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
Former Member
In many cases milk is VERY harmfull. Humans have not used cows milk for very long, perhaps 5,000 years. On the evolutionary scale this is not enough time for a genetic change. Only certain parts of the world until recently drank cows milk. 90% of the rest of the world have major problems with the lactose (milk sugar). You want an eye opener type in lactose in www.google.com.
After WW2 the USA sent millions of tons of powdered milk to Africa. You have seen the pictures of kids with swollen bellys. This was not from starvation but from our milk!
Beyond lactose intolerance is Galactosemia, the total inability to digest milk sugar. One of my four children has this genetic problem. The accumulation of galactose is a poison to the body and can cause serious complications such as the following and if untreated, as high as 75% of infants will die:
an enlarged liver
kidney failure
cataract
brain damage
Former Member
Joy,
Buried back in this thread, you asked what the pool was like that the Canadian LCM championships were to be swum in. I had no idea. It seems that this did not matter since the published results indicate you broke the World LCM 50 fly record.
Congratulations!
Looking at the times of others I know, it seems to have been a 'slow' pool; you should be able to do even better in a fast pool. Again, great swim.
Ian.
Former Member
I Once did a fitness swim. I swam free style , I swam four miles a day non stop. But i had a peanut butter on whole wheat sandwich. I ate this approx. One hour before I swam. I did this for the whole month of Feb. I also drank a 12 oz. of gator aid mixed half with water. But once I hit the water I did not stop to eat or drink, until I finished my swim . I can tell you I never was hungry untill I stop swimming. So all I an say is peanut butter And gator aid mixed with water.:) :cool:
Former Member
I am also working on the best food to eat before, during and after events. I know it's important to have both protein and carbs for breakfast, but not too much. I normalkly don't have more than coffee for my 6:30 a.m. workouts. I have a big concern with lunch. At my last meet I swam a 100 breaststroke at 10:30 a.m. and swam a PR! Had some Gatoraide immediately afterwards and then a protein bar plus water and bagel for lunch. My 200 breastroke event at 2:30 p.m. was a disaster. I felt like lead after just 75! It was all I could do to just finish. I lost my kick and strength. Of course, I know there are a lot of factors that go into performance, but I have a three day Senior Olympics meet coming up next week where I'll be swimming two events on Monday and Tuesday and one event on Weds. What should I eat for lunch? I'm disappointed that SWIM mag doesn't have more on meals for competition. Runners World gives some excellent articles. Thanks.
