Nutrition for tightwads

It's funny how we've slowly started unconsciously training...

It all started with someone feeling like keeping up a weekly jog and heading off, then lamenting how much harder it is alone... So we all joined in.

Then we felt that it'd be good to keep the strength stuff up. So another lunchtime was chosen to be our second workout day with a mix of intervals, sprints, tabata, and such.

Then we invited other staff to join in.... And before you know it we're back into a training regime! 

And then last week we actually commenced the preparations for Tough Mudder Melbourne 2013, starting with the recruitment of new victims colleagues, and encouraging them to make sure they're doing 3 sessions a week of something or other for the next few months (and then we'll ramp up the severity about 3-4 months out)

Personally it's all been coming together pretty well too. On top of that above routine of weekly jogs and weekly strength stuff I've also got 3-4 days of riding to work, one session of boxing after work, and then 3 mornings of brief crossfit stuff (which has been the hardest element to keep up, given my limited equipment and hatred of mornings). But most of the time I've been at it pretty reasonably...

But something funny often happens to me once I finally 'get into' a routine. After a couple of weeks I get sick. Nothing severe, just something that makes me feel blech and awful. And sure enough - yesterday it hit me. Straight after boxing and the ride home there was this dramatic decline until I was in bed huddled up and planning my day of sick leave for Thursday.

Fortunately this has happened enough times to know what's going on - It's when I'm not paying attention to my nutrition.

 I've got a few things working against me when it comes to appropriate and sufficient nutrition during training:

1. I'm a tightwad - So I'm loathe to spend money on exorbitant lunches or protein powders. All those recipes for power smoothies sound great, but that macrobiotic yoghurt, fresh blueberries, flaxseed oil and why protein isolate powder adds up! And I'm loathe to spend that much....
2. I'm largely vegetarian - While not strictly vegetarian, for a combination of tightwad and ethical reasons I generally try and avoid meat. So the regime of endless grilled chicken breasts as a nutritional plan ain't really going to work for me. 
3. I'm lazy - So anything that's too onerous or complicated or time-consuming isn't practical either.

One thing I've been particularly bad in ignoring is the need to consume enough calories and protein within that hour-space after exercise, and that's something I'm keen to remiss. It does make me wonder how much better my improvements could have been if I'd paid more attention of the last year or so.

So, some new goals for me:

1. Eat more, overall.
2. Ensure I eat an hour after every exercise session. That might be as complex as a smoothie after my morning routines, or just a peanut-butter sandwich and a glass of milk after lunchtime sessions.
3. Do it without too much $$$ or resorting to fancy powders and bars.

One thing I have in my favour is that as a skinny runt, I'm not worried about just picking protein above carbs and fats. So things like whole milk and whole eggs are still on the table as far as I'm concerned.  But it will be something to watch...

And to help me track my progress, ideas, and recipes even as I stumble across them, I'll tag this appropriately :)