This whole phenomenon was a big change for me. Anyone who knew me prior to my workout days knows that I was never famous for my appetite, rather my lack thereof. When I was a child, I thankfully never had to finish everything on my plate.
And I never did. Somehow I always had room for dessert, though.
As a
Boy, did I love plaid shirts and denim overalls. Viva las 90s.
Once I started to actually work out, I found myself eating more. When I was training for sprint tris and half marathons I would get a bit hungrier than normal.
And then I started training for a full marathon and I became HUNGRY. So hungry, I awakened the Runger Monster.
At first, its constant need to feed was a fascinating novelty.
When I went back home early in the summer, I was in full-on eat-all-the-things-all-the-time mode. I went to hang out at my sister's and could not have been happier when it was finally dinnertime.
I had seconds but the Runger Monster was still not satisfied.
My Runger Monster even hitched a plane ride overseas with me in August to stay close by. With all the sightseeing we did, TriGuy, our friend John, and I would need frequent breaks to rehydrate. I would always order a little extra.
Actually, a lot extra.
That guy sure is hard to please.
Once I had finished my marathon and my training ended, my appetite naturally went back to normal. My Runger Monster went into hibernation. I was pretty relieved because the whole need to constantly eat was annoying and frustrating.
I took a hiatus from exercise in October and most of November...and December. And a fair amount of January.
But, spring is coming and I am starting to train for the Heroes Half Marathon in April.
Maybe I should run a little faster.
So, how do you deal with your Runger Monster? Not a runner? Tell me what your monster is.
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I HAD DA BIGGEST RUNGER MONSTER EVER! However mine is the ELLIPER MONSTER as I am on the elliptical every day for 2 hours. Seriously have the biggest appetite known to man! I would love to go out and eat with you to compare our appetites! People think I am 10000% crazy, a bottomless pit.... In fact, I could TOTALLY EAT MORE RIGHT NOW!!! Ah! And if only you knew what I ate tonight, LOL! Oh my, I need to stop but I cannot. My body is calling to it! Ah ha ha! So I get you! However, I have been like this ever since I can remember! Food = GiGi's LIFE :)
ReplyDeleteHAVE - not HAD... Ha!
DeleteThat is awesome! Five minutes on the elliptical sounds like torture to me, let alone two hours! So from now on whenever I'm hungry I'll say I'm going to eat GiGi's house!!
DeleteThe Runger Moster! He's my bud. We hang. That's why I always have a snack in my purse. No one needs to see the Runger monster all the time!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, a purse with snacks is a must!! Good thinking!
DeleteThat is my life right there! But I am not running, or do so much exercise that I would have to eat more. I am just always hungry, and I always have been...but lucky for me I don't gain any weight...whee excuse me I need to have a second breakfast!
ReplyDeleteMmmm, second breakfasts :)
Deletehaha your cartoon illustrations are the best things eve!!!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks Lindsay!
DeleteLOVE this post!!
ReplyDeleteMy monster is pretty scary. I go out to eat and friends will have a salad and nibble while I'll have a salad and everything else on the menu. My husband actually once mentioned that he was embarrassed by how much I ate at dinner at a friends place.
Oh no! Embarrassing your husband is not a good thing--he needs to keep up! But ya gotta eat, right??
DeleteLove the runger monster...shocking to see you feeding it..
ReplyDeleteI know :)
DeleteYour depiction of the Runger Monster is great. I have to satisfy the "drunker monster" that's constantly encouraging me to be sloshed...Some call it alcoholism. The most shocking part of this, though, is that you used to be way into plaid shirts and denim overalls. Did you wear the overalls with one strap unbuttoned?
ReplyDeleteI would like to say that I did not, but I'm afraid I might have done so. I'll go hang my head in shame now.
Deletelove it. i don't know if i'm always hungry but i always want to eat... especially ice cream. :)
ReplyDeleteWell you can hardly go wrong with ice cream!
