Fiddler's Revenge

A few weeks ago, I attempted to take on the toughest bike ride to date, yet, I didn't realize that until Fiddler's Elbow humbled me by chewing me up and spitting me out.  I quit halfway up the last portion of the hill with my ego and confidence left on the asphalt.  I greatly underestimated my opponent and it ended revealing some harsh truths about my training.

I am trying to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Those who make it to Mount Tremblant, Quebec are the very best in their respective age group and frustratingly, I am in arguably the hardest age group.  To qualify, it is going to take everything I have and with a more limited schedule as my responsibilities rapidly grows, it's making this extremely more difficult than it has to be.  And the day that Fiddler's Elbow took me down, it taught me I am not as good as I think I am and I desperately need to lose weight.

Since that day, I have gone on a diet.  Not as extreme as "The Clean" diet I did during the offseason, but simple portion control, no bull crap diet.  When I did the initial ride, I weighed 200 lbs., a respectable weight for my height (6'3") but I knew it wasn't enough. 

Therefore, I started to cut my portions for every major meal nearly in half.  I always overeat and if it is after a difficult workout, forget it, I become a mobile trash compactor eating from Rita's Misto's to Lindsay's delicious, over-sized oatmeal cookies.  That stopped immediately.  I cut all unnecessary food items and if I needed to snack, it had a to be raw fruits or vegetables. 

Bedtime eating, had to be cutoff.  I even started to follow the Gremlin rules by cutting off all eating after 10:00, sometimes 9:00 if I have to go to bed early.

After all of these adjustments, I saw results immediately.  Within 2 weeks, I lost 10 pounds.  It's not easy as I enjoy to indulge after workouts but it had to stop.  My weight has been the same for a few years now and I need to get down to the 170-175 range.  I know that if I get to that range, it would make a hell of difference in my training and race day. 

During my training, I didn't feel a big difference, but after the Mega Bachelor Party blowout in Vegas, I got down to 185 and my training started to remarkably improve.  Not only does portion control help you lose weight, it gives you more energy because during overeating, the body has to go into overdrive to digest and liquefy everything so your body can consume the nutrients and minerals from the food ingested.  When overindulgent occurs, energy is wasted causing the body to break down and need rest.  Prime example, when you feel tired after you eat something, either two things has happened: ingesting the bad stuff (candy, cookies, dessert treats, or pork) and/or overeating (except raw fruit and vegetables..it takes a lot to overeat raw vegetables and fruits).  Therefore, the new diet consisted not to do either of those things.

I am not sure if that needed to be said but I digress. 

So that simple adjustment gave me more energy in my workouts, which lead to improved times and quicker recovery.  How could I be so stupid and not do this sooner?  I know these things from reading multiple books, magazines, and blog posts but as the saying goes "There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. (1)"  I just wish I started this a little bit sooner. 

(1) Morpheus said that in the Matrix by the way.

On the bright side, it's better late than ever because as I continually lose weight, my running pace drops, my swimming quickens, and my cadence rate and power output continually improves. 

With all that being said, driving down to Milford, NJ to start the ride I failed, the negative thoughts were pouring in.  I did my best to neglect them and pump myself up with a little tough love.  I called myself a pussy more times than I can recall.  It wasn't working.

The first 20 miles, all I could think about is not making it up that stupid hill.

"Jesus Derek, it's just a hill.  Why are you letting it get to you like this?  You worked so hard.  You will be fine.  This is not going to be easy but you're ready for this.  Destroy the hill and use the momentum to finish the ride.  You finish this ride and your training and fitness will exponentially improve.  And one more thing, stop being such a fucking pussy." 

That is an honest to God conversation I had with myself repeatedly before the hill.

And just like that, it began. 

"Phew, I forgot how hard this hill is."

It's just relentless. 

 

This is what the hill looks like.

After struggling with the first portion of the hill, I got back where I left off.  The part of the hill that looks like a wall.  The part that humbled me.  I get off my saddle and start climbing.  The voices started creeping in immediately.

"Just quit Derek."
 
"You are never going to be forced to tackle anything like this in your races, so why are you doing this to yourself." 
 
"This is overkill." 
 
"What are you trying to prove anyway?  This is pointless.  Just give in."

Then something clicked.  I didn't hear the voices anymore.  I started to feel stronger.  I started attacking the hill.  Before I knew it, I passed the part where I had failed earlier.  I was right there.

