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Should Triathletes Avoid Junk Food?

Sunday, 30 January 2022 00:10

By Nancy Clark (triathlonmagazine.ca)

“I’m training really hard, doing double workouts, and eating only healthy foods. I feel full all the time—but I am losing too much weight. I don’t think I could comfortably eat any more…”

“I generally eat clean—but some days I cheat and have ice cream.”

“Fruit juice is bad; it has way too much sugar! I’ve stopped drinking it.”

Many triathletes go to great extremes to eat healthfully. Needless to say, the definition of “eating healthfully” varies from athlete to athlete—and can often take on a religious zeal. “Healthy eating” tends to include these parameters:  ...

• No refined sugar, gummy candy, soda pop, sweets
• No potato chips, corn chips, Cheetos, salty snacks
• No doughnuts, pastries, croissants, pancakes, PopTarts
• No McDonald’s, Burger King, pizza, hot dogs
• No cookies, desserts, birthday cake, holiday treats.
• No foods in wrappers—particularly among athletes who are “eating clean.” (Question: Are wrapped foods actually dirty? Or is trendy terminology breeding craziness?)

While eliminating “bad” and “dirty” foods is a noble attempt to put premium nutrition into your body’s engine, the questions arise: ... READ MORE