Saturday, 21 April 2018 00:00

Foods that Sabotage Your Running Performance

The right training plays a vital role in your running performance, but so does the food you eat. If you choose the wrong meals and snacks on your running days, you may be holding yourself back. In fact, you could be doing measurable damage to your ability to reach your full potential.

What Are the Foods that Sabotage Your Running Performance?

Every runner has his or her own nutrition needs. Every person’s body has its unique requirements. Therefore, while there are some foods that sabotage your running performance, they may be perfectly fine for someone else. There is no single diet that is perfect for all runners.

That said, overall, there are certain rules of thumb that can be important to remember. These can help you to make sure you’re not specifically choosing the foods that sabotage your running performance because they would take down anyone’s ability to be at their very best. Some will have more of an impact than others, but overall, these definitely won’t help you to work toward your maximum potential in any favorable way.

Watch Out for These Foods that Sabotage Running Performance

The next time you’re deciding what you’ll be eating a half hour before, immediately before and after your run, keep the following in mind. They will sabotage just about any running performance. If you know you’re about to get your shoes on, keep these options off the menu.

Carbonated drinks

Soda, even just carbonated water, can not only cause discomfort during your run, but it can force you to burp throughout your workout. Try to leave your hydration options to non-fizzy drinks, especially before you put on your shoes. If you must have something carbonated, wait until you’re done running.

Bread, pancakes, muffins and other bready baked foods

If you crave carbs following a workout, try not to hit up the nearest waffle house. Diving into white sugar and white flour-based foods can set your running performance behind the next time because it will make your weight harder to manage. Moreover, these foods are relatively low on the nutrition scale, will cause your blood sugar to spike and will negate any calorie burn you achieved.

Sports drinks

You may see your favorite athletes chugging this stuff during a game, but when it comes to your run, there are far better options. This is particularly true for shorter runs or the ones you do on a routine basis. Leave the sports drinks to the marathons you’re running because it’s pretty much the only options you have.

Yes, the electrolytes are good, but they’re also packed with sugar. Many are also loaded with chemicals (you don’t think that electric blue color and odd tangy metallic flavor is made from nature, do you?). Look for a healthier option to fuel your body and rehydrate you.

How to Identify Your Own Foods that Sabotage Your Running Performance

Pay attention to the way you feel during and after your run. Track what you’ve eaten for a while to help you to remember what you had, then write down how you felt. This will help you to understand the way your body responds to the foods you’ve chosen. You may be surprised at how certain foods help you out or hold you back.

It’s also a good idea to remember that too much of anything won’t work before or after a run. Even the best foods and drinks for athletic performance can hold you back if you consume them in the wrong amounts.

Once you discover what works for you, all you need to do is stick to it. That will help you to keep on track and get your best running performance every time. For even more energy to deliver your best performance with every run, try an energizing supplement. Choosing one from this list of the best diet pills will ensure you get the most from the product you choose. 

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