Food is there as a means to support our energy demands and the exercise or physical labor we are about to perform.
In the world of fitness and exercise, you cannot out train a bad diet (a story for another time). However, the training itself must be supported by the diet. Think of it this way, if you were going to take a trip, you would not commence the drive with an empty gas tank, right? The same goes for your body. If you start a WOD with an empty tank, you won’t be able to go very far. We eat to support our energy systems and allow us to perform physical labor.
“EAT…” This first word in the CrossFit Journal Article ‘Fitness in 100 Words’ by Greg Glassman
(Image retrieved from: http://www.whitecliffscrossfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/img-fit-100-words.png)
So how much do you need to eat? Well that all depends on your physical abilities and goals. If you are doing a long duration WOD like Murph (~60 minutes or more) you will need to eat more before hand. If you are doing a short duration WOD like Fran (~5 minutes) you will need to eat significantly less. So we fuel our body for the task at hand.
“Eat enough to support exercise but not body fat” -Greg Glassman
In other words, Coach Glassman was explaining that eating a pizza before Fran, is overcompensating for energy needed, we will not expend enough calories to balance out. If we instead consumed a whole foods bar at around 160-250 calories, we would be in balance. This also will help us keep our ability to do the work! Think about doing a WOD post pizza binge UGH!
Furthermore depending on what your goals are, we recommend speaking to a professional about the appropriate caloric intake, including balancing of your macro nutrients (Protein, Fat and Carbohydrates). Balance the diet and maximize the fitness.
Nutrition Programs: http://springlakecrossfit.com/nutrition-coaching-program/
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