Rich AdamsMindful of her no-egg/no-gluten diet, Terra Castro plans snacks before tackling workouts, avoiding the temptation of a famished stop for fast food.Dany Rabello is an acrobatic performer in Cirque du Soleil's show, Zarkana, which is opening in New York City on June 6.
Courtesy of Lance Staedler Dany Rabello, in costume for her role in the Cirque du Soleil production "Zarkana," is a self-described chocoholic, snacking on candy for a hit of energy.I eat first thing when I wake up at 8 a.m. Today I had a big bagel with cream cheese, a banana and green tea before going into work. The show opens soon, so we're doing run-throughs and perfecting our choreography.
Before rehearsals, I ate a chocolate bar. I'm a serious chocoholic -- no matter if it's a granola or candy bar, as long as it's got some of the good stuff. Plus, it gives me much-needed energy. As an acrobatic character in the show, my performance mixes ballet, dance and aerial arts. This morning, I practiced on the spider web. It involves a tangle of ropes, a trapeze, and a lot of upper body strength.
Around noon, we paused for meetings and lunch. Sometimes I bring in leftovers, but today I went out to eat. I ordered chicken with rice and a Caesar salad, washed down with a fresh carrot-orange juice. For dessert, I had coffee and some more chocolate.
Then it was time to put on my costume. For each hour of practice, there's a 20-minute rest. I have a snack, like a protein shake or candy bar, and drink lots of water during each break.
Dinner was on the set. I had Chinese lo-mein noodles, a salad, one more coffee and, of course, my chocolate. Because we're in the final stages of preparation, rehearsals lasted until 10 p.m. Some nights we stay until midnight; it's a lot of work, but I love it. Regardless of how late it is when I get home, I always have something -- a slice of pizza or a sandwich -- before going to bed. Even though I'm quite skinny, I eat a lot. I need all those calories to keep going!
Terra Castro is a pro triathlete who often finishes in the top five at Ironman races. A member of Team Luna Chix pro team, she lives in Austin, Texas.
For my first breakfast this morning, at around 5:30, I had buckwheat waffles with a banana, almond butter and a cup of green tea. I stopped eating wheat in 2000, when I was constantly exhausted and kept gaining weight. Finally, my doctor gave me a blood test and diagnosed me with an intolerance to eggs and gluten. So, no more omelets and whole-wheat toast for me.
I headed to the track for an hour-long speed workout, where I chugged water and had a Luna protein bar afterwards. My favorite flavor is the chocolate-peanut butter, because it tastes like a healthy Snickers bar -- with 12 grams of protein and no gluten. Then it was time for my second breakfast, quinoa with black beans and veggies. Because I can't eat eggs, I have to get creative with my protein sources.
Lunch is usually pretty light. Today I had a turkey sandwich on rice bread with sprouts, avocado, hummus and tomato, along with a pear and a handful of tortilla chips. Then I biked for three hours. Since it's hot in Austin and I sweat a lot, I took salt tabs and a package of Clif Shot Bloks every hour to replace my electrolytes. On the drive home, I drank a little whey protein mixed with apple juice. It's all about being prepared: if I don't have food on hand after a long workout, I know I'd drive straight to the McDonald's.
On some days, I'd head to the pool to swim. But today I took it easy, so I stretched and then made dinner: gluten-free pasta with organic buffalo and frozen broccoli. My husband and I usually sit down around 6:30; I have to eat every three or four hours to keep my energy levels up. If I'm in the mood for dessert, I'll have a small chunk of chocolate. I'm a firm believer that, as long as you eat clean 90 percent of the time, you can indulge the rest of the time.