Then, I got passed the hard part of the hill.  The slope started to level out.  I was defeating the hill.  I was getting my revenge. 

As I was just getting to the point of the hill where I can start to build some speed, I sat back in the saddle since I thought I had enough momentum to finish the hill but I made a horrible miscalculation. 

I lost control of the bike.  I tried my best to gain it back.  I was right there.  No, no, no, no, I can't lose too this fucking hill again.  I was violently weaving back and forth, jerking the front wheel all over the side of the road.  I was running out of real estate quickly and I knew I was going to bail so I kicked out and had to walk the bike the rest of the way. 

Man...Fuck you Fiddler

It was as if Fiddler's Elbow had some pride left and stopped me from getting my revenge. 

Touche...Jackass

However, I know I defeated the toughest portion of the hill and redeemed myself. 

Did I technically make it up the hill?  No, I still have something to prove when I go back, but I know in my heart of hearts that I conquered the hardest hill in New Jersey and next time, I will finish the job.

It took sometime to recover from that hill because this ride is relentless and barely gives you a chance to regain your strength but by the end of the ride, I felt so good.  I effin did it and my confidence is back. 

It's now been two weeks since that ride and my training has never been better.  Sometimes you need to defeat your demons to get to the next level.  My fitness has reached new heights and I am getting stronger by the day.  It's an incredible feeling to challenge yourself and reach new limits of yourself. 

Qualifying for the World Championship is going to be tough but it's now in my grasp. 

Let's Go!

Getting Demoralized

A few years ago, I purchased a Road Cycling in New Jersey book. It was one of the better purchases I have made over recent memory.  I was getting bored with doing the same routes over and over again.  I spoke previously about finding motivation and sticking with the game plan.  A big part of that is mixing workouts and more importantly, the location of workouts.  The cycling book helped me find new routes all over the state, which lead me to discover the underrated beauty and diversity of New Jersey while finding my groove.  One ride in particular, guided me down to Milford, NJ to do a 50 mile loop with over 3800 feet of climbing.  A tough and challenging ride and one, I always feel proud of after completion.  In addition, this ride also lead me to the toughest hill in the state.

Fiddler's Elbow Road rises 580 feet over just .7 miles but hits a crazy slope of 20-25%.  After doing some more research, I convinced myself to try this hill out.  The distance of the hill is not that long.  Hell, I just climbed up Bear Mountain which is well over 2 miles, but it's the impact of the slope of the hill that will get you.  Last year I climbed up Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara, which is the same route Lance Armstrong used to train on.  Gibraltar Road consists of over 5000 vertical feet of climbing over 12 miles but the biggest slope was 13% (Which is very tough... for people who live in my area, Warrenville Road is sloped at 15%).   My point I am trying to make is even though I have done some tough, arduous climbs previously, this is one is going to take more out of me.     

That being said, I felt confident enough in my abilities that I would complete it and add it to my training regiment. 

With this addition, I added 6 more miles and of course, the Mount Ventoux of New Jersey (1), making this ride one of my toughest. 

(1) Mount Ventoux is arguably the most famous French mountain and is a staple in the Tour de France.  It is also a bucket list item to bike up.  Here is a photo:

So last week, I drove down to Milford to start the ride and it was a tough even before the start of the hill.  I just didn't feel right.  I took the day off before so I couldn't comprehend feeling so lethargic. I am attempting the hardest hill in NJ and I couldn't gather the energy to feel excited about it.  For whatever reason, the adrenaline glands were operating properly. This was not looking good.

However, this is not necessarily a bad thing.  I start off rides feeling terrible all the time and usually, I always come out feeling strong.  Or, at least, that's what I was hoping.

When I made the right off of the main street to start the climb, the hill kicked in right away.  It was tough but I got through the beginning part.  There was a brief moment to relax as the hill leveled out for a little bit, but then when the road curved around a corner, it was like Three Levels of Hell.  I barely got through the first two and at the time, I thought I conquered the hill.  The road bends and curves with mostly trees covering the line of sight so it was hard to see the top or where you are even going next, but as I got around another turn in the road, Fiddler's Elbow showed me why it is the toughest rated hill in NJ.  I swear to you it looked like I was about to climb up a vertical wall.  To say it was intimidating is not paying any respect.  I was worried because I have not attempted anything like this before.  As I started the last part of the climb, I was struggling mightily.  Every stroke of the pedal became a struggle and I was quickly questioning my ability.

