Fluid Replacement and Pre-Race Fueling

Introduction

Well, I have officially signed up for my second attempt at the 100 mile distance. Lots of time though, as its not until May 2017.  Regardless, I will be thinking a lot about hydration and nutrition during my training and race day and thought I would share the following with all of you.  I had prepared this presentation for one of the running clinics I gave and just recently came across it; I know as runners, we are always looking for more information, so I hope it helps.  

Fluid Replacement

As we start to get into our longer runs, carrying fluids and or gels with you is something you’ll want to start experimenting with, so that your body will be accustomed come race day. Your body is mostly water-between 60 and 70% and although water alone does not provide any energy (or calories), your body requires large amounts of H2O in order to function properly. Water regulates the core temperature of your body.  I prefer to use coconut water and if you avoid the all natural variety, you will actually benefit from the ones that have the added sugar.  Sugar transfers to energy.  Further, try adding some tart cherry juice for the anti-inflammatory effects on the body.  The added cherry juice will enhance performance by reducing muscle pain.

As you run, your working muscles produce large amounts of heat that must be dissipated to prevent the core temperature from rising dangerously. To dissipate this heat, your body perspires, and loses large amounts of water. As a runner, you should consistently hydrate yourself during both warm and cold weather, so that you never become thirsty. By the time your thirst mechanism is activated, your body is already suffering from dehydration-hurting your running and putting you at risk.

You know you're drinking enough water if you urinate about once an hour and your urine is clear. 

Prehydrating with beverages, in addition to normal meals and fluid intake, should be initiated at least several hours before the activity to enable fluid absorption and allow urine output to return to normal levels. The goal of drinking during exercise is to prevent excessive (>2% body weight loss from water deficit) dehydration and excessive changes in electrolyte balance to avert compromised performance. Because there is considerable variability in sweating rates and sweat electrolyte content between individuals, customized fluid replacement programs are recommended. Individual sweat rates can be estimated by measuring body weight before and after exercise. During exercise, consuming beverages containing electrolytes and carbohydrates can provide benefits over water alone under certain circumstances. Again, try coconut water, but, avoid the pulp.  After exercise, the goal is to replace any fluid electrolyte deficit. The speed with which rehydration is needed and the magnitude of fluid electrolyte deficits will determine if an aggressive replacement program is merited.

Depending upon the metabolic rate, environmental conditions and clothing worn, exercise can
induce significant elevations in body (core and skin) temperatures. Body temperature elevations elicit
        heat loss responses of increased skin blood flow and increased sweat secretion. Sweat evaporation provides the primary avenue of heat loss during vigorous exercise in warm hot weather; therefore 
        sweat losses can be substantial. Besides containing water, sweat contains electrolytes that are lost. If not appropriately replaced, water and electrolytes imbalances (dehydration and hyponatremia- is an 
        electrolyte disturbance in which the sodium concentration in the serum is lower than normal) can develop and adversely impact on the individuals exercise performance and perhaps health. 

                              

WUT you looking at?

So, the good news is that there are three reasonably good and practical markers available to you 

to help you monitor your hydration status.  But, because none of these indicators are entirely accurate on their own, some clever people in the US Army came up with the idea of combining all three measures to produce a more reliable rating scale called the WUT system (Weight, Urine, Thirst). This establishes the likelihood of you being euhydrated (‘well hydrated’) or hypohydrated (‘dehydrated’).

Essentially their suggestion is to monitor your body weight, the colour of your urine and how thirsty you are first thing each morning. The ‘first thing in the morning’ element is important as it limits the influence of other factors that interfere with hydration status as the day progresses.

You then feed the results into a simple Venn diagram to give you an indication of whether hypohydration is unlikely, likely or very likely as you begin that day.

The data you need to collect each morning is:

1. Your body weight. Ideally as soon as you get out of bed, before eating, drinking or going to the bathroom. A loss of 2% or more of your body weight is deemed significant.
2. A rating of the colour of your urine (is it light or dark in colour)
3. A rating of your sensation of thirst (thirsty or not thirsty)

If 1 or less of the 3 scores you collect are ‘positive’ (i.e. body weight is within 2% of normal and/or urine is light and/or and you're not thirsty), then hypohydration (‘dehydration’) would be deemed unlikely.

If 2 out of the 3 are positive, then hypohydration would be considered ‘likely’ and this might impact your fluid intake and training plans for the day, especially if you were planning very hard or prolonged exercise in the heat.

If 3 out of the 3 are positive then hypohydration is very likely and therefore strong consideration should be given to correcting that before you undergo strenuous exercise or expose yourself to further large sweat losses.

