Eating before swimming

5:45 AM Practices: I eat nothing before the 1.5 hr practices. Drink water before and throughout the practice. If I practice 2 hrs w/ age group I use a sports drink (Power Bar drink) during the practice and maybe eat a banana before to prevent cramping. Now, as a kid, I would eat 2 pop tarts before my early AM practices. If I did that now, I'd feel like puking. Plus, I try and watch what I eat a bit more as an adult. Evening Practices: I eat a power bar 20-45 minutes before and drink water before, during, and after practice. I had one coach tell me that as long as the practice was 2 hours or less, I would not need the sports drink. And, as I don't want the calories that come with it (and I don't cramp up as it is), I avoid it. Meets: I will drink 1 diet coke (I avoid caffeine otherwise) and I do use the Gu gels which I love b/c they are easily digested. My favorite is chocolate or vanilla. Some flavors have caffeine and others don't, so look for it on the packaging. I feel they absolutely give me an extra boost. I take as directed on the package which is about 20 minutes before my swim. I also drink lots of water and Power Bar drink throughout the meet. This works for me. I always have to make sure that I don't feel heavy during meets or practice. This all seems to work well for me.

5:45 AM Practices: I eat nothing before the 1.5 hr practices. Drink water before and throughout the practice. If I practice 2 hrs w/ age group I use a sports drink (Power Bar drink) during the practice and maybe eat a banana before to prevent cramping. Now, as a kid, I would eat 2 pop tarts before my early AM practices. If I did that now, I'd feel like puking. Plus, I try and watch what I eat a bit more as an adult. Evening Practices: I eat a power bar 20-45 minutes before and drink water before, during, and after practice. I had one coach tell me that as long as the practice was 2 hours or less, I would not need the sports drink. And, as I don't want the calories that come with it (and I don't cramp up as it is), I avoid it. Meets: I will drink 1 diet coke (I avoid caffeine otherwise) and I do use the Gu gels which I love b/c they are easily digested. My favorite is chocolate or vanilla. Some flavors have caffeine and others don't, so look for it on the packaging. I feel they absolutely give me an extra boost. I take as directed on the package which is about 20 minutes before my swim. I also drink lots of water and Power Bar drink throughout the meet. This works for me. I always have to make sure that I don't feel heavy during meets or practice. This all seems to work well for me.