Tapering

Hello, I've been swimming with USMS for about 5 years now, with no prior competitive swimming. I wanted to get a feel for how much/how long most people taper for a meet. I'm swimming at Nationals this year (just 3 events) since it is right here. Our coaches have said they will work with us on a taper schedule. In the past, I've tapered maybe a week for a state meet. Also, if I do other exercise (such as walking/jogging), should I also cut down on that, or continue as normal? Lastly, do you change your diet when tapering? I'm concerned that if I taper for 2-3 weeks, I will gain weight. Thanks in advance for any of your opinions, and hope to see lots of you in AZ for Nationals. Tim Murphy Sun Devil Masters