So I'm looking for a lot of different kinds of advice:
I first started swimming about 5 years ago during college, swam for (roughly) 2 years, and then had 3 years break while I was getting through a lot of transitions in my life. (Graduating college, getting a job, etc...) I started swimming again in February and have since lost about 40 pounds (and working on the 45th right now). However - this was not without a dietary overhaul, and lifestyle overhaul.
I now lift, coach/play basketball with a youth league, and swim, but with the summer approaching, I'm concerned about stretching myself potentially too thin (something I'm VERY prone to do). As the summer gets in to full swing, I have a basketball league, a slow pitch softball league, plus still coaching/playing, lifting, and swimming.
So the subject of this thread comes in - once I hit about yard 3000 of any given masters practice (some have been up to 4800 thus far) - my achilles, calves, ankles, etc all start cramping up like crazy and it makes it extremely difficult to finish any given practice. I eat at least 1 banana a day, drink roughly 1-2 gallons of water a day (difficult to keep track), and eat other high potassium foods consistently (avocados, plum prunes...).
So naturally - I have a few questions going forward (and these are just the start!)
1) Is there a solid resource that any of you use that helps you plan meals, balance your diet and minimize recovery times?
2) Where do many of you go to find good lifting programs that are going to keep things mixed up and are going to impact the full body?
3) I know rest is an essential part of growth during a workout program - is there a resource that you use to help you figure out what's the "right" amount for you depending on your activity level?
4) What are your feelings on things like Gatorade? I look at it mostly as sugar water and the only times I'm prone to drinking it is during meets when I can't really eat.
Thanks in advance! I appreciate any suggestions you may have!
Do you notice any increase of duration before cramping occurs as endurance increases over time?
Over the last couple months I definitely have... and I'm trying to swim like I was when I had those 2 years of training in (pushing myself pretty hard in practice..) So I'm wondering if I'm just "used to it" yet... I just feel like I should be able to perform better.
Are you drinking water BEFORE and DURING your workout?
I do drink tons of water during the day... these desk jobs enable me to pretty much just sit @ my desk and chug water all day. Not that I enjoy sitting all day - but it does make it easier to control your hunger and thirst. I also drink at least 20 Oz during the workout, but not too much. My stomach gets so tight I get kind of sick if I'm not careful of what I down during and before a workout. (I can't eat within 4 hours of a workout!)
SmartWater or generic equivalent from grocery store.
Hammer Nutrition products or similar.
You can use a powder (Hammmer, Endurox, PureSport, Muscle Milk, etc) to make a post workout recovery drink. Since whey doesn't always agree with me, I often eat an energy bar (I like Protein Fusion) or down 25 oz of liquid protein (the tubes often contain potassium and sodium as well) with a banana. The tubes are great because you can hop out of the pool and drink it down immediately.
I've seen smart water before - I've just never had the opportunity to try it. I'll look in to it! Thanks for the tip! As far as Hammer Nutrition, Endurox, PureSport, etc... goes - I've never had any of it before and I'm really new to the whole "specialized foods" and nutritional supplements. Are they worth the investment over the long term? Or is eating natural better for the body in general?
2) P90X
I've wanted to try that for MONTHS! I really want to get my hands on it - I just need a place to do it. (My place is VERY short, or I'm just very tall.....)
You may also need magnesium to help with the cramping; a magnesium deficiency is common among adults even when you're eating healthy.
I will REALLY look into this. I have no idea what my magnesium intake is like. Thank you all so much!! I'm glad there are places like this so I don't find myself too far underwater! (http://instantrimshot.com/)
Do you notice any increase of duration before cramping occurs as endurance increases over time?
Over the last couple months I definitely have... and I'm trying to swim like I was when I had those 2 years of training in (pushing myself pretty hard in practice..) So I'm wondering if I'm just "used to it" yet... I just feel like I should be able to perform better.
Are you drinking water BEFORE and DURING your workout?
I do drink tons of water during the day... these desk jobs enable me to pretty much just sit @ my desk and chug water all day. Not that I enjoy sitting all day - but it does make it easier to control your hunger and thirst. I also drink at least 20 Oz during the workout, but not too much. My stomach gets so tight I get kind of sick if I'm not careful of what I down during and before a workout. (I can't eat within 4 hours of a workout!)
SmartWater or generic equivalent from grocery store.
Hammer Nutrition products or similar.
You can use a powder (Hammmer, Endurox, PureSport, Muscle Milk, etc) to make a post workout recovery drink. Since whey doesn't always agree with me, I often eat an energy bar (I like Protein Fusion) or down 25 oz of liquid protein (the tubes often contain potassium and sodium as well) with a banana. The tubes are great because you can hop out of the pool and drink it down immediately.
I've seen smart water before - I've just never had the opportunity to try it. I'll look in to it! Thanks for the tip! As far as Hammer Nutrition, Endurox, PureSport, etc... goes - I've never had any of it before and I'm really new to the whole "specialized foods" and nutritional supplements. Are they worth the investment over the long term? Or is eating natural better for the body in general?
2) P90X
I've wanted to try that for MONTHS! I really want to get my hands on it - I just need a place to do it. (My place is VERY short, or I'm just very tall.....)
You may also need magnesium to help with the cramping; a magnesium deficiency is common among adults even when you're eating healthy.
I will REALLY look into this. I have no idea what my magnesium intake is like. Thank you all so much!! I'm glad there are places like this so I don't find myself too far underwater! (http://instantrimshot.com/)
