I feel like we have all had an experience or two where you’re out there having a great ride or run and suddenly, you’re out of energy, or feeling crampy and nauseous or in a worst-case scenario looking desperately for somewhere to go the bathroom wishing you had a roll of toilet paper in your pocket.
Fear of these scenarios happening can lead us to limiting how much we eat pre-workout as well as not taking in enough nutrition during our training sessions or race. This is so unfortunate because we know we need to nourish our bodies for the workout that we are doing but even more importantly to support our recovery so we can make the adaptations we are working so hard for as well as set ourselves up well for our next workout.
Nourishing Performance Through Perimenopause and Beyond – Part 3
With the decline of estrogen overall during perimenopause, we also have reduced anabolic stimulus for building lean muscle mass and bone density. So along with increase visceral fat deposition there is less hormonal drive to build and maintain lean muscle mass. But luckily, we already know that we have strength training methods and strategies to help with building and maintaining lean muscle mass and bone density. To set ourselves up well for the decline in our hormones and to have a plan to support our bodies once those hormones flatline, we need to look at how to use nutrition and nutrition timing in conjunction with strength training.
Your ONE Nutritional Strategy for a Strong & Healthy Heart
When I was nineteen I worked in a florist shop and in the days leading up to Valentines Day, spent many hours de-thorning roses. Making beautiful red rose bouquets for lovers to present to their loves. That’s what Valentine’s Day was about in my mind at that time, all red roses… And chocolate of course. I know there are still …
Cacao: Good for Your Heart & Running Performance
With Valentines Day just around the corner I thought we might talk about something commonly associated with this day — chocolate. Well, raw chocolate that is – raw cacao, which is really just a fancy way of saying cocoa. Or maybe it’s the ‘official’ way of saying it. After all, the small evergreen tree where chocolate comes from is called …
3 Reasons to Love Hemp Hearts
As a runner, I am constantly looking for ways to improve my nutrition and my training. Training aside (because I’m here to talk food with you), I refuse to believe that I’ve ever reached the point of perfection. There is always room for improvement. That’s why I’m using hemp more, especially as my protein source in my recovery shakes this …
Are You Eating Enough Protein?
Protein. It’s the stuff that helps us build our muscles and repair the damage from hard workouts, so that we are stronger for our next run. We know we need protein. But how do we know if we are getting enough? Standard recommendations call for between 0.8 grams (for sedentary individuals) and 1.2 grams (for active individuals) of protein per …
Top 10 Shakes to Fuel Your Running
Shakes and smoothies are a runners best friend, for a couple reasons: One – Super Post-Run Awesomeness — Shakes are a fantastic way to deliver nutrients to your body after a long or hard run. They’re more appetizing to most than solid food (we tend to have suppressed appetites immediately following a run even though it’s actually a good time to …
Why Coconut Water Rocks (even if you think you don’t like it)
You’ve heard the hype about coconut water, right? Your fridge is stocked? After all, it’s another one of my top 10 foods for runners… When I first heard about coconut water I was so on board. I mean, what could be better than a natural sports drink? No sugar added (no glucose-frucose or any other refined sugar), no colourings, no …
Top 8 Pre-Run Snacks
(updated April 2018) I’ve talked in previous posts what you might want to consider eating for breakfast before you head out for a run… But what if you’re running middle of day or, more commonly, later in the day? Ideally you’re eating a carbohydrate rich snack that contains about 2-2.5 grams of carbohydrates per kg of bodyweight about 2-4 hours …
6 Delicious (Runner Approved) Desserts
I just ate some chocolate. The reason I feel compelled to make this confession? That would be because I’ve spent the past 5 weeks not eating ANY chocolate or desserts (you’ll recall the beach body article I wrote?). Now, I’m not here to tell you that chocolate and sugar is healthy (well the cacao is… the sugar – not so …