Since we all have lives containing responsibilities and events, it is best I don't overflow your facebook and twitter feed with updates on this diet. Therefore, a weekend update will suffice. It also allows me to live a little bit and not be tied down myself.
Before we get started, I must state I have cheated on this diet...to a certain extent. The "Clean" Diet developed by Alejandro Hunger is a 21 day cleanse diet which instructs to have two smoothies and one hard meal a day. In the smoothies and hard meals, he supplies food and recipes to make everything delicious and nutritious...sometimes. There are a few additional items he recommends to help improve the revitalization process. A few examples are fasting for 12 hours before the last meal of the day and the first meal of the next day, a tablespoon of olive oil before you go to bed, and eating a raw garlic glove a day. Hunger explains in explicit detail all of the benefits from following this diet and most of them are to help you get through this with the least path of resistance.
The problem for me is, training for a half marathon is too much not to go a little bit outside the parameters. I follow all of the do's and do not's when it's pertaining to the food you can have but I simply can't have just one hard meal a deal. With the amount of calories I burn a day, I would lose weight at a rapid and unhealthy rate.
Example: I lost 7 pounds the first two days.
Therefore, when I am really hungry, I eat another meal. Simple as that.
Day 5:
Friday was interesting since I would be around a lot of temptation (I was around temptation this whole weekend, it actually should have been the slogan). I attended the South Plainfield High School Reunion. Now, for the people that know me and went to school with me understand I graduated from that high school in 2004; however, I was bored, love my friends, and know a lot of people from that grade. Call it weird, stupid, or whatever. I really don't care. I had a wonderful time. I actually discussed the diet with a few people and some listened with intrigue. Others looked at me as if I was a Jacksonville Jaguars fan. Most people were wondering how you can't drink alcohol, eat certain foods, and be around some much temptation without cracking.
Look, it's hard and I am going to be honest, it is way harder than I could imagine. It sucks. It's not only the temptations but the frequency of them. Everywhere you turn, there is something I want to put it my mouth (That's what she said) and savor every last bite, but once you do that it weakens you. You fail. Everything you are trying to accomplish goes right out the door. It's just not worth it.
I didn't workout at all on Friday. I was lazy. What do you want from me? I just didn't feel like it.
Day 6:
My good friend Michael Kasmer (Kaz) drove up from Philadelphia for the reunion but decided to go running with me on 5 hours of sleep and at least a half liter of alcohol still in him. We went down to Holmdel Park and ran a couple of laps on the hardest 5k course in the state of New Jersey. Kaz hadn't ran since the Ragnar Relay in New York (September 27 & 28) but you wouldn't ever know it from watching him run.
He dismantled me.
Holmdel Park is known for "The Bowl", a part of the course that takes you down a hill and around the bottom of it before it forces you to traverse a tough and rigorous uphill with the last 20 feet going at an insane angle of 60 degrees. Once you take your last stride up the hill, all your quadriceps want to do is take a rest. They shut down. Your brain tries to tell them to go faster, but quickly becomes an irrelevant request. Your legs don't care.
That small section of trail has destroyed so many cross country runners' races, it's makes Boston Marathon's Heartbreak Hill look like a nice drive to grandma's house.
Yet, after explaining the course, I was struggling, while Kaz seemed to be excelling with every stride. It's frustrating but that man is blessed with a mental ability most can't fathom, including myself. I also think he has been blessed with a rare gene.
A few weeks ago, I finished reading "The Sports Gene" by David Epstein and one chapter talked about naturally talented athletes. It delved into endurance genetics and how 6% of the population is born with this rare gene to automatically be in shape without much training. It is even documented that a Kenyan ran a 4:15 mile....on his first try! Now, other elements led to his success (high elevation and advance demographic genetics) but to achieve that time without any real training is absurd. I am pretty sure Kaz has that gene because to go to Holmdel Park and run a little under 7 miles while being hungover and sleep deprived is nothing short of amazing. It's just incredible!
On our way back, Kaz was talking about having a delicious Chicken Parmesan Sandwich from arguably the best Pizzeria in town (Tony's...I am a Ciccio's guy) and it was almost making me depressed. He asked me if I can have any pasta. I said no but did mention I could have brown rice. Then, he asked if I could have sushi. I forgot all about sushi. Brown rice, raw fish, avocado, cucumber, and ginger, it's the perfect combination while simultaneously satisfying my cravings. We rushed to Asahi and destroyed multiple kinds of rolls with vigor and excitement. A satisfying meal indeed. Made the afternoon.
In the evening, I attended my good friends' surprise engagement party (Congratulations to John and Jenn!) and had grilled organic chicken with brussel sprouts and red cabbage. My second hard meal of the day if you are counting at home.
Anyway, I had a great night with good friends.
Day 7:
Two hard meals again today: sushi and red snapper. I spent most the day over my friend Sheed's house and watched some football (a weekly routine). It was a great time and always is.
My workout was an hour on the bike trainer. I haven't done that since early September. A good change of pace and I was able to watch the late football game while working out. Really the best of both worlds. It's tough but feels great when I am done. Tomorrow is going to be a big run (13.1 miles---the half marathon distance) so I am going to go and get some rest. Big day tomorrow!
Stay Tuned
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