I am a seasonal runner, I run 5 days a week when the weather is above 15 degrees Celsius (march-October), during this time I am very strict with my diet. I am still currently adapting to not eating my favourite tasting foods but my yearly plan typically goes like this.

Adjusting portion sizes and eliminating the unhealthy snacks in early March. I will increase the amount I eat during my full meals. I don’t eat breakfast so I will do a large lunch/dinner which typically consists of a chicken breast, vegetables, and carb of choice (rice, potatoes). During running season I will add more veggies and carbs. Eating a little more during my meals helps offset the hunger a little bit more until the next meal, as well as gives me the energy I need to do my runs.

I stop buying the treats I like so much so they are not around, and when the cravings hit me I try to offset them by drinking a lot of water. The first few weeks are tough, the cravings are hitting me as I write this. But they do go away once your body adapts.

Not that weight is the only thing that matters but because I run a lot I like to start the season light. I typically gain about 10-15 pounds from November 1st to March 1st. This year was 15 pounds, I am down 5 pounds in 3 weeks solely off of the diet change (because it’s to cold to run still).

For me every diet plan I have tried before this one failed, I enjoy food, I enjoy sugar. I found it tough to just accept the fact that will never eat a muffin again and would inevitably break what ever diet plan I was following. This one let’s me enjoy my muffins for a set amount of time and then it’s back to being healthy.