Greetings all!
I'm a recreational-level Masters swimmer who's been going for nearly a year now. I swim a mere 2x a week, 1hr a workout, and generally finish less than 5KM a week. This is fine for me, swimming is a hobby for me, and it fulfills my "hobby" requirements quite nicely.
I do, however, like to have goals, and distance goals just don't cut it for me. I decided that my main goal was to compete regularly, and to fill my event card, eventually, with times from 17 or 18 different events.
I want to do my best when it comes down to swim meets and being timed, and coincidentally, I also want to improve my (currently shoddy) eating habits, so I figured I'd come to others who might know...
What kinds of foods should I be eating the week before the competition? What kinds of foods should I be avoiding?
I would assume that McDonalds and the likes is assumed - but how harmful are things like chocolate and high-sugar foods, aside from the fullness they give you and the lack of other foods you consume as a result?
If anyone has special meals they like to eat before competition, and they don't mind sharing the logic behind the meals, I'd really appreciate the info!
Jill
Some Chick's Life
Parents
Former Member
I only began swimming 2 years ago. I did not swim at all as a child, but I have improved rapidly. I haven't had the experience that others have, but I might have a few comments that will help.
The week before a meet, I eat a fairly normal well balanced diet. I try to stay away from any heavy fat content. Since I am a distance swimmer, the night before I swim the 1500 or 1650, I tend to eat a few more carbohydrates than usual . If I am swimming the mile in the evening, I eat a decent breakfast and usually some pasta and a chicken *** for lunch. I might have a peanut butter sandwich about 4:00 if I am scheduled to swim at 6:00.
Immediately after I swim I drink a recovery drink called endurox r4. I've found that the hardest thing in swimming three day meets is trying to stop the lactic acid buildup in your muscles as much as possible. This stuff really seems to help.
On a day when I am swimming 5 individual events plus relays, I bring a supply of peanut butter sandwiches, bananas and the above mentioned recovery drink. The peanut butter sandwiches are carbohydrate and protein fuel. The bananas help prevent muscle cramps and the recovery drink helps prevent lactic acid buildup.
I hope that some of this might help.
Karen
I only began swimming 2 years ago. I did not swim at all as a child, but I have improved rapidly. I haven't had the experience that others have, but I might have a few comments that will help.
The week before a meet, I eat a fairly normal well balanced diet. I try to stay away from any heavy fat content. Since I am a distance swimmer, the night before I swim the 1500 or 1650, I tend to eat a few more carbohydrates than usual . If I am swimming the mile in the evening, I eat a decent breakfast and usually some pasta and a chicken *** for lunch. I might have a peanut butter sandwich about 4:00 if I am scheduled to swim at 6:00.
Immediately after I swim I drink a recovery drink called endurox r4. I've found that the hardest thing in swimming three day meets is trying to stop the lactic acid buildup in your muscles as much as possible. This stuff really seems to help.
On a day when I am swimming 5 individual events plus relays, I bring a supply of peanut butter sandwiches, bananas and the above mentioned recovery drink. The peanut butter sandwiches are carbohydrate and protein fuel. The bananas help prevent muscle cramps and the recovery drink helps prevent lactic acid buildup.
I hope that some of this might help.
Karen