You have to remember that cycling is by far my greatest strength and a weapon on the race course.  I even fancy myself quite the climber.  I have tackled some of the toughest hills all over the world including France, Wales, and California.  I did not think this hill would challenge me like this. 

About halfway up the hill, it quickly entered my mind that I should quit and walk the bike up rest of the hill.  Fiddler's Elbow was exactly the halfway point in the ride and I know there are at least two tough and long hills to climb up before I am finished.  I tried to battle these demons because all I can think about is being a quitter and how I greatly underestimated this opponent.  How could I be so naive? 

I battled the pros and cons of walking up the rest of the hill but all I was really doing was compromising my failure.  I was barely making any ground up the hill each stroke I furiously put down on the pedals.  The hill was extracting my energy one turn of the crank shaft way more than I could fathom.  I fought off giving up as much as I could but by the end, I was only fighting for pride. 

Fiddler's Elbow pointed out a major weakness of my training I knew for years but have done nothing about.  Sometimes, you have to push yourself to the brink to realize what you need to work on the most.

I have read in countless books the importance of your weight, especially with riding your bike, is paramount.  There is even a simple calculation of watts per pound to illustrate the difference between being average and winning the Tour de France.  The magic number off winning the Tour is 3.05 watts per pound (6.7 watts per kilogram as it's known in Cycling corners) and it's simply based off the amount of power you produce every stroke per one pound of weight.  Now, I know I put down a lot of force every stroke but my weight has constantly be fluctuating between 190-205.  I have never been measured to know how much power I exactly produce but it would be irrelevant since I have not put in the work to lose the necessary pounds to inch closer to the magic number. 

Granted, I am not trying to win the Tour de France but I am trying to qualify for the World Championship and everything adds up, literally and figuratively. 

That additional weight was bringing me down every srtoke and I felt it.  So much, that half way up the hill I had to bail.  I couldn't do it.  The hill demoralized me.  I was humbled and rightfully so.  I would never say I was cocky because I always compare myself to professionals and feel inadequate in comparison, but I would definitely defend that I am a better than average cyclist that has conquered some world renowned climbs with vigorous execution. 

It wasn't enough. 

I finally met my match and with a positive spin, that's what happens when you challenge yourself.  You are going to run into some walls every now and about.  That's the beauty of anything competitive.  The digger you deep, the more obstacles you have to climb. 

That being said, the feeling of being humbled by a hill is a not something I took lightly and still don't take lightly.  I walked the bike up the rest of the way and finished the ride.  I did my best to make the rest of the training regiment count but the failure of not making up the hill haunted me.  It consumed and poisoned my mind the entire remainer of the ride. 

After every big workout, I always celebrate with a large battlre cry (I yell really loudly) but I couldn't conjure up the energy to do it, or better said, I didn't feel adequate enough to exert any positive output. 

I was defeated.

I even texted my close friends and training partners in crime the following:

Fiddler's Elbow: 1
Derek Smith: 0

This occurred over a month ago but tomorrow I plan to attack the same hill.  I would be lying if I told you that I am not afraid to fail again.  I cannot stress enough how upset it made me.  I never had to bail on a hill before and I really don't plan to do it again.  I have trained extensively and lost 18 pounds since that day in preparation for this. 

We'll see what happens.

I will let you how everything turns out and include the importance of portioning your food in my next post. 

Keep training hard and I will leave you with this quote by the great philosopher William James (my favorite philosopher by the way).  I think it may be a little relevant to what I have been talking about:

“Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own; sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction."

Thanks for reading

Now...Where was I?

It has been awhile since I have written anything so anytime is better than any I guess.  A lot of things have transpired since I did the cleanse diet. 

One, I was terrible shortly after completing the diet becoming the unhealthiest I have been in six years (I would go into the psychology of this effect but I want to keep this post short) and got sick twice.  I developed some bad eating habits and it cost me.  It occurred during the worse winter of my lifetime but I can't blame it on that.  I was undisciplined and erratic with my nourishment.

Two, besides my diet, I executed my off season to perfection.  I trained enough to say in good shape but rested well enough where I felt refreshed and rejuvenated when I started training in February. 

