Should You Diet or Detox as a Runner?

I feel like I should preface this by saying 2 things:

1. I am NOT a registered dietician or nutritionist.  However, I have an extensive background in Exercise Science and multiple certifications that involve learning many different aspects of nutrition.  I do NOT claim to be an expert on this topic, but wanted to cover some of the basics to help you make a wise choice as to whether or not a detox or diet is the right thing for you.
2. This was not a topic I had planned on covering, but I had someone bring this up to me, specifically covering dieting + detoxing for runners, so I felt that I should give my opinions and some very basic facts on this.  Again, NOT an expert here, but I want to help you make an informed decision.

I have struggled with nutrition for a very long time.  Back in high school, I remember counting the number of Goldfish crackers I packed in my lunch because I understood how calories worked.  I’ve always been fascinated with nutrition, weight loss, and how it all affects our body + performance. However, my “passion” for the subject area morphed into some very serious disordered eating.Once I reached college, I was desperate to fit in with all the skinny sorority girls.  I wasn’t one, but I knew that I wanted to avoid the “Freshman Fifteen.” This is actually when I took up running.  I already LOVED working out and loved how running made me feel after. But, I also knew that nutrition was 80% of the weight loss battle.I started eating salads daily in the dorm cafeteria.  I was skipping breakfast. And eventually, I got to the point, especially when I moved off campus and could control EVERYTHING I put in my mouth, where I started counting calories every single day.  It started with a simple notebook where I tracked my calories and then computer software. Eventually, I was avoiding public situations because I knew that I absolutely could not go to a place where I didn’t know the calories I was putting into my body.  And if I did, it was a full out binge session. All bets were off because I had already “messed up” for the day, so I ate whatever I had been avoiding that week - and in MASSIVE amounts.I remember, one night, I actually binged on like 5 chocolate chip cookies.  I felt HORRIBLE. I was in tears and desperate to “fix” my “mistake.” So, I went into the bathroom and tried to make myself throw up.  To this day, I am thankful that I HATE throwing up and wasn’t able to follow through with it. But, it was my first instinct that I just might have something wrong with me.  But, I wasn’t anorexic or bulemic, so I was probably fine. (Hmmm… this sounds VERY similar to what I went through during my postpartum depression…)I continued to count calories post-college and during the early years of our marriage.  I started training for a marathon, thinking that it would be an easy way for me to eat more and keep the weight off.  As many of you know, most people GAIN weight while training for a marathon - and that was definitely me. I looked skinny, but I was definitely “skinny fat” - I lacked muscle and was eating FAR too few calories to support the number of miles I was putting in.It wasn’t until I was pregnant with MacKenna that I finally woke up and realized this had to stop.  I was now eating to support another human and grow her in my body. I absolutely COULD NOT worry about calories because I knew that it wasn’t good for her - or for me.Seven years later, and I haven’t counted a calorie since.  In addition, I do not count macros. Mostly because it’s just one more thing on my already full plate, but also because I am terrified to slip back into those old habits.Why do I tell you my backstory before talking about detoxing + dieting?  Because I want you to know that if you are experiencing any of the things that I went through as far as counting calories + obsessing over every bite you put into your body, I want to caution you with what I am going to be talking about through the rest of this post.So, what exactly are my opinions + thoughts on detoxing + dieting for runners?I believe that if you need to lose weight - like a significant amount of weight because you are unhealthy - then I believe that you can “diet” to help you get to a healthy weight.  However, I strongly urge you to STOP doing the research on your own and find someone who can help you do this in a healthy way. If you need a nutritionist, I have PLENTY I can refer you to who specialize in athletes.  Just reach out to me and I will send you their info.That being said, I HATE - no - DESPISE the word “diet”.  First of all, “diet” seems like a short term thing. When it comes to nutrition, it is all about creating LIFELONG habits that work for YOU.  There are so many fads and short term “fixes” that seem to be all the rage right now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will help you discover those lifelong nutrition habits you NEED for a healthy life + running performance.  Sure, I think Whole30 is GREAT if you are trying to “reset” and figure out what foods you can truly tolerate, but again, like the name says, it’s a 30 day thing. It isn’t MEANT to be sustainable.However, there are many other diets out there that cut out food groups or other things that could cause you to miss out on very important nutrients your body NEEDS for running performance.My philosophy regarding nutrition is EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.  Yes, I follow something fairly structured (I go by Kelly Leveque’s Body Love book, which is centered around lifelong, sustainable habits), but I don’t think I will EVER be on a diet.  If you have been around my blog or social media for awhile now, you know I LOVE beer. But, I’m not binge drinking every night. Matt + I maybe split 1-2 beers a few nights a week, and maybe a bigger one on the weekends or to celebrate something in life.  I started this blog because I LOVE ice cream (hence the name “concrete” as that is what the frozen custard term is for a blended ice cream dessert). While I don’t eat it every single day anymore (thanks to family food allergies), it is still something I enjoy occasionally.Overall, when it comes down to dieting + detoxing, it needs to be something that you have researched, talked to a nutritionist about, and understand that this is a SHORT TERM thing.  It is not automatically going to fix years of yo-yo dieting or bad nutrition. My “detox” looks like getting back on track after a vacation where I enjoyed more beer and snacks than usual.  I start my morning with my green smoothie. I eat a salad for lunch. I limit my drinking and avoid sweets. These HABITS are the things that help get me back on track - NOT cutting out food groups or following a juice fast or cleanse.If you want more information on what I teach in my Elite Running Academy, feel free to reach out to me and we can chat about running nutrition, intermittent fasting, and carb cycling, as these things are all things I believe are healthy and sustainable for proper running nutrition and performance.  And if you have a significant amount of weight to lose, I’d be happy to hook you up with a registered dietician who can support you in your weight loss journey.