Food Before A Meet

Wow, this thread just goes to prove that all of us are so different in what our bodies use to best perform. My rule of thumb is: never to add something before a meet or long swim that I have not gotten accustomed to the year prior. My body revolts if I try to add something unusual, like Gu, etc. My heart rate went off the charts (not a good thing). Additionally, is carbo loading truly a benefit for 4 or 5 events in a swim meet? I kinda just eat the same type of things but add more fluids to replace electrolytes. Oh, I will eat MORE of those foods, but I never experiment and add something I haven't tried out. Before a very long ocean swim, I plan on changing my eating plan way in advance so my body can get accustomed to the changes. For me (and only me), I do best on protein for sustained long-term energy. But to thwart off feet and leg cramps (lack of sodium), bananas are a miracle fruit!!! I have seen many swimmers who are going to do a one mile swim carbo load to excess. The day of the swim, they feel like X!)??X ! Common Sense!!!

Wow, this thread just goes to prove that all of us are so different in what our bodies use to best perform. My rule of thumb is: never to add something before a meet or long swim that I have not gotten accustomed to the year prior. My body revolts if I try to add something unusual, like Gu, etc. My heart rate went off the charts (not a good thing). Additionally, is carbo loading truly a benefit for 4 or 5 events in a swim meet? I kinda just eat the same type of things but add more fluids to replace electrolytes. Oh, I will eat MORE of those foods, but I never experiment and add something I haven't tried out. Before a very long ocean swim, I plan on changing my eating plan way in advance so my body can get accustomed to the changes. For me (and only me), I do best on protein for sustained long-term energy. But to thwart off feet and leg cramps (lack of sodium), bananas are a miracle fruit!!! I have seen many swimmers who are going to do a one mile swim carbo load to excess. The day of the swim, they feel like X!)??X ! Common Sense!!!