Another year, another diet
Cutting corners will not deliver results
As we enter the new year many of us make resolutions, designed to make us accountable, for becoming better versions of ourselves. Seasonal trends like Dry January and Veganuary dominate office chatter and ruin dinner parties.
Some will be opting for the old fashioned diet, trying to shift the Christmas kilos, with the goal of working back to race weight. At Got To Tri, we also have indulged over the Christmas break and will be more conscious of our diet moving forward but the key message is to not fall for the ‘quick fix’.
The January challenges can help hit your reset button post Christmas but there is a common and dangerous misconception that combining a low calorie diet with high amounts of exercise (calorie deficit) will result in weight loss. In fact, this approach can backfire, plateauing your efforts and making you feel tired and miserable. The truth is, it is possible to eat what you need alongside your training and see results.
Everyone has their own motivations but we encourage any of you training to ensure you are fuelling properly, before, during and after training. Of course cutting down on sugary, processed or junk foods will benefit your health but you don’t need to cut down all food.
If you’re swimming, cycling, running or a combination of the three then you need to be consuming a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates and fat accordingly! Ensuring you are getting enough fuel to power your body and repair afterwards. We are aware there are many schools of thought on what we should and should not eat but our advise, to keep it simple, is to eat a colourful plate. Tip: avoid beige food (like the fast food combo) at all costs.
To give you some recipe inspiration, here is a perfect post-session supper from Jemima Cooper. As Jemima says, “fuelling for your sport is so important. Getting what you need, when you need it, ready to power you on to your next training session.”
Happy cooking!
