Struggle #2: The Diet

In starting this new diet, I have some certain goals in mind that makes me want to stay true to this new diet I am following.  I'll list a few of them below and expand upon them a bit.

1.  I want to feel better before, during, and after a workout.  So often I will eat crap before I work out and expect to perform well and then just tank during the workout.  Other times, I feel like I had such a great workout that I feel like I can eat whatever I want, and I do and then proceed to undo everything I just did during the workout.

2.  I no longer want to workout so I can eat, I want to workout so I can perform.  The diet I was eating was full of foods that can cause inflammation in your body.  I was eating on a daily basis lots of gluten, sugar (I mean it's so hard to resist that tasty treat), and alcohol (not so much daily but a few days of the weeks anyways) all things that are known to cause chronic inflammation. That is the absolute last thing you want to cause.  I am sure I am creating enough inflammation with all the training that I do, why would I want to create more by the foods I eat?

3.  I want lean muscle mass and a lean, mean, fighting machine body.  All those carbs aren't helping... Damn.

Here are a few of my general rules in my new diet...

• No bread! None. Ever.  This by far will be the hardest thing to accomplish because I crave bread.  I blame being a swimmer, but hopefully that will disappear! Sooner rather than later preferably. 
• No fruit an hour or so before working out.  Apparently the sugar in it is bad for you before you work out.  Who knew?
• No granola bars.  I probably consume at least 3 a day because they are so easy to pack and eat in class.  I am going to have to find a good snack to substitute for this and I will inform you when I do what it is.
• Limit the amount of dairy I consume.
• I am only allowed to consume alcohol once every two weeks.  That means no more drinks with dinner or when I have a bad day.  This is going to be hard to follow but I am up for the challenge! I just hope my friends don't dish out too much peer pressure.  Must resist.
• Watch the processed foods, sugary foods, and chips.  So when I come home, to my parent's house, with a drawer like the one shown below, I know that is going to be difficult to accomplish.

My family LOVES sweets, and no, none of us are obese.  Looking at this 

drawer, however, I do not know how that is.

One stipulation I did put into my diet, is that I am allowed to have ice cream once a week!!!!!  Anyone who knows me, knows I am an ice cream connoisseur and would frequently get it 3 times a week.  Jacque, the nutritionist, approved and said as long as I follow my diet pretty well, ice cream is a good reward for me.  I am so happy this was approved because I am pretty sure I would be lost without my ice cream.  My absolute favorite place is Ted Drewes in St. Louis, MO and I am pretty sure they would miss me if I stopped going there.

Soooooo much deliciousness in one cup!

I did happen to make it home this week because I finished my summer classes last week!  I am spending a few days here with my family and the swimmers I used to coach before I head to Cincinnati, OH for a clinical rotation for physical therapy.  I am excited to be home and see everyone I love for a bit and even more excited for the new adventure that awaits me in Cincinnati.  I promise to write more about my life, Crossfit, and others things besides my diet, but currently that is what is consuming my thoughts.  Once start to get in a groove with that, who knows what my fingers will want to type! 

Until next time!