Periodization of Nutrition

Between Teenie and I, we read a ton on nutrition.   Our kids call us the Food Police and Teenie is the Chief of Police.

Reshaping myself for cycling, after years of strength and quickness sports, has been interesting.   While at least 40 pounds have been peeled off, I have not really gotten down to RACE WEIGHT.   This is the weight at which I would perform optimally.   In addition to excess body weight,  I have continued to struggle with daily bouts of low blood sugar, that cause me to be really lethargic.

Recently, our daughter introduced us to the THE 17 Day Diet.  I would have dismissed it as just another 'fad diet' if it had not been for her 60 pound weight loss.   Initially, we picked up the book in order to see what she was doing.   It sat around a few days before I jumped into it (Teenie had already read it cover to cover).  There were several pearls.

Periodization has been a mainstream concept in training since introduced by Tudor Bumpa (hope I spelled that right).  It was first utilized in strength and later endurance training.   As I read The 17 Day Diet, I decided Periodization was worth a try in the nutritional arena.   This is a deviation for me since I have resisted following any regimen that was unsustainable for the longterm.

After talking with Teenie, we started a Block on the 29th, our first full day here in Tucson.   We are planning on the Block running through the 15th of January.   Don't pick up a copy of the book and think we are following the diet as spelled out by Dr. Moreno.   This diet, by Dr. Moreno's admission, does not work for folks like us.........too much cardio and calorie burn.   We are still eating about 6x per day, but we have made made major changes to our past diet.  The Block is a hybrid.

What we are not eating is as important as what we are eating.  No red meat, bread, pasta, dairy (except for cottage cheese and yogurt), peanut butter, nuts, deserts, or sugars.   We are only having complex carbs the meal after our cycling workout.  The diet is heavy in non-red meat, veggies and fruit (we all know the value of these).

We will likely run a second cycle, with a different regimen, after this one.  Dr. Moreno has utilized another long time training concept, Confusion.  The body quickly adapts.  Changes that show improvement for a while, lose their charm and plateaus are experienced.  In the second cycle, we will follow his suggestion with alternate day menus.  Perhaps, even days will be like this Block and odd days will have more calories and more carbs?   We will determine the exact make up of Block 2, using our experience/results from this Block to guide us.

I will report back on our progress with Periodization and Confusion......this is #2 of the 63 ways I will marginally improve in 2012.


If you would like more info on what we are doing nutritionally, there is a written outline.   Just comment to this BLOG for a copy.