Struggle #1: A New Diet

I am starting this blog as I start a new diet and start to really embrace some CrossFit goals I have set for myself.  My goal is to write about these new challenges I am going to face and how I over come them.  I am hoping seeing it in writing helps me better see my improvements and increases my mental toughness.  I am kind of all over the place most of the time so bear with me as I lay my thoughts down in writing.  Also, excuse my grammar, english was not my best subject.  So without further ado, post one:

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have never really cared about what I eat.  I usually eat what I want, when I want it and don't think twice about it.  However, with the goals I have set for myself in CrossFit, I decided that what I eat probably needs to change a bit to better reflect my training goals.  So I asked Jacque Albus (a nutrition guru) for some help and she asked me to keep a food journal for a few days.  I honestly thought I ate pretty well but when she gave me my journal back, wow, maybe not...

 All of the yellow is what is considered bad for my goals... Yeah, that is a lot

The first thing she told me to do was to cut most of the carbohydrates I eat out! Wait, what?  Being a competitive swimmer for years, carbs are the main staple of my diet so that is going to be a shock to the system.  The next blow to me was to lower my dairy intake.  Hmm, that's going to be interesting as well.  I am a habitual eater and usually include bread, yogurt, cheese, milk, granola, and granola bars into my diet multiple times a day.  So taking all of these things out of my diet basically leaves me with not being able to eat anything I used to, as evidence by my cabinet

Everything on the top shelf is no longer in my diet... The bottom shelf hold the few approved items.

I asked Jacque, "what am I allowed to eat?"  Basically all I heard her say was protein, vegetables, and guacamole.  She also told me to look at the ingredient list and to put the items with 500 ingredients back on the shelf.  So off to the grocery store I go feeling determined with my new mission of eating healthy.  However, when I arrive and start shopping, all I feel is overwhelmed.  Everything I want for a snack is carb loaded, the only approved granola bars cost $1.29 for one (I usually get 6 for $2.50), and all of the healthy food is significantly more expensive than what I would normally buy.  Being a poor college student, who does Crossfit (expensive in itself), I don't have that much money to spend so how am I going to be successful at this diet?  Anyways, about to cry in the store, I quickly bought some guacamole, plantain chips (possibly unapproved but only 3 ingredients), and almonds.  So yes, we are going to have to revisit the grocery store challenge in the near future. 

On a positive note, two of my best friends came to St. Louis last night and we went and saw Toby Keith in concert, which was awesome!  We of course had to hit the town afterwards, so I showed them Ball Park Village (topped off with a mechanical bull ride) and Talanyas, ending at Courtesy Diner for some great breakfast food afterwards.  Probably one of the best nights I have ever had out.  I am so glad they came down to STL to visit!

    

A picture of us at the concert! Ignore the straw-berrita in my hand.  Definitely 

not approved but you have to enjoy life every once in awhile!