The Relax Day Experiment!
I completed my 6-Month Fitness & Nutrition Experiment! See “Results of My 6-Month Nutrition and Fitness Experiment.” Now I’ve started my next experiment – working to maintain my results from the previous experiment while introducing a “relax” day. A “relax” day is where I will relax from my extremely healthy diet and allow myself dairy, gluten, and/or sugar.
My Plans for The Relax Day Experiment
I will allow myself a relax day once a week. If I have a week where two relax days are more convenient with my schedule, I can use the relax day from the following week that week and skip the relax day the following week.
I will continue to work out 6 days per week. Other than on the relax day, I will be continuing to eat my version of dairy free, gluten free, and sugar free. I may have certain weeks where I try a healthier sugar alternative such as coconut crystals or honey as well.
For the first week only (as I just completed my 6-Month Nutrition and Fitness Experiment), I am allowing myself a homemade dessert on Sunday, a meal out on Monday, followed by a “relax” day on Tuesday.
The other fun variation to this experiment is that Tom and I are going to Hawaii for a week. When in Hawaii, the only rule I will have for myself is to work out 6 days per week. Regarding eating, I will allow indulging but also try to make healthy choices throughout the trip as far as food is concerned. This is going to be a great way to use what I’ve been learning about my body and put it to use without having restrictions.
It will be interesting to see if the relax day actually helps to raise my metabolism by confusing my body with very healthy most of the time and relaxing every so often. It also will be intriguing to see how this experiment is willpower-wise. Sometimes the 6-month experiment felt easier by not having desserts, as it was a rule and habit, so it wasn’t worth thinking about.
Check out my post tomorrow for The Relax Day Experiment Week 1!
Note: To learn more about the Ellie fitness outfit I’m wearing (and get a 20% discount plus free shipping before June 15), check out my post on Fitness Fun with Ellie Activewear at UTC.
My own variation of a sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free vegetarian diet:
Sugar-free consists of no sugar, sugar substitutes, honey, or other equivalent except for a small amount of preferably natural sweetener that is already in a product such as bread or whey protein.
Dairy-free includes a few exceptions. I’m including whey protein. I also have times of experimenting with Greek yogurt and regular yogurt to see if they are beneficial to me. In addition, I include eggs in my diet, which is a variation from a vegan diet.
Gluten-free also includes a few exceptions. I include Ezekiel Bread or sprouted bread, which is close to gluten-free in how it’s digested but not actually gluten-free. Some gluten-free plans say oats are fine and some do not. I include oats in my plan.
UPDATE – Links to each week’s posts in the Relax Day Experiment:
Week 1: My First Dessert in over 6 Months!
Week 2: Bachelorette Party, Wedding, and Workout!
Week 3: A Work Week of Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Sugar Free
Week 4: Vacationing and Working Out in Hawaii!
Week 5: Fun at the Padres Game
Week 7: Summer Birthday, Visitor Fun, and Workshop Presenting
Week 9: ISI Worlds Competition Week
Week 10: 4th Anniversary Week!
Week 11: YouTube and IDEA World Fitness Conference Excitement!