Running Too Much? How to Tell What's Healthy: Cynthia Donovan

What is the difference between good, challenging training and over-exercise? After all, running for hours and hours training for long distance events is definitely far more exercise that we need to be healthy and fit.

But when is it really considered over-exercise? It can happen pretty quickly when we undereat.

Undereating paired with high amounts of training will start to set off alarm bells in the body. One of the first things that the body will sacrifice in women is reproductive health. In this state, your body has decided that there’s not enough food for you as well as another life, so it prepares for survival instead of fertility.

Once you’ve lost your period, consider yourself warned that you’ve crossed a very dangerous line for your health. And what you might not know is that this doesn’t just happen to skinny people. You can be at risk no matter what your size, even if you have weight to lose.

Welcome to the Planted Runner. I’m Coach Claire Bartholic and my mission is to help you improve your running, your mindset, and your life with science-backed training and plant-based nutrition.

Today, I’m talking with Cynthia Donovan, also known as the Period Nutritionist. She’s a registered dietician who works with women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea to help them get their period back, restore their health, fertility & find balance with food & exercise.

Today you’ll learn:

Why under fueling during running can be so detrimental

How to work with your body to train hard and fuel well

And how to re-evaluate the image you have of an athletic body and what it can do properly fueled

Clearly this episode is mostly geared towards pre-menopausal women, but the theme of fueling properly is critical to everyone, no matter what your age or gender. So please share this one with all your running buddies.

Don’t forget to stay tuned all the way to the end of the episode for another Mental Strength Minute. Fortify your mind in 60 seconds or less.

LINKS:

Find Cynthia @period.nutritionist and periodnutritionist.com

Cynthia mentioned two Instagram accounts: @menopause.nutritionist

@periomenopause_nutritionist

➡️FOLLOW The Planted Runner on Instagram @theplantedrunner for more running, plant-based nutrition and mental strength tips.