You all remember how I threw up from being so hungry the other week, right? So ever since then I’ve been like okay, NEED to eat food every ~3 hours. Well I had just gone shopping with my homestay sister, Victoria and her dad, Jesus came to pick us up before I had to go to practice. I hadn’t eaten for 2 maybe 3 hours and I was about to head right into practice meaning I wouldn’t be eating for another 3. We decided to stop at a bar/restaurant for merienda (this is the designated snack time around 6 pm in Spain that happens between lunch and dinner). Now unfortunately all that’s really available during this time is tarta a.k.a. cake. And I was not about to eat a cake before practice so I was asking question after question about what else might be available. We finally landed on a batido (smoothie). After I took the first sip I realized that this creamy little number was fillllllled with lactose. But, I refused to go to practice hungry so I drank it and I admit, it was delicious. I arrived to practice with a gurgling tummy and a mind solely concentrated on not sharting. I was forced to announce my intolerance to the team as I was running to and from the bathroom throughout practice. 

A few weeks later I was hanging out with Sara before practice when I realized I needed to charge my phone asap so that I could use it for directions when biking to practice. She led us to an ice cream and frozen yogurt place so I could plug in and she could enjoy a delicious lactose loaded sundae. Thinking that I had learned my lesson previously, I decided to order a vegan frozen yogurt with some fruits and a touch of granola, YUM. I thought I had made a good choice, it’s vegan! No lactose! Don’t know what it is, but it’s not lactose! Well.. I have to tell you, the gas that I had experienced this time around during practice was far worse than the consequence of the lactose ridden batido. I had to stand far away from the rest of the team for everyone’s safety while running our sprints and clench my butt cheeks as if I was gripping a needle between them while performing the single leg glute bridge thrusts. 

The next day I was a proud record setter of the climber in the gym. After our team trainer sent in my new record to our team group chat my teammates decided to point out that I surely could not have any milk that day. Then my COACH (bless him) wanted to check in to make sure that I knew there’s such thing as lactose pills and that he would happily bring them for me to try. I then reminded him that I didn’t have lactose before practice yesterday… it was VEGAN… I just, I don’t know, it makes me laugh that my situation was clearly so bad that he was like Dana, please just take these damn lactose pills and you will be okay.  

Here is the text exchange:

Anywho, I decided I don’t like the idea of taking a pill so that I can eat something so since the incident I have not had real milk nor mysterious vegan yogurt. And I have decided it’s really time to get myself together and not see myself as a tourist indulging in the Spain culinary experience because I’ve been here for 6 months now so… I think we’re beyond that. My body just hasn’t felt fab since I got to Spain and I think it has everything to do with my diet. Until La Copa de Reina (Nationals) I have decided on:

• No alcohol or coffee (both just don’t make me feel good)

• 3,200 ml of water/day (it’s hot as HECK HERE)

• Protein RICH snacks and meals exclusively (gainz)

I’m SUPER PUMPED that many of my teammates joined me so I feel 1000000% committed. I am writing this on day 3 out of 21 btw. Sooooo…

JOIN ME TOO?! Why the heck not? Let me know if you do. :)