Set a Goal and Eat for It

Now that my ever-daunting half -marathon is behind me for the year (ahhhh!), I was out on a recovery run this morning trying to come up with a new goal. I like to switch gears when choosing each one between a cardio goal and a strength goal. But with our move right around the corner, my goal of 10 pull-ups will have to be tabled until I have regular access to a gym again. So I thought and thought about it, but I kept getting side-tracked with the idea of writing to you guys about goal-setting! Before I knew it, my run/brain-storming session was over. No new goal for me quite yet, but I do have a new blog post!

Here's your assignment: choose yourself a goal. This goal cannot have anything to do with your shape or size; it has to be a feat for your body to accomplish. Whether it is going a certain distance at a certain speed, adding more push-ups to your regime, or finally doing a pull-up, this goal will take you to new places in your quest for better health. Think long and hard about this. Make it challenging and make it something that you've always wanted to accomplish. Commit yourself to your goal; write it down, tell your friends, stick it on the fridge. Make it tangible by including a realistic date as to when you will reach this goal. Get started today. If you need some direction and help in tweaking your training plan to make it more goal-specific, leave me a comment here or send me an email. I would love to be a part of this! I'm excited just thinking about it!

Now let's think about your fuel. You're going to have to be aware of what you are putting in your mouth. What you eat directly affects how your body performs. Think of your food as the drug that will either boost or inhibit your performance. For example, swimming is an extremely challenging activity for me. Yes, I have worked on it and I have come pretty far with it, but it is still pretty damn tough for this girl. I have accepted the fact that I am completely maxed-out and just not a natural in the pool. If I want to be a "swimmer", it all boils down to my eating...hhmmm. During triathlon training, I noticed a huge correlation between the amount of sugary foods that I ate and the ease of my breath while swimming laps. I would gasp for air and never fall into my groove if I had eaten sugary, crappy foods for a few days before a swim. Then, when I was diligent with my eating and fueled up with clean foods, my swimming was incredibly smoother. It was my magic pill.

Yes, I do eat realatively clean on a consistent basis, but since I was so completely pushed to the limit during my swims, I had to completely push myself to the limit in the kitchen as well and make my eating super-tight. The difference is, though, that I was eating to fuel my swim, not to lose weight. I hated having a bad swim; I never wanted another bad swim. This was how I prevented that. And since I did end up with a leaner, lighter body, it was easier to move myself through the bike and run as well. I made my body more efficient and my mind felt more accomplished. See how intertwined this all is?

If your goal is challenging enough, this simple, mental tweak will change the way you view your food. Food shouldn't be a way for you to get pleasure out of life. It should be a way to sustain you, plain and simple. Sure, it should taste good, but think of your food as the substance that will fuel your success. Your new approach will be to eat right for fitness sake. Keep your focus on your goal; make it the priority. Your eating is a means to its end.