diet v exercise

[deeplybaffled]

I have a nasty feeling that one won't really work without the other.
And whilst I'm not fantastic at either, exercise comes more naturally to me than only eating healthy stuff, alas.
am about to re start 30 day shred again post holiday break, but suspect that alone may not be enough to get me from a size 14 to a 12, dammit.
so can anyone advise as to the relative importance of diet and exercise - and suggest any modest diet tips that I can incorporate into day to day life? I know myself too well to believe that wholesale diet changes to lentils and brown rice will be sustained:(
thank you!

I've ordered a trial pack of the torq gels, sooner or later I will find something that suits me (I hope) or have a go at making my own if necessary. As far as 'recovery products' go I am happy with scrambled or poached eggs on toast after a long run . Can't be bothered to read all that stuff about electrolytes though. What is the gist of it?

oh cross posted

I LOVE marzipan, I could try that too - obviously with commercial products they are very easy to dose and keep track of (not that have ever used them in the recommended amounts, only for more than 10 miles and only one every 5 or 6 miles) and then Garmin can analyse it all for me and show which ones are actual rocket fuel

I tried a torq thing today, wasn't a very long run but I broke my 10 minute mile barrier suspiciously easily (especially mainly uphill and in new shoes). I have no skin left on my right heel but had no abdominal crises either :)

they taste fucking awful though, worse than the high5, but that is not the important thing

I havent read all of the posts but I think you can diet without exercising to lose weight (think of all the Weightwatchers / Slimming World plans - exercise isn't really part of the diet). Having said that I wouldnt recommend it as exercise is v important.

Similarly exercise isnt enough. I trained for the marathon earlier this year and for 4 months, I ran about 40 miles a week (a conservative calorie burn is 100 cals per mile so about 4000cals a week). But I didnt lose a pound (although I toned up and got fit) because I didnt watch what I ate - I allowed myself anything.

Now I'm doing much less exercise but eating better and i'm losing weight. Its personal, what works for you, but i definitely think its healthier and better to combine the 2. Good luck!'

I'm glad the Torq gel seems to suit your stomach Mitchy. I thought it would not be much more than the placebo effect to fuel whilst exercising, but from experience I am now quite convinced of how it can improve your performance.

I'm sorry that you didn't like the taste though! What flavour did you try? I'm not a fan of their banana and mango, but the rhubarb and custard I could happily eat all day. DH loves the raspberry ripple. I tend to go for the strawberry or cherry yogurt ones first of all, and to keep a rhubarb and custard in reserve for when I am struggling and need a real pick me up. I like their energy drinks as well. My favourite is pink grapefruit as it is not too sweet. The lemon and lime is nice too.

That doesn't sound good about your poor foot though! I didn't think even new trainers were supposed to rub.

raspberry ripple, I think there are two of everything, quite a big packet - I filtered out the caffeinated one after a very traumatic 10 mile + run that felt like one long panic attack

prob have a day off tomorrow but Saturday is 15 miles and I will need fuel so please let them work ok then as will be with Other People (is one thing gargling vomit on the run by oneself, is another in company)

they're not even NEW new shoes, I mean they are new but they are the same as my old ones - just needed a spare pair, the others aren't drying out and I go through watery ditches and things and they smell unbelievably bad - did have thicker socks on too

have only just realised this is a sort of generic thread about dieting and exercise and not Mitchy's Marathon Training Diary, sorry OP

I know -we have rather hijacked! Sorry OP!

You should start your own thread - or a marathon runners one. There is a half-marathon thread with quite a few posters, so I would bet you are not the only one.

I am completely in awe of anyone doing a marathon. I only took up running this year to do triathlon and am just in the last few weeks pushing up from 5k to 10k - I ran 7k today and only just enjoyed it. Quite happy to spend 6-7 hours on the bike though!

No offence taken and have been reading with admiration! Marathons seem about as remote as yetis to me, so am impressed with anyone who can manage it:)
Picked up a few helpful tips along the way but still feeling that learning to cook properly from scratch - and having the time to do so! - would help.

glad you didn't mind, I genuinely thought this was one of the general running/training threads!

cooking proper food is definitely a big help and needn't be difficult

(just popped back to say I tried the banoffee flavour, a caffeinated one I think but was wasted drinking last night so needed the help and it was absolutely fine, I feel confident that I have something I can use on the Very Long Runs now but will save them for that and carry on doing as much as possible in a fasted state for now but thank you thistledew for the recommendation!)