Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition

First step in training, nutrition! We need to fuel our bodies so we can reach our max potential. Even when not training this is a good rule to follow. Tomorrow I start my official tri-training, so over the past few days I have cleaned out my pantry and stocked it with some basics. I am not a good cook, I usually just throw stuff together. Actually "I hate to cook" is a more accurate statement. Planning meals, cooking the meals, cleaning the dishes always sounded like way to much work!! Now a days it is more work to try and find somewhere to eat that will not make me sick for days afterward. 

In the spirit of moving forward with my lifestyle I took to the internet to find some recipes. I stumbled upon this amazing website that has actually made me excited to start cooking. Angela Liddon at Oh She Glows (http://ohsheglows.com/) has some of the best vegan recipes out there. The great thing with her recipes are you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars at an organic food store, or try to find an ingredient that you have never heard of. She is pretty funny too so I enjoy reading her site.

Over the past few days I have been preparing my pantry for a true effort at my nutrition. Even though I limit what I eat, I was not putting proper nutrition together everyday. Brandon and I spent last Saturday afternoon at Sprouts market and found some great deals. The more foods I found that I could use in my recipes the more excited I got. This was great!! 

Everyone is different in what their nutritional needs are. I suggest talking with a nutritionist if you can or consulting with your doctor. I have an appointment with my physician soon. I would like to get some labs done and just make sure I am doing it right. I also log my food at http://www.myfitnesspal.com to help be accountable for what I am eating. Many physical trainers state that it is very important for you to log everything you eat. This way you can see what areas you need more or less of, such as more protein, less carbs (usually my problem). You can also log your workouts and make notes on how you felt that day. The more you log the better you can track and revise what you need to. 

Working out is another area where you want to be careful. There is so much research on nutrition and exercise, but you have to make sure you are doing things correctly. Going into all of this blind is a very bad idea! I am training with a friend who has extensive knowledge in bodybuilding. She is also someone I trust to do things the right way and not over push me. Plus it is fun to have someone to workout with who will plan your workouts for you. I wonder if I could get her to do my meal planning too!! 

Ok, now I am ready. I have my meal planning started and my workouts scheduled. I will check back with you in a week to tell you all about it. I would love to hear any feedback of anyone who is working to make some lifestyle changes or training for events of their own. 

Wish me luck!!