See link for more details: http://www.precisionhydration.com/blogs/hydration_advice/116318276-how-to-tell-if-you-re-dehydrated

Pre-Race Fueling

The ideal pre-competition meal is palatable, well-tolerated and high in carbohydrate.  Athletes who
forgo eating prior to exercise because of unpleasant symptoms, as well as those looking simply to fine-tune their food selections, may benefit from experimenting with the glycemic index (GI). The GI, is system that ranks carbohydrate-rich foods according to their impact on the body’s blood sugar level, may be a useful tool when it comes to fueling up before you head to the line.

It was thought that runners needed to avoid eating large amounts of carbohydrate-rich foods prior to
exercise.  The inevitable “sugar high” would be promptly followed by a performance-busting crash in
blood sugar (hypoglycemia), leaving you feeling shaky, weak and unable to concentrate.  On the other
hand, a pre-race carbohydrate-rich meal, particularly before prolonged endurance events, such as a
marathon, has been shown to enhance performance.  Eating a meal, especially before a morning race,
helps ward off hunger pangs, restocks liver glycogen (stored carbohydrate) which fuels your brain
during exercise and it provides valuable energy for muscles during intense exercise lasting an hour or
longer.

The GI ranks carbohydrate-rich foods compared to glucose-a simple sugar with a GI ranking of
100.Carbohydrate-rich foods and beverages that enter the bloodstream rapidly following ingestion earn
a high GI (above 75) whereas foods that enter the bloodstream slowly have a low GI (below 60).
Choosing a low-GI carbohydrate food before exercise may enhance endurance by producing a slower,
more sustained release of glucose into the bloodstream.  The reasoning is: carbohydrate-rich foods and 
beverages trigger the release of the hormone insulin.  Insulin directs the liver and muscle cells to
remove glucose from the blood and store it as glycogen.  A slower, sustained release of glucose will
temper the insulin surge that follows, reducing the chance of the body “over-correcting” as it races to
lower the body’s blood sugar level back to a normal range.

A small percentage of athletes who are sensitive to swings in blood sugar following pre-exercise meals
will experience central nervous symptoms or premature muscular fatigue which are indicative of
hypoglycemia.  Feeling light-headed, shaky or weak and sweating profusely as you begin to exercise
are classic signs.  Therefore, experiment with both high and low index meals in training to assess what
works best for you.  Runners who wish to fine-tune their food choices before prolonged events, like
the marathon or those that are sensitive to decreases in blood sugar, should benefit the most from
manipulating the glycemic index of their pre-exercise meal.

Runners may be able to improve their competitive performances by consuming lower GI foods due to
the sustained release of glucose that these foods promote.  For me, I notice the benefits of eating an
apple about a half hour prior to racing; in fact, it has become a bit of a ritual.  

Be sure to try different hydration and nutrition methods during training, so that there are no surprises on race day.  

Happy Trails My Friends

Basic Nutrition Details for Body Building

Based on weight of 140lbs:

140g of protein; 280-420g of carbs; 3280 calories per day

Bodybuilding is more than 50% nutrition.  To make serious gains in strength and mass, you need a solid nutrition program.

 

Focus on Protein:  140g per day (1g per of protein per pound of bodyweight on a daily basis).  This amount is double than that of a typical person.  Protein provides the amino acids that are used as the building blocks of muscle protein.  Your protein choices should come mainly from lean animal proteins (chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs and dairy).  For chicken, thighs are a better alternative to breasts as they have the essential fat that you require.

Don’t avoid Fat: About 20-30% of your total daily calories should come from fat, with about 5-10% of those fat calories coming from saturated and monounsaturated to maintain testosterone levels.  Testosterone is essential for building muscle mass and strength and avoiding fat gain.  Choose red meats (steak and ground beef), avocados, mixed nuts, olive oil, olives and peanut butter for monounsaturated and fatty fish (salmon, trout –fresh not farmed), flaxseed oil and walnuts as good sources of essential, omega-3 polyunsaturated fats.  I would recommend using coconut oil (health benefits include but are not limited to: stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.)

Carb Up: 280-420g per day (2-3 grams of carbohydrates per pound of bodyweight each day). Carbs are stored in your muscles as glycogen and keep your muscles full and large and fuel during a work-out.  For the majority of most meals, stick with slow digesting carb sources like whole grains, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, beans, fruit and vegetables.

Eat the Carbs at the Right Time: Eat a slow carb 30 minutes pre workout and mainly fast carbs post workout.  Slower digesting carbs will provide more energy and less fatigue during exercise, but, burn more fat during training.  Good slow-carb choices include fruit, whole grain bread and oatmeal (add 2 teaspoons of sprouted ground chia seeds-good source of Omega 3 and provides sustained energy with slow release of carbs).   Post workout, choose fast digesting (high glycemic) carbs such as bagels or baked potatoes or a Sports drink (Gatorade, Powerade).  This will spike levels of the anabolic hormone insulin, which drives the carbs you eat into muscle cells where they’ll be stored as glycogen to be used for our next workout.  Insulin also helps amino acids get into the muscle cells to build muscle protein.  It is  critical in delivering creatine to the muscles and increases muscle protein synthesis-major process by which muscle fibres grow.

