Nutrition SimplifiedBecause that’s how it should

beBy Michelle Hurn R.D. L.D.

• NCAA Division 1 Runner• 3 time Boston Marathon Qualifier

• Local Super Hero • CONTACT INFO:

hurn@ohsu.edu

My Name is Michelle Hurn, I am a registered dietitian which means I have completed a 4 year degree in dietetics, an ADA approved internship, and taken the RD exam.

I work at OHSU full time, Foot Traffic part time, and I do sports nutrition consults on the side

I run 50-60 miles a week

Who am I?

What does a healthy diet look like? How would I like to change my diet so it is

healthier? My goal is that after listening to this

conversation that you are EXCITED to make a few dietary changes for your running and health

So before we begin:

It’s so easy! All you have to do is eat right and exercise It’s all about calories in vs. calories out

So why are you confused?

The truth is that weight loss is about creating a calorie deficit -- in other words, burning more calories than you take in.

Grains, especially whole grains, are an essential part of a healthy diet. All types of grains are good sources of complex carbohydrates and some key vitamins and minerals. 

All foods can fit into a healthy diet

True or False?

For health, fitness, and weight management, consistently manage blood sugars:

Carbohydrate source (carbohydrates stimulate the release of insulin which causes your blood sugar levels to increase)

Protein and/ or fat (proteins and fats and processed more slowly and prevent blood sugars from spiking and crashing)

Fiber (fiber slows down how quickly food leaves the stomach and how quickly glucose enters the blood stream. Also, foods with fiber don’t cause insulin to rise as high as foods without fiber)

We can all agree on one thing:

Balance Blood Sugars:

Too LOW I cant make good decisions zone: When your blood sugar gets this low; you become incredibly hungry, or tired, irritable, and lethargic. Your body can not burn fat in this zone

Ideal: This is where your body will most effectively burn fat; keeping your blood sugar here also keeps energy levels stable and keeps hunger at bay

Too high: When your blood sugar spikes this high; it stimulates an overproduction of insulin which helps your body store calories. These calories are often stored as adipose (fat) tissue.

Woman; 35 years old 5’6’’ 230 pounds. Has struggled with weight most of her life. Says she really wants to lose weight, but constantly feels tired and hungry. High stress job.

Diet: 7am: 2 cups black coffee, 1 banana, 1 cup special k with skim

milk 9:30am donut at the office 12:00 subway sandwich, turkey, mustard, cheese, low fat chips,

2 cookies 2:00pm non fat yogurt 5:00pm (off work and hungry) what evers in the house, chips,

cookies, etc 7:00pmTry to eat a healthy dinner, pasta, chicken, salad with

low fat dressing Does not drink wine; runs 2-3 times a week 20-30 minutes

Case Study: Why it’s not calories in vs calories out

Blood sugar:

4a 6a 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12a 2a

Low

Ideal

High

Woman; 35 years old 5’6’’ 230 pounds. Has struggled with weight most of her life. Says she really wants to lose weight, but constantly feels tired and hungry. High stress job.

Diet: 7am: 2 cups black coffee, 1 banana, 1 cup special k with skim

milk 9:30am donut at the office 12:00 subway sandwich, turkey, mustard, low fat chips, 2

cookies 2:00pm non fat yogurt 5:00pm (off work and hungry) what evers in the house, chips,

cookies, etc 7:00pmTry to eat a healthy dinner, pasta, chicken, salad with

low fat dressing Does not drink wine; walks 2-3 times a week 20-30 minutes

Case Study: Why it’s not calories in vs calories out

Whole unprocessed carbohydrates: (things that grow in the ground) beans, sweet potatoes, rice, oats, corn, peas,

High quality protein: grass fed beef, bison, buffalo, wild caught seafood, free range chicken, turkey, eggs, whey protein, vegan/vegetarian protein powder blends

High quality fats: nut butters, oils, flax, coconut oil, chia, fish oil, seeds

Lots of fiber from vegetables 1-2 pieces of fruit, 1-2 servings of cheese or

fermented dairy

Fix it:

Diet: 7am: 2 cups black coffee, 1/2 banana, ½ cup dry oatmeal

made with ½ cup water and ½ cup milk + 1 tablespoon peanut butter + 1 hard boiled egg

