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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Dieting During Taper

jimstandard

Nov 11, 08 11:48

Post #1 of 8 (248 views)

Dieting During Taper	Can't Post

Can anyone give me good advice or point me to some good threads on dieting during an IM taper
-Thanks Jim

ddension

Nov 11, 08 11:55

Post #2 of 8 (242 views)

Re: Dieting During Taper [jimstandard] [In reply to]	Can't Post

A taper is no time for a diet my friend. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GAIN WEIGHT IN A TAPER. You need to be focused on replenishing your glycogen stores (hence the weight gain) in your muscles and liver. You should gain 2-3 lbs during a taper, even if you are eating smart.

Focus on eating whole foods, clean foods, and stay off the scale. You should not be focused on shedding those last few pounds during a taper.

Spindogg

Nov 11, 08 12:15

Post #3 of 8 (223 views)

Re: Dieting During Taper [jimstandard] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Once glycogen stores are full stick to the paleo/primal diet (lean meats, nuts,seeds, fruits, veggies). Any excess carbs will turn to fat. Carbo load 2-3 days out. Read www.marksdailyapple.com

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smtyrrell99

Nov 11, 08 12:32

Post #4 of 8 (211 views)

Re: Dieting During Taper [ddension] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree losing weight during a taper isn't a good idea, but do you have any evidence that gaining is beneficial? I've never seen a number but I can't believe that glycogen can weigh 2-3 pounds over normal levels.

Styrrell

ddension

Nov 11, 08 12:37

Post #5 of 8 (203 views)

Re: Dieting During Taper [smtyrrell99] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Depends on what kind of weight you are talking about. Gaining extra fat is not beneficial to performance. One of the goals of the taper is to replenish gylcogen stores for race day. This will naturally raise body weight by 2-3 pounds. The problem is that the scale doesn't differentiate between gylcogen and fat.

I am not a huge advocate of the paleo diet. Obviously, you are going to be eating less during a taper than you would eat during the max weeks of Ironman training. Don't 'diet' during taper, just eat your normal energy sources and taper calories in proportion to the reduced training load.

matti58

Nov 11, 08 12:40

Post #6 of 8 (197 views)

Re: Dieting During Taper [smtyrrell99] [In reply to]	Can't Post

For your sexy body to store glycogen, it also needs to store water (it's a chemistry thing.....something like it takes 2.4 grams of water to store 1 gram of glycogen (not sure on exact numbers)). Therefore, most of your taper weight gain is from water.

show pony

Nov 11, 08 12:41

Post #7 of 8 (196 views)

Re: Dieting During Taper [jimstandard] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Jim, you're gonna get conflicting opinions here. IM(H)O, all anyone needs to do at this stage is just eat normally. Assuming you're starting your taper healthy (a little tired perhaps, but otherwise healthy), why change now? Taper "diets", "carbo-loading", special "race-day breakfasts", etc are all new stimuli your body probably doesn't need prior to a big race. Eat normally and let the added rest & recovery do it's work.

ride for show...run for dough

I hated every minute of training, but I said, ''Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.''
- Muhammad Ali

tigerchik

Nov 11, 08 14:21

Post #8 of 8 (146 views)

Re: Dieting During Taper [matti58] [In reply to]	Can't Post

correct...

for the OP: remember that during heavy training your glycogen stores never completely re-fill, you're constantly burning it up, so storing glycogen + water = "weight gain"

Nourish your body so you can race your best, trying to lose weight during taper = extra stress on your body, not good.
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(This post was edited by tigerchik on Nov 11, 08 14:21)