Not sure if this question has been done on here before, if it has then I guess this thread will die and go away and that's cool too.
Most people are saying that the fact that you have to wait 30 minutes after eating to swim is an old wive's tale and it's not true. Well me personally, I get terrible cramps if I don't wait. I was just wondering if anybody else found the tale to be true and get cramps and how many people can eat and then immediately swim with no adverse effects.
There's a typo in the poll...it's *has, not is
I read at the Johns Hopkins site in sports physiology a couple of years back that optimally the food (light amount of mainly carbos such as bananas, dried fruit, toast, etc.) should be consumed about an hour prior to heavy exercise otherwise what 330guy says will happen, does.
When I factor in 15 minutes of light warmup, I try to eat no later than 45 minutes before a hard set will begin so I eat no later than 5:15, 45 minutes before workout starts. Warmup until ~6:15 and there's my hour.
And Guvnah's comments come into play also especially for those swimming early in the morning. Your glycogen levels have been depleted while you slept and need to be replaced for optimal performance.
Another factor to keep in mind is that your body releases growth hormone in response to exercise, which helps to convert the calories you eat into lean body mass rather than fat. This growth hormone release declines markedly (by a factor of more than 5) between age 25 and age 55, which is one of the primary reasons it becomes harder to put on lean body mass as you get older. But the benefits of the growth hormone are also reduced by the insulin release that occurs when you eat high glycemic index foods, so it is a good idea to avoid such foods for two or three hours prior to your workouts.
Bob
Yours is kind of a two-part question for me.
I MUST eat something before swimming, else my blood sugar levels and hydration levels get too low and I slowly die throughout my workout.
I routinely consume before my morning swim the following: A glass of water. A Banana (or, if no bananas available, then some other fruit.) A glass of fruit juice. A large cup of coffee.
I consume these at about 5:15 AM, and I am in the water at 5:30.
Throughout the workout I drink water from a water bottle, and I consume about 32 ounces of water during the 70-75 minutes that I work out.
So in answer to the poll I answrered no.
But if I had a huge breakfast (omelette, toast and fruit, for instance, or even just a large bowl of cereal) I will not try to work out without a good hour in between.
I've never gotten cramps from swimming right after eating, but yeah, it can cause lots of belching, gas and other things that just aren't pleasant during a workout. This is really only after eating a big meal. I'm sure you could eat a snack immediately before or during a workout and not be adversely affected.
I think in general you need to wait longer--although lately I've been drinking a latte on the way to 6am practice without any ill effects.
There are two issues. One pertains to supplying carbs to your muscles so you have sufficient glycogen stores to work out. The other has to do with blood flow to the gi tract vs the skeletal muscles.
During exercise the capillary beds of the skeletal muscles take priority over the capillary beds of the digestive system/smooth muscle (Arterioles in the capillaries constrict in the digestive area while those in the skeletal muscles open). If you exercise less than 30 minutes after eating there will likely be semi-digested food/bolus rolling around in your stomach. I have done this on more than one occasion and things seemed to work out fine. Individual experiences may vary.
I feel like if I swim right after I eat, I have a hard time getting thru my normal practice...I always put this up to the blood supply/GI thing, but it could also be psychosomatic, I don't know.
I'm still in a weght-loss frame of mind, and I feel like if I work out after eating, I'll just burn off the calories I just ate instead of the calories that have been acting like the houseguests of my midsection that have over-stayed their welcome...
B
A heavy breakfast will increase the hurl factor, however a power gel with a whole or half power bar 30 minutes or less before workout seems to work for me with minimum ill effects.
