Getting Enough Calories

I have been back to work now a full 7 days. The first few days my sleep cycle was totally non existent or I should say I was no where to be found. I was so tired and exhausted from returning to work all I could do was sit. Now let me remind you that I am on my feet for a good 9 hours a shift give or take a very quick sit down break like maybe 5 minutes if I am lucky. My body is tired from the day and also still trying to adjust to getting to sleeping at a weird hour.

With that I haven't run that much. The last run I did was on Friday and it was only 6 miles. My legs last week weren't feeling "right." They felt tired, loaded up, dead, heavy the list goes on. I thought it best to rest a few a days and see if that helped. I rested after work of course all weekend and again on Monday. Today Tuesday after work I decided I should get some miles in. I mean I do have a race in August and then my 50 miler in September.

I did do some thinking while I was resting, and I thought that maybe just maybe my legs were feeling this way because of lack of calories. Maybe I am not eating enough. I eat a bowl of cereal with some fruit in the morning, glass of water and my coffee. But recently I am finding myself starving just 3 hours into my shift. I do a lot of brisk walking at work, some lifting and pushing of tubs and flat beds, pulling of pallets, and the occasional climb up a ladder. But 3 hours in and I am starving. My stomach is growling at me and demanding some food.

The next time I eat is usually a handful of pretzels or goldfish and that is maybe 7 hours into my shift, I deny the initial hunger early on. If I remember I might have had a sip of water, even though my water cup is sitting on my desk in plain sight, but I don't always walk to my desk. I usually get some real food in me when I get home. That consist of a cheese stick, followed by a sandwich and then some water and then I might run and play with Lil Man and head to bed. So probably not enough calories for what I need my body to do.

Going forward I need to eat a heartier breakfast, maybe throw in a bagel with peanut butter. I could even take that to work to snack on a few hours in. I also need to do a better job at packing more food to eat. Today I managed to eat a chicken salad sandwich, and a breakfast bowl which had eggs and bacon and potatoes. When I got home after running this afternoon I enjoyed some fresh vegetables, mashed potatoes and chicken. A little bit better, but I need to find consistency with my calorie intake. I need more calories, that way I wont be craving the junk food which I try to avoid and maybe I wont feel so tired and irritable. Hmm what a concept.

Lil Man has missed the past few days as I am house sitting for some friends. I did head over there after work today, I ran 6 miles cleaned up and waited for Lil Man to come from pre-school. He told his mommy when he saw my car "Meme is home from the other house." I find it cute that he remembered where I was. I also learned that Traildog has not been very good. My brother in law just put in a new drop system and Traildog was caught chewing on it. Not a good boy.

Tomorrow is Meme day with Lil Man. I get to pick him up from pre-school and spend some quality time with him. I even get to take him to swim lessons and I am sure a trip to Fleet Feet will be made. I can't wait, he even remembered when I came over for a short visit today.

Anybody else struggle with getting enough calories?