Carbohydrates provide fuel for the
body needed for physical exercise. Cut the carbs and you’ll run out of gas on
your long runs. Eat them and you’ll run faster and burn more calories. But the
key is to eat the right carbs at the right time. White bread, bagels and energy
gels can give you a quick energy boost before a workout and will help you from
hitting the wall during a long run. But beyond that, they offer little benefit
and only add calories you don’t need.
The best sources of carbohydrates are—fruits,
vegetables, beans, and whole grains.
ü Start the day with whole grains. If
you like hot cereals, try oatmeal. If you're a cold cereal person, look for one
that lists whole wheat or whole grain first on the ingredient list. A bowl of oatmeal
fills my stomach and gives me energy for a morning run.
ü For snacks or lunch use whole grain
breads and don’t forget to add a protein like chicken, turkey or hardboiled eggs.
ü Instead of potatoes, try brown rice.
That’s a hard one for me because I’ve always loved white rice.
ü If you like pasta, pick up some
whole wheat pasta. Again, whole wheat is not my first choice, but I’m slowly
coming around.
ü And go for the beans, an excellent
source of slowly digested carbohydrates and protein. Does that include green
beans? Yes, but Southern style cooked in
bacon grease? Nah! I do have fond memories of sitting on the porch with my
grandmother snapping beans. Oh, well, I
digress.
Now that you’ve got carbs and quick
energy for your body, what about your writer’s mind? What fuels you so you can
think creatively and find your way through problems in your work-in-progress? What
do you do when you know your pacing is off, when your characters are misbehaving,
or you’re not feeling the emotion of the scene? Step back, take a deep breath, and
pull a resource book off the shelf. Go back to the basics (whole wheat and
green vegetables).
What are your favorites? Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain. My copy is highlighted in yellow and pink with multi-colored tabs
sticking out the sides like fringe. The pages explaining a motivation-reaction unit
are all yellow. I remember the day that concept clicked for me. Swain says, “Our
world would turn topsy-turvy indeed if the teacher first jumped and cried out .
. . then sat on the tack!”
Although I’ve read and reread the
book dozens of times, I can always find a piece of advice that propels my
writing forward. Swain says, “A writer can work at his craft for twenty years,
yet continue to discover something new each day.” If I’m not learning, I’m not
growing. Just like if I don’t run, I can’t get stronger or faster.
I have 30-40 craft books, and I’ve read
most of them cover to cover. I have a Pinterest board
showing several of them. Like most authors, in the beginning, I struggled with
point of view and head-hopped with the best of them. The Power of Point of View by Alicia Rasley set me
straight, as did Debra Dixon's
Goal, Motivation & Conflict. I really
struggled with defining my heroine’s goals and motivation until I read her book.
I highly recommend all the books on my board. Carbs! They are all good carbs.
What are you feeding your mind and
body today? Good carbs, I hope.
Happy writing and running, and enjoy your oatmeal! Kathy
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