{"id":36521,"date":"2021-03-29T13:45:51","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T05:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/?p=36521"},"modified":"2021-03-29T13:57:42","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T05:57:42","slug":"calories-in-calories-out-are-you-eating-enough-to-run-properly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/food-nutrition\/calories-in-calories-out-are-you-eating-enough-to-run-properly\/","title":{"rendered":"Calories-in, Calories-out: Are You Eating Enough to Run Properly?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There’s no shortage of advice for athletes (runners included) who want to take control of their nutrition<\/a>. And that’s to be expected. After all, food plays a crucial role in athletic performance, physical appearance, psychological well being, and overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the thing is, a large percentage of athletes (again, runners included) aren’t getting enough of what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, otherwise known as RED-S, was first used in a statement in 2014<\/a> by the International Olympic Committee. At the time, the syndrome referred to “impaired physiological function including, but not limited to, metabolic rate, menstrual function, bone health, immunity, protein synthesis, cardiovascular health caused by relative energy deficiency<\/em>” in female athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here’s the thing. Since 2014, it has been found that the discrepancy between food intake and energy expenditure isn’t a problem exclusive to female athletes. In fact, it’s just as common among males, with similarly severe consequences. And when it’s combined with the standard practice of overtraining<\/a>, with an estimated 60% of competitive athletes<\/a> overtraining at some point, it can have severe detrimental effects on both performance and overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, runners who want to approach their training seriously need to be well-aware of the relationship between the calories they ingest and those they spend. It’s the only way to run properly<\/a> and avoid injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calorie Intake Guidelines: They May Not Be Right for You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the past three decades, the consensus has been that elite-level athletes need to consume<\/a> “> 50 kcal\/kg\/day for male athletes who train for > 90 min\/day and 45 to 50 kcal\/kg\/day for female athletes training for > 90 min\/day.<\/em>” Overall, carbohydrates were considered the preferred macronutrient for fuelling muscles, and it was recommended that fat intake be limited to 25%-30% of total calories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, in 2021, we know that this type of advice isn’t universally beneficial. Regimes such as the ketogenic diet<\/a> and intermittent fasting<\/a> have been found to offer advantages for general wellbeing and athletic performance. Moreover, we have a much better understanding of how many calories athletes spend per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With commercially available activity monitors, anyone can get a relatively accurate understanding<\/a> of their overall energy expenditure. However, the problem occurs when runners use these wearable devices exclusively during workouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember: you don’t just burn calories while exercising, but while resting and sleeping<\/a> as well. Therefore you must calculate your caloric needs with a 24-hour period in mind. A wearable that takes heart rate and body temperature into account can help with that. Or, you can use one of the many available calorie calculators found online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s important, however, is that you consistently monitor your body weight throughout your training regime, looking out for any unwanted weight loss. Furthermore, don’t forget to tune in to how your body feels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Under-fueling Poses a Threat to Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Calories-in,
Photo Credit: Depositphotos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There’s plenty of research that shows just how big of a problem calorie restriction can be \u2013 regardless of whether you’re running twice a week or training for an ultra-marathon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one, eating less than is optimal for your body doesn’t just mean losing weight. It means slowing down the metabolism (making it easier to gain weight once you go back to non-restricted feeding), sacrificing lean muscle mass, and compromising athletic performance and recovery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, caloric restriction or under-fueling poses a threat to your general health. A research paper published in 2013 found that negative energy balance<\/a> combined with exercise-induced stress in athletes leads to adverse effects on the reproductive system, bone density, and cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, there is the fact that insufficient food intake can lead to immune function compromise<\/a>, especially in athletes who strive for leanness (such as runners). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, it’s important to remember that RED-S doesn’t just increase the likelihood of skeletal muscle injuries<\/a>. It also forces athletes to stop their training regimen for treatment and healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of Insufficient Calorie Intake and\/or Over-training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Calories-in,
Photo Credit: Depositphotos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, now that you’re aware of how impactful energy balance is for your running performance, it’s time to ensure you’re eating enough. In addition to regularly weighing yourself to detect unwanted weight loss, also pay attention to these signs of RED-S:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physical symptoms of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport:<\/p>\n\n\n\n