January 5, 2011

Cleanse Day 3: Surprising Willpower

I completed Day 3, which was also my first day of juice only. I was concerned about how I'd feel without any solid food and ended up pleasantly surprised. The day started with an incredible 6 mile run. I slept like a rock last night, most likely due to ridding my system of caffeine, and woke up immediately when my alarm went off. I was a little nervous based on yesterday's run, but was told to pull the plug early if I needed so I gave it a shot. I deliberately slowed the pace and unlike yesterday, I wasn't desperately waiting for it to end. I felt great and for lack of a better word, really calm. I had about a quarter of my first juice immediately after and waited until 9 to start the rest of the day's schedule.

I felt really good all day. My energy level was strong and the caffeine detox symptoms seem to be gone. And for the first time in this cleanse, I wasn't hungry at all aside for the time between Juices 1 and 2 from the run. I also realized I haven't had any major cravings yet. I did have a lovely thought about almond butter for a fleeting second, but it passed as quickly as it appeared. I don't feel deprived and the sense of satisfaction from doing this and sticking to it is really satisfying. I felt pretty toxic from the past 3 months of offseason living and needed a break. This is giving it to me.

It's one thing to sit in my office with the door closed all day and not look at people's lunches, but it's another to put myself in a place where I'm surrounded by food and drink. I joined a girlfriend for a drink after work, which included her drinking two beautiful glasses of wine in front of me while I sipped green juice and still water with lemon. I can't even have sparkling! People were eating all sorts of deliciousness around us and I realized I didn't mind. I didn't feel cheated and wasn't at all tempted. That was the best feeling of all.


I know I'm being judged for doing this while training for a marathon, but I had decided to do this long before the marathon was even happening. My training and racing are really important but they aren't the only things in my life. A friend really challenged me on it today and I told him this is something I needed to do for me the person, not me the athlete. Sometimes we have to make those choices and for now, I don't regret this one.

4 comments:

  1. Congrats on finishing day 3! I don't think I could do it :)

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  2. Glad that you had the energy. That photo of the glass of wine with the juice first made me think you caved. But then you said it was your friend's. I can't wait for a glass of red wine!

    Heading out to the door for an hour run. I hope I have your energy from your run.

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  3. My healthy eating always goes down the crapper if I go out to eat with people. You have far stronger will power than I! :)

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  4. Way to go! How long is your cleanse? I think it is encouraging and exciting to hear that you had the energy to do your training. I feel like I shouldn't be doing this while training too...but I also have a theory that we give our bodies way more than it needs to actually be fueled with the excuse that we're endurance athletes. Mine a nutritional cleanse that lasts 21 days. It allows solid food at lunch and some pretty heavty smoothies and soups. I'm hoping it will help me figure how to maximize my energy on the minimum amount of food & that I can use that throughout training!

    I have Christmas at my grandma's on Saturday. I will channel your willpower!

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