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 agree with flyguy Bert. I eat something easily digested early in the morning of a big meet. I have asthma and have found over the years of many big meets that a cup or two of coffee helps me swim better. The caffeine is a performance enhancer and there are other substances that help the asthma (Theo bromines?)
At the number one web site for breaststroke articles, http://www.breaststroke.info.
www.breaststroke.info/tums.htm
I have an article on taking TUMS. I take quite a few (20-30) TUMS with lots of water for two reasons. First it helps swim performances between 30 seconds and three minutes. Second it, along with massage, allows clearing the muscles of pH better than just a swim down. It is not the lactate that is bad, but the ion that lowers the intercellular pH. Too low a pH will destroy the muscle fibers for 72 hours, pretty much ruining any more swims.
Anyone who is a sprinter needs to replenish his or her glycogen stores.
Anaerobic glycolysis is the primary energy system used for the first 40 seconds of a sprint. This encompasses all 50s. Discounting the dive, 40 seconds accounts for about 75 to 80 percent of the 100-yard breaststroke, and the entire college men’s 100 freestyle. Their are now many sports foods and drinks that can replace glycogen stores rapidly. You just have to find one that works for you.
And I agree with Tall "Eagle Eye" Paul that pizza and beer after the meet with your swimmer friends is the perfect after meet food.
Wayne McCauley
Reply
Former Member
I agree with flyguy Bert. I eat something easily digested early in the morning of a big meet. I have asthma and have found over the years of many big meets that a cup or two of coffee helps me swim better. The caffeine is a performance enhancer and there are other substances that help the asthma (Theo bromines?)
At the number one web site for breaststroke articles, http://www.breaststroke.info.
www.breaststroke.info/tums.htm
I have an article on taking TUMS. I take quite a few (20-30) TUMS with lots of water for two reasons. First it helps swim performances between 30 seconds and three minutes. Second it, along with massage, allows clearing the muscles of pH better than just a swim down. It is not the lactate that is bad, but the ion that lowers the intercellular pH. Too low a pH will destroy the muscle fibers for 72 hours, pretty much ruining any more swims.
Anyone who is a sprinter needs to replenish his or her glycogen stores.
Anaerobic glycolysis is the primary energy system used for the first 40 seconds of a sprint. This encompasses all 50s. Discounting the dive, 40 seconds accounts for about 75 to 80 percent of the 100-yard breaststroke, and the entire college men’s 100 freestyle. Their are now many sports foods and drinks that can replace glycogen stores rapidly. You just have to find one that works for you.
And I agree with Tall "Eagle Eye" Paul that pizza and beer after the meet with your swimmer friends is the perfect after meet food.
Wayne McCauley