Third, by the end of March, I was reaching rare air in my training.  My running was coming along brilliantly.  My stride and cadence started to approach high school cross country status.  Biking has always been my ultimate strength (especially the past two seasons) but running holds the biggest room of improvement and I finally started to reach real progress.  Qualifying for the World Championship and redeeming my performance from last year's Ironman 70.3 Syracuse quickly became an obtainable goal.  I was averaging 7:00-7:15 minute miles on my training runs and felt stronger on every run.  Then...

....I did something really stupid....

I played basketball with some friends from work, which was fine until the time elapsed reached two plus hours.  We were playing these noobs (that is not an exaggeration, one of the players was playing basketball for the first time in his life) 3 on 3.  We easily won twice and it didn't seem logical to play another game but yet, like so many times in my life, I get convinced to do something I know I shouldn't be doing and play one more game.  The game starts off smoothly but quickly into the game, I go for a rebound after my teammate misses a jumper.  I plant my right knee and the noob (yes, the same person who is breaking his pick-up game virginity) backs into knee and it goes the wrong way (1).  I heard a pop sound and I was sure I tore my ACL. 

(1) I swear to you, when my knee went in, I saw exactly what happened.  Now, I don't mean I was looking down at my knee and witnessed what occurred, but I was able to see exactly how my knee responded to the hit as if ESPN's Sports Science was doing a special on my knee.  I saw my knee go in, dislocate and the tendons pull it back into position.  In real time, it was a millisecond, but in this supernatural vision, it lasted much longer.  It was surreal  I will never forget it. 

Luckily enough, it ended up being a dislocation and no permanent damage was done.  That was the good news. 

The bad news, it was a major set back in my training, putting me back three weeks where all I could is swim and bike on the trainer (I know, I am being dramatic), but my running would take the biggest hit.  I ended up not signing up for Ironman 70.3 Syracuse, which is extremely disappointing since I wanted to wreck the course that humbled me more than any other (that includes Ironman Wales).  If I wasn't so focused on qualifying for the World Championship, I would have done the race to enjoy the rare atmosphere that comes with participating in a triathlon and attempt to take wrath on the course that destroyed me. 

However, money is tight and I have to pick my moments, which now puts a lot of pressure on the Timberman.  The same race where I was short breaking 5 hours by a mere 46 seconds. 

Nonetheless, this is the task.  This is my motivation.  I have to put all my chips in the basket because as time moves along, I lose quality training hours. No excuses though.  I have to hold myself accountable.  I have already cost myself a golden opportunity to do something extremely rare and special.  I thought I was invincible.  I was wrong.

"We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are.  I'm no different.  Now...Where was I?" -Leonard Shelby

Getting Fit for the New Year

Everyone goes into the new year with great intentions to get healthy.  However, most fall short by the beginning of February.  We have to change that pattern.  Here are a few tips to help get and stay fit.

Don't set a start date.  Start Now!

Once a date is set to start getting fit and changing your diet, the goal is put on a pedestal.  This is not necessarily a bad thing since goals are meant to be tough and put up high, but set an end date and start today.  You hear it all the time.  I am going to start working out on Monday.  I will go to the gym tomorrow.  I will finish all of the food I have left and go grocery shopping for healthy food on Sunday.

Don't do it!

Start right now!

Once you get the ball rolling and not make it an event, it will easily become a part of your daily schedule.  Slowly, but surely, it will become a habit.  Working out and dieting correctly becomes second nature, making it more enjoyable and pleasurable. 

Set a goal with an end date.

Whether you plan to compete in a race or trying to lose 10 pounds, set a date to reach your goal.  When you set a date, plan your attack.  Start mapping out weekly meals and workouts.   The calender becomes your best friend because it prepares you for other events or occurrences life throws out you.  And the best part about it, you will be prepared.  We all like to stick to our original plans but things change, so when items are mapped out, you are giving yourself a chance to adapt and change sensibly.  The best way to relieve stress in fitness is preparation.  The more you document, the more you will be excited about your progress.  You look forward to your next workout and seeing how much stronger you're getting.

Don't forget, strength is mental, physical and spiritual.  Dwell in these moments of good fortune.  Fortune you have created.  It's an addicting and unbelievable power.

No Excuses.

