So recently I have been looking back on the year, thus far, and the progress I have made physicially, mentally, and spiritually. I have come to realize that, although my year has had a setback or two, they have created a stronger me. So now I am looking at this year not as a year missed out, but the Reinvention of Erin Spitler. With this said, I have made a lot of new changes in my athlete lifestyle. I have created a balance of home and sport as well as taken a look at things that I did not do before that can develop me into a stronger more well rounded athlete for the future.
On my last training trip out to California, for Tower26 swim training, I started to see that there were things that were my peers were doing that I had not incorporated enough into my training. The first being I needed more time in the open water. Well this was perfect because the group I was training with did just this. In 10 days, I swam an open water session 5 times. Some were just for time and distance while others were focused group workouts with technique, speed, and race scenarios. I desire to become a better open water swimmer. I know that improved times in the pool reflect getting faster in the pool, but they do not always translate into becoming faster in the open water. After a few talks and a short group lecture with Gerry Rodrigues, of Tower 26, I realized how important it is to incorporate key workouts in both the pool and open water if I want to improve my race times. In these 10 days I really got to experience a variety of ocean conditions, which helps me becomes more comfortable each time I go back, and also prepares me for race days when the conditions aren't so great. When I got back to Montana I was super motivated to do a lot more open water swimming and now I am in Whitefish Lake at least 4 times a week. Somedays its just getting in the consistent nonstop swimming and other times I count strokes. If anyone gets bored swimming straight try this: count your strokes, you can choose any number combo you want but it goes something like this. 25 slow/50 fast/ 25 slow/ 50 fast, and then you can increase : 20/75/20/100. This gives variety and you get in a little speed work as well.
Also while I was out in California I was introduced to nutritionist and doctor, Dr Philip Goglia of Performance Fitness Concepts. He has worked with many professional athletes in all types of sport. I have always believed that I was a healthy eater and that I ate and fueled well for the training that I do day in and day out. I have hesitated meeting with a nutritionist because I know a lot about food and what is good and what is bad for you. However, this time I decided to take a leap of faith and give it a shot. If this was another opportunity to reinvent my inner athlete, I was willing to take the risk. Boy oh boy how happy am I that I took the leap of faith!
Dr Goglia bases his nutrition plans around Metabolic Testing. He has studied and been successful for years creating personalized food management systems based on your metabolic type. The science behind the plan is that every person is individual and that if we want to lose fat and gain lean muscle, we have to eat the most foods that our body metabolizes the best. It's not a diet but a change of eating that will lead to your strongest and leanest potential as an athlete. This made sense to me. I actually took a blood test to see where I fit into the spectrum and it turns out I am balanced, "Dual" efficient metabolism, in all areas of protein/carbs/fat. However, at the time, I was eating way too many carbs and not eating enough meat protein to enhance my muscle recovery after long days of workouts.
I decided it wouldn't hurt anything to give my new plan a try, especially since I am not racing yet.
I am really pleased to say that I have been on this new eating plan for my metabolism for almost 8 weeks now. In the first two weeks I lost 7 pounds of fat. As most of you know I am thin, but I was surprisingly not at my leanest potential and was holing on to a bit of fat on my body. Since the first two weeks I have easily been able to maintain my body weight and lean composition. I also want to add, that I am not deprived at all. I actually am eating more than I had been eating before I went to PFC Nutrition. Dr. Goglia has also dialed in my daily training nutrition as well. My endurance on those long weekend bricks has increased and I bounce back each day feeling less fatigued than before. In the past I lived to eat, rather than eat to live, but now I eat to thrive!!! It's like treating my body like a temple. It gives back to me when I nourish it.
I am really happy that I have taken a chance to focus and work on new aspects of my life as a triathlete that I had not looked at before. I know we have all heard the saying, "It takes a village", well I am creating my village. Things are coming together for me and I wouldn't have been able to Reinvent Erin Spitler all by myself. My coaches, nutritionist, chiropractor, friends, and as always, family have made this all possible for me to continue living my dream, and to become the best well rounded athlete I can be. It is important to me that when I come back to racing that I be at a peak with my lifestyle, fitness, and nutrition.
p.s
Dr. Philip Goglia wrote a book on what I have written above: TURN UP THE HEAT. If you are curious about getting to your race weight and becoming leaner, check it out. Or click the link for PFC Nutrition on the right.
