If you are like many athletes, you are busy planning and preparing your workout and/or competition schedule for 2016. You carefully write your goals and select your competitions. You cycle your training during the year to match that plan. You measure your heart rate, cadence, mile pace and a myriad of other things you don't quite understand. What many athletes are missing is another type of plan - a nutrition plan. Whether it is your plan for day-to-day eating or fueling before or during a competition, missing a plan can have a big impact on whether or not you meet your 2016 goals. Here is why:
1. Planning your daily nutrition assures your body recovers well on a daily basis
Good recovery can ward off illness and injury as well as help your muscle properlys and fully adapt positively to your workouts.
2. Planning your daily nutrition can actually help you meet your goals
Trying to drop weight? Hit a PR? It isn't just what you do on competition day or a few days each week that matter - it is every day. Even the best in the world can be better with better nutrition.
3. Planning your competition day nutrition can relieve stress
There are only a few things actually in your control on competition day - and fueling is one of them. What to eat the morning of the big day shouldn't cause stress or anxiety - it should be automatic. The only way you get to automatic is by doing lots of experimenting in advance so you know exactly what works and what doesn't. Stress...gone.
4. Planning your competition day nutrition will improve performance
Whether you are competing for 15 minutes or 15 hours, proper competition day nutrition can improve focus, speed and endurance, which means better performance on many levels.
The old saying goes: A year from now you may wish you had started today. We are 13 days into the new year. Stop delaying and figure out your nutrition plan. And if you don't know what you are doing, get on board with a sports dietitian who can guide you. I may know a good one (hmm) or you can find others here: www.scandpg.org
Happy New Year!
Your Nutrition Coach,
RDKate
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