Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

RJCurwen — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:28:11 GMT

Hey John, It was a joke. Someone already emailed aztimm's coaches and asked them to stand him up on the blocks and swim all out 50s. He is a distance person. His coaches, like all swim coaches, enjoy human discomfort, and thought it was a great idea. I don't think the experiment would be very accurate, since the preceding workout would vary a lot between the to time trials. Thanks for clearing that up lol. Just trying to contribute.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:21:31 GMT

Thanks for clearing that up lol. Just trying to contribute. Sorry, I didn't mean to dissuade you from trying it. You SHOULD try the forum 50 :)

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:39:29 GMT

Maybe all forumites should do such a test, same day, and post the results ;) Honestly, that would be SWEET.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

aztimm — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:43:30 GMT

Maybe someone should suggest an end of practice 50 from the blocks to your coaches, with and without breakfast, as a test? :bolt: Maybe all forumites should do such a test, same day, and post the results ;)

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:45:51 GMT

I'll do it. But its going to be hard for me not to eat. Differenceworkouts would also be an issue, and weekly training load. However, results may be close enough. Maybe i can even get some of my teammates to do it too. Hey John, It was a joke. Someone already emailed aztimm's coaches and asked them to stand him up on the blocks and swim all out 50s. He is a distance person. His coaches, like all swim coaches, enjoy human discomfort, and thought it was a great idea. I don't think the experiment would be very accurate, since the preceding workout would vary a lot between the to time trials.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Muppet — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:42:28 GMT

This very subject, more specifically, finding the best food to eat before morning workouts, was the topic of March's Guest Article in the Terrapin Masters Newsletter read online here: http://www.terrapinmasters.org, click on newsletter.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

RJCurwen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:03:40 GMT

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:47:05 GMT

Since I noticed this thread and since I've read most of the Racing Weight book, I've been experimenting with eating before morning swim workouts. If I eat one of my, "100 Calorie Bar," snacks I seem to last longer in workout and even get a second wind about 3/4 way through. When I don't, I putter out about 30-45 min into a workout (my workouts are around 75 min). Just my very unscientific observations. Maybe someone should suggest an end of practice 50 from the blocks to your coaches, with and without breakfast, as a test? :bolt:

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

joshua — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:07:28 GMT

I'm guessing most of the morning people don't drink a lot of booze? Correct. :chug:

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

aztimm — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:13:13 GMT

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:38:13 GMT

I'm guessing most of the morning people don't drink a lot of booze? There is little difference between waking up early with a hang over and waking up late with one.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

RJCurwen — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:11:39 GMT

I'm guessing most of the morning people don't drink a lot of booze? zero booze.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:52:13 GMT

I just found an article that may be one Sharpsburger was referring to: Morning People And Night Owls Show Different Brain Function I never had problem swimming late in the day (anywhere from noon to evening). Occasionally I did get up 5am to go swimming, trying to become a "morning person", but that never lasted long, and I would be back to my feel-at-home late swimming. :) Another factor is that I can't relax so much in morning swim than evening swim. In the morning, there is a whole day's work ahead, you would just want to finish in time so as not to be late for something important. In the evening, no time pressure, swimming is a great way to end a busy day. Perhaps the morning swimmers do not need relaxation from swimming? :rolleyes: Well, maybe we so need the relaxation that we get our dose first thing in the morning! Yes, it's true, in the morning there is time pressure to keep moving to get to work, but the tasks and conflicts and problems of the day haven't started to colonize my brain. On the days when I swim at 6 AM swim, it's slightly rushed but a happy rushed to get to the pool. And, the clearness of thinking that swimming gives me (and actually a better ability to sort priorities among numerous demands) keeps me going all day. Now evening swimming is difficult. First, the pressures of the day mean that there is always another demand on my time. Second, I am tense so it takes longer to warm up. Third, sometimes the swimming doesn't relax me as much as rev me up -- and so I can't get to sleep as early as I need. It helps that I really, really enjoy watching the sun rise. By the crack of dawn in winter I am done with my laps and back home walking dogs. And yes, I have coffee with lots of low fat milk and toast before I get to the pool.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:34:58 GMT

I'm guessing most of the morning people don't drink a lot of booze?

