A personalized food plan mean an optimized training plan
The diet fully integrates the performance approach for athletes, an essential component of the lifestyle. The majority agrees to try to follow a set of simple basic dietary rules, the least restrictive possible, and adaptable to everyday life (professional, family …). On the paper, it’s usually nice, but in practice, if the result is potentially positive in the short term (one month maximum), it is less in the medium or long term!
This form of failure is largely due to a mismatch between these general advice and the specificity of each athlete (metabolism, food habits, schedules …)!
Beware of generalities !
When I talk about general advice, I know that for the majority of athletes, dietetics is not a priority and it is often based on the generalities found on the internet (by more or less competent people, the famous « nutrition coaches »). Where you can find everything and the opposite, either on the examples of dietary follow-up established for another person. I will take 2 examples to explain you concretely:
- Your fellow trainer runs a 400m in 1’15 (following the recommendations of his coach), you know very well that this time is not for you and you adapt it yourself according to your level. This data is encrypted, quantifiable, the landmarks are simpler (I do not have his level so I could not do 12 x 400 m 1’15).
- Your mate has consulted a dietitian who has recommended eating such lunch at lunch time, such meal in the evening … You will use his plan without thinking that the dietician has personalized the plan according to his metabolism, his eating habits, his possible deficiencies…
That’s why you need a personalized food plan adapted to your our metabolism and needs.
What is sports dietetics ?
Through a simple and relevant question and answer system, it is important to identify links between the athlete’s daily diet and functional symptoms (fatigue, injuries, eating disorders, etc.). It is a matter of making people aware of what is good (thus reinforcing the principle of representations) and less well while providing information usable by the athlete in everyday life, and especially during the practice of his sport!
Know how to switch from « knowledge » to « action »
This process is easier when the athlete asks himself the right questions about his life: what are the benefits to change? The disadvantages of not changing my way of eating? Do I want to to be better, to improve my performances, to achieve my sporting dream? How can a dietitian help me and influence my physical, physiological and mental performance parameters? Psychologically, am I ready? Is my entourage too? … so many questions that lead the individual to react, ask questions, formulate the right questions to the dietitian, for the sake of optimal follow-up and acquisition of nutritional autonomy after.
Non adapted food, be aware of the consequences.
Some sports are sensitive to the risks of food imbalances, especially endurance sports (trail, marathon, ultra, triathlon …). The major causes are often « draconian » weight loss diets, repetitive, providing an average energy intake, too low compared to the real needs caused by sports activity. In general, a single goal is sought: reduction of weight and body fat in order to search for a minimum weight and not necessarily « optimal »! Very often, the vicious circle of « Malnutrition » is set up, resulting in deficiencies, see micronutritional deficiencies (trace elements, minerals, vitamins …), overtraining and ultimately poor performance.
Conclusion
Having The legs without a good quality fuel is as useless as having an optimal fuel without the legs
Translation: having an excellent preparation but being poorly fed is as unproductive as eating well without doing any preparation!
For more information, here are my rates and benefits as well as the testimonials of athletes followed.
Nicolas AUBINEAU
Sports Dietitian Nutritionnist
