Page 6 of Mr. Green

“Hmm?”

“You took the first step to feel better. You have a goal, and you know your body can do it. Okay?”

“Yup.” I inhale a deep breath.

“First things first, I need you to start thinking fresh. Fresh air, fresh food, fresh plan. This is about you finding a little push to feel better. Don’t put all this pressure on yourself.”

I look down, trying to hide my sobbing. I didn’t expect to break down and am thankful we’re in a room where no one else can see. My eyes try to avoid looking at Jason, and catch on the stupid mountain poster. Maybe the girls were right about those. I want to defeat a metaphorical mountain right now. It’s why I asked for Jason’s help.

My fists clench, willing the tears to stop. “Sorry about that.”

“Girl, don’t worry. This is going to be fun! No stress, okay?”

I nod my head.

“If you want to get in shape for this marathon, I suggest you do a cardio workout in the morning and then weights in the afternoon or evening. You’ll have one rest day every two days. Walking or yoga is always encouraged because that’smoving your body lightly. Since the marathon is in four months, we need to do the workout twice a day to make sure you’re gaining strength and can go the distance. You with me so far?”

“Yup. I have a watch that counts my distance, heart rate, and calories too.”

“Perfect. Did you say you’re making the app for the gym so it can also count your calories?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan. It’s going to calculate it once you input your weight and height, but it doesn’t need to be linked to anything unless you want it to be.”

“That’s cool.”

“Yeah, it’s coming along.”

“I’m going to say that once you start with running, add a half mile each time. Try to push yourself, but if you can only do a quarter of a mile, no worries. Some days will be better than others. Remember, this is supposed to be a fun way to feel good.”

I nod.

“Let’s go over your diet plan. Are you a vegetarian or anything?”

“No, I like all types of food.”

“Cool, me too. Eating should be its own sport. Here’s the basic plan. You need a protein with every meal to build up muscle. Carbohydrates are fine, but try to choose whole foods like fruits, oats, vegetables. I’ve found that having a cheat meal once a week gets the best results. I always binge out on whatever the fuck I want on Fridays. I get my cravings out of the way, and once a week is easy to stick to, but if you have a hankering for something, follow it. Any questions?”

“Alcohol?”

“I would say no the week before the marathon. Now, I know a girl needs a drink! A little cocktail is alright every now and then. Keep in mind alcohol is empty calories that you throw away, but I understand the feeling is worth it most days. Use your judgement. Watch your calories. Pay attention and stop if it makes you feel bloated or sick.”

“Hmmm.”Fuck.“How about bread?”

“You need to be wise. Try whole grain. You might want to consider gluten free bread and see if that works for you. Everybody is different, so the first week you need to see what makes you bloated or tired. The actual goal here is to get you tofeelgood again. Sometimes eating breads gives you that energy you need for the next workout. It’s about you and your relationship with it. Protein shakes with greens are always a good way to go.”

“Greens?”

“Yeah, like spinach or kale.”

“In a shake?” I scrunch my face like I smelled something bad. “That sounds horrible.”

Jason starts laughing. “It’s not really a foodie kind of thing.”

“Oh.” I’m sure I have a long face. “Are spices okay? Eating things that are bland sounds horrible.”

“I would say fresh spices are totally cool.”

I nod. “I’ll make it work.”