Failure is just opportunity to try again

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Remember a few weeks ago when I was going to commit to five days of clean eating for three weeks in a row?  And I was going to give you an update?

Well, there's a reason there's been no update.

I failed.

I was really good for two weeks, and then life happened and I fell off again and really only ate clean a day or two here or there.

But I'm not giving up.  I'm going to keep trying.

Here are a few things I learned from the two weeks when I did follow my plan:

:: Warm lemon water is a great way to start the day.
I had that in the mornings instead of coffee, and I felt like it set the tone for the day.  It was energizing, and I felt like I made better choices the rest of the day.  I also had pretty fresh breath on those days, so that's something.  I love coffee, but coffee breath is not fun.

:: Eating right means more energy and focus.
On the days I ate healthy and clean, I felt a lot more productive -- at work and in my workouts.  Maybe it was all in my head, but that's half the battle for anything, so I take it as a win.

:: Planning is the biggest key.
When I had a menu planned -- one I was excited about -- it was easy to stick with it.  Chicken and vegetables are good, but I could probably get bored easily.  I need to keep finding recipes that will make leftovers so I'm set for a few days.

:: Go easy on the carbs.
I love carbs, but my body does not. I could definitely feel a difference on the days I ate too many.  Ugh. I felt sluggish and gross.  I'll be working to keep my menu a little leaner from here on out.

+++++

I love the motivation and encouragement I get from this link-up!

Last week's workouts
Friday: Off.
Saturday: Aqua Zumba (60 mins.)
Sunday: Three-mile run (35 mins.) + 0.5-mile walk (20 mins.)

Monday: Off.
Tuesday: BodyPump (60 mins.) + Zumba (30 mins.)
Wednesday: Off.
Thursday: 3.1-mile run (35 mins.) + 0.5-mile walk (20 mins.)

I went to Aqua Zumba for the first time, and it was a lot of fun.  It was also a really good workout. I only wish it was offered more than once every few months.

Also, my runs this week were not very pretty.  On Sunday, I had to dodge ice, huge puddles, and traffic. On Thursday, my legs felt like lead.  But at least I did them. And I love that the weather's getting nice enough to run outside again.