HI HAD A CANNOLI FOR BREAKFAST - SO WHAT???

Diet - UGH!
The bane of our existence. The “necessary evil.” It seems like there are so many darn methods to go about this that it is almost impossible to figure out which "way" actually "works"...

Since I launched my website I have gotten a lot of feedback/questions/comments, etc – with regards to many things. I wanted to thank everyone for that, first off, but I also wanted to address some of the questions...and the most prevalent subject of the inquiries…WHAT DO YOU EAT?!

Unfortunately, I am not a dietician (yet!!) - so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take everything that I have to say with regards to eating, dieting and nutrition with the notion that I am only speaking from the realm of my own experiences and from a whole lot of advice. Now, since that disclaimer is out of the way…

When I say that I eat a lot – I really mean it. The issue is that when I tell people that I really know how to chow-down, they are, for the most part, in disbelief. “Noway, Jose,” they say. This is because when a person says that they “eat a lot,” the image that is conjured up is of someone that has their mail sent to the local fast food joint and owns stock in Cheetos. Not that I am above the occasional Magnolia Bakery cupcake (or two!) in any way, I just don’t make it a habit. Nor do I curse the ground that I walk on if I have a chocolate chip cookie.

So, forgive me, but I have to clear this up, I eat a whole lot of the “right stuff.” Funny, but it does seem that am always eating. I do not know for certain my daily caloric intake. What I do know is that I carry the ubiquitous cooler with me everywhere (the albatross that it is). This is what it contains:

- Fruit: up the wazoo. I have a friend in the UK that is training for the Olympics (track). One thing that he told me that I have taken to heart is that the idea that fruit has too much sugar is “rubbish.” What I found is that if you eat enough fruit – you might start losing the craving for sugar in “unacceptable” forms like, uh…M&M’s, perhaps??

- Peanut Butter. It is good fat. AND it tastes good I am not a fan of the almond version (it is a bit rich in flavor)?? – but that is another option that I would consider if I had the fancy for it…

- Cheese!! I am not personally a fan of yogurt – so I eat dairy in this form. Yes, you do have to keep the reigns pulled back on it. It is real easy to go overboard here…but otherwise, yogurt and other low-fat dairy (not sugar-loaded ice cream) works.

- Rice Cakes – Whatever. What is there to say about Styrofoam? Nonetheless, what would I put my PB&J on? My finger?? Wait a minute…anyway, a bodybuilding buddy of mine SWEARS by the caramel and apple-cinnamon flavored ones to kill her cravings for Skittles…

- Protein Bars – I pack any kind as long as they are low in sugar and the saturated fat-olas…

For meals I eat chicken salads, tuna salads, brown rice and beans, yams with honey, bran muffins and the occasional shake with Whey Protein…in between, I am hitting the cooler like it is attached as a part of my God-given anatomy. And believe me, if the craving for an Oreo or two hits – I have it. And I refuse to beat myself up (just don’t eat the entire package).

What I truly and honestly believe that all of this eating translates into (if you are spending enough time off the couch) is:
1) You are never in want of fuel – blood-sugar never dips too low (I hardly ever feel “famished”)
2) You can maintain the proper amount of body fat with your usual workout regime. It looks good “on” and you’ll never appear “emaciated” which can translate into penalties from the judging box!
3) Your body never goes into “starvation” mode – therefore, your body never starts to burn off or eat away at its own muscle.
4) BOUNDLESS ENERGY. ‘Nuff said.

Most of what I have learned is from trial and error, from people in the industry (Cathy, Linda, others!) and from reading my lil ‘ol butt off! I would like to begin studying to be a RD (registered dietician) – that way, I can learn everything that there is to learn and I will feel better about giving advice in this arena…

One thing that I can tell you with a reasonable amount of certainty is that no one method or piece of advice works for everyone or even most – so the more that you listen – no, LISTEN (is it your body or your mind that wants an entire pint of ice cream?) – to your body, the better off you’ll be.

YES – I ate the entire cannoli. And it was GOOOOOOD!

Happy competing!

Alicia Denson AKA “Krispy Kreme”
You can contact me here.