During the day today I forgot to eat lunch. We were so busy at work, it didn’t even dawn on me until 8pm when I was about to order dinner. I usually get a headache from a lack of food, but today I didn’t even get that bodily reminder. I know not eating properly and frequently is bad for me on so many levels, and so much worse at certain times. That made me think about my nutritional plan……(<— that’s me thinking).
I have an idea about not only what to eat, but when to eat, what to eat. There is a timing factor involved with energy production, muscle production and rest. Makes sense, right? Before you workout, you want something that will give you the energy to sustain the amount of exertion you are putting out, but not more. You don’t want to fuel yourself for a one hour workout and just lay around, that would be a waste. After a workout you want to put into your body what your body needs at that moment and nothing else. When it’s time to rest, give your body what it needs to rest.
So, what kind of energy and from what source and in what quantity do I need to sustain the energy I need to workout for 30-60 min? Depends (depends, you wear depends Stewart?). It depends on the time of day and the type of workout. Usually if my workout is in the morning, I don’t eat or drink anything but water. I found that by experimenting with different foods and drinks in the am, I’m so much better off by just drinking water. If my workout is in the afternoon or after work, I need an energy mix 30-45 minutes before starting. It takes my body that long to digest and send the nutrients to the right places in my body to start working efficiently. I can’t eat or drink something and get an immediate burst of energy if I expect to sustain that energy for 30- 60 minutes. The products that give me that boost of energy are either not good for me, unnatural or wouldn’t let me sustain the energy I need. The energy mix I need would include something that expands my red blood cells (arginine, orthonine, creatine), helps remove toxins (antioxidants) and helps in the alanine glucose cycle (alanine, glutamine). I make my own out of a combination of 12 ingredients and mix it with applesauce. It has been created out of trial and error and I’m sure will continue to change as my workouts get longer.
The only thing I want immediately after a workout (no more that 15 minutes after) is branch chain amino acids, and again at 45 minutes after. I want 5-7 grams each time.
When it’s time to sleep, tryptophan, gaba, and tyrosine and lysine.
I think the right timing of amino acids, pre and post workout, makes a difference in the way I perform and feel. Could nutrient timing really be that important? Just food for thought.
