Week 60: The Paleo Diet for Athletes

Last week I wrote about my decision to change up my diet. I've been stuck at the same weight range for about six months and I feel like I need to make a change in order to continue to show progress.

After doing some research I narrowed my search to two diets: Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide by Brendan Brazier and The Paleo Diet for Athletes by Loren Cordian. I purchased both books and scanned through them. After careful consideration I've decided to start following The Paleo Diet for Athletes.

The Paleo Diet for Athletes is a modified version of the original Paleo Diet. Loren partnered with Joe Friel, a well known endurance coach and athlete, to provide additional information on the timing and type of food needed to fuel endurance athletes. This information alone is worth the price of the book.

Why not Thrive?

Week 59: Researching Endurance Nutrition

Well, I didn't lose any weight last week, I weighed in at the same as the previous week. However, I didn't gain any either. So I'm good with that.

Looking at the numbers, I just realized that I am less than a pound away from the lowest weight I've recorded since I started my Three In Three Challenge. I know I can break through and continue my progress down to my ideal racing weight. I just need to remain focused.

In order to help the process along, I've started researching potential changes in my diet. I've already done an excellent job of cutting the "crap" out of my diet. Now I am taking it to the next level by researching the stuff I should add into my diet to provide the nutrients my body needs to excel.

Plant Based Whole Foods Diet

I am considering making another lifestyle change to support my ongoing transformation from fat to fit, switching to a plant based whole foods diet. But before I make such a major change, I need to dig into it more and understand the benefits and risks of this type of dietary change.

This evening I watched a documentary called Forks Over Knives. According to the website the documentary "examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods." Although I have already made impressive improvements in my health over the last year, I feel like I can do more towards living a healthy lifestyle.

If you've made a similar change, please leave me a comment and share your experience. I'd appreciate any links to articles, book recommendations, blogs of people who have made similar changes, basically directing me to any information that can help me understand the benefits and the risks of switching to a plant based whole foods diet.

But I am most interested in your own personal experiences. So please share!

6 Tips for Treating Plantar Fasciitis

About two months ago I develop a nasty case of plantar fasciitis in my right foot. Since then I have tried many different ways to help it heal. Today was the first day since this started that I can say my initial steps in the morning were without pain and that my run today was without pain. So I think I am almost out of the woods.

I wanted to write a post to describe the treatments that I found most useful during my recovery from plantar fasciitis. I received a lot of good suggestions from readers and I tried just about every one of them. I also tried some products sent to my from manufacturers and purchased some additional products on my own. Of everything I tried, I can narrow it down to the following six tips for treating plantar fasciitis.

7 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Long Runs

I don't usually reproduce articles on my blog. However, this one really spoke to me, as if the Coach was watching over my shoulder and giving me a slap for all the stuff I've done wrong since I started my Three In Three Challenge. So I am posting it here as a reminder to myself. Thanks Coach!

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7 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Long Runs

By Coach Jenny Hadfield
For Active.com

The long run is truly the bread and butter of an endurance running program. It teaches your body how to spend time on its feet, how to utilize fat as a primary fuel source and is a dress rehearsal for the big dance. The secret in perfecting your long runs is to keep it simple and avoid making these common training mistakes.