intense exersize and blood sugar blues

[fitmomoffour]

Hi there! I have a hard time sticking to a strict diet with 3 small children in the house (before this I was very strict). I have great dicipline in exercise. I do an hour of cardio 4-5 days a week at an intense level ( I can speek words but cannot really hold a conversation). I also do an hour of weights 12-15 reps and even with that I bulk up a bit, I have a muscular build. I think it's probably my bad eating habits though. I work out from 10am-12pm. When I get home I am starving. What doesn't make sense to me is when I eat a healthy lunch after I work out (plain tuna on whole wheat bread with an apple, or chicken on a bed of greans with low fat dressing and mabey a piece of whole wheat bread) I feel ZAPPED! When I eat what ever sounds good (pizza, or pbj) I don't feel like I need a nap. I don't know if I am eating enough after I work our or if I am eating too much. Also, I have oatmeal for breakfast, mabey. Mabey I am working out too hard but I love it while I am in the moment. I have about 15lbs to loose but every time I try to eat strict my energy goes down or I am hungery too often. Have you ever heard this before? It sounds like my blood sugar is out of wack but I am not sure. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you. And by the way I think you're great!!-Meg

 

[amyg]

Not Cathe but it sounds like you aren't fueling your workouts, my dear! Your efforts to eat less may be having the opposite effect on your energy, performance, and results. You should eat a good breakfast every day and always try to eat something (100-200 calories) 1-2 hours before your workouts! An hour of cardio needs energy to come from the food you eat.

Try FRONT loading your calories in your day and see what happens. You need to fill up before you work out since after you're done you're already starving!! One of my favorite pieces of advice comes from Nancy Clark RD who says you can't gain weight at breakfast and you can't gain weight at lunch. When I make sure I eat a good breakfast and a good lunch, I'm not starving at dinnertime and don't overindulge.

Try giving up on trying to lose weight for a week or two and focus on what it takes to FUEL your workouts. You may be surprised!