As a runner, I don't eat anything heavy or difficult to digest before I run. Specifically, I don't usually eat anything an hour before I run. But I'm curious as to what works for swimmers? I can't get out of my head that warning that was floating around when I was a kid: don't eat anything for two hours before you swim otherwise you'll get cramps and die. I know it is different for everyone, but what works for you?
Also in the field of food questions, what foods are good for swimmers? I assume we like carbs and protein, but are there other food groups or foods I should be paying attention to?
I go running and then swimming almost every day, and it's hard for me to know when to.eat for swimming. I get off work at 5, and go running immediately after for about an hour. Then I usually rest for an hour and eat a little, like some fruit or something, but otherwise I wait to really eat until I get done swimming around 9 or so. Any help or.suggestions for this new swimmer is greatly appreciated.
I'm kind of doing the opposite or your routine. Biking (indoor spinning now) early in the AM for an hour and then swimming right after about 3000 yds. Because im statring out on an empty stomach in the AM, I usually have some carbs (toast with peanut butter or a bkfst bar) and bring a sports drink along that i consume during spinning. I then just drink water during swimming. I try to consume another 20 oz or so of sports drink right after swimming and eat bkfst pretty quickly to refuel. From what I've read, getting rehydrated after running and refuleing carbs after the workouts is probably the most important thing to do. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to add a little protein after the run and before you swim.
I'm a swimmer who has done a lot of running. I definitely can't eat for 1 1/2 to 2 hours before running, but have no problems eating 1/2 hour before swimming.
Right when I came back to swimming I needed about 2 hours after a large meal or I might feel it if we did a hard set. Now I can finish dinner right before I leave for the pool (10m drive) and have no issues.
I try not to eat a large meal before swimming because it makes me a little nauseous. Most of my practices are around our dinner time, so I will generally eat a granola bar before practice and then eat when I get home. I have eaten supper before leaving to swim, and I can feel my stomach churning.
Obviously the "you'll get cramps and die" thing is nothing more than an old wives' tale. As you said, though, it really is different for everyone. Some people will tell you they can't eat before swimming. Others can eat like a horse with no adverse effects. I think you'll need to learn by trial and error, but there is no inherent reason NOT to eat before swimming. The same kind of foods that you'd want to eat before or after a running workout would work for swimming. No difference there that I know of.
I am probably at the far end of the spectrum, but I have to have 2 1/2 to 3 hrs in between eating and my workout, or else I feel nauseous... quite close to vomiting in he worst case, though I have managed to avoid actually doing it. I read something recently that this may be asthma related (I do have asthma) but I don't know if there is anything to that.
If I am too hungry to swim I eat 1-2 bananas or a soft pretzel before I swim. Even if I eat that 10 minutes before I swim I'm fine. I just don't eat a whole meal.
Back when I started swimming in the early '80's, I remember a quote from Mark Spitz saying that if you can't devour a double cheeseburger & fries before your workout, then you are not in shape...
When I was a bike messenger I HAD to eat while "working out". Oddly you don't consider it as working out even though my ten hour shift was tougher than any swim workout I ever did in my life. Due to the lack of time, I had to eat what went fast. I often got about 3 whoppers and 3 large fries at Burger King in the afternoon, shoved it down my throat, hopped on my bike and cycled the next few hours. I never got stomach cramps.
