Food and Exercise

For dinner last night we had a healthy fair of homemade chili and cornbread. It was all so good and healthy and filling. But then we had some desert of not so good for you chocolate cake with ice cream and hot chocolate sauce.

After a few hours I got the kids to bed then went for a run. I know it's humid in Houston, Texas, where I live, but I think my feelings were due more to the food that I ate than to the humidity. I felt like junk. I only ran 3 miles but the last mile, heading for home, all I could think about was that chocolate cake and how much better I would feel about this run if I could just throw it up. Yuck! You should never feel that way about your food.

Food should be a source of fuel. Something that makes your body want to go further and longer.

I'm training for a Marathon and I'm realizing if I'm going to do this right, food has to be a part of my training. I can't be eating 3 slices of pepperoni pizza or a big ol' hunk of cheesecake right before I head out for a run. That being said, it's ok to eat that pizza, just not 3 slices. 1 slice is more than enough to fuel your body for a run. 3 slices will just run you down, just like my chocolate cake did.

If you want to perform to your optimal level, whether training for a race or just making it through a day with your kids, you have to give your body what IT NEEDS not what YOU WANT. Because, I don't care what you say, you can't tell me your body WANTS that 3rd slice of pizza. Your body knows what it NEEDS so listen to it and you'll be much better for it.