A Nutrition Nerd’s Secret Ingredient for a Great Workout

A personal trainer (and good friend) always used to call me “the nutrition nerd.” He knew I had a passion for physical activity, but food and eating was obviously my hot button. As nutrition enthusiasts and professionals, we can debate all day about “what food or diet is best” for healthy living and healthy aging, but it’s indisputable that physical activity is key for lifelong health and well-being!

Except in the case of excessive, compulsive exercise (or recovery from an illness, injury or eating disorder), I can’t think of a single study, health provider or researcher who has suggested that it’s better to just sit around or that we should avoid physical activity. But, just because we know that to be true, doesn’t necessarily make it easy for most people.

I love to move my body, and have always been quite active. For one, as a child growing up in a small town in Nebraska, that’s just how we got around – walking, jogging or riding our bike. I also enjoyed participating and competing in activities like dance, gymnastics, and cheerleading all the way through college, and continue to be an avid cyclist and fitness advocate  – so it may be surprising to hear that exercise can be a struggle at times – and certainly not something I always look forward to.

Some of you may be able to relate to this scenario. After high school and college, everything seems to change. Busy work schedules, friend and family obligations, lack of access to (or choosing to avoid) fitness facilities, climate and lack of motivation seem to make exercise more of a chore than the fun, energizing activity it used to be (or that we hope it would be).

Fast forward about 30 years and I can certainly share many ideas, strategies, or “ingredients” for overcoming these obstacles and sustaining regular physical activity (none of which have anything to do with a “perfect, correct or right” food or supplement).  A few notable tips include: 1) do activities you enjoy; 2) participate in group fitness, if possible; 3) exercise at a time of day that’s best for you; 4) hire a personal trainer; 5) find a workout buddy; and, 6) mix it up / challenge yourself to try something new.

But, the ONE thing that has remained constant and still to this day motivates me and energizes my workouts more than anything else is MUSIC!

Whether it’s an instructor who creates a heart-pumping workout with a carefully choreographed selection of tunes, or making my own playlist; the rhythm, beat and even lyrics seem to be the “energizer bunny” that kicks everything into high gear.

 

We all have a unique “taste” for music. Therefore, there’s not a “right” or “perfect” music/genre/song list. Music that energizes one person doesn’t necessarily stir up the same effect for another – that’s okay. Have some fun experimenting with different genres and tunes to figure out what works for you. Streaming music with apps, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, etc. make it convenient to mix it up and listen to your favorite music.

DIY or making your own playlist is a great strategy for personalizing your music selection, especially for those times when motivation is waning. I’ve been making playlists long before iTunes, Spotify, and Pandora (first recording onto tape, then CD to CD, etc). In fact, it’s a bit of a hobby and a fun way to distract when feeling uptight or run down.

For me, the process of creating a playlist and having it to look forward to at my next workout makes all the difference in not only getting to the gym, on the bike, or out for a walk/jog, but makes my workout feel like a “new guest” has shown up at the party and the fun just began!

And…since the secret to long term success with your health goals is about sustaining behavior change (and that includes all types of activity), then doing something you look forward to – because it’s fun and makes you feel great – will certainly be a difference maker.

To give you some ideas, following is my one of my new playlists (always a collection of new and old) – great for cardio! I love to follow-up a playlist like this with a little “Island Music” (a station I found on Pandora) for a fun vibe during a strength workout and stretch. As mentioned before, we all have unique music preferences – especially as it relates to exercise. So, take or leave whatever sounds good to you.

Reggaeton Lento (Remix) by CNCO & Little Mix 

One Kiss by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa 

Spaceship by Comet Blue 

Bring it Back (feat Aleon Craft)  by Shy Carter 

Chained to the Rhythm by Katy Perry

Mr. Put it Down (feat Pitbull) by Ricky Martin A different 

Waiting for Tonight by Jennifer Lopez

Want You Back by 5 Seconds of Summer (explicit warning)

Ed Sheeran Shape of You (Tropical Club Remix) by DJ Nate Ro

Hold on Tight by R3HAB & Conor Maynard

September by Earth, Wind & Fire

Adventure of a Lifetime Workout Mix by Power Music Workout

Came Here for Love (Calvo Remix) by Signala & Ella Eyre

One (feat U2) by Mary J Blige

Do you have a favorite song(s) to workout to – or genre, playlist? Please do share 🙂

So…that’s an idea of what works for me. I’d love to hear your ideas! What helps to motivate you – to not only stay physically active – but look forward to and enjoy moving your body?

Peace!