The excuse I can't stand the most is "I don't have time to workout".  That statement is overflowing with negativity and weakness.  One, if this holds true, then being healthy is not that important to you because if it was, anyone would make time for it.  Don't sell yourself short. 

Now, I am not saying that time isn't limited for families with children, full time jobs, and extracurricular activities but there are so many mediums to workout with it's unfathomable we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic. 

Let's go over the options:

Workout Facilities:  We are in a gym boom.  They are every where with more coming.  All of them are competing to get you into the door.  Some gyms cost $10 a month with no initiation fee.  Remember when $500 a month and a $200 sign up fee was a common gym membership program?  No more!  They now offer trainers in sign up packages.  Plus, the trainers work around your schedule.  So get out there without the worry it costing you an arm and a leg.

On Demand:  We all use our DVR to record "The Voice" & "Duck Dynasty" or go to On Demand to rent "Zero Dark Thirty" but have you checked out the sports and fitness section recently.  It's incredible.  From 10 minute workout videos to instructional yoga, there are tons of exercise films at your disposal with no charge.  This is all included with a basic cable bundle.  I have personally used this and it's legit.  A lot of hard workouts in a small period of time.

Internet:  www.active.com is littered with great workout ideas you can do in your room, basement, or work office (I may or may not have done workouts in any or all of these places).

Amino Vital is wonderful with youtube.  They have one of the best exercise channels on the web.  Check out one of their Strength and Endurance Workout Videos:

Here are a few other forums at your disposal: running, biking, Insanity, T-25, P-90X, Home exercise equipment, and personal gyms. 

The options are abundant.  Take advatnage of your resources!

There are plenty of other reasons for you to stay in shape but it all comes down to one thing.  Do you really want this?  And if the answer is yes, stick with it.  Everyone goes through ups and downs.  Gaining weight is going to happen from time to time when you are trying to losing weight.  Feeling weak and fatigued is apart of getting in shape.  Don't get discouraged.  Get plenty of rest.  Eat well. Drink lots of water and most importantly stay positive.  Stay motivated.  Brag to your friends.  Inspire others.  The fountain of youth is plentiful and rich (When I say the fountain of youth, I am referring to Amino Vital's Endurance Orange Electrolyte drink).  Take a gulp and enjoy yourself.

Now get out there and change your life for the better!

Stay Tuned

New Year's Resolutions

You hear them every year:

"I am going to get in shape!"

"I want to lose 30 pounds!"

"I am going to stop smoking!"

These type of new year resolutions regurgitate out of every one's mouth this time of season, yet we know that it will be a distant memory by February.  However, it continues to occur.  Every individual goes with the best of intentions to start the new year right.  To make a change.  To alter one's sedentary lives but ends in failure 98% of the time (an accurate assumption). 

How does that occur?

What can everyone change to keep their promises to themselves?

It's simpler than you think.

Let's start with the most common New Year's Resolution out there:  I want to be a healthier me!

Before we begin, let's analyze that last statement.  The first question that comes to mind is what does healthy mean to that respective person because it is such a loose and vague term these days, it's lost its' bearing on society.  I have gotten in multiple conversations where Chinese food and pizza are considered healthy options. As hard is that to hear, I can understand where one can get that conclusion.

The FDA has recently classified pizza as a vegetable due to the contents of tomato sauce (1).  Tomato sauce!  Plus, the FDA requires two vegetables sides for every lunch meal served.  So let's due some simple addition: the FDA has already classified french fries as a vegetable, add pizza and chicken nuggets on this diversified and ethnically cultured menu (2) to get:

 




Chicken Nuggets + French Fries + Pizza=






Look how whiny that kid looks... it's starting to piss me off and I am the one who uploaded the darn photo...moving on

(1)Ingredients for Tomato Sauce: 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 7 cloves of minced garlic, tomato paste (water, citric acid, tomatoes form concentrate, 2 cans of tomato puree, 1 teaspoon of white sugar, 2 teaspoons of dried basil leaves, 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper & 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Now, this is from a home cooked recipe.  Did you see any tomatoes in there?  Can you imagine what Sodexho sends every school?  Yikes! No wonder we suck at health.

(2) I love writing sarcastically

So right from the start, we are running up hill.  Even when I started eating healthier, I considered pizza, Chinese food, and baked potato chips to be legitimate healthy options.  It's understandable.  Our education on nutrient and mineral based food is embarrassing.  It took me three years to fully grasp what the definition of health means. 

