Know thyself. And thy food.

I'm on the brink of week 13. Week 13 off from running. But also, week 13 free from dairy, gluten, and eggs. Except for a brief "challenge" with each. Banishing dairy, questioning eggs, and tabling gluten for a while.

So far, this year has been one extended learning experience. Suffice it to say, I did not envision 2012 panning out like this. The cleanse/food challenge was part of my 2012 plan. A resolution, really. To figure out what foods my body disliked. Although it was extraordinarily difficult for the first 4-6 weeks, I consider eliminating dairy the biggest success of the challenge.

The initial weeks of any big change are hard. For me, this was compounded when plantar fasciitis brought my running goals and training plans to a screeching halt four days before my dietary overhaul was set to begin. As I was introducing a new challenge (food elimination/testing), my outlet, my hobby, my social network had been taken away. It has been a very trying 13 weeks. Soul searching meets identity crisis. Lactose intolerance isn't the only thing I have learned. Here's a few of the high-lights.

1. I can wake up much earlier than I ever thought I could manage if it means getting in a workout (cross training). If I can set my alarm to 5:06 to get up and go to the pool when the temperature outside is <20 degrees, I can certainly wake up at least this early for a morning run. Duly noted.

2. I have improved my body awareness. I attribute this to swimming and strength training. I have a significant muscle imbalance right vs. left in my core and hips, despite diligently attacking these the past 12 weeks. I think this improved awareness has better helped me to understand compensatory motor patterns (something which the nerd in me loves) because I am living them. I'm doing many of the same exercises I prescribe for my kids.

3. I've learned to make better decisions about what I'm eating. The biggest dietary changes I've had to make in the past 13 weeks is eating less. Wait, should I not have said that? Try not to freak out. It is the truth and it's common sense. In order to fuel running 75-100 miles per week, most runners are eating all the time. I was. At 75+ miles per week, more often than I care to admit, I ended up eating the most accessible food. Now, cross training 60-90 minutes per day, I still get hungry. But it is different. It is similar to the plummet in hunger related to a marathon taper. But still different. After a longer cross training am workout, I still feel needs-immediate-attention hunger. But, if I treat that hunger the same as post-long run hunger, usually eating 2-3 spoonfuls of nut butter or a few handfuls of trail mix while waiting for last nights leftover's to heat up in the microwave, by the time the microwave timer sounds with my lunch, I'm not hungry anymore. My previous breakfast of a choice, a PB& banana sandwich (now on gluten free bread) has become hard to finish. And if I eat a 200-250 calorie fruit/nut bar when 10 AM hunger inevitably strikes, I'm not hungry for lunch at noon. This whole need for hunger management is a bit of a shock. I'm used to eating all the time. But I have found that my behaviors have adapted, almost subconsciously. One of the adaptations has been liquid breakfast. I think the calorie content is probably pretty similar, but by subbing in a fruit and almond milk smoothie for a sandwich at breakfast, I'm ready to eat at my scheduled mealtimes (which are very scheduled) without breakthrough hunger.

One of my new favorite, super-quick breakfasts is a two-ingredient blend of two of my new favorite products. So Delicious Coconut Kefir and Barlean's Chocolate Silk Greens. The greens are actually a cocoa-colored powder and come with a scoop! So I scoop some chocolaty goodness into a mason jar (recycled), pour in the Kefir, cover, and shake like mad. Top it with a bendy straw and you've got yourself a morning. I've also blended it with a banana and/or peanut butter when I have the extra 30 seconds to dig out my immersion blender. Put it in the freezer and oh dear. Dairy what?

And, yes I bought a package of bendy straws which I realize completely cancels out the recycled mason jar. However, the straw is a mood booster, something which I have needed many of this winter. It is like having an umbrella in your drink on the beach. Plus, the decrease in questionable gazes suggest that I look slightly less like a crazy person when drinking out of a jar with a straw vs without.

Bottom line: Whether you're running 100 miles a week or eating in your car between meetings. Think about what you're eating. Avoid decisions based on accessibility. Prepare for hunger. Stock your desk full of healthful snacks. Jar up some smoothies for the week on Sunday afternoon. Your body and brain are working hard. Reward them with fuel.