Anonymous wrote:So much misinformation and myth on this thread.

But some people won't let go of the "diet is the only thing that matters!" To a person, every single one who claims that (whom I met IRL) is someone who has never really committed to regular exercise and absolutely refuses to do so. So they cling to the "diet is all that matter" because it gives them an excuse to not exercise regularly. That's fine. If you don't want to exercise and prefer to manage your weight via calorie counting, go for it. But stop spreading these myths to validate your own choices.

This.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the same people who have the drive and motivation to be out running in the early morning are oftentimes the same people that have the drive and motivation to eat well and moderately.

Wrong. I have periods where I run over 50+ miles per week (female) and I love McDonald's and a Dairy Queen. Like every week. Both. And PASTA. Lots and lots of it!!

What does over 50+ mean? 60 miles a week? What are you training for?

And yes, I've completed ironmans so know the training cycle well. Nourish yourself on what you like (for instance, McDonalds is a non food to me), but if you are running that much for no reason its a little odd. You may be just doing it so that you feel "allowed" to eat such junky food.

When I hit 40-50 MPW I eat an average of around 3000 calories a day.

I sometimes do a Lydiard style plan. One phase calls for three of the weekly runs to be 10+ miles. I mostly run 5K's but occasionally half marathons. I run to compete so I'm not exactly recreational--under 20:00 for 5K, under 6:00 for a mile, around 1:30 for half marathon.

Cool. Still not sure of your point? Is it that you run so much but aren't thin? Or you are thin yet eat McDonald's and Dairy Queen?

I was responding to the person who said runners all eat well. And then someone else asked why I run over 50 miles a week at times. I mean, can someone even respond without another person butting I. Just for the sake of being a jerk? You're not responding to anyone's questions, you're simply here to act like an a**hole. Go be miserable somewhere else.

Thank you for clarifying. I didn't see anyone state that all runners eat well, so I was confused.

So much misinformation and myth on this thread.

For one, it's not true that most joggers are type A. Most runners I know are actually pretty laid-back outdoorsy types who hate being in the office and like hiking/camping.

Two, no, it isn't self-selecting. I was never a "natural" runner. I have short legs. Most runners I know didn't start out as "natural" runners. But if you keep doing it, your body changes, you build endurance. The people I know who are "natural" runners tend to like sports that infolve sprints. They aren't the ones you see jogging in the morning.

Three, it's a myth that diet alone has to do with weight. If you exercise regularly, it does have beneficial effects on your metabolism. Cardio first thing in the morning (before eating) for example has some beneficial effects. Of course, strength training is what really boosts your metabolism. But people who run a lot are burning a lot for energy, so they actually don't have to calorie count as much. There's a little more give. Sure, if they gorge on donuts every day, that will likely affect their weight, but if you are active, you generally have higher metabolism.

But some people won't let go of the "diet is the only thing that matters!" To a person, every single one who claims that (whom I met IRL) is someone who has never really committed to regular exercise and absolutely refuses to do so. So they cling to the "diet is all that matter" because it gives them an excuse to not exercise regularly. That's fine. If you don't want to exercise and prefer to manage your weight via calorie counting, go for it. But stop spreading these myths to validate your own choices.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because people who are out jogging in the morning are Type A freaks who obsess about everything

I am guessing many of them count calories, obsess over food, and unfortunately some of them probably have eating disorders as well

Um, it's a great way to start the day. And moderately disciplined does not equal Type A control freaks with eating disorders. But keep telling yourself that!

Seriously. Many people in general probably count calories, obsess over food and have eating disorders.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the same people who have the drive and motivation to be out running in the early morning are oftentimes the same people that have the drive and motivation to eat well and moderately.

Wrong. I have periods where I run over 50+ miles per week (female) and I love McDonald's and a Dairy Queen. Like every week. Both. And PASTA. Lots and lots of it!!

What does over 50+ mean? 60 miles a week? What are you training for?

And yes, I've completed ironmans so know the training cycle well. Nourish yourself on what you like (for instance, McDonalds is a non food to me), but if you are running that much for no reason its a little odd. You may be just doing it so that you feel "allowed" to eat such junky food.

When I hit 40-50 MPW I eat an average of around 3000 calories a day.

