Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
We run to lose weight, and we eat whatever we want, because we run. And one day, it does not work that way anymore. Maybe we got injured, maybe we took time off, or maybe we fell into "routine" –whatever our reasons are, all of sudden we gain weight. First subtly, then steadily our numbers go up. Our running clothes don't "sit" like they used to. We feel heavier, less energized, and we slog through our running pace. Of course we deny it. And everyone else around us does too. "You gained more muscles," our friends would protest, "really, you look great." From running 365 days a year, I gave up running. Law school, a bad hamstring and other social commitments are partly to blame, nevertheless, I gained 10 pounds.
We run to lose weight, and we eat whatever we want, because we run. And one day, it does not work that way anymore. Maybe we got injured, maybe we took time off, or maybe we fell into "routine" –whatever our reasons are, all of sudden we gain weight. First subtly, then steadily our numbers go up. Our running clothes don't "sit" like they used to. We feel heavier, less energized, and we slog through our running pace. Of course we deny it. And everyone else around us does too. "You gained more muscles," our friends would protest, "really, you look great." From running 365 days a year, I gave up running. Law school, a bad hamstring and other social commitments are partly to blame, nevertheless, I gained 10 pounds.
Weight gain affects our running
performance. Studies suggest that every five percent of added
body weight could reduce running performance by five percent. Our bodies answer to the force of gravity with
every stride, and the heavier we are, the higher our energy cost of running
at any given pace is.
Losing weight can be surprisingly difficult. When we write
down everything we consume, foods and drinks, we discover how shockingly quickly we reach our threshold calories' intake: From 2300
calories, we attempt the impossible, to "survive" on 1200 calories* a
day. Of course whiffs of waffles and food trucks with every edible item off-limits would greet us every morning on our way to work. It is a hard fought battle; it takes discipline and a strong will. But it is not wholly impossible, scale numbers do wander down.
Nothing could possibly taste as good as thin feels right now.
** Calories' intake vary from runner to runner.
