Tips on how to be prepared for a swim meet? ( What to eat also?)?

Question

I have a big met today and I was wondering what I should eat that could prevent me from getting tired. I have a high metabolism and so its easy for me to pass out. What are some foods - and other tricks - that could help me get through.
Thank you!

Answer 1

Today is not a day when you should be eating any foods that you don't normally eat. Stay away from all Mexican/Spanish foods and things like take-out, pizza, Chinese and other off-balanced foods are some of the worst things that you could eat today.

What I would advise is otherwise do whatever you normally do. Don't do anything that you haven't done before if you don't know how it will affect you and this goes for eating foods. You should also stay away from greasy things, they can wreck havoc on your digestive system and they can feel horrible coming off the last flip turn of any swim over 100 yards or meters. Swim warm ups like you normally would but I also highly suggest that you stretch before every swim you do for the muscles that you use most when you swim. I'm a sprint swimmer so I use my arms a lot and almost every time I've stretched before my swim I've either gotten very close to my personal bests or I've beaten them. I went from a 31.34 in 50y free without stretching suddenly to a 30.17 same event with stretching. I was rather skeptic of stretching before then but after that I always stretch before my swims now.

Answer 2

You've been training up to this point so by now you should have everything nailed down. Just go into the meet with that in mind, you are already ready!

As for what to eat, if there were a magical food to prevent fatigue everyone would be eating it. You know your body best and you know what works for you and what doesn't. Be sure to balance protein, carbs and sugars with some fats. What you eat today should be based on the nutrition guidelines provided by your coach during the season. If you are not given guidelines then ask your coach for them. You shouldn't be training without properly nourishing your body. A proper diet should be part of your training plan and your nutrition should supplement your workouts.

As an endurance athlete with very high metabolism I understand where you are coming from when you say it is easy for you to pass out. This should be addressed during training, not on a meet day! You should be prepared in advance by knowing what you need to do to fuel your body ahead of time. I find that a balance of high quality protein, a small amount of carbs and good sugars works best for me. In order to maintain my energy level during competition I focus on whole proteins such as grilled chicken breast, light carbs such as a whole wheat wrap and simple sugars as found in fruits and veggies. That being said, and noting that you are not an endurance athlete, you may want to have a good healthy lunch along those lines. Before or during competition take in more protein and some sugar if needed. Stay away from heavy carbs that will make you feel too full and won't provide the quick energy you need. Generally speaking for distances less than a mile you won't need to re-fuel if you eat within an hour of competition so you could stick to Gatorade or Powerade. If you feel hungry or like you need to eat try a granola bar, half of a protein bar (Snicker's makes the BEST energy bars!), a piece of fruit or some veggies. Keep it light.

After the meet, while you are training, focus on what you eat before and after your workouts. You work a lot harder in practice than you do at a meet so pay attention to your body and what it needs during that time. You will gain a better sense of what works best for you if you try different foods during training rather than on race day. Plus, you don't want to try the wrong thing and bink on your second 50!!!

Good luck this afternoon and don't worry too much about what you're eating today. A big race day is the worst time to change your habits!!!

Answer 3

Pasta for luch and bring some cereal to the meet thats not sugary as a snack. but dont overeat because that will slow you down. and do not eat the snack right before you go into the water for a race

Answer 4

I've been swimming (actually racing) since I was 6, and my mom always had fruit, veggies, lots of water and gatorade and Wheat Thins, people think I'm crazy but, I'm 21 now and I still swear that I swim faster when I eat Wheat Thins :)

Answer 5

eat pasta and a little snack like cereal, a few crackers, a banana or like a granola bar or something like that. Drink enough water/gatorade to keep you hydrated. dont drink too much i will end up making you sick. if you ike gatorade try to mix it with water and dont have just straight gatorade. it doesnt taste as good but will help you in the meet. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

Answer 6

this evening for dinner, load up on carbs like pasta. Then the next day, drink water all day until now, yet you dont prefer to consume or drink something too on the factor of your meet. you will fall unwell after your activities in case you do. additionally, make the hassle to stretch and do your heat united statescorrectly. they're going to help get you waiting and calm so which you're able to do nicely! solid success!!

Answer 7

ok I have been swimming for like 9 or 10 years on my swimteam, and the best thing is to have no diary cheese, or anything, no fats all day, eat jello, and don't drink anything that has over 22grams of sugar!! have fun, and enjoy it!

Answer 8

Pasta, bananas, stay away from Energy Drinks

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