As a runner aiming to shed pounds, fueling your body properly is crucial—even while cutting calories. Experienced runners like Babette Dessing emphasize balancing nutrition with training to avoid setbacks. Here are three pitfalls to sidestep.
To lose weight, you need a calorie deficit, but slashing intake too low harms your health, especially with running. Never drop below 1,500 calories daily; long-distance runners require even more. Pairing runs with severe dieting triggers 'reserve mode,' where your body prioritizes basics over muscle recovery, raising injury risk. Investing in quality shoes helps mitigate this.
Running torches calories, but most overestimate the total. An average woman burns 325–385 calories on a 5K run. That post-run cappuccino and slice of cake can erase it. Don't assume one training session lets you indulge freely.
Fanatical running demands carbs as your primary fuel. Skimp on them, and you'll fatigue quickly, lose focus, and risk injury or muscle loss. Skip light salads before runs; opt for pasta with tuna, egg, and tomato instead for sustained energy.
By Babette Dessing, Getty Images
