Running in the snow and some diet experiments

I decided to skip my long run this past weekend since my muscles were still a little sore even today. We did finally get some snow so I had a chance to try out my gaiters. I also used my winter spikes on the packed snow.
I'm glad I'm running by time and heart rate because that way I could judge my effort rather than distance or speed. I ran for about 70 minutes at a heart rate of 130 and went about 4.5 miles. The snow and wind definitely slowed me down but I know I got a good workout in.
I experimented with eating no grain today. There are some elements of the paleo diet that appeal to me but also some aspects of a raw vegan diet I like. Unfortunately both are fairly expensive when used by themselves and when using organic ingredients. So I think I may have to rely on grains and legumes for a significant part of my diet in the long run. I may try to eat grain-free for up to a week but add a lot more veggie servings and see if it makes any difference in how I feel and in my energy level.
I almost forgot the most important part of my diet experiment. I realized that a very important part of eating and feeling satisfied is to actually taste the food and chew it well. This makes the food we eat much more digestible as well. So I decided to take time to eat and not get distracted by other things. I spent 30 minutes eating my breakfast and another 30 minutes eating my lunch and dinner without the distraction of either the computer or TV. I found that I was not hungry for 4 hours after both of those meals. I ended up having dinner at 5 pm and don' t feel the need for dessert or any after-dinner snacks. This experiment is worth continuing. Although it may not always be possible to spend 30 minutes on each meal it does save time not to have to eat snacks and it is also easier not to have to think about food as often.
After watching the Dr. Oz show today where there was a discussion about whether food can be addictive I am even more convinced that the emotional satisfaction that comes from eating is necessary to avoid cravings.