Cycling Nutrition: Fueling a Long Ride

I love cycling! My happy place is getting out for a long ride on a nice summer day. But without proper fueling, even my recreational joyride can come to a screeching halt real fast!  Whether you are competing in an endurance race or heading out for an all day ride, proper nutrition and hydration can make the difference between fully enjoying or barely enduring a day of riding. Just as you wouldn’t take off on a road trip without enough fuel in your car, the same is true for your body’s fuel tank when you embark on a long ride. Eating the right foods before, during and after your ride will help provide for an enjoyable ride and optimal performance.

Carbohydrates: The Fuel of Choice

The body’s fuel of choice for an endurance sport like cycling is carbohydrate. Carbohydrate-containing foods, such as fruit, potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, milk, yogurt, honey, etc. are broken down in the body to glucose and stored as glycogen in the muscle. Therefore, for the recreational or competitive cyclist, eating enough carbohydrates at each meal and snack (not just the night before) is essential to ensure your “gas tank” (glycogen) is ready to go. The well-fueled cyclist should have enough energy stored as glycogen in muscles to support 90 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise.

Fueling Before You Ride

The ideal time for a carbohydrate-rich, pre-exercise meal is three to four hours prior to your ride. The amount of carbohydrate depends on a number of factors, such as body weight. For a 150-lb cyclist, aim for 80 to 100 grams of carbohydrate (i.e. 1 cup oatmeal, 6 oz Greek yogurt, 1 cup berries and a slice of whole wheat toast). In addition, consuming 100 to 300 calories of a low-fat, carbohydrate-rich snack (fruit and crackers) an hour before your ride will also provide muscles additional glucose to be used for energy, while sparing glycogen and delaying fatigue. Fluids are as important as food in preparing for a long ride. Prepare by drinking enough water the day before the ride (evidenced by pale colored urine) and sipping on a 16-oz sports drink the hour before going out.

Foods and Fluids during Long Rides

Dehydration is the leading cause of fatigue for the endurance athlete. Staying well-hydrated during a long ride is essential for having a good ride. A general rule of thumb is 20 ounces of fluid for every hour, ideally ingested in small frequent intervals for better absorption and utilization by the body (about 5 to 8 ounces every 15 minutes). Electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, are lost in sweat and essential to maintain proper water balance in your tissues. Therefore, consider carrying two bottles, one with water and one containing an electrolyte solution. For rides longer than 4 hours or in very hot or humid weather, cyclists need to plan to include additional sodium and potassium-containing foods during the ride, such as bananas, tomato juice, pretzels, salted nuts or broth.

If your ride will include some high intensity riding, strenuous hill climbing, or will be more than 90 minutes, then you will also need to fuel with additional glucose during the ride. When glycogen stores get low you “hit the wall” and consequently run out of energy. For this reason, it is beneficial to consume easily digestible carbohydrates from a variety of sources, such as sports drinks, bananas, energy gels, etc. and see what works best for you. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 50 grams of carbohydrate for a 150-lb cyclist each hour (again in small, frequent intervals). Unfortunately, some novice riders limit their consumption of carbohydrate calories during exercise for fear that a sports drink or carbohydrate gel “contains too much sugar” or “will cancel out the calories burned from training.” A study completed at Colorado State University demonstrated that this approach actually backfires. Researchers discovered that subjects who restricted carbohydrate intake during exercise ended up consuming more calories the rest of the day than subjects who ingested carbohydrate during activity (Melby et al., 2002).

Some basic tips for carrying and consuming fuel while riding:

• Be sure your fuel will hold up to weather conditions, such as heat and humidity.
• Partially open any small packages for easy access.
• On unsupported rides, carry snacks in a jersey or jacket with multiple easy-to-reach pockets.
• Portion your hourly food into separate baggies and consume one bag per hour.
• Carry powdered sports drinks and reconstitute when you have access to water

Restore, Replace and Repair from Your Long Ride

The goals of recovery nutrition are to: 1) Restore fluids and electrolytes lost through sweat during a long ride, 2) Replace glycogen stores (muscle fuel) depleted during activity, and 3) Repair muscle tissue broken down from high intensity activity.

Rehydration is vital to recovery following a long ride. Ideally, you have replenished water (sweat) lost during your ride. However, when you get off your bike, continue to drink water or a sports drink to quench your thirst or until urine is pale.

Within 30 to 60 minutes, have a snack that includes carbohydrates (to replace glycogen) and protein (to repair muscle tissue). Aim for a 3 to 1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein, i.e. 60 grams of carbohydrate along with 20 grams of protein. Examples of good recovery snacks include low-fat chocolate milk; fruit and yogurt smoothie; graham crackers with peanut butter and low-fat milk; apple or banana with nut butter and low-fat milk.  Finally, follow-up with a healthy meal that includes a balance of protein-rich meats, vegetables and whole grains that will continue to restore, replace and repair those essential nutrients lost during activity so you will be ready to ride again soon.