Frequently Asked Questions

If you say things like . . .

“I’m great at working out, but horrible at eating.  Nutrition is my missing link. I’m confused by all of the conflicting nutritional information, I don’t know where to start.”

“I wonder if I should be taking some supplements?  I have great workouts, but I’m not getting the results I want. 

“I seem to ‘run out of gas’ at the end of a workout or game ~ I just feel tired a lot of the time.”

Then, it’s likely that you could use some help in structuring your diet.

Pre-game/workout meal needs to consist of 50-70% carbohydrates and a moderate amount of protein.

Post- game/workout meal or snack needs to consist of a 4:1 ratio (4 g of carb to 1 g of protein).   Carbs replenish energy (glycogen) lost during exercise and protein starts muscle repair, but most importantly, decreases muscle breakdown post-exercise.

In high school and college, fluid and snack choices may be available only at water fountains and soft drink and vending machines. To ensure adequate pre-game and pre-practice hydration, student athletes should have access to quality sports drinks.

When possible, they should carry a couple of containers of sports drinks or sports drink powder to consume throughout the day. There may only be a small window of opportunity after school and prior to game time for athletes to consume an adequate pre-game meal, access to healthy snacks is imperative, but snacks are not a substitute for a balanced nutritious meal.

Absolutely.  A number of strategies can be implemented prior to resistance training, game time, etc.  Special attention to fuel needs is important during lengthy workouts and games. Recovery involves eating as soon after a workout or game.  And if a structured meal or snack is not available, that’s when good available sports foods are necessary.

We can help provide guidance on the sound use of supplements and sports foods that can fill in the “nutritional gaps” and help assure you are getting all of the nutrients necessary.  In fact, just eating well (which is difficult to do on a consistent basis) rarely provides all that athletes require nutritionally.

We have access to what professional athletes use and can custom design a sports supplement plan to you.

Aside from training, nutrition is the most important influence on sports performance. To reach one's highest potential, all of the body's systems must be working optimally. The best way to achieve this is to eat a variety of nutritious foods.  Calories, carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and fluids all play a unique and crucial role.  However, when nutritious foods aren’t always around, supplements can “fill in the gaps”.  In addition, the nutritional needs of an athlete are above those of a non-athlete.  So, supplements can assist in the nutritional demands of athletes of all levels.

Although hot conditions are not typically conducive to optimal sports performance, nutritional strategies play an important role.  A key issue is the prevention of dehydration and loss of electrolytes during practice or game situations.  A strategy of taking in fluids should be planned in a cyclical sequence: hydrate well prior to a workout, drink as much as is comfortable and practical during the workout session and re hydrate aggressively afterwards. Recovery of significant fluid losses after a game or workout is combined by the simultaneous replacement of electrolyte losses.