Definitely join a squad, if you aren't already in one!
Karla Gilbert has a website and she posts some awesome healthy foods! check it out
www.ironmumkarla.com.au
Where abouts are you based emma?
Always great if you can find a training group so you can paddle with people faster then yourself. The more you paddle the better you will become, remember to get faster takes years of training and won't happen overnight.
Best just get out there and start paddling :)
X angie jackson
I've not read it, and can't vouch if it's any good or not, but maybe something like this as well...?http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com/new-book/
Certainly nothing like training with other people though, if you can. There's nothing like doing an activity with people who are substantially better at it than you are if you're wanting to improve in a hurry!
so you can paddle with people faster then yourself.
And if are/become faster than them, know you can add a handicap: use a shorter board, let a rope loop trail in the water, ...