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

joshua — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:52:03 GMT

I have alway been a morning person and as I've gotten older this is even more so. The reason is that I need less sleep. I usually fall asleep by 22:00-22:30 and wake up without a clock at 04:30-0:500. I feel fine with 6 hours sleep. I usually swim between 05:00-06:30 on an empty stomach. On the weekends (which btw is Friday and Saturday in Israel) the pool opens up later so I may have a cup of coffee and a piece of toast with a cheese spread. After swimming I am very hungry and have a big breakfast: 2-3 eggs, 2-3 slices of whole wheat toast, tuna fish salad, vegetable salad, water, coffee. After all this I'm ready to kick ass (I should mention that I am a high school principal) :D

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Bobinator — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:20:41 GMT

I have a couple cups of coffee on my way to the pool. I still usually feel full from the night before dinner. After swimming I have an apple in the locker room. Once I arrive at work I have a big bowl of yogurt with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and granola waiting for me. More coffee is good too! :coffee:

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

hawk43 — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:18:23 GMT

Thanks for the book recommendation. I ordered it today. I am at a stage in my training where I need to focus more on my body structure in order to make a significant improvement -- lean... Thanks again.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

RJCurwen — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:20:42 GMT

Always eat. Unfortunately not enough variety. Two eggs and two pieces of toast w peanut butter plus plenty of water. I try and get it in by 5:25am, but most of the time (like this morning) last bite is 5:45am as i hurry down to the car to get to practice at 6. I don't have issues with this at all. I eat very healthly 95% of the time. I think between the 15 minute drive and 15 - 20 minute warmup at the pool, that i have plenty of time to digest. 10 mins of drills or easing into a harder set and I can hammer by 6:30. My guess for some of those who can't seem to eat in the morning is that it's more of a nutritional and efficiency issue, but i'm no expert and i'm guessing.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:12:56 GMT

I went 6:00 am work outs for a while and from my experience if I didnt eat anything I would completely burn out like an hour into them

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:25:32 GMT

so I can't do things like build stuff in the basement at 4:30 AM. So instead of building stuffs, you go swimming. :D You live longer by sleeping less.:)

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:23:01 GMT

There may be two kinds of morning people. Do you need ridiculously few hours of sleep, or do you go to bed ridiculously early? :rolleyes: (The former would be enviable :D) I usually get 5-5.5 hours of sleep a night. (i.e. it's 11:15 PM as I type this and I'm not ready for bed yet.) I also often take a 15 minute nap at lunch. The only gotcha is that my night's sleep has to be uninterrupted and deep. I can also shut my eyes anywhere/anytime and get a few minutes sleep whenever I want. The bad part is that The Court Without Appeal is a total night person who needs lots of sleep, so I can't do things like build stuff in the basement at 4:30 AM. -LBJ

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:31:43 GMT

I am a morning person to a ridiculous degree - usually wake up at 4 AM without an alarm There may be two kinds of morning people. Do you need ridiculously few hours of sleep, or do you go to bed ridiculously early? :rolleyes: (The former would be enviable :D)

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

Former Member — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:55:39 GMT

I don't know if I'm a morning person by disposition, but I definitely exercise better in the morning. It's not that I enjoy getting up at 4:45 am, and I can definitely sleep in if I have the opportunity. But I definitely perform better in a morning workout or race. Repeat times, mental effort, everything suffers in an evening practice. I also don't like to eat before the morning workouts. I wonder if there's a correlation? It seems so, from the handful of responses above.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

aztimm — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:17:04 GMT

I never had problem swimming late in the day (anywhere from noon to evening). Occasionally I did get up 5am to go swimming, trying to become a "morning person", but that never lasted long, and I would be back to my feel-at-home late swimming. :) Another factor is that I can't relax so much in morning swim than evening swim. In the morning, there is a whole day's work ahead, you would just want to finish in time so as not to be late for something important. In the evening, no time pressure, swimming is a great way to end a busy day. Perhaps the morning swimmers do not need relaxation from swimming? :rolleyes: I've swam at all different times of the day, 6am, noon, 6pm for formal workouts, and some other odd times on my own at the gym. It does take about 2 weeks of morning workouts before your body adjusts. Even now if I take a break (vacation), it takes me a couple days to adjust back. Yes sometimes I do have morning appointments, meetings, or if nothing else, normal work. When I have an 8am (or earlier) meeting, especially if it is a distance away, I'll sometimes leave workout early. A few times I've even worked out in other parts of town (such as Scottsdale) to be closer to an early meeting. If I'm leaving early, I try to tell the coach ahead of time, and they'll usually let me know when it is time to get out. Generally, as long as I get my work done, my boss doesn't care if I start work at 6am or 10am. I may work through lunch, work some evenings, weekends, etc so it's all a wash in the end. Remote access and a work issued BlackBerry can be both a blessing and a curse. I've been doing other workouts (weights, running, etc) after work, so I get my post-work stress relief that way. In the heat of the AZ summer, I'll flip some days and run before work, swim after. Again, it took my body some time to adjust to working out 2x a day, but after a couple of weeks I adjusted.

RE: Eat or not before swimming in Early Morning?

aztimm — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:06:44 GMT

I think this may be the article I read in the magazine-- Runner's World--Get over it