½ banana + 1 tablespoon peanut butter 12:00: turkey breast 1 small sweet potato with butter 1

cup steamed broccoli 2 pieces of dark chocolate 2:00pm regular fat yogurt 5:00pm apple with string cheese or 2 energy bites 7:00pm 4 ounces grilled beef steak 2/3 cup rice, large

salad (3 cups lettuce and mixed veggies) with handful of pecans and oil dressing

Does not drink wine; walks 2-3 times a day 20-30 minutes

Case Study: Why it’s not calories in JUST about calories out

Blood sugar:

4a 6a 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12a 2a

Low

Ideal

High

Blood sugar:

4a 6a 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12a 2a

Low

Ideal

High

Woman: 35 years old 5’6’’ 230 pounds. Has struggled with weight most of her life. Says she really wants to lose weight, but constantly feels tired and hungry. High stress job

Woman; 35 years old 214 pounds. Feeling great. Feels “in tune” with her hunger. Often doesn’t snack at night or mid morning. Loves peanut butter and fruit. Has felt good enough to increase running to 4 times a week and has started doing “push ups and sit ups.”

What happened: 2 months later:

The fiber, vitamins, minerals, and low carbohydrate value of vegetables make them one of your best allies in the quest for stable blood sugars

It’s time to end a bad relationship Yes, I know that processed carbs makes you feel

good, they are always there, and they are the first to show up when you car won’t start, but they are the worst when it comes to blood sugar stabilization.

Processed carbs come in many sneaky forms including pizza crust, cereal, bagels, cookies, cakes, pies, crackers, chips, stuffing, croutons, and of course breads.

It’s time to make friends with vegetables and get a divorce from processed carbs:

As a nation we eat more “whole grains” now that we have in the last several decades

We also eat less fat and slightly less protein How are we doing with the war against

weight? http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

Our current diet:

“I don’t want to eat before a workout because:

1. I don’t want to burn calories, not take them in

2. It upsets my stomach3. I’m not hungry/ I don’t have time Starting a workout with topping off your

glycogen stores not only fuels your muscles, it helps fuel your brain (it can make hard/long efforts not seem so hard!)

Pre workout NO excuses please

SOOOOO many studies have shown that eating before a workout helps improve performance and helps you burn more calories throughout the day. So that’s my first recommendation:

Ideas: I love generation UCAN 1 scoop = 22 grams of no crash, gluten free carbohydrates.

Other options include 1 banana or small piece of fruit, or ½ nutrition bar (like kind bar) or 1 small bowl of oatmeal or energy bite (recipe at end of document).

Eat or drink 25 carbohydrates before working out (minimal fat and protein optional)

You have 30 minutes to get this windowDO NOT BLOW IT HERE! This can really set recovery and the next

days/weeks runs up for fatigue.Don’t TRADE dollars for dimes! Thinking that not eating after a workout will

help you lose weight (because after all you just burned a bunch of calories) is like trading dollars for dimes. The 100-300 calories you “save” by not eating/drinking carbs and protein after working out will significantly decrease your recovery.

And, how many times have you restricted calories early in the day only to come back and eat a large meal and dessert at night?

Immediately after activity 8-12 ounces of plain water (rehydrate your body and help settle your

stomach from gastric acid that may have built up extra from working out) Have 25-40 grams of carbohydrates with 8-12 grams of protein

after working out. Minimize fat because this slows down the absorption of glycogen into the muscles.

Immediately after

YES!

THIS FIRST!!

Ingredients 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned gluten free oats) 1/2 cup peanut butter ¼ cup dried blueberries 1/2 cup ground flaxseed 1/3 cup honey 1 Tbsp. chia seeds (optional) 1 tsp. vanilla extract Mix all ingredients together. Place in fridge for 30

minutes then form into balls. Keep refrigerated to maximize self life. Makes about 20-ish small balls.

Energy bite recipe

Please feel free to email me any time! (I love talking about nutrition)

I do one on one consults and write emails for $70 (10% discount for FTU and Women’s academy)

Michelle Hurn hurn@ohsu.eduHappy running!!

Questions? Comments?