Recovery Days

The mantra that food is fuel is gold, but food as refuel is equally valuable.

- AMANDA M. FAISON

"I was always an athlete and running was part of my cross-training, but I never would have called myself a 'runner," she explains. Weissner only adopted the label after moving to New York, NY where all she could afford for exercise was a pair of sneakers. She began signing up for races and now, 13 years later at home in Denver, Colorado, she regularly tracks 25 to 30 miles a week and recently completed the Barcelona Marathon.

Weissner isn't in it for speed, though. Sure, she has her own goals, like a sub-two-hour half-marathon this season, but she puts one foot in front of the other for the greater goal of mental and physical health. In order to feel her best, she also fuels herself as the athlete she is. "We expect a lot from our bodies and we expect them to perform a certain way," she says. "We're often not taking care of ourselves from the inside out. To make gains in anything, it all starts with what you put into the body."

Now a run coach and trainer (and also a marketing consultant), Weissner discusses all things wellness-nutrition, recovery, sleep and overall well-being on her podcast "Behind the Sweat," which is in its third season. Weissner is also the co-founder of bRUNch Running, a fitness community that helps others fall in love with running via group runs, online programs and organized events.

And so, when we were looking for someone to test this meal plan, one that specifically addresses recovery, Weissner immediately leapt to mind. We wanted someone who had athletic goals but who wasn't a professional athlete with a team of experts overseeing their every move. Weissner looked the plan over, noted that it closely mimics how she already eats, and agreed to give it a try.