Days 3-5

So here we are at day 5, so far so good!! After a rocky start things have improved and I am now strangely enjoying my new eating plan (not keen to call it a diet as I'm not in this to lose weight, more to feel better and hopefully get faster!).

Sunday morning saw me up at 6:30am making gluten free porridge with coconut milk and some blueberries and a cup of green tea. Managed to run 10 miles, slightly slower than normal but no gels, jelly babies or other sugary snacks, think they might just be another bad habit and I'm looking at more natural ways of fuelling my very long runs, marthons and ultras.

Energy levels have continued to improve, and this morning was The EBC 360 challenge, this consists of 20 press ups, 20 sit ups, 20 squats, 20 chest to floor burpees and a 200m run repeated 5 times, I managed this in 17mins 44secs, not as fast as some, but my first ever 6am boot that wasn't fuelled by caffeine!!! Will be interesting to see if I can beat this time at the end of the challenge when I'm retested, not that I plan to stopping eating this way once the 30days are up. For me I see this as a lifestyle change that I want to continue.

So "clean eating" isn't difficult, loving the support from others taking part, lots of delicious recipes to try and the best thing is I knowing everything I'm putting in my body is doing me good, just that knowledge is making me feel good!!

The first two days

I am taking part in Essex Boot Camp's 30 day "eat clean" challenge. Signed up thinking I can do this, I eat pretty healthily anyway, how hard can it be...

Well harder than I imagined, not the food so much, lots of meal ideas, I cut out sugar for three months before Christmas so not struggling too much there. So why is it hard I here you ask?
Caffeine... Never had myself down as a caffeine addict but started to cut down in the couple of days before this challenge began, but from Friday NO coffee or tea, soon a headache developed, I was grumpy, irritable and hated everyone!!! Ginger and lemon tea is nice, green tea is drinkable but it's not my good old cuppa!!! My mug at home isn't a normal sized mug, it's big for the reason could fit more tea in it!!! So if someone knocked on my door right now and gave me the choice of a cup of tea or a years supply of chocolate I'd take the tea!!!! So this is my major "eat clean" battle.

So this morning got up had a banana and cup of green tea, yum yum!!! And off I went to boot camp, still had a headache, felt tired and tearful, yes tearful!!! But I was there boot camp always makes me feel better...

Not today, today I felt like a beginner, my legs felt like lead, I couldn't run and felt awful, well I survived the hour got home had an omelette with tomato and mushroom and more green tea!! Then off to spend the afternoon with friends I met during London 2 Brighton last year. Lovely afternoon catching up, but looking at the photos of the food this evening, was probably good I wasn't able to stay longer, not sure my willpower would have lasted, food looked awesome!!
I had smoked salmon, sweet potato and veg which was lovely and enjoyed an evening cup of tea as a treat (yes I know as a Saturday evening treat that is sad, but best cup of tea ever!!!!)

So with the headache almost gone, mood much improved, I'm not ready to give in yet (this morning could have happily quit!)
Tomorrow morning 10 mile run planned, will try some gluten free porridge with coconut milk before I go and fingers crossed I will make it and begin to feel more like me...