First day of taper, and some nutritional testing

BIKE COMMUTE 6.4 miles

I think this is the first day this year I was able to comfortably wear just a t-shirt on the morning ride :)

I wanted to sleep in this morning, I had trouble falling asleep again after a busy cook-up and hoped to get 7.5+ but both habit and Sugar conspired otherwise. I felt OK waking up, no pain or aches, just stiffness and slightly swollen feets.

I repeated my 'low stomach acid' test of drinking 0.25t baking soda in a few ounces of water, to see if I burp or not. Last week I had lots of 'pressure' in my esophagus with eating and drinking, and my stomach always felt too full, like it never emptied. Of course I start reading on it, and with all the podcasts and emails about SCD and FODMAPs I had it in my head that low stomach acid (high pH) could be one issue. Last week's test was done with older baking soda, so when I didn't burp it wasn't conclusive. Was the baking soda old or was it the pH?

Today was fresh, just-opened baking soda. I burped just a little bit after 4 minutes. But when I did, I could taste the peanut butter I'd eaten 7 hours prior!!! My stomach should be emptied by then?! Low stomach acid means slower digestion? I need to repeat the test before deciding anything.

But following up on the failed (?) test today, I tried drinking 1T of ACV in a mug of water to see what happened. This is supposed to "get the stomach going", encouraging pepsin production, lowering the pH, and blah blah blah insert your favorite health benefit. I've been reading on this, both sides have good arguments. But I just need to find out for myself!

At the store yesterday I saw the "good" ACV that has the probiotic "Mother" in it, but it was $6 a bottle. If I see benefits from what I'm doing, I'll feel better about spending that much. First things first. Also I don't think I'll have a FODMAP reaction to the small amount of apple in the tablespoon of ACV -- I think I read 0.04g fructose in that serving. I think I'll be OK!! Aside from the off taste, I didn't notice much different yet. Except brekkie seemed unsatisfying and I was hungrier sooner. But that happens a lot post-big weekend and on off-training days.

See I need to get my nutrition issues fixed. I can't keep living with TMI issues most mornings, can't keep wondering what nutrition and hydration I lose when that happens, and especially can't keep being afraid to try some foods for fear of what they "could" do to my stomach.

Over the weekend I thought about trying corn tortillas with my shrimp pineapple salsa, as 2 6" tortillas is supposed to be FODMAP safe. But the ingredients also listed guar gums! And in previous tests that was upsetting for me to eat, so corn + guar gum was a turn off, I didn't buy the tortillas. Stuff like that -- needs to be fixed if possible. As much as I want to test them, I don't want to be sick even more.

So here's to some food testing in the taper weeks ahead, at least maybe up to race week!

Also things I'm thinking on -- a caffeine taper. And working on reducing the amount of salt I consume.