrot "slaw."  My mom is probably reading this and falling over in disbelief!
Oscar has been a great sport about making some diet changes.  He'll eat just about anything and not complain.  And in exchange for this, pizza night remains on the weekly rotation.  :)

I've also been trying to cut back (notice I said "cut back" not "eliminate") my Diet Pepsi intake.  NOT because I think Diet Pepsi is the devil (as some seem to think), because I think most all things in moderation are okay.  But my Diet Pepsi habit is definitely bordering on being highly NOT moderate, if you know what I mean.  Mostly I'm trying to cut back because DP definitely makes my reflux worse and at the rate I'm going I'm going to need a Nissen before the age of 40!  Time to reign 'er in!

So that is what I've been up to.  And if you don't hear from me for a while it's because I'm (1) training, (2) sleeping, (3) making Oscar eat barley or (4) working (occasionally I do still do that :).  Hope everyone has a great start to May!  (which, by the way, is the Merry Berry Month of May if you are from around Pittsburgh and go to Eat 'n Park!)

Oh, and just a few more pictures from New Orleans, courtesy of Heidi and her wonderful husband Scott!
Run, run, run!  Also, I'll have you know that that #49 is still branded on my arm and multiple people have asked me what it's from at the pool...

This is my signature move after crossing the line!  (either this or just laying down on the ground altogether)  Glad Scott caught this one!  :)

9 comments:

  1. As long as pizza stays in the rotation!

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  2. Love your finish line--- you gave it your all. I'm excited for ya! good luck with the next 3 weeks!!!

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  3. I can only imagine how crazy your schedule looks! Excited to SEE you race in CDA!!! Our camp is there in just a few weeks....let me know if you have any course questions....and if you need any hospitality our arms are wide open!

    xoxo

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  4. I tried barley once and didn't like it at all. Good luck with that one! :) Enjoy your big training!

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  5. ha scott was the king of the finish line pics! love it! dude, I cannot even IMAGINE what dirk has put on that schedule of yours but I'm looking forward to reading about it if you are still conscious after doing it all! this is it! the big build is here! you sound more focused and dedicated than ever- time to work!

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  6. Wow i dont think i could stand up I have been known to need help out of the ice bath!
    Try more Quinoa, i am not a huge barley fan but we eat alot of brown basmati rice! I also like Farro. Weird i know.
    Good luck with everything beth!

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  7. Barley!!! Mmmm! Try this barley salad:
    http://www.buffchickpea.com/2009/04/tomato-feta-barley-salad.html

    also, I like this soup a lot if you are into mushrooms...I can't remember if you dig them:
    http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/cream_of_mushroom_barley_soup.html

    I'm so excited to NAIL the next few weeks as well, whoop!!

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  8. Love this post! Excited to read about how the next few weeks go. You sound so focused :)

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  9. I am also the queen of fruits and anytime I try and sneak more veggies in, I discover that they are just fruits masquerading as veggies. how rude! (I'm looking at you, tomatoes).

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