Smart Sports Nutrition:
What, when and how to eat for maximum results
Get the
most out of your training sessions by fueling your body with the right food at
the right time. Below you’ll find our answers to some of the most frequently
asked sports nutrition questions.
Q: What should I eat BEFORE an event or training session?
A: What and how much you eat before your workout will depend on how much time
you have. There are some hard and fast rules to keep in mind.
Low-fiber, carbohydrate-rich foods with a small amount of low
fat protein will top off your muscle stores and reduce post-exercise soreness.
Avoid fiber-rich or fatty foods; they can slow absorption and leave you feeling
sluggish. Choose familiar foods that are well tolerated and easily digested to
avoid an upset stomach. Last, but not least, don’t forget to hydrate! Your body
is made up of 70 per cent water. Being dehydrated by even two per cent can decrease
performance by about 10 per cent.
Time
before workout
|
Carbohydrates
|
Fluid intake
(Water is
usually your best choice)
|
Examples for 77 kg athlete (170
lbs)
|
~30
minutes
|
~25g of
carbohydrates
(100-150
calories)
|
Aim to
drink 1-2 cups of water
|
|
1 hour
|
1g
carbohydrates/kg
(200-350
calories)
|
Aim to
drink 1- 1 ½ cups of water
|
·
-¾ cup yogurt, ½ cup low fat granola, 1 apple OR
·
2 cups smoothie made with fruit and yogurt OR
·
½ bagel, 1 tsp jam, 1 cup 1% milk, 1 banana
|
2-3 hours
|
1.5-2g
carbohydrates/kg
(400-600
calories)
|
Aim to
drink
1 ½ - 2
cups of water
|
|
Q: Does Carb-loading work?
A:
Carbohydrate loading is referred to as the practice of consuming larger than
usual amounts of carbohydrates, several days before a high-intensity, endurance
athletic event. The purpose of this is to improve athletic performance by
increasing the amount of fuel stored in the muscles.
Unless
you are doing more than 90 minutes of continuous activity (marathon running,
long distance triathlons, cycling races or other endurance events), carb
loading will not benefit you. It requires a specific diet and exercise plan, ideally
under the supervision of a dietitian. It
is not a license to eat everything.
Q: Should I eat DURING and AFTER my exercise or training sessions?
A: If you
are well fueled before your workout, your nutrition goal is to stay well
hydrated during exercise. For workouts longer than 60 minutes, consider
hydration with higher sources of energy than water such as sports drinks and
coconut water.
Timing
|
Carbohydrate
|
Fluid
|
Examples
|
During
exercise
|
If your workout is longer than 60
minutes:
30-60g of
carbohydrates over 60-90 minutes
|
Aim to
drink 3-4 large sips of water or sports drink every 15 minutes
|
· 1 cup sports drink + 1 sport gel
OR
· banana + handful of dried fruit OR
· 2 Fig Newtons + ½ cup sport drink
or fruit juice
|
Replenish your energy supply within 60
minutes of exercising to top up muscle glycogen storage to ensure optimal energy
for your next training session or workout.
Timing
|
Carbohydrate
|
Protein
|
Fluid
|
Examples for 77 kg athlete (170
lbs)
|
After
exercise
|
1g/kg of
carbohydrates
|
15-20g of
protein
|
2 cups fluid
(500 ml)
Water
continues to be a good choice
|
· Smoothie made 1 cup higher protein
yogurt (Greek yogurt),1 cup orange juice, 1 cup frozen berries, 1 medium
banana OR
· 2 cups chocolate milk + a piece of
fruit OR
· Whole grain sandwich made with lean meat,
quinoa or bean salad with tomatoes and cucumbers, 1 ½ cups
|
Q: How can I lose weight while maintaining enough energy for
training?
A: Don’t
eat the calories you burn. To avoid overeating, load up half your plate with
vegetables and maintain a healthy intake of fiber with beans, lentils, whole
grains, and fruits that will keep you full throughout the day.
For a
personalized plan that takes into account your unique lifestyle, fitness goals
and food preferences, please make an appointment with your Registered Dietitian
Written for Copeman Healthcare http://www.copemanhealthcare.com/
References:
American
Dietetic Association. Position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians
of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic
Performance. J Am Diet Assoc.2009.