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.
Former Member
I eat a small snack before swimming- an apple, orange, or granola bar.
During the workout, water. It stinks to be drinking water while in water, but it's the best for your body.
Gatorade AFTER to replenish all those lost electrolytes.
I eat like a man afterwards...lots of pasta and carb rich foods.
~ButterflyBabe
I am so bad at drinking water while swimming (well, outside pool water :)). I think because I am cool and not covered in sweat, I do not think about how much I am losing.
I have often thought about trying to swim a workout with no food in my system, but I'm afraid to even attempt it. I usually eat around 5am for a 6am practice, and it's cereal or oatmeal. During the fall, sometimes I eat leftover pumpkin pie, which for me, has great lasting power for a full workout.
Life has been good since I abandoned all granola and nutrition bars, which are really hard for me to digest, as easy as they are to eat.
During the workout, water. It stinks to be drinking water while in water, but it's the best for your body.
Gatorade AFTER to replenish all those lost electrolytes.
I usually drink just water, but I also like to drink Diluted Gatorade during workouts. I use about a 1:4 Gatorade to water ratio. If you're only swimming an hour workout you probably don't need it, but when you're swimming for 90 minutes or two hours I think you want to replenish electrolytes and carbs during the workout.
