I’m so confused; I don’t know what is happening to me. The other day, I came home from work tired and hungry—famished, really. No surprise there. When I’m that hungry, I always crave something specific. That night was no different, but instead of craving nachos with my beloved buffalo sauce, I craved grilled chicken, quinoa and vegetables.
Seriously.
On the drive home, all I could think about was the chicken I’d cooked the night before and how delicious it was going to be with fresh asparagus I was planning to roast.
I don’t know what is happening to me. I’m craving healthy foods. I’m drinking less wine. I’m ordering salads from my local sandwich shop. I spent 30 minutes one night pinning spinach and kale recipes and looking through images of lentils and veggies in mason jars. What the what?! I’m so confused by my habits. My coach says it’s a good thing, but the bottle of buffalo sauce in my fridge says otherwise. He should’ve been replaced by now.
It’s funny how our habits change so quickly. I’ve always heard it takes 30 days to make an effective change or create a habit, but I think it’s less than that. I’m still tired, but not as much as the first week. I try to take it one day at a time so I’m not overwhelmed by my calendar, but that’s a slow progression. I have learned a lot about myself in this first month, and I’m anxious to hit that 6-week mark where I will hopefully see some growth.
Things I’ve learned a month into training for a half-iron distance triathlon.
- The Internet is full of bad ideas, but it’s also full of a few message boards that are terribly entertaining and sometimes helpful.
- I haven’t had a difficult time prioritizing training, but that’s meant saying no to a few things I wanted to do. That has been difficult.
- The one thing to suffer has been my daily quiet time in the morning. I covet my mornings because it’s the only time each day I have completely to myself. The world isn’t fully awake yet, and I can ignore my phone and email. I spend time drinking coffee, praying and reading my Bible. This time has suffered a bit because I’m so tired and waking up is difficult. I’ve started forcing myself into bed earlier to help wake up easier. This isn’t something I’m willing to sacrifice for training. It’s meant a few workouts at 9 p.m., but I’m fine with that.
- I still feel guilty. There are times I wish I could help a friend or do something social, but I have a training block to do instead. I feel guilty about saying no, but I’m getting better. I’ve learned already that margin and rest are vital. If I’m worn out from everyday things, my workouts will suffer, too. Balance is key.