I do not run so that I can eat

 

I had this dessert over the weekend which you may have seen if you follow me on instagram.

I am often asked if I RUN to EAT my favorite desserts, how I plan my miles around what I feel like eating and, this week especially, will I cut my calories since it’s taper time.

I can’t speak for all runners but if I am speaking for myself, my response is…

 

 

For sure everything tastes that much better after a good workout, a long run and most certainly a race. If we look at it from that perspective, yes, running hard so I can better taste and appreciate my food is a given.

But running so I can eat in order to not gain weight? Nah, that’s not why I run.

Eating dessert because I can just run it off in the morning? Nah, that’s not why I eat.

I have been a dessert lover all my life. Even when I dealt with amenorrhea, dessert was never what was lacking in my diet.

No matter the amount of miles I run, I enjoy a good, overloaded with chocolate dessert when I want it but I actually don’t want it or eat it every single day.

I think because I never deny my true cravings, I am more in touch with my appetite and what it is I want to eat, never feeling restricted. Nothing is off limits therefore I don’t feel denied.

Running a whole lot will certainly burn calories and give you some wiggle room in terms of eating more BUT —

You Can’t Out Run A Bad Diet.

You have heard this phrase before, right?

While I don’t agree with labeling foods good or bad, I also don’t believe in using running or any exercise regimen strictly to allow yourself to indulge under the assumption that you can burn it all off (you can’t by the way, it doesn’t work like that).

As you know by now, what I eat on a regular basis is plant-focused, carb-centered, meatless and pretty clean. I balance it all nicely with my love of dessert but overall, I fuel my body with nutrient dense foods.

I do not count calories in or calories out, I pay attention to nutrients instead. It took time over the years to understand this concept and switch from caring about calories to caring about the nutrients and quality of food.

I view food in terms of how it will benefit me. How what I am about to consume will make me feel, how it will help or hinder my ability to run.

My mindset is not on dieting. It’s not on burning off what I take in or about tapering my diet to fit my mileage in order to stay slim.

The truth is, I don’t know what I weigh so how would I even receive an accurate calorie count on the treadmill?

Maybe I am making this whole diet and exercise thing sound simple but really, it can be that simple. I have learned what foods are both enjoyable and nutritious, I don’t rely on packaged snacks and I choose fresh fruits and vegetables over processed foods.

Keyword right there, CHOOSE. We all have the right to choose what we eat and it’s what we do with our choices on a consistent basis that count. Not one meal, not one dessert, not a hungry day, your week’s vacation and certainly not one taper week.

Am I a perfect eater? I don’t even know what a perfect eater means.

All I know is that I like the way I feel after eating freshly prepared unprocessed food. I do not want greasy foods (okay except some onion rings) but I also know how to dine out and enjoy myself and yes, sometimes, I want chocolate and cake and cookies therefore I have some, satisfy my soul and move on.

So much is out there on dieting and quick fix approaches which all appear so restricting and limiting, it seems like torture. Same applies to those fitness programs which focus solely on the calorie burn rather than what exercise does for us overall.

I do understand that exercise can be an effective weight loss tool, just like dieting, and I do know that all of my miles combined with what I eat must keep my size in check, it’s just that I wish more people were able to figure out how to switch away from the dieting mindset in relation to their exercise program and enjoy the way fitness (running!) makes them feel.

Be sure to check out what everyone else is thinking about today 🙂

[bctt tweet=”I do not run so that I can eat #running #diet #fitfluential #dessert”]

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Race weather update — It’s pretty nasty here but Saturday is looking to be the drier day of the next five days!!

Are your cravings for sweet or salty foods?

Are you a calorie counter or nutrient counter, or both?

Who else is racing this weekend?!

 

 

 

 

 

Runner Questions Answered!

 

 

I was so glad to see yesterday’s post so well received. The comments and emails (which I am still responding to!) are evidence we can all relate to the topic of getting stuck, even if it’s through different life experiences.

Divorce may not be a weekly focal point here on the blog but please feel free to email me if you ever have any questions and, as similar post ideas come to me which I feel we can all benefit from in one way or another, I will be sure to share.

I really do love receiving your emails and I especially enjoy reading and responding to comments!

I thought it would be fun (and informative) if I addressed some of the most popular runner questions I receive by email since some of you may be out there wondering the same things.

I picked three runner questions to start with today and figure I can do this every so often, as the questions come in, so feel free to ask me anything!

1. What time exactly do you run every morning?

 

My average morning run time is 7:30 am which is immediately after my son leaves for school.

For my long runs, which happen most often on Saturdays, I usually begin no later than 7:00 am. (My son is not home Saturday mornings).

In the summer, I sometimes start a little earlier since the sun is up and shining well before 7:00 am.

I never run in the dark. I always wait for daylight and usually stay inside of my community (off main roads) for most of my runs.

 

2. Do you adjust what you eat when you run more/fewer miles?

 

This could be considered a complex question but it’s actually pretty simple:

The more miles I run, the more food I eat, especially in the morning.

