Recreational runner Carrie Johnston
usually doesn't feel hungry after a good sweat. Exercise{{U}} (31)
{{/U}}Johnston' s appetite, but she knows she needs to{{U}} (32)
{{/U}}lost calories following a workout. "When I come home
from a good run, I force myself{{U}} (33) {{/U}}supper," says Johnston,
a dietitian at McMaster University in Hamilton.{{U}} (34)
{{/U}}Johnston says many female athletes let good eating habits go and
riskhealth{{U}} (35) {{/U}}thinness. Johnston, who works in the
bone-marrow transplant unit at McMaster, has a background in sports{{U}}
(36) {{/U}}. In 1997, while a student at the University of Guelph, she
worked with Prof. Heather Keller on a study for her{{U}} (37) {{/U}}on
the eating habits of female{{U}} (38) {{/U}}. The{{U}}
(39) {{/U}}person with eating disorders is driven by a desire to look
svelte, says Johnston. But her study focused on athletes who eat less to lower
weight and body fat{{U}} (40) {{/U}}the belief it will improve{{U}}
(41) {{/U}}. The study involved{{U}} (42)
{{/U}}. 22 elite female athletes between{{U}} (43) {{/U}}15 and 25
over three months. "Years ago when we didn't know any better it was thought that
being lighter meant running{{U}} (44) {{/U}}," says Johnston, adding
that's still the mentality of many competitive runners, as well as other{{U}}
(45) {{/U}}like gymnasts and swimmers. Job. nation's study{{U}}
(46) {{/U}}consumed 400 to 700 fewer calories daily than recommended
for their{{U}} (47) {{/U}}training. Even when training
more, as they got closer to competing, they failed to{{U}} (48)
{{/U}}more food fuel for energy. Initially, race{{U}} (49)
{{/U}}tend to improve when a runner loses some weight, but then they hit a
peak and{{U}} (50) {{/U}}, says
Johnston.