I have been thinking about my nutrition lately. Running and caloric intake can be a tricky equation. Have you noticed the more you run, how our bodies request more calories? This is a slippery slope. Sure, we are running and burning more calories but that can lead us down a path of decision making for our food. I have been there; I finish an 8 mile run and follow my nutritional plan until we get to breakfast. Then I see French toast, waffles, and pancakes! Well while an indulgence once a week is in my routine, the temptation is high to have a second indulgence! I just ran, did I earn a waffle with butter and syrup galore? The answer is rationally no but hard to resist when I am faced with the challenge. So, how do we get a head of it? Stick to the nutrition plan and plan accordingly. You may want extra calories after a run, so plan on your favorites. Look for natural sugars that will satisfy the craving. For example, you may not want to have the waffle, butter and syrup but you could tweak it. Have a whole grain waffle with peanut butter on top. My whole point is running does not give us a license to eat whatever we want. Running is part of a healthy lifestyle but is not the only ingredient. Our nutritional plan is a key component and unfortunately bad decision can undo the run-in just minutes (in terms of calorie burn). My advice is plan ahead. Find your favorite nutritious snacks to have on hand once the run is done. Think about the protein carb mix, natural fruit for sugar cravings, and always think about the portion size. Running is hard, make sure your hard work pays off!
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