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day and probably the one meal which sees the major increase in size when I run more miles.

Pre-run and pre-race standard breakfast – oatmeal, banana, and peanut butter. The amounts of each component may vary though depending upon my appetite or if it’s a race/long run situation.

My average routine run is now six miles. Last year, it was more like four miles.

Without even checking old WIAW posts, I know for a fact that I am eating more (especially at breakfast) to make up for what I am burning through those extra miles.

I do not need to lose weight and the last thing I need is to lose my period.

It’s super important to remember to eat more, the more you are running, to keep your energy balanced and your body healthy.

Even if you are looking to lose weight, you still need to eat and eat enough for your workouts because not eating enough will only hinder the process and slowly hurt your body (lowered hormone levels, loss of period, slowed metabolism, high risk for injuries…)

If you forget to eat more, your body will remind you in the form of hunger.

You will be beyond ravenous at some point (and low on energy) if you aren’t fueling properly!

I always eat before I run and then again within the 30-60 minute window following a run, regardless of how many miles I covered.

It’s absolutely essential if you want to feel your best and recover your muscles.

Post-run is just about always my favorite oatmeal, peanut butter, greek yogurt, and fruit.

I throw in extra of each ingredient when I run more than the average six miles OR if I am feeling super hungry.

Lately, I also add Skoop B Strong (protein powder) to the mix or use it in place of greek yogurt.

I never count calories. I find that just taking a bigger serving of whatever it is I would normally eat helps to balance the whole energy in/energy out the equation with very little thought involved.

And on days where I run less or don’t run at all, I do not eat less than average!

I am still hungry, my body still needs food and I like to think I am topping off my energy stores for the next day’s workout.

3. Which sneakers are you currently running in?

 

I love my Adidas Energy Boosts, I think I am on my fifth or sixth pair already!

They are my favorite running shoes without a doubt but I do rotate them with the Hoka Cliftons.

I honestly feel blessed (how pathetic am I that I consider this a blessing but I do) to have found two great pairs of running shoes that I can rely on every morning.

The Energy Boosts are my main pair, my go-to race shoe/long run shoe and then have the Hokas come in as recovery run shoes.

I very rarely wear the same pair of running shoes two days in a row which has definitely extended the life of both pairs of sneakers.

What I do want to talk about, perhaps in another post, is which running shoes work best for the treadmill and why.

I do believe there is a difference and we need to talk about it!

If there is anything at all that you wish to ask me or if there is a topic you would love covered or addressed more in detail, please please let me know!

[bctt tweet=”Reader Questions Answered! #running #runningshoes #Adidas #Hokaoneone #oatmeal”]

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Do you run at the same time every day?

Do you adjust what you eat when you run more miles?

Are you currently rotating your sneakers? Which do you wear the most?

It’s Black Friday, Of Course I Woke Up Hungry

 

Happy Friday! How was your Thanksgiving?

It doesn’t feel like Friday, right? Nor does it feel like the color black.

I don’t know what it feels like, I just know that as predicted,  I have woken up hungry.

That would be my loaded up plate from last night. You can be sure I went back for seconds, and maybe thirds.

Was I overly stuffed? Well, I said to my mother, and I quote, “I would unbutton my pants but it seems I am wearing leggings.”

Today is a new day. As I said on Tuesday, PROCEED AS USUAL.

Do not let what you overconsumed yesterday consume you.

Sure, I feel a bit bloated, how could I not? I don’t normally eat so much nor do I often eat the foods I ate last night. And who knows, perhaps the abundance of starch, carbs and oil will fuel me nicely for this morning’s run.

Regardless,  it’s all good. It was a wonderful meal which only happens once a year.

So. Black Friday. Means very little in this Hanukkah house. All of our shopping is done.

In order to stay in the festive spirit, I may need to Black Friday myself on over to a store that sells the Essie Luxeffects sparkly polishes. I actually think they are considered a top coat.

I spotted them the other day in Bed, Bath and Beyond and the nail salon had a few of the shades on hand as well.

I don’t often purchase my own nail polishes but I really want the goldish sparkle (I believe it is called Sparkle On Top) and a few others. I even spotted some fun new dark red sparkly colors for the toes.

I also came across this cast iron skillet complete with a cookie mix for making your own skillet cookie. Such a cute gift.

I don’t need the cookie mix since I am a cookie snob and only bake from scratch but this is totally fun and totally perfect for making the skillet cookie recipe that I mentioned last week.

The little boy asked if we could partake in the shopping madness so maybe we will.

Although I doubt he will want to go shopping for nail polish and cookie pans.

I just received an email from the Gap regarding 50% off everything (enter code BLKFRIDAY) so please excuse me while I Black Friday from the comforts of my home.

I will try and pop in over the weekend but between Hanukkah parties and other fun things, I don’t know that I will get a chance.

I do update on Instagram though, so follow along. You certainly don’t want to miss a Red Mango parfait or anything important like that now, do you?

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

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I NEED TO KNOW:

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you totally overeat?

Are you hitting the stores today bright and early?

Do you shop online?