I'm getting back into swimming and was wondering if whey protein is appropriate before and after a workout in the pool. I'm in the Army, so I also need to work on my running, sit-ups, and push-ups and whey has helped me with the lifting (which I don't plan on giving up). Any suggestions? Or should I revamp my nutrition plan. Right now I'm consuming a lot of protein and saturated fat, and low sugars and carbs (except fiber).
Thanks!
-Jared
The typical American diet has more than enough protein. Some research suggests athletes have higher requirements than the U.S. RDA, and suggests the figure of 1.2-1.4 g/kg body weight per day. I've heard of people who are trying to get huge consuming much larger amounts but that is not something I personally would try or would suggest anyone else try without consulting a physician or dietitian.
For some people, it boils down to the convenience factor, whether you feel like grilling a chicken *** or drinking a glass of milk or juice with a scoop of protein powder.
I'm getting back into swimming and was wondering if whey protein is appropriate before and after a workout in the pool. I'm in the Army, so I also need to work on my running, sit-ups, and push-ups and whey has helped me with the lifting (which I don't plan on giving up). Any suggestions? Or should I revamp my nutrition plan. Right now I'm consuming a lot of protein and saturated fat, and low sugars and carbs (except fiber).
Thanks!
-Jared
Whey protein is a very good choice post-workout. Go with a casein protein source pre-workout with slow digesting carbs.
The typical American diet has more than enough protein...
Yes, and two things to keep in mind with a very high protein intake:
- Your kidneys have to work hard to get rid of the excess, so you'll need to drink a lot of water.
- To expell the the excess, your body binds it with calcium. So, if you're eating huge amounts of protein, you must also be consuming extra calcium to spare your bones.
Yay to whey.
I'm a retired Navy pilot. Beat Army. Actually - I hate football - I love swimming - so what do I care?
Anywhey - I'm 45 and have tried to swim like I'm still in college for a while now. I found that whey after a hard workout makes it so the hard workout the next day is whey less painful.
-Yay.
-Use as breakfast/Meal #1 protein source & post-training shake.
-Use an isolate whey protein with no artificial sweetners (sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame-potassium) or other chemicals. Most on the market (especially in the US) are loaded with these toxins so shop around.
So its still alright if I go with the low carbs and low sugars when I do swimming?
If anyone wants to know why I am doing this, it was a workout/diet plan from MensHealth. www.menshealth.com/.../article.do
It emphasizes using stored fat for energy opposed to sugars.
I need more stats to give more advice.
Age, height, weight, date&score on last APFT, what score are you aiming for on your next test, etc.
edit: I looked at your profile and see you're a chaplain assistant. Interesting. I'm curious what rank you are. I remember chaplains started at O-3 but I never met a chaplain assistant.
What is the purpose low sugar low carbs???Weight loss?
30/30/40 some say 30 protein, 30 fat, 40 carbs. I have heard all kinds of numbers. We need all three to perform well.
For people who tend to eat healthfully (lots of whole grains, fruits, veggies) it's easy not to get enough protein so I take whey. It's cheap and easy to digest. But read the ingredients CAREFULLY because they add lots of junk to it. I found this stuff, which seemed to be okay.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Natural Whey
