Let’s face it, there are a lot of diets out there to chose from: Paleo, Keto, Vegan, Vegetarian, Atkins, Raw Foods, Weight Watchers and that barely scratches the surface. It can get confusing especially when you add the dynamic of a runner training for a half marathon or marathon. How on earth do you pick the best one?
Stop Labeling Yourself
Here’s the deal: I don’t believe in labeling yourself or boxing yourself into one particular diet. The reason is, there may come a time as you age that your body no longer thrives by following a certain type of diet. A vegetarian in her 20 might feel great, but by her mid thirties finds herself craving meat, but afraid to make the switch because of how she has labeled herself. Additionally, the diet that your CrossFit friend is following and having great success with, might leave you feeling lethargic and cranky.
It can also become all consuming when you follow a particular diet. You spend so much time and energy learning all the rules, shopping and preparing meals. Figuring out what you are allowed to have and not have can leave you irritable and feeling deprived.
Take an Individualized Approach to Your Diet
So what is the best diet for runners? The best diet is to take an individualized approach. Look at the various diets and figure out what appeals to you. Consider taking bits and pieces of different programs and developing your own style of eating. Do you have any food sensitivities or allergies? You may find just eliminating those foods completely makes a world of difference in how you feel and how your body performs while running.
It May Be Healthy, But If It Makes You Feel Bad, Don’t Eat It!
I myself lean closely to a Paleo style of eating, however, I eat beans, lentils and potatoes. Having been diagnosed with lymphocitic colitis, I can prevent flare ups by avoiding grains, dairy and sugar. While I really like the idea of eating beautiful raw vegetables because of the higher nutritional value, they leave me doubled over with cramps and bloated. Sometimes healthy foods are not good for you and it’s okay not to eat them. In fact, if they make you feel bad, that’s a sure sign that you shouldn’t eat them! As you can see my diet is a bit of a hodge podge, but it works for me.
Bottom Line: Eat Healthy Most of the Time & Follow The Guidelines Below
God made your body unique and special. The best thing you can do for it is to eat healthy the majority of the time and follow these guidelines. As a runner, you need loads of vegetables. I’m talking about a cup or two of fresh vegetables at every meal, not that token spoonful of canned green beans you heated up on the stove or the occasional salad. You also need quality sources of protein and healthy fats to help your muscles recover and keep your heart working efficiently. Fresh fruit in season is good too, but a word of caution: because it is higher in sugar, it is not a replacement for vegetables. Instead use fruit as a daily substitute of sweet treats and save the desserts and sugar snacks for once or twice a week.
Because of the demands we place on our bodies as runners, you should also take high a quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement to fill in any nutritional gaps in your diet and aid in recovery. You can check out the ones I take and recommend to my clients here.
When it comes to following a healthy diet, what’s your single biggest challenge? Let’s chat about it in the comments below.
