If you are prone to energy lulls during your day, this is often related to...you guessed it -- your nutrition! Putting together your meals and snacks with the proper macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, fat) and in the right quantities and frequencies will support stable blood sugars. When you have stable blood sugar levels, you have a consistent energy level throughout the day. This means, no mid-afternoon sluggishness or urges to hit the candy machine for a quick sugar buzz (which soon bottoms you and makes you feel like junk!). Other athletes note they have more ability to concentrate and are in better moods after we have shifted nutrients around to meet this goal. Then there’s another BIG benefit: improving your metabolic efficiency (your body’s ability to burn fat more efficiently)!
Fuel4mance has a new e-book available on our Store webpage titled “The Athlete’s Food Guide to Metabolic Efficiency” that explains blood sugar stabilization in more detail. It also describes the connection with implementation of metabolic efficiency and nutrition periodization and then gives practical ways you can modify your nutrition patterns without subscribing to any fad diet. Now is a great time of the year to take control and set yourself up for a great start to 2012!
Dina Griffin, MS, RD, CSSD
Sport Dietitian
dina@fuel4mance.com
