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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

80-10-10 Update

I've been following the 80-10-10 diet for the past seven days.  I'm pleasantly surprised with the results.  I feel really good, have more energy for my workouts (even putting in 2 a days), and am feeling full.  I had to force myself to take a rest day today.  By refining my eating habits even more, I managed to push through some meat cravings and come out on the other side (for now). 

There have been a couple of days where I've added a bit more fat or a bit more protein than recommended because I am still pretty new to these protein/fat/carb ratios.  I am feeling things out and figuring out the amounts- like about how much fat is 10% and that a little bit goes a long way.  I didn't realize just how much fat I had been eating!  Wowzers.  Holy avocado, nuts, and seeds bitches!

In terms of digestion, I'm feeling much, much better.  I am getting more than enough to eat.  Experts on this way of eating encourage you to count calories- only to make sure you are eating enough- and bunk the idea of overeating.  This idea really hit me.  As someone who has been known to overeat on occasion (daily), I really respond well to this idea of inclusion as opposed to exclusion.  A lot of my overeating behaviors revolve around rebellion.  It sucks to try to limit calories and count this and that. I just get a case of the fuck its and eat a whole pint of coconut milk ice cream.  It isn't that I need to eat an entire pint to feel full or satisfied or like I had a treat, but I like to give diets a big eF you to keep the balance of power in check. 

I'm pretty happy with my weight right now, but I wouldn't cry if I dropped 5 pounds either.  Before trying 80-10-10, I have been able to maintain my weight and muscle mass, but I haven't been dropping pounds or body fat.  Over the past 7 days, I've lost 2 pounds pretty effortlessly and even lost a little body fat.  By effortlessly, I mean eating upwards of 7 bananas (I love bananas!) in a day and my calories are up around 2,300. Before, trying to lose weight (even on high raw vegan)  meant a lot of restriction (1500 calories a day and lots of work outs).  It is such a difference going to the cronometer and seeing that I still have 1,000 calories alloted for the day! 

I'm still a little concerned about variety and maintaining my energy levels/muscle mass long term, but so far 80-10-10 is working out pretty well.   On to week 2!!!! 

Friday, September 2, 2011

Day 2 of 80-10-10

Well, I have to say, so far so good.  I thought for sure with all of the fruit sugar I was eating that my blood sugar would be up and down in crazy shifts and that I would be acting like a psycho in accordance.  Not so much. 

The only issue I noticed yesterday is that I am not hitting close to the recommended 3,000 calories. I am stuffed.  Totally stuffed.  I used a tool called the Cron O Meter that calculates all of your nutrients and I was shocked at how many 100% RDA's I am hitting by eating this way.  I am taking a multi-vitamin too, but even without it, I got a crazy amount of nutrients.  

Protein was the biggest shocker.  Yesterday I overdid the recommended protein amount by A LOT because I grossly underestimated the protein in fruits and veggies.  I made myself a protein smoothie (only 30 g of protein) thinking that it would put me right were I needed to be (30 g), but I almost doubled that amount in fruits and veggies alone. 

Here is my favorite recipe so far.  I just finished eating it and it is so simple and delicious.

2 c. spinach
1 cantaloupe cut into pieces (the whole thing)
some himalayan (or sea) salt to taste
(salt is probably a no-no, but honey badger doesn't give a shit)

Breakfast- Four bananas cut up and sprinkled with cinnamon
Lunch- 10 Medjool dates, 7 deglate dates 1 banana (trying to get the calories up in this meal)
Afternoon Dinner- Listed above
3-4 liters of water throughout the day
So far I am at about 1,600 calories for the day.  I'm hoping I will be able to eat at least another 1,000. 

Weird things that the raw hippies said would happen that happened so far

1.  That you would go to bed bloated as hell and wake up unbelievable light.
True.  It happened.  I went to bed thinking, "those fuckers can kiss my ass, I look like I'm three months pregnant."  Woke up eating my curse words.

 
2.  I read about this after it happened:  They said you don't have to worry about overeating because the fruit will start to taste sour or weird when you've had enough.  It totally happened.  I was 1/2 way finished with my fourth banana this morning and I thought, "hmmm...this is starting to taste weird.  I guess it wasn't ripe enough or something."  Same happened with the dates and the cantaloupe.  When I was done, I was done and I knew it. 

Our bodies are pretty freaking cool, aren't they????

Thursday, September 1, 2011

The next level

Alright, get ready.  If you thought I was nuts before, you are going to think I'm off my fucking rocker now.

Backtracking- as most of you have probably noticed from my previous blogging, I do the vegan/high raw thing for a few months, hit a wall, go back to eating meat, berate myself, and then go back to vegan/high raw. 

When I hit my "meat wall" (going to have a field day with that new phrase) I talked it out with my therapist/husband, Nate and managed to push through feeling a new dedication and commitment to keeping on my high raw/vegan path.  A couple of things I observed in my couch therapy sessions was that I was eating too much fat which is a digestive nightmare for me, eating too much vegan junk food (chips and salsa, coconut milk icecream, etc. not enough greens and fruits), and I missed actually eating considering I blend most of my meals.  Plus I had to look at what I really, really want.  I really want to be a vegan.  Meat tastes delicious, but my heart is in veganism.

In pushing through my wall, I decided to push back.  Instead of backlashing, I am going to forward thrash.  I have been reading about the 80-10-10 eating plan for years now and have always looked at it as freaking crazy, but apparently it is ideal for athletes and ramps up performance like a mother efer.  Well, since I love crazy, and I love a good old fashioned science experiment on myself, I'm going for it.  I am going to do it for the next 30 days.  80-10-10 means you eat 80% carbs (mainly from fruit), 10% protein (greens/brown rice protein powder), and 10% fat (avocados, nuts and seeds). 

People report mental clarity, feelings of extreme energy and euphoria (the skeptic in me says sugar high), weight balance (gaining if you need to gain, losing if you need to lose), and improvement in athletics.  Best case scenario, I'm running marathons; Worst case scenario, after 30 days I look like a sugar high super model. 

Here is what I'm supposed to be eating:  3,000 calories total  (30 g protein, 30 g fat (or less)).  How the hell am I going to do this???  One word bitches:  Bananas.  Shittons of bananas. Probably 10 a day to get sufficient calories.  And I quite possibly may be bananas, but I'm willing to try anything once.  

Here's what I ate so far today:

2 bananas - preworkout
Protein smoothie (my entire 30 grams in one shot- normally I consume 3x this much protein)

I'm looking to hit some green smoothies later, and snack on some bananas.  I might make a smoothie with frozen bananas, frozen cherries, and frozen peaches, but who knows.  So far, I'm full, put in a good work out and am feeling pretty good mentally.  I am back in school, so I may not report how I'm feeling/what I'm eating every day, but I will do my best to keep you updated.

Love and insanity in September!!!!!