Years ago, when I decided to start running again, I knew I’d have to kick the nutrition up a notch and I did. With a blender by my side to make smoothies for breakfast and lunch and a meat, potato and veggie type of dinner, things have gone well. I’ll admit, though, I’ve revisited my past days filled with donuts, pizza and creamy casseroles. And, of course, I’ve suffered the ill effects that the old diet plus training have on my particular body. It’s not a pretty thing. From gut issues to fatigue to hair loss, it’s no wonder my mood heads into a tailspin as well. For me, I must stick to a good diet.

So, like handfuls of raw cashews I feast on articles and books about nutrition. The latest thing I’m doing is a point-based system as described in the book Racing Weight. Basically, the name of the game is to get as many points as possible. Good foods equal 1-2 points and bad foods equal negative points. As I shoot for 20 points a day, one dessert with refined sugar subtracts 2 of my hard-earned points. However, I think I found a loop-hole. The plan says that anything you eat while out running or biking for over an hour doesn’t count. With a new enthusiasm for long runs and bike rides, I say “hello, junior mints and sugar-coated gummy bears!” I’m not sure if that’s what the author had in mind and I’m no expert so I can’t say if it’s really OK to down a box of minty sugary goodness while biking for hrs. It’s definitely tastier than sport gels. Guess I just have to try it for a while to see how it works. This may take some time…

The uncertainty in navigating my diet sometimes makes me wish God had a nutrition Bible for me to follow. Over the past 5-6 yrs through trial and error, I’ve found that gluten, dairy and eggs are “no-no’s” for me and while I’m doing pretty good now I often wonder if there are other foods I should avoid or if there is some vitamin, enzyme or probiotic I need that would make it possible to eat my favorite foods again. God made this body so I’m sure He knows what it needs and what it doesn’t. I also realize He didn’t make these bodies to live forever and that the instructions He did give us are for what does last forever. Our soul. I’m so thankful He gave us his Word and didn’t just leave us to find our way to Him by trial and error. He gave us an entire book to study and learn the most important truths about life. And if that wasn’t enough, Jesus himself simplified the purpose of life into two great commandments: 1. Love the Lord your God with all your soul and 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. Devoting your life to God through Christ and loving others is far and above anything else we can do. I will add that it’s easier to do these things when you feel good so I’ll keep testing nutrition ideas all-the-while continuing to be very thankful we don’t have to figure out the most important things on our own.

Mark 12 28b-31 (NASB)
“What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Happy Training!