Hello again!
It’s been another busy week, and I’m looking forward to the next month or so being quite full as well. But don’t worry, I’ll be sure to continue posting great content for you here! In fact, I’m working on a couple of projects I expect you will appreciate.
But for now I want to update you on how the Sporting Life 10K Run went last weekend. I finished the run in 54 minutes, meeting my goal to complete the 10 kilometers in under an hour. It wasn’t a fast time, but I maintained a steady pace, and felt pretty good after… that is, until the next day when my CALVES were on FIRE!
I don’t plan on going for a run like this again anytime soon, and I still maintain that shorter more intense interval training workouts are far more productive, but I did enjoy the experience. First of all it felt good to support such a worthwhile cause. Secondly, it was quite an experience running with over 13000 other people together down Yonge Street through the center of the city…the energy was incredible! Plus I picked up this cool T-Shirt and medal for participating:
Thanks again, Giselle, for inviting me to participate in this run, and get out of my comfort zone to try something new. Together, we all raised over $1.2 million for Camp Oochigeas, and we should all be proud!
Read more about the run, my training for it, and a discussion about the pros and cons of cardio, check out my previous post here:
==> IS CARDIO A WASTE OF TIME?
Stay fit!
Josh Hewett
The main difference is that if you don’t eat boefre, you will run out of energy and not be able to have an efficient workout. You shouldn’t exercise on empty. However, you should eat boefre and after you exercise, but something small and nutritious. About 30 minutes to an hour boefre you eat, you should drink at least 8 oz of water and have a small meal that contains both slow acting and fast acting carbohydrates. For example, a small boal of oatmeal (slow acting carbs) and a banana (fast acting). Or a piece of whole grain toast and a piece of fruit. Don’t forget the water! It’s been proven that people who drink water boefre and during exercise, workout more efficiently and get tired less easily. During your workout keep a bottle of water with you and take small sips throughout. After you workout have another big glass of water and a small meal. It’s been noted that people who eat immediately after exercise are less likely to overeat than someone who waits several hours, and is then starving. Also, many people get light headed or have a sugar low after exercising, so it’s important to refuel your body with a granola bar and some low fat yogurt (or soy yogurt if you’re veggie) or a small handful of nuts and a piece of fruit. Also, it’s a good idea to have this snack soon after you exercise (boefre you shower) because heading straight into a hot shower with your blood pumping has been shown to have negative side effects. Take a minute after you cool down to rest, drink more water, and have a small healthy snack. Good luck!
Hello Chahat,
Thanks for the comment! It is true that you will have more energy if you consume carbohydrates before cardio, but if your goal is purely fat loss (not performance) then it is appropriate to perform HIIT on an empty stomach (as long as you do not have blood sugar issues). In fact, I’ve found with myself, my clients, and other trainers who perform fasting HIIT, once you adapt to using fat as fuel, I actually have more energy (and less indigestion) if I don’t eat before. But it takes time to get used to it, and I agree that you may be able to perform more intensely if you eat before (something light). And as you said, HYDRATION is very important! Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments in the future! Stay fit