Now, millions of people want to eat healthy and get in shape but have no idea how to start.  Let's delve into this.

It is so easy to find a good workout in today's technological age.  The excuse "I don't have time to workout" is effin ridiculous and inexcusable anymore.  You can put in a solid workout in 15 minutes.  There is even T-25, which is a tough 25 minute a day workout plan designed by the creator of "Insanity".  There are hundreds of on demand workout videos included with a simple cable package, youtube videos, and workout based websites (www.active.com).  Do you also notice how conveinent gyms are these days?  You can't go 5 miles without accidently finding one in central Jersey.  We are in a boom of workout facilities.  Ever since obesity has been labeled a disease (another genius move), more and more pop up with competing membership dues.  Even getting a trainer is inexpensive.  I remember when I was growing up, only the wealthy could afford a trainer.  Now, they offer them in starter packages...for free!  So don't blame your lack of physical condition on anything but yourself.

The crazy thing is that isn't the root of the problem.  Every one who makes New Year's Resolutions are doomed to fail because of one reason.  It's to vague.  The terms of the goal are open for interpretation which most people do because they feel it gives them the opportunity to adapt to what everyday life throws at them, but don't you already see the problem with that. 

One foot is out of the door before anything begins. 

If you want to get in shape, sign up for a race.  Any race!  If you don't want to compete or find it pointless but want to lose weight, set a goal with a deadline.  Then, when you hit a deadline, set a new one with new goals, change up your plan because the last thing you want to do is become redundant.  But once you set a goal, whether it be for a race or weight loss, write a plan out, document your progress, blog your daily trials and tribulations.  Build on the experience.  The moment you don't define a set of rules to follow, chaos will slowly take over and leave you right where you started.  Acutally, it will leave you in a worse state since defeat and dejection will settle underneath your skin.  Then, you will make excuses and blame things that are totally within your control to make yourself feel better. 

Don't do it!

It isn't worth it!

This brings me to my final point.  If you really want to reach a goal.  Start now!  If you are reading this, stop, go downstairs, hit the floor and do some push ups and marine sit ups (don't do tradition sit ups, they are terrible for your back and neck.  Plus, they don't do a damn thing for you).  Don't start your diet on a Monday. Don't wait until New Year's Resolutions to begin a path down to a healthier life.  Start right now!  Once you decide the resolution for this year, you are already putting the goal on a pedestal, which isn't always a bad thing, but in this case, you are setting yourself up to fail.  Don't do it.  Get started right now!  The resources for a better lifestyle are abundant.   It's easier than you think and have fun with it.

It will pay dividends down the line.

Hope to see you at the starting line...

Stay Tuned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "Clean" Diet Recap

It has been 12 days since I finished Alejandro Hunger's Clean Diet (1) and I have been able to reflect and feel the changes that occurred over the tough 21 days of strict eating. 

I feel great. 

Renewed even. 

It's a wonderful thing to know your body is in a good state of health. 

(1) If you are interested in the diet, I recommend reading Hunger's book. He resides in New York City.  I also just realized that I have been misspelling Alejandro's name these past 4 weeks.  Oops.  It's Junger...not Hunger... I can be really dumb sometimes.  Moving On

The problem with time stringent diets is once they are done, most of us quickly return to our old habits and usually gain more weight and eat unhealthier than we did before.  People fall victim to this because we train our minds to stop eating the items we have been stuffing our mouths for years over a short period of time.  Over this time, we crave these foods more than any of us can fathom, yet we discipline ourselves with shear determination to stay away and stick to the guidelines to the respective diet we are on.  Then, after the diet is finished, we return to the foods we know and love, our brains go wild.  The mind is so happy to have these foods again, it craves it more than one can handle.

We have all heard of the phrase "Mouth Hunger".  The state of mind where you don't need to eat but your taste buds need to chew on something flavorful.  It doesn't even matter what is, it just craves something delicious in the mouth.  This "hunger" usually ends with Entenmann's Chocolate Chip Cookies and/or Wendy's in the system. 

After a strict diet, this craving is multiplied exponentially.

