Every single day I just keep realizing how important diet is.

Ford Palmer of NYNJ is vegan and he runs a 3:53 I believe. So don't listen to people saying it can't be done.

Stop worrying about the tiniest detail like how many mg of sodium you're having.

Just focus on maintaining a whole foods high carb low fat diet. Lots of fruits & vegis.

Is there any evidence for the sodium bit? I can see if you are running in high temps or sweat a lot, but where is the evidence that in day-to-day life runners need more than 2500mg? I ask seriously because I have tried to cut back the sodium recently, mostly because I realized I was eating a ton of it (way more than 2500). I've cut down to 2500mg and have not noticed any detriments to my running at all at 60mpw.

Sodium allows you to retain water. Too little sodium messes with your fluid balance, which can have very detrimental effects on both running performance and general health. Sodium is also a very important electrolyte involved in muscle and nerve signaling, so too little of this (and other electrolytes) can lead to decreased neuromuscular coordination which obviously isn't good for a runner. Generally anything above 1500 mg is probably acceptable, but RejectRunner is consuming far under that amount.

RejectRunner wrote:

Jesus Christ, have you guys seen supersize me? Scary. I'm going to research the best diet for the human body now. I am vegan but sometimes I just eat vegan junk(once a week maybe.) Anyways do you guys have suggestions on how to make vegan even better? Just the last week I started taking in 1000mg of sodium instead of 400-600mg and 35grams of fat instead of 10-15grams and running is so much better, so I obviously don't know enough. What are some things you guys would recommend besides "start eating animals."

Stay vegan, mate.

RejectRunner wrote:

Jesus Christ, have you guys seen supersize me? Scary. I'm going to research the best diet for the human body now. I am vegan but sometimes I just eat vegan junk(once a week maybe.) Anyways do you guys have suggestions on how to make vegan even better? Just the last week I started taking in 1000mg of sodium instead of 400-600mg and 35grams of fat instead of 10-15grams and running is so much better, so I obviously don't know enough. What are some things you guys would recommend besides "start eating animals."

Low fat raw vegan. Research it.

Look man you're worrying way too much. I'm a freshman too. I'm in the 16s and I literally have no diet. You don't need a diet when you're this young. Just eat what you want, like I do. However, I barely eat any sweets. I just eat normal food, with no diet, and I run perfectly fine.

Eat fat and protein: meat, fish, eggs, butter, nuts. A lot of it. Add some carbs in the form of fruits and starches. And don't forget the vegetables.

I eat a 95% plant based diet based on calories. I do eat eggs. (And occasionally meat at if a special dinner or to not hurt a host feelings .. Or at a company function. Can't be that vegan freak ) I do try to stay 100% dairy free. Point is if you eat almost all plant based a few animal products aren't the end of the world. You have to be a little flexible in life. Although I can tell when I eat meat. Jams me up man

notquitesure wrote:

Alright dude, im vegetarian and I run, so im not sure about vegan, thats tough.

I eat a lot of yogurt and granola..

Get some supplements like a multivitamin.

Most runners just try to eat a lot in high school and eat veggies and stuff, but dont worry if it has sugar or what kinda fat it has.. dont worry just eat a lot of stuff and try to get good healthy stuff in too

Vitamin supplements are for those reaching inadequate intakes of vitamins. If you are adequately consuming vitamins there is no reason to be taking these.

I would have a big lunch at Burger King and then just a small salad for dinner and lost 7 lbs in 3 weeks or about 4% of my body weight

Keep an eye on protein sources. Real good are beans/legumes of all sort, raw nuts, seeds and the like. Green, orange and yellow vegetables will keep you regular. Sure you are gonna go with the grains, but those first two categories are key.

T. Colin Campbell, Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, author of the China Study, has documented with years of research how eating animal flesh & fat is a factor in heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, weak bones, senility and more. I note that Prof. Campbell has been attached by corporate interests for his findings, trying to discredit his research.

Be vegan, be healthy, live longer.

The whole association of animal flesh with "cancer, kidney disease, and weak bones" was discredited with empirical evidence a long time ago. The fact that Campbell is still harping about that is laughable. It's like the dude hasn't looked up any new research on Pubmed in over 15 years.

Until you establish yourself as a successful runner, or quite simply just stat anonymous, please stop trying to give out advice!!

RejectRunner wrote:

Jesus Christ, have you guys seen supersize me? Scary. I'm going to research the best diet for the human body now. "

Increase your lithium

Justwonderingman wrote:

Until you establish yourself as a successful runner, or quite simply just stat anonymous, please stop trying to give out advice!!

He is a Jamin Jr. All talk no action

Great advice, please listen to it.

Good to eat healthy and work hard. But with your growth spurt and all, I wouldn't worry about weight or anything. Core work is a great idea and wish they had it when I was in high school.

I would think twice about being a vegan when you are growing so much.

But congrads on the running improvement! Don't expect as much of an improvement next year ;-)

What screwed up thread.

In regards to your title "Every single day I just keep realizing how important diet is....instead, I keep reminding myself how important "my life" is...🙄

Stop measuring and analyzing everything you eat.

Use your instincts and eat what makes sense

Diet is crucially important only insofar as you need to eat to survive.