How many times have you heard someone say, “I __________ so I can eat?” I’ve heard it numerous times, and I’ve even seen this infamous slogan on t-shirts, bumper stickers, mugs, you name it. I admit – I’m even guilty of believing it, too. When I was in high school, I would stop by 7-eleven most afternoons after cross country practice and get a Cuban sandwich on the way home (what can I say, they were delightful!). I know I’m not the only one. Many people use the day’s run, spin class, or exercise class as an excuse to indulge in a luscious piece of moist chocolate cake, an extra glass of wine, or the choice of Alfredo sauce over a light tomato sauce.
A recent article titled, “Why Runners Can’t Eat Whatever They Want” in the Wall Street Journal recently caught my eye, as they had a picture of Dave McGillivray, the Boston Marathon director and a finisher of 130 marathons and several Ironman-distance triathlons on the cover. Even if you have never heard his name before, you get the picture that he is a beast when it comes to endurance races. So why was he on the cover? Because six months ago, he was diagnosed with coronary artery disease – a shock to himself, the running community, and a true testament that runners (and those who engage in regular fitness activity) are not invincible when it comes to protecting their health if they aren’t watching what they eat, too.
But here’s the real problem.
This deceptive trap we find ourselves in, the lies we allow ourselves to believe, is much greater than just the physical diagnosis – it’s a mental game we play with ourselves that can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food.
Creative Common Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/neilconway/9012698660/Even McGillivray admits in the article, “…he tended to finish each day at a Dairy Queen. ‘It wasn’t just replacing calories, but a mental thing – that vanilla shake was my reward.’” Maybe it’s not a vanilla shake that suites your fancy, but most of us are guilty of rewarding ourselves with some type of food indulgence to give ourselves a pat on the back for our hard work at some time or another.
I’m not saying to never have that piece of cake, milkshake, glass of wine – you fill in the blank. We all deserve a cheat every now and then. But when it becomes a habit, that’s when we need to take another look at our behavior. If you struggle with rewarding your fitness activity with food, try rewarding yourself with something else. Indulge in a massage every now and then, buy fresh flowers for your house, take an extra long hot bath, or treat yourself to a spa day with girlfriends. Just being aware of how detrimental this behavior can be to our health is a start, since for many it can become an afterthought.
The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter if you ran that extra mile or pushed yourself past your comfort zone in that fitness class. Those extra calories burned will never be able to outweigh the health risks of an unhealthy diet! In order to truly see transformation, one must strive to be mentally, physically and nutritionally fit in their own unique pursuit of FitLiving (while expecting some bumps and bruises along the way!).
*If food rewards are something you struggle with on a regular basis, I encourage you to seek out a mental health professional. This is not a sign of failure, but rather strength, as you recognize that you need professional assistance in getting on the right path towards a healthier lifestyle.
45 Responses
Great article!
Someone just said that to me today- I exercise so I an eat what I want. For me that strategy would never work. If I’m not watching my food intake, I’d have to be on the treadmill forever to compensate for all of the extras. Also, something else that’s interesting, I think there is some research showing that extreme endurance sports such as marathons actually negatively impact cardiovascular health. Hotly debated topic at the moment.
Thanks for the comment, Courtney! I have seen a little bit of the debate pop up in recent headlines. It is very interesting indeed. I always say, "all things in moderation!"
Before running, runners do not eat anything so they can run properly. They gain potential for running on track and try to win the race.
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