92 degrees is a pretty hot day to do anything let alone back to back soccer games! How do you prepare for a day like that?
There are a few things I do when I'm playing soccer on a 90 degree day. Today is one of those days.
Last night is when I really started preparing. I began focusing on eating protein and hydrating my body. Dinner consisted of herb and garlic marinated, skinless, boneless chicken breasts with pasta with puttanesca sauce. I FOCUSED on eating more chicken than pasta. All through the evening I drank lots of water and Gatorade.
My snacks were pure pleasure. I ate a white chocolate and macadamia nut cookie and an ice cream drumstick.
This morning I began focusing on protein again. Breakfast was a whole hard boiled egg and a hard boiled egg white with some cold chicken from last night and a couple pieces of pineapple. To hydrate, I drank water and more Gatorade.
My husband played golf early in the morning. We met at a favorite restaurant for brunch. While his plate was loaded with bacon, scrambled eggs and biscuits with sausage gravy, my plate was loaded with prime rib, green salad and a dinner roll. For dessert I had a small piece of carrot cake. He drank raspberry iced tea while I drank water.
Now I'm sitting here munching on some raw almonds and drinking more Gatorade.
Why Gatorade instead of water? The choice isn't based on any media hype (I don't watch TV) or scientific evidence. I drink Gatorade because I've found that it keeps me hydrated, helps keeps my energy level up and seems to prevent cramping in my calves.
My focus on protein is loosely based on The Blood Type Diet and personal experience. My blood type is O-. According to The Blood Type Diet, my body requires a lot of protein, particularly red meat protein. I don't necessarily like a lot of red meat so I focus on any protein - red meat, chicken, tuna, avocado, almonds, pepitas, soy chips - anything that will add to the protein count prior to a soccer game.
Notice that I use the word "focus". This means that I don't get too fanatical about anything. Even though there are carbs, fat and sugar in my pre-game diet, my focus is on protein to help rebuild my muscles, give me the energy I need and in my case, protein also seems to prevent cramping.
Protein may not be the answer to your sports diet. You may be a person who needs those carbs for energy. Each of us is different.
If you're an athlete or active like I am, try different things. Really listen to your body after you eat. Pay attention to your sports performance. Did you run out of energy? Did you cramp? Were you exhausted after the game?
There are a number of other things that I do on a mental/emotional level but that's a topic for another article.
Oh, and about that sugar in the cookie, ice cream cone and carrot cake . . . I don't even worry about it. They were eaten so far in advance of any soccer games that it won't bother my performance. Playing two games in 90 degree weather usually means that I drop 5-6 pounds in water weight.
Besides dreprivation just makes me cranky.
92 degrees is a pretty hot day to do anything let alone back to back soccer games! How do you prepare for a day like that?
There are a few things I do when I'm playing soccer on a 90 degree day. Today is one of those days.
Last night is when I really started preparing. I began focusing on eating protein and hydrating my body. Dinner consisted of herb and garlic marinated, skinless, boneless chicken breasts with pasta with puttanesca sauce. I FOCUSED on eating more chicken than pasta. All through the evening I drank lots of water and Gatorade.
My snacks were pure pleasure. I ate a white chocolate and macadamia nut cookie and an ice cream drumstick.
This morning I began focusing on protein again. Breakfast was a whole hard boiled egg and a hard boiled egg white with some cold chicken from last night and a couple pieces of pineapple. To hydrate, I drank water and more Gatorade.
My husband played golf early in the morning. We met at a favorite restaurant for brunch. While his plate was loaded with bacon, scrambled eggs and biscuits with sausage gravy, my plate was loaded with prime rib, green salad and a dinner roll. For dessert I had a small piece of carrot cake. He drank raspberry iced tea while I drank water.
Now I'm sitting here munching on some raw almonds and drinking more Gatorade.
Why Gatorade instead of water? The choice isn't based on any media hype (I don't watch TV) or scientific evidence. I drink Gatorade because I've found that it keeps me hydrated, helps keeps my energy level up and seems to prevent cramping in my calves.
My focus on protein is loosely based on The Blood Type Diet and personal experience. My blood type is O-. According to The Blood Type Diet, my body requires a lot of protein, particularly red meat protein. I don't necessarily like a lot of red meat so I focus on any protein - red meat, chicken, tuna, avocado, almonds, pepitas, soy chips - anything that will add to the protein count prior to a soccer game.
Notice that I use the word "focus". This means that I don't get too fanatical about anything. Even though there are carbs, fat and sugar in my pre-game diet, my focus is on protein to help rebuild my muscles, give me the energy I need and in my case, protein also seems to prevent cramping.
Protein may not be the answer to your sports diet. You may be a person who needs those carbs for energy. Each of us is different.
If you're an athlete or active like I am, try different things. Really listen to your body after you eat. Pay attention to your sports performance. Did you run out of energy? Did you cramp? Were you exhausted after the game?
There are a number of other things that I do on a mental/emotional level but that's a topic for another article.
Oh, and about that sugar in the cookie, ice cream cone and carrot cake . . . I don't even worry about it. They were eaten so far in advance of any soccer games that it won't bother my performance. Playing two games in 90 degree weather usually means that I drop 5-6 pounds in water weight.
Besides dreprivation just makes me cranky.