I sometimes do a Lydiard style plan. One phase calls for three of the weekly runs to be 10+ miles. I mostly run 5K's but occasionally half marathons. I run to compete so I'm not exactly recreational--under 20:00 for 5K, under 6:00 for a mile, around 1:30 for half marathon.

Cool. Still not sure of your point? Is it that you run so much but aren't thin? Or you are thin yet eat McDonald's and Dairy Queen?

I was responding to the person who said runners all eat well. And then someone else asked why I run over 50 miles a week at times. I mean, can someone even respond without another person butting I. Just for the sake of being a jerk? You're not responding to anyone's questions, you're simply here to act like an a**hole. Go be miserable somewhere else.

Eating disorders? A couple runners that I know, anyway.

If they are disciplined enough to wake up early and jog every morning, they are likely to be just as disciplined with their diet? Just a hypothesis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the same people who have the drive and motivation to be out running in the early morning are oftentimes the same people that have the drive and motivation to eat well and moderately.

Ridiculous

Not at all ridiculous.

I agree - that's not a ridiculous statement. Runners - especially 6 am runners are probably eating well. That makes complete sense.

I'm an occasional runner and when I eat crap, I can barely go for 30 minutes. Sure, maybe it doesn't affect some people as much, but for most of us nutrition has a big impact on performance. Running feels a lot better when I've been eating lots fruits/veggies and healthy protein than when I've had donuts and pizza the day before. Salty foods especially (like pizza/burgers) kill my endurance. I imagine if you're motivated enough to run at 6am, you're probably not eating tons of crap.

I am a runner. One thing that all serious runners have in common is self-discipline. The same self-discipline that motivates you to run 26.3 miles spills over into other areas of your life, including diet. Being overweight would represent failure to me. I don't like to fail.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because people who are out jogging in the morning are Type A freaks who obsess about everything

I am guessing many of them count calories, obsess over food, and unfortunately some of them probably have eating disorders as well

Um, it's a great way to start the day. And moderately disciplined does not equal Type A control freaks with eating disorders. But keep telling yourself that!

Agreed. And I have to count calories to maintain. I never had to when I was in my 20's and even early 30's and I often wondered why all the women around me were eating salads and going on diets all the time. I basically ate and drank whatever I wanted and worked out a reasonable amount. Now that I'm in my late 30's, I have to jog and count calories to maintain my weight. Otherwise, I blow up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the same people who have the drive and motivation to be out running in the early morning are oftentimes the same people that have the drive and motivation to eat well and moderately.

Wrong. I have periods where I run over 50+ miles per week (female) and I love McDonald's and a Dairy Queen. Like every week. Both. And PASTA. Lots and lots of it!!

What does over 50+ mean? 60 miles a week? What are you training for?

And yes, I've completed ironmans so know the training cycle well. Nourish yourself on what you like (for instance, McDonalds is a non food to me), but if you are running that much for no reason its a little odd. You may be just doing it so that you feel "allowed" to eat such junky food.

When I hit 40-50 MPW I eat an average of around 3000 calories a day.

I sometimes do a Lydiard style plan. One phase calls for three of the weekly runs to be 10+ miles. I mostly run 5K's but occasionally half marathons. I run to compete so I'm not exactly recreational--under 20:00 for 5K, under 6:00 for a mile, around 1:30 for half marathon.

Cool. Still not sure of your point? Is it that you run so much but aren't thin? Or you are thin yet eat McDonald's and Dairy Queen?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the same people who have the drive and motivation to be out running in the early morning are oftentimes the same people that have the drive and motivation to eat well and moderately.

Ridiculous

Why is this statement ridiculous? It very reasonable.

Wow. I'm 115 and 5'5" and jog but I am patheticly slow and have to alternate with walking. I see tons of people who weigh more than me jogging, and they're a hell of a lot better at it than I am. I think in part weight is genetic.

Anonymous wrote:Because people who are out jogging in the morning are Type A freaks who obsess about everything

I am guessing many of them count calories, obsess over food, and unfortunately some of them probably have eating disorders as well

Um, it's a great way to start the day. And moderately disciplined does not equal Type A control freaks with eating disorders. But keep telling yourself that!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the same people who have the drive and motivation to be out running in the early morning are oftentimes the same people that have the drive and motivation to eat well and moderately.

Ridiculous

Not at all ridiculous.

I agree - that's not a ridiculous statement. Runners - especially 6 am runners are probably eating well. That makes complete sense.