What I found out very quickly on Saturday was that I am not fueling myself enough for the things that I am asking my body to do. I crashed quickly on my 10k run on Saturday and didn't recover. I didn't feel strong at all and didn't have the usual energy to hit the hills and keep pressing on. My body was tired and it was my fault for not giving it the healthy things that it needs to do the job I'm requiring of it. It also took me much longer to recover from this race (still recovering) which is not typical for me.
Therefore, my challenge is going to change for the rest of Lent.
After consulting with people that I trust and respect the most, I've decided that I will not finish the food stamp challenge. I do feel that I have learned SO much about the topic, have experienced the need, and have done atleast a small part to bring greater awareness to the problem of hunger.
However, knowing that I have a two races in this coming week (a splash and dash and a triathlon), I don't feel that I can continue trying to eat on this amount of money any longer.
For this coming week (starting Tuesday) I will be recording and sharing something entirely different. I am going to eat as healthy as possible (organic - when I can- and packed with nutrients) and I am going to share with you what I spend to do this.
I think what we will find is that the cost of a very healthy balanced diet with enough good stuff to fuel a triathlete (I know I'm very slow but I am one) are far from the budget of someone on food stamps. I will try to make the most economical choices and find the best deals but I am going to choose brown rice instead of white and I'm going to buy gluten-free bread to make meals that will give me the results I want in races and at boot camp. I won't choose inferior products because they are cheaper.
I know this is a change from what I set out to do and I welcome anyones thoughts on if you would have given up or not but I have to do what is best for me and at this point it is choosing better fuel.
3 notes from adoring fans:
I admire how long you stuck to the Food Stamp Challenge. There were days that I read what you were eating and wondered how you were able to enjoy the activities that you participate in. You've brought awareness. You've achieved that goal. Congrats. Now, take care of yourself so we can continue watching you drop minutes off your run times and be the healthy awesome person you are.
You have taught us all so much. Please feel proud of yourself and know that you are defying odds and educating your fellow citizens of the planet, and that is A L L GOOD!!!!
I'm proud of you for making a choice that is smart and better for your body while also putting in the social justice twist of telling all of us how expensive it is to really do htat.
Good for you Cort. I've seen how much you've struggled as one person and I can't imagine how a family can eat this way. I think you've opened a lot of people's eyes!
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