A Small Reveal

I alluded to a complete change of lifestyle in my last post. It drew a lot of interest and some questions so I contemplated doing a 'halfway' reveal. That would be next weekend but I still am not sure I'm ready to open myself up for input, criticism, or commentary from the general public yet. Sean and a couple of my closest friends have seen and supported me through the last 5 weeks. It's not always easy to be patient and trust the process. I want instant results just like everybody else. So instead of completely unveiling my new plan and body I thought I'd share the overview and a sneak peek instead.

The easiest way to explain what I've been doing is to say it's a balance between exercise, nutrition, and supplements. I'm hitting the gym 11 times per week. I run 5 days per week and lift 6 days. I combine easy runs and speed work and I hit every body part with weights at least once per week. I eat 'clean' 98% of the time. That's no joke! I eat 6 times per day, 7 days a week. One of those meals on Sunday gets to be a 'cheat' meal where I go out to eat with friends or family and splurge on a burger or a milkshake. And every day I follow a routine of supporting my nutrition and workouts with a careful selection of supplements.

Today's cheat meal at Rockhoppers

(Split with my mom!)

The results of this complete change have been astounding. I'm still waiting on an appointment to get my body fat percentage checked so I don't know where I started or where I am now (yet). But I have seen huge changes and my clothes fit differently than ever before.  My performances are improving on both runs and weights. And my energy is through the roof.

And here's the proof:

Completed 5k on the treadmill, the day after leg day and after going out dancing last night, in 24 minutes. My previous best was 24:27 and that was back in 2012. After only 5 weeks I have already met one of my 2015 goals (set a new 5k PR!).

AND

I'm stronger and happier with my body than ever before. Every week I go heavier, go harder, find another way to tweak my nutrition. And while I can't wait to share the full transformation with everyone, right now I am enjoying the journey and focusing on learning and growing on my own. 

Are you ready for 2015? Have you set your goals and outlined the steps to reach them yet?

GNC is my Friend

I never really supplemented with anything besides a multi-vitamin until this training cycle. Preparing the right way for a marathon left me feeling a little flat. I wasn't really tired but I didn't feel like I was firing on all cylinders either. Box jumps at CrossFit were getting tougher and squats were near impossible. My legs just didn't want to recover the way I needed them to.

That's when GNC stepped in and introduced me to their Ultra Mega Vegetarian Vitapaks. These simple foil packets are stuffed with everything your body needs to make it through the day in plant and whole food-based ingredients.

The first two pills in the packet (green solid pills) are the Ultra Mega Multivitamins. These contain no iron so if you're prone to anemia you may need an additional supplement. These two have a blend of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes derived from 26 fruits, vegetables, and phytonutrients. With things like vitamins C and E, selenium and green tea extract I am staying healthier and feeling better about the radiation exposure I get on a daily basis (thanks job!).

The two white solid pills are Calcium Citrate. This mineral keeps your bones strong by providing over 50% of the recommended daily value of calcium in a form that is readily available to your body. I've never had a stress fracture and I don't want to ever experience one so I really appreciate this addition to the line up!

The green liquid capsule is Flax Seed oil which is a vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are the ones that protect your heart and brain function. They also help maintain digestive and joint health, which us runners know is important! Nobody likes an angry stomach on the trail and we've all had aching joints at one point or another.

The last capsule is a white liquid capsule which is a digestive enzyme formula. These enzymes help your body to complete digest nutrients so that your body is able to make the best use of that diet you've worked so hard to perfect. You balance the macronutrients (fat, carbs, and protein) and this supplement will help your body use them effectively.

All in all, I've been having some really great runs since I started combining the Vitapaks with my EnergyBits. I keep a careful eye on my nutrition and hydration (with the occassional splurge) and then depend on an evolving regimen of supplements to do the rest. I really hope I'll see the difference on Saturday at the Baker 50 Miler!

Do you take a multi? Do you supplement? What works for you? What doesn't?

Bits and Bites

I've worked 22 hours in the last two days. My training is seriously suffering. Thankfully the Baker 50 miler is Saturday so fewer, shorter runs is good for right now. Between my shifts, getting ready for back to school (both the kids and I), training and life in general I should be falling down.

Honestly, I've never felt better. A few things came together at just the right time and one of those is EnergyBits. If you've never heard of EnergyBits don't feel bad. I hadn't either until they found me on Twitter and convinced me to give them a try (that wasn't too hard!). These 'tabs' are only 1 calorie per piece, contain 64% protein per tab, and are made from 100% organically grown Spirulina algae.

I was a little wary of taking algae. It just doesn't sound like something good but then I did my research and found that Spirulina is basically a super-food. According to EnergyBits website, NASA ran some tests and found that 1 kilogram of Spirulina is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms of fruits and veggies!

As you can see (maybe, that picture is tiny!) EnergyBits are packed full of all the good stuff. After a few 50 hour weeks I'm usually falling into bed exhausted, catching every cold that comes around and generally worn out. Not this time though! Adding EnergyBits to my diet has helped immensely. The tabs can be chewed or swallowed. They have a nutty taste and texture that isn't unpleasant. I think I'd still take them no matter what now that I've seen the boost they give me!

Have you tried EnergyBits or Spirulina algae? Would you take an algae supplement?

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.