Progress, No?

I rounded out my day of clean eating yesterday with a great strength workout. I warmed up for 5 minutes on the treadmill, progressing from 3.5mph to 6.9mph at the fastest. Just enough to start getting me sweaty. I followed Tosca's ECD:R routine, though I did a little more than required. I kept the weight to a manageable level, in order to pump out 12-15 reps, with 3 sets of each exercise. This took about an hour total, maybe slightly more. I was able to work my entire body, hitting each muscle group about twice. I noticed that the energy was not entirely there, despite the BCAA's I took prior to. For example, I couldn't even get through a couple unasisted triceps dips on the parallel bars, when normally I can pop out 8-10 with a bit of struggle.

I felt great after, very strong, like I am actually making progress and should expect to see results. In the past, when I'd work out, I would place so much emphasis on quantity and not quality. I want to lift as heavy as possible, as long as possible. This inevitably would make me incredibly hungry and make it incredibly difficult to not overeat. The emphasis this time is on the restricted diet, less the intense workouts. I feel that because I am eating less (and foods of better quality) I am able to reach a level of fatigue much faster because of the reduced calories. I'd always been afraid to reduce my intensity of workouts, fearing mediocre results. I am finding that I push myself as hard as I can- this may not amount to as much as I am used to but it helps me really see results.

I am being very good at keeping track of what I eat. At times, I find myself very hungry and almost having "just a few chips" here or "just a spoonful of peanut butter" there. I stop myself and think about it. I allow myself to eat only within the context of an actual, scheduled MEAL TIME. This is 5 to 6 times per day. I try my best to eat every couple of hours, but this becomes difficult. I am at least aware.

I did wake up at about 4 this morning and absolutely NEED something to eat. I drank some applesauce from the jar. I had a small spoon of peanut butter with a bit of banana, and planned to include this as part of my daily meals, so I've been eating on the light today. Not gonna lie, been real cranky today, but I think that's mostly from feeling like I did not get anything done. I'm better now. My food diary for today, DAY 5 follows:

Midnite snack: T peanut butter, 1/3 banana, 1/2 c applesauce
Breakfast: Eggwhites with salsa, 1/4 c oats, 2T flax, 1 T wheat germ, 2 T a.s., pumpkin, Stevia, coffee w. coconut milk
Snack: 1/4 C Greek yogurt, 1t fruit spread, Baby carrots, hummus, hard boiled egg
Lunch: 1 C chickpea with tomato paste, carrot, lima bean, a couple small pieces injera (teff, water), 5 olives, 2 dollops ricotta
Snack: Iced Tea, Stevia, Apple, 1T p.b.
Dinner: TBD

I have been eating very small portions. It helps that it is incredibly hot out. And I'm really busy. But I notice that I am NOT eating any any any extras, even to taste ( aside from a few popchips last night). There is NO alcohol in this diet either. Only clea foods.

As far as grains and dairy... well I am weaning off yogurt. I'd much rather do this without a dairy dependency. Even Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and ricotta, which have the lowest milk sugars of all. At least keep them to a minimum if I do have them. I recently bought Ezekiel sesame seed bread, but it just sits in the freezer. Aside from fruits and veggies, the only other grains I will eat are quinoa, teffk and oatmeal. Today I made and attempt at Ethiopian food. It sometimes feels like I have no interest in food at all anymore, because nothing tastes good or is healthy here.

Anyway.I am falling asleep. Snack time. Wonder if another table has opened up...