My how things have changed

I recently took a night off from training to enjoy a Friday night with my friends, without having to be up at 9am to do a long 60-80 mile training ride on Saturday. During the many conversations about the ride that night I said how I was asking everyone I know to donate at least 30 bucks to the American Lung Association, thinking it's a small sacrifice in comparison to how much people might spend on dinner at a restaurant, a night out at the bars, or going to the movies. My one friend's response was "Wow, yeah, $30 is a small price to pay in comparison to what you must have sacrificed in your life to train for this ride."

That one comment kind of set me off on self reflecting on just how much I have changed my life in the past few months.

So here it is, a list, of how much my life has changed, and what I have given up/changed since training for my Big Ride Across America.

Snacks

Pre-training:

Cookies: I easily would eat half a bag of chocolate chip cookies in one sitting

Training:

1-2 peanut butter & jelly bagels.
Cut out all snacks with chocolate or milk as it has the potential to set off my allergies (yes, for those that don't know me that well, I am allergic to both chocolate and milk, and in large quantities it will set off my asthma.)

Meals

Pre-training:

2 regular meals (lunch and dinner) with maybe a late night snack. Food was something I ate because I had to.

Training:

I LOVE food. Food is my BFF! Typical day: 2 granola bars before I even get out of bed. Maybe 1-2 donuts as I roll into work. Lunch with coworkers. 1-2 PB&J bagels as I finish work/before I ride. Late night dinner of 1/3 box of pasta and 3-4 pieces of chicken. Pad the day with granola/clif bars as needed.

Weekend Routine

Pre-training:

Friday night - stay out till 6am on Saturday, asleep by 7am, wake up around 3pm. Eat a large meal around 4pm. Ready to go out by 8 or 9pm.
Saturday night - stay out till 6am on Sunday, etc., etc.

Training:

Friday night - dinner #1, quick 20 mile ride, shower, and then date night with Kristen, dinner with friends, or go to the movies. Because of all the week's training, typically I couldn't stay awake past midnight.
Saturday night - in bed by 10pm the latest so I can get up at 5am on Sunday and do a 80-100 mile charity ride in some suburb.

When I do go out...

Pre-training:

Crazy, hyper Joe. Drink lots of redbull or cokes. Caffeine is my friend. Must dance the night away and stay out till sun up.

Training:

One coke at the start of the night. Catch up with friends who I probably haven't seen in a month and wont see for another 2-3 weeks. Minimal dancing as it tires out my all ready tired legs, and I need them rested for the next day's ride. Leave early to get 8-9 hours of sleep before whatever long training ride I have the next day.

Laundry/Cleaning

Pre-training:

"Meh, it can wait till tomorrow. I want to watch this Law & Order rerun."

Training:

I only have 2 days off a week, so that day better be spent cleaning. If I don't, I live in filth for 3-4 days and my selection of clothes for work are between those two clean shirts in the back of the closet that I haven't worn in a year.

Weekly Social Schedule

Pre-training:

Clear. Give me a day or two's notice and I'm in!

Training:

Planned around the training schedule I make on Sunday nights. If the event didn't fit into my given night or two off, I couldn't go. Typically you have to give me at least a week's notice so I could alter my training accordingly.