In two different circumstances, I fell victim to this treacherous ordeal (possibly an overreaction) over the past twelve days.  The four slices of pizza on the last day of the diet and a creme filled brownie seven days later made my brain happy, but my body wanted to give me a wedgie and melvin simultaneously (easier than you think).  Besides that, I have delved into a decent amount of grains and breads but still maintain at least a 51% raw intake per meal.  It's nice to have fruits like strawberries, bananas, and grapes again. 

It is also terrific that I can have a turkey or veggie burger. 

Cavatelli and broccoli is as delicious as always.

Actually, any pasta dish is superbly tasteful.

Thank God for small miracles.

So what did I take from this experience and will use in the future?  I will put it in a professional bullet point presentation (I am very professional):

• Dairy is terrible for you.  Technically, everyone is lactose intolerant.  Our bodies are so adaptable that most of us have the enjoyment of a nice glass of whole milk without feeling ill.  It's remarkable when you think about it. 
• If you are worried about getting your Vitamin D, drink coconut or rice milk or take vitamins. 
• The 12 hours of fasting from your last meal of the day to the first meal of the next day is paramount.  I have to say it was a knowledge gaining experience to discover all of the benefits from doing this simple task.  I will use another bullet point presentation to illustrate and prove my argument (This is getting out of control):
• Allows the digestive system to properly rest
• It takes 8 hours for the digestive system to fully get rid of any consumed food while during sleep (another reason why 8 hours is recommended)
• The digestive system is uninterrupted while trying to remove all of the toxins and waste from your system
• Breakfast is derived from the phrase "breaking fast"
• It aids in complexion
• Promotes good metabolism
• Promotes more hydration to vitalize and lubricate the organs
• Alkalizes the body
• Eating a raw garlic clove with an apple a day--This is really difficult to do because taste buds are so sensitive to the garlic, the body will spasm from time to time (not an exaggeration) but let's again list the benefits of doing something that literally takes 45-60 seconds out of your day (All information supplied in Junger's book):
• Eliminates bad bacteria, yeast, & parasites
• Regulates blood sugar levels
• Enhances fat burning
• Reduces hunger sensations
• Lowers cholesterol
• Relieves Arthritic pain
• Reduces bowel gas
• Before eating or having a morning coffee, drink at least a liter of water
• Drink at least 4-5 liters of water a day
• Don't eat more than 500 calories 2 hours before bedtime

There are many others but those are the ones I plan to follow and already in the middle of practicing on a daily basis. 

If you are reading this, you don't have to follow this diet to change your health and improve yourself.  This is just a difficult way to reboot the system.  It was hard, extremely hard.  I would go out to the bar's with my friends and couldn't have a beer or delve into chicken quesadillas.  Not even a bite.  The cravings are nuts.  The temptation is cruel and relentless.  The mood swings are unpredictable. 

There are ups and downs in this diet, but the positive, is complete worthwhile.  By week 3, I felt incredible.  You can actually feel your body operating on all levels.  It's a very unique feeling and something I don't want to give up.

And this leads us to the point of documenting my path to good health.  There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.  It is common knowledge if everyone eats fruits and vegetables and stop eating junk food, society's overall health will improve, obesity would lessen, disease and cancer will decrease.  So why with this common knowledge is such a struggle to convince so many to change their diet? 

Answer:  There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.

I have experienced it and hope you do the same.

If anyone has any questions or concerns with improving your life, feel free to leave a comment. 

Stay Tuned

The "Clean" Diet Days 19 thru 21

I am finished! Finite! Done! However you want to say it, the "Clean" diet is over. 

The last three days were tough, so much that I cracked...big time.  I cheated on Saturday eating whole grain cereal with rice milk (Oh geesh, I hope someone up there forgives me) and I had four slices of pizza on Sunday (a legitimately bad cave in on my part).  I should be upset with myself but it ended up turning into a little experiment. 

About 2 hours after I ate the cereal on Saturday, my stomach starting going nuts.  It didn't recognize what I had put into it.  The grains from the cereal (not allowed in the clean diet) didn't mix well with my body's symmetry.  The body had to instill an incredible amount of energy to digest.

Eating the pizza on Sunday magnified this issue by 2.

This isn't a representation of my stomach not recognizing something I hadn't put into for awhile, but a substance my body doesn't need.  The point of the diet is to hit the reset button.  To reveal the ins and outs of my body by cleaning it out.

