Swimming seems easy, right? Just take a few laps around a backyard or public pool, get out, dry off, and enjoy your day. It’s even relaxing and enjoyable.
However, if you are serious about swimming, so serious that to compete in swimming events, you know how demanding it can be.
There’s no question that if you want to succeed as a competitive swimmer that you need to practice...a lot. This means having a swimming pool installed by pool builders in San Antonio for example, or another warm state and using it daily.
However, practicing isn’t all that’s involved. You must also feed your body the right nutrition. Keep reading for some of the top nutrition tips for competitive swimmers who want to come out on top.
Increase Recovery Speed by Eating Well
If you are searching for ways you can maximize your nutrition for competitive swimming performance, the most important thing you can do is find ways to enhance or increase your recovery time.
One of the things that separate the fastest swimmers from those who “almost win” isn’t always genetics or talent—it is how well they are prepared to train or to race.
The top of the top in the realm of swimming understands that the time they spend practicing is just as important as the time you spend recovering and healing from your last workout. This is what ensures you are really ready for an upcoming event.
Eat Well to Swim Well
The swimming taper is something that can do something a bit unusual for a swimmer. They feel light on their feet and extremely fast while in the water, which creates the belief they can put anything into their mouth and body, and this is simply not the case.
The few days before a big race is when you need to make sure you are eating good food that will fuel your body rather than weighing it down.
Eat Based on the Upcoming Event
The training that you focus on and the type of event you are competing in should be what guides your nutrition. Chances are you probably know that as a sprinter, it’s not a good idea to chow down at the local buffet with the long-distance swimmers.
The training volume that you participate in the number of carbohydrates that you need as well as the event that you are in. For example, the nutritional needs of a 50-meter race are much different than that of a 200-meter race.
Plenty of Water is Key
It’s a pretty common misconception that just because you are swimming in a pool full of water that there is no need to hydrate. However, the fact is, you do.
As a swimmer, you are going to sweat. What this means is that you need to have a water bottle at the end of your race or training period. You may be like many others and overlook the importance of hydration, but this can result in serious disadvantages when you are swimming for the win.
Be sure to drink a minimum of three-quarters of a gallon of water for women and one gallon for males of water each day to get the hydration needed to swim competitively.
Don’t Forget About Protein
Even though swimmers need to eat plenty of carbs to perform well, it’s also necessary that they eat plenty of protein to keep up with muscle recovery.
When it comes to recovery nutrition, protein-based foods are an essential part of your diet. Make sure that each snack and meal that you consume contains some type of protein for the best results.
If you want to ensure that you have a competitive edge when you are in the pool, it is a good idea to use the nutrition tips that are found here.
Being informed and understanding what to do and what to avoid when eating can help you make a wave and come out in the lead each time you get in the pool.
