The "Oval" Diet

Learn to love the oval.

It's the evening after a hard track workout that leaves your gut wrenched, your lungs burning, and your legs quivering. What do you want for dinner? An all-you-can-eat buffet, a fisherman's platter perhaps? Or, would you rather have a ceasar salad or a stir-fry dish? According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity, you'll likely opt for smaller portions following a hard workout.

Not only will you eat less immediately following the workout, but your appetite will be suppressed for the entire day. So, a hard morning workout really sets the tone for the whole day. You still get to eat what you want. You'll just want less.

My own experience tells me that one may also choose healthier choices when they do eat. After all, you don't want to negate the benefits of a killer workout do you? You want to feed the machine and give it the best fuel possible to reap the rewards of your efforts.

Run hard. Eat well. Be healthy. The rest will take care of itself.