There are thousands of people who went on this diet and found out they were lactose intolerant afterwards.  Other allergies became transparent to many others because the body wasn't running on bad fuel anymore.  When you clean out the body, it will dictate everything an individual can or cannot have.  The human body is so adaptive, it finds ways to run on anything after awhile.  It wasn't too long ago where I ate at a fast food restaurant at least 3 times a week.  That is not a typo.  If Wendy's had a customer appreciation program, I would have given the eulogy at Dave Thomas's funeral.  And at the time, I felt great (I know everyone's argument is "But Derek, you were really young and could eat anything and feel fine."That is a fallacy).  I was able to run and play basketball for hours without getting tired.  Then, I started to slowly add healthier stuff to my diet after I gave up junk food for Lent. 

During those 40 days, I didn't eat any fast food, pizza, Chinese food, or candy.  I started to add fruit and wholesome meals (Example: baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans) to my diet.  I felt no difference to my body.  Nothing changed in my energy output or at least I didn't notice anything.

After Lent passed, I went to Wendy's for my usual order: Spicy Chicken Sandwich Value Meal (The #6), four 5 piece nuggets (non-spicy), & 2 bacon cheeseburgers (1) because I was so excited to be done with the diet.  By the way, that is not an exaggeration.  I understand a decent group of my closest friends read this blog.  If one of you could be so nice and comment on this and back me up, it would really validate and solidify the point I am trying to make.  Nevertheless, after I finished consuming this glorious mass produced, but not frozen meal, my body shut down.  My stomach started to ache.  Discomfort quickly crept in making a nap completely out of the equation.  I didn't want to move, sleep, or do anything.  It was horrible.  My skin started to tingle.  Body temperature rose.  Felt exhausted and easily agitated. 

(1) Quick Tangent:  My future wife, Lindsay, eats terribly.  She loves McDonald's Chicken McNuggets and is addicted to grilled cheese, chicken fingers, and french fries.  Trying to get her to eat vegetables and fruits is just as effective as trying to take away a smart phone from a teenage girl.  Why am I telling you this?  Lindsay does not believe me I ate worse than she does.  She is legitimately convinced this happened in an alternate universe.  She even hates it when I bring it up because she thinks I am lying.  Who could blame her?  I cringe everytime she eats chocolate for dinner (not a joke) or consumes every piece of meat dripping ribs and leaves ALL of the vegetables on the plate.  The frustrating thing is I have tried everything to get her to change.  I have presented a bunch of information proving why eating a certain way is better for your health short AND long term.  She acknowledges all of the information and is even disgusted at times, yet she won't change one bit......... Phew! Learn to pick your battles Derek, learn to pick your battles, you're in this one for the long haul (which is why I want to improve her health but, ugh, nevermind, I am wasting my energy).

Now, this was 6 years ago and I can tell you with extreme detail how I felt after I ate that meal.  I can even tell you where I was and what I was looking at when the aforementioned feelings reared it's ugly head.  I never wanted to feel like that again.  Since that day, I started to change my diet for good.  I didn't delve into organic, paleo, or juicing diets right away but did start to add fruits and vegetables into my daily intake.  Over time, I did some research.  Watched some documentaries.  Studied reactions to certain foods and read testimonials.   Then, I started doing triathlons and everything I researched became magnified.  I wanted to give myself the best chance to operate optimally during training and races.  My diet became stricter and more organic based.  Each meal, I attempted to eat at least 51% raw and even started to go to 65-70% raw for a few weeks at times.  The change in my body's overall functions were astounding.  I always felt energetic and jovial.  My performances and training improved.  My skin and overall outlook altered dramatically. 

If you are wondering if I am this disciplined all the time, you are greatly mistaken.  I still eat fast food every now and about.  Fried chicken is still delicious.  A good burger is almost impossible to resist and I will always be ridiculously addicted to fruit snacks. 

We all have our vices. I am no different.  But my vices started to become more relevant in my diet.  That's the reason I did the cleanse.  I wanted to get my body back to the point of clarity.  And it was a success.

A great success.

Everything needed to be cleaned out so I can get back where I need to be.  I forgot my ways for a little while.  A nice reminder and reset button is always useful.

I am going to write a synopsis in a few days portraying all the lessons learned from the diet while hoping to inspire any readers to change theirs, but in the meantime, I feel great and will continue to improve myself as I head into the offseason.  I am two workouts and one race away from entering a break in the action. 

Stay Tuned