Last marathon training I gained 8 pounds. My friend, Victoria, says that is just plain wrong and I completely agree. I’ve mentioned this before, but no, sweet friends, it wasn’t muscle. Well, maybe 2 pounds of it was, but the rest was just plain old fashioned being starving and making not great choices.

So this time around, I’m determined to make better food choices. My mostly vegan diet has definitely helped and I am, so far, sticking at the same weight I was when I started. Today, however, I may have dove into a box of Ritz crackers because my appetite was stronger than my common sense. So I shall blog to deal with the diet demons.

The thing is, although I am prone to emotional eating, with the marathon training it’s not that I’m eating because I’m bored or depressed or angry or hormonal (or happy or paranoid or anxious or . . . .). It’s just that I’m really really hungry and I crave carbs like CRAZY. I’ve increased my veggie intake and am finding that IS helping. I’m also doing more fruits than normal, including my favorite soy yogurt smoothies with frozen strawberries.

And I’m making sure I always have the makings for my favorite black bean concoction in the pantry – a can of black beans, a can of corn, some diced tomatoes and a whole avocado mixed together with a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and salt. YUMMO.

But I have to eat a lot and I have to eat frequently which so far is the biggest downside of the vegan diet. I just don’t stay full for long so I have to think about what I’m eating next all the time. No running through Mickey D’s when hunger strikes and it can be quite time consuming.

But the way I feel makes it worth it so I will continue on. And the Ritz crackers really need to be stored in someone else’s pantry. Oh, and if you’re interested in more healthy eating tips (or actually just to read about another runner who struggles with her diet) read this. Funny, we both mentioned Ritz crackers. Maybe that’s the real problem . . . .

Hungry but persevering,

Jen