Calorie Count: to build muscle, consume 2800 calories per day (20 calories per pound).  You must stay in a positive calorie balance to gain quality mass.  If you take in less than you burn, your body will go into conservation mode and won’t support new muscle growth. 

Eat Frequently: Eat a meal that contains quality protein and carbs every 2-3 hours to ensure a steady supply of energy and amino acids for muscle growth all day long, helping you gain mass and stay lean.  The key is attempting to keep every meal around the same size.  Usually, any meals that contain calories in excess of what the body can process is stored as fat.  The goal would be to aim for 6-8 meals per day.

Shake it Up: Pre and post workout, get in at least 20 grams of protein in convenient shake form.  This is an important meal at critical times of the day.  This will prepare your body for the training and enable you to get a head start on the recovery process.  Drink a shake with 20g of whey protein 30 minutes prior to your workout and within 60 minutes post workout, another 20-40g along with 60-100g of faster digesting carbs (ie. Bagel).

Eat Before Bed: try to consume 30-40g of a micellar casein (major milk protein) protein shake or 1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese, as well as 2-3 tablespoons of flaxseed oil , 2 ounces of mixed nuts or 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter.  As you sleep, with not food available, the body goes to your muscle fibers for amino acids to fuel your brain, which is why slow-digesting proteins and healthy fats are your best choice.  These foods help slow digestion and provide a steady supply of amino acids for fuel, thereby minimizing the body’s tendency to use muscle.   

Pre workout foods (30-60 minutes before)

Apple (110 calories, 30g carbs)
Banana (105 calories, 1g protein, 27g carbs)
Blueberries  - 1 cup (83 calories, 1g protein, 21g carbs)
Orange (86 calories, 2g protein, 22g carbs)
Raspberries – 1 cup (64 calories, 1g protein, 15g carbs, 1g fat)
Strawberries – 1 cup (46 calories, 1g protein, 11g carbs)
Multigrain Bread – 1 slice (65 calories, 3g protein, 12g carbs, 1g fat)
Oatmeal – 1 cup (147 calories, 6g protein, 25g carbs, 4g fat, 4g fibre)

Post workout foods (within an hour post workout)

Cantaloupe (188 calories, 5g protein, 45g carbs, 1g fat)
Bagel  (289 calories, 11g carbs, 56g carbs, 2g fat)
Cheerios – 1 cup (111 calories, 4g protein, 22g carbs, 2g fat)
English Muffin (134 calories, 4g protein, 26g carbs, 1g fat)
Protein Powder – 1 scoop (80 calories, 20g protein, 1g carbs, 0 fat)
Baked Potato (270 calories, 7g protein, 61g carbs, 0 fat, 7g fibre)

Mass building

Top Sirloin Steak – 8oz (288 calories, 48g protein, 8g fat)
Ground Turkey – 8oz (340 calories, 40g protein, 18g fat)
 Egg (17 calories, 4g protein)
Salmon – 8oz (416 calories, 45g protein,24g fat)
Skinless Chicken Thigh – 1 pieces (82 calories, 14g protein, 3g fat)
Low-fat Cottage Cheese – 8oz (163 calories, 28g protein, 6g carbs, 2g fat)
Tuna – 6oz (191 calories, 42g protein, 1g fat)
Baked Potato (270 calories, 7g protein, 61g carbs, 0 fat, 7g fibre)
Peas – 1 cup (118 calories, 8g protein, 21g carbs, 1g fat)
Sweet Potato (103 calories, 2g protein, 24g carbs)
Corn – 1 cup (133 calories, 4g protein, 30g carbs, 2g fat)

Apple (110 calories, 30g carbs)
Banana (105 calories, 1g protein, 27g carbs)
Blueberries  - 1 cup (83 calories, 1g protein, 21g carbs)
Orange (86 calories, 2g protein, 22g carbs)
Avocado – ½ medium (145 calories, 2g protein, 8g carbs, 13g fat)
Bagel  (289 calories, 11g carbs, 56g carbs, 2g fat)
Cheerios – 1 cup (111 calories, 4g protein, 22g carbs, 2g fat)
Oatmeal – 1 cup (147 calories, 6g protein, 25g carbs, 4g fat, 4g fibre)
Peanut Butter – 1 tbsp (94 calories, 4g protein, 3g carbs, 8g fat)
Almonds – 1 oz (169 calories, 6g protein, 5g carbs, 15g fat)
Protein Powder – 1 scoop (80 calories, 20g protein, 1g carbs, 0 fat)