How are you feeling during your workouts? You know that breathing more heavily, sweating, and getting a bit tired during exercise is just another part of your overall weight loss plan. Even a bit of soreness (but not too much) is okay. But some feelings might be bothersome, or even a sign that something is going wrong. And if you’re feeling bloated and gassy, or having abdominal pain during exercise, you probably feel less motivated to keep going.
Those feelings might also indicate that something is going wrong with your eating plan.
Yes, you do need some carbs in order to fuel your workouts. And we like to remind our clients that healthy carbs are an acceptable part of your weight loss plan. But for some people, certain types of carbohydrates can produce bothersome symptoms, especially during exercise.
These carbohydrates are called the FODMAPS group, which stands for Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Essentially, some types of carbohydrates ferment during digestion, producing gas and drawing water into the digestive tract (leading to diarrhea).
These types of carbohydrates are often considered “healthy”, but they are bothersome for some people:
- Wheat, spelt, rye, and barley
- Beans
- Dairy
- Foods that contain fructose
- Foods that contain sugar alcohols (xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, and mannitol)
Have you been experiencing digestive discomfort during exercise? Take a look at your food journal to see if you’ve been eating these carbohydrates before your workouts. If so, try other non-FODMAPS types of carbs for a couple of weeks, and see if the symptoms resolve.
If the discomfort persists, do give us a call to discuss your weight loss plan. We want you to be able to exercise comfortably, so that you can continue your progress and ultimately reach your health goals.
