Tag: Proper fueling

According to a 2024 study in *Redox Biology*, athletes who intentionally underfueled saw a significant drop in performance and an increase in systemic stress hormones. This demonstrates that if you train hard without eating, you are actively undermining your health and fitness goals, triggering a cascade of negative physiological and psychological effects.

Endurance training and weight loss are often seen as complementary goals, but physiologically, they can conflict. When asking, "Should I be in a calorie deficit while training for a half marathon?" it is critical to understand that aggressive calorie restriction can compromise performance, increase injury risk, and lead to burnout.

Endurance training can increase a runner's daily energy expenditure by 500 or more calories, often exceeding 4,500 calories per day for marathoners. This significant caloric burn makes it clear: do long distance runners need to eat more? Yes, their nutritional needs are substantially higher than sedentary individuals to fuel performance and promote recovery.

According to sports nutrition experts, diet can account for as much as 70-80% of your fitness results, proving that you cannot out-train a poor diet. Neglecting proper fuel can lead to significant setbacks, so understanding what happens if you workout without a proper diet is critical for achieving your health and fitness goals.

According to a study, approximately 30% of participants reported nausea after exercising immediately post-meal. So, is it bad to be active right after eating? The answer is nuanced, depending on your meal and activity level, and understanding the bodily processes involved is key to avoiding discomfort and poor performance.

The World Health Organization reports that unhealthy diets are a leading global health risk, contributing significantly to chronic noncommunicable diseases. To build a resilient body and mind, it's essential to understand how you can properly fuel your body with the right balance of nutrients, timing, and hydration for optimal performance and long-term health.