Jim ended up with a solid PR, averaging just under the goal pace, and Kevin nailed his race, leaving it all out on the course.  You guys make me so proud!!

On top of that, QT2 took 2nd, 4th (my husband, thank you very much!), 5th, 9th, and 11th, taking first in the open men’s team division, and our older fellas (I really think 40 is too young to be considered “masters”) brought home the silver in the master’s team division.  Good work!

While this was not quite a PR (only about 30 seconds off) for me, it was a great race!  I’ve been really pushing the bike and swim, and seen some significant improvements not only from this time last year, but from pre-Kona (and post-LP) last season.  I’m really pumped, and looking forward to putting the training to the test!  Up next is California 70.3 (3/27), and then IM Utah (5/1)…  It’s almost tri season!!  

Motivation

We need to remember why we are eating healthy and sticking to the Core Diet.  Hopefully there are a few reasons.  In my case, these include health, performance, and treat enhancement.  The first one is pretty self-explanatory: a nutrient dense diet that is low in preservatives and additives will reduce health-related issues.  I like this goofy little saying: “If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?”  (Tim rolls his eyes every time I say it. )

The second reason probably has the most immediate impact and gets my head back in the game the quickest.  I know, through both research and personal experience, that body composition directly affects performance.  That piece of pizza, scoop of ice cream, bag of chips, plate of fries, stack of pancakes, bowl of cocoa puffs, king-size candy bar – you get the picture – will only taste good for as long as it takes me to eat it, but the pride that comes from meeting my potential and pushing my body to the limit will last for as long as I can remember it.  I may be a slow eater, but I certainly have a longer memory.

Treat enhancement – how good does that chocolate ice cream (substitute with your treat of choice) taste when you haven’t had it in a long time?  Does it taste as good when you have it every day?  To me, it does not.  Not that I don’t enjoy eating every day during the off-season, ’cause I do, but the first scoop tastes that much better!

Variety

Keeping things interesting at meal time makes eating healthy much easier.  Grilled chicken and steamed broccoli day in and day out can make some people (me!) hostile.  Finding new recipes and experimenting in the kitchen has helped me keep my sanity while sticking to the Core.  I posted a few recipes the other day, and will post more in the future.  I’d also love for you guys to share any recipes that you have!

Treat Night

I find that having one “cheat” meal a week also helps keep my head in the game.  We tend to make this a carb-heavy dinner on Fridays so that it doubles as a mini carb-load for our long Saturday training sessions.  This is when we have our pizza, ice cream, pasta, etc. that we haven’t had all week.  Without this meal I would most likely snap and gorge myself on any number of things that can be found on ThisIsWhyYoureFat.com.

Thanks for the question, Phoenix!  Hope this helps!

I’ve got a bit of writers block at the moment.  Anything you guys want to hear about?

Harvest Salad

Ingredients:

• 1/2 bag spring mix
• 1/3 Anjou pear
• 1/3 Hass avacado
• 1 slice red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• handful dried cranberries

Preperation:

Come on, you know what to do!

Spaghetti Sqaush Saute

Ingredients:

• 1/4 spaghetti sqaush
• 1 chicken breast
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 2 garlic cloves
• canola oil spray

Preperation:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350º.  Cut squash in half and seed.  Spray cooking sheet with canola oil spray, place squash halves face down on cooking sheet, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 60 minutes.  (4o minutes works, but 60 lets squash get good and tender)
2. Remove squash from oven, leave covered, and set aside.
3. Cut chicken into small pieces, spray saute pan with canola oil, and cook over medium heat.
4. Slice tomatoes in halve, dice garlic cloves, and add to chicken once chicken is about half-way done.  Give everything in the pan a quick spray with canola oil.
5. Use fork to remove squash “strands” from rind into bowl.  Squash will resemble spaghetti…
6. Add chicken, tomatoes, garlic to squash.  Mix.  Serve.

Doesn't look like spaghetti from the outside.

Tofu Noodle Alfredo

Ingredients:

• 1 package Shirataki Tofu Noodles
• canola oil spray
• 2 cups chopped broccoli
• 1 cup sliced white mushrooms
• 2 tbsp fat-free cream cheese
• 2 tsp low fat parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp fat-free sour cream
• salt & pepper

Preparation:

1. Saute broccoli and mushrooms using canola oil spray (follow steps 3 & 4 from Spaghetti Squash recipe).
2. Strain and rinse noodles.  Microwave for 1 minute.  Strain again.
3. Mix noodles, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and sour cream in microwave-safe bowl.
4. Microwave noodles and sauce for 1 minute.
5. Mix in broccoli and mushrooms.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.

These things are amazing!

(Got most of the last recipe from the back of the noodle package. )

Enjoy!  Let me know what you think, and, please, share any good recipes of your own!