It Really Satisfies

It's been known for quite sometime that I'm a bit of a magazine freak. I love me a good frivolous read full of over the top ads, gimmicks, and the occasional sensationalized story. Rather than keep all of my magazines and become like one of those pack rats who can barely walk through their house, I like to tear out and collect the "best ofs." I ran across this little tidbit this morning in Runner's World (April 2007 issue) where they noted the following equivalents (eye openers!!!)

-1 large banana=13 minutes (running)
-1 Snickers bar=30 minutes (totally worth it in my caramel/chocolatey opinion)
-1 cup cooked pasta w/ tomato sauce=31 minutes (I'd rather have the Snickers)
-2 bean and cheese burritos=40 minutes
-1 cinnamon-raisin bagel w/ 2 T peanut butter=41 minues
-1 scone=45 minutes
-2 slices of Pizza Hut cheese pan pizza=58 minutes
-Cheeseburger w/ large french fries=117 minutes

*All calculations are based on a 155 pound person running 12 minute miles.

The information is from a book by Charles Stuart Platkin entitled, The Diet Detective's Count Down. The book's website is amazing. You can type in almost any food and the dietary information pops up along with the amount of time you would need doing various exercises to equal a serving. Check it out!

When I'm in full race training (which isn't really that "full" when compared to others), I seriously think in these type of equivalents. How far am I going to have to run to work off this brownie? How much time in the gym to work off that Cafe Rio Salad (about 12 miles on the trail if you're interested)? So, as all of those New Year's Resolutions begin their inevitable falter, just remember--calories in/calories out.