DeleteI am quite familiar with the Runger! WE are BFFs, in fact. Except he doesn't go away when I am not exercising. :)
ReplyDeleteHe's such a cling-on :)
DeleteI have a runger! Though I'm not a runner....so pretty much I'm just trying to say I'm hungry a lot. Love the runger drawing, though.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's the runner hidden within you, Gia ;)
DeleteI satisfy mine by eating at regular intervals (about every 2 hours) and always having snacks in my purse, car, and at my desk at work. Bananas are usually my runger food of choice. Of course the worst thing about runger is having to make multiple trips to the grocery store in one week!
ReplyDeleteBananas are great for runger! Did you hear they are talking about the risk of a banana shortage?? I don't know what we will all do without our bananas!!
DeleteI had this all the time when I was training for my first half marathon, but after I had been running awhile and got used to it I think my appetite turned back to normal. but recently I added spin classes to my fitness repertoire and OH MY GOD THE RUNGER. I totally forgot what it was like, but now I feel like I need to be eating every freaking second.
ReplyDeleteI find it so fascinating...and so annoying!! Way to add spin classes; they are intense!
DeleteBest of luck in your battle against runger. I, on the other hand, will continue to battle my counger... the painful hunger that attacks me while sitting on the couch watching successive episodes of shitty TV :-)
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Those can be especially painful attacks :D
DeleteI haven't seen you in a while, thanks for coming by!!
My years, 30+++++, has helped me with all this food & exercise hunger stuff.. :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll get there! I'm a work in progress :)
Deleteconsidering I live with swinger and water pologer, I can barely make home from the gym without needing to feed the gymger! Thank goodness for second fridges and Costco!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLuckily I don't need a second fridge, but I do love Costco!!
Delete{munch, munch} I have a mouth full of pretzels as of this moment... I am so rungry! Feel your pain -- hunger pains, that is!
ReplyDeleteGuess what? I'm hungry again. I bet you're eating right now too, aren't you?
DeleteThis is hilarious. When I was swimming every day, I craved McDonald's (of all unhealthy things). I was just starving all the time. I recently just started going to the gym again, and the runger has definitely returned...
ReplyDeleteUh oh, better start bringing lunch money with ya!
DeleteI've always had a big problem with overeating, so during times when I was trying to be more active the rungermonster was definitely not a welcome guest.
ReplyDeleteYeah, exercise does nothing to squash an appetite!
DeleteHaha! It's good to put a name and a face to my Runger Monster, although he's been in hibernation since at least November. Your post makes we want to reawaken the beast and get back to running. :)
ReplyDeleteSweet! Do it! :D
DeleteGood on you! I really should start running or do some sorts of sports. But I can't say I don't get hungry though...mine is more of a Sleepger Monster, though, I guess.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Listen, we all have our hunger monster in its own form :)
DeleteI havent been here in a while... I didnt realize it but I missed your pictorial way of telling a story... always makes me laugh! You have gotten quite good at it....love the runger monster....
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Zoe!! Welcome back.
DeleteWhen I trained for swimming my runger monster was bigger than godzilla.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine! My nephews are that way.
DeleteLoved this! Like Daniel, I am susceptible to the Sleepger monster when I up my exercise. Though no way have I ever trained enough to merit a true runger monster.
ReplyDeleteThank you Larks! The runger monster strikes in many forms and at many levels!
DeleteAfter my race yesterday (a 7K) I was okay right after the race, then at night I ate all the things. I usually have true RUNGER the day after a really long run or race!
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of fun, when you have access to lots of food. I ran a 9 miler on Sunday then went out to eat an omelette, potatoes, and pancakes. That was a good day :D
DeleteI'd never heard the term 'runger' but it makes so much sense, along with 'hangry'. I notice that when I'm running long distances the runger is especially fierce in the morning. Now that I'm barely running, it's nice to be able to just eat a piece of toast and call it good. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I get hangry too, unfortunately. It is a relief when you don't have to plan your day around food.
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