eating

I think you don't eat enough actually. More veggies less ice cream ashley so we can both send midway when we head out to LRC toghether.

it might be me but especially on climbing trips its whatever whenever

I'm traditional kinda guy, but I always pack a CLIF bar for the climb.

How's you fluid intake? It might be dehydration??? I drink a 32oz Powerade on the approach and and 1.5 litre cambelback while I'm climbing a multi-pitch route. I've found that if I'm not hydrated I really burn out fast.

my fluid intake gets worse and worse as the fall progresses... I think that since its not hot outside anymore, i forget that I need to drink. SO good point, i have to keep that on my mind more often...

cook for your self, processed food lacks nutrition that food prepared by your self has.

You know those Tuna lunch packs you can get from gas stations or food stores? Those usually make wonderful snacks and meals. They give you protein and energy. Make sure you drink lots of water.
-Peace Out

There is a book called "Climbing: Training for Peak Performance" by Clyde Soles, its a bright red book. I havent read the whole thing yet, but he goes in to depth about eating and meals and proper calorie intake and such. Maybe that would help. Id type it all here, but it would take a while and no one would read it.

well ash i am sure you have noticed that when i come in to the gym i usually have a water bottle with me. I drink about 2 gallons of water a day the way i do this is i eat honey roasted peanuts. i know that sounds crazy but they make you friggin THIRSTY. while i am at work i munch on nuts and drink water all night. avoid the sodas for about a month and suddenly they taste funny. now if i could just kick coffee. as far as foods i eat everything. eventually your body tells you what its craving just listen to it. if you think "man a bowl of peaches and cream sounds gooder than a mug" then get the peaches and cream and tear into it. after a few months of doing that the cravings get more frequent before long you will notice a craving for things like broccili and cheese, or even beets (as odd as that week was) but your body will tell you what it needs just listen. thats all the advice i can offer and it may just work for me but for the record everyone thinks i weigh in at about 150 and i actually weigh closer to 200 (191 as of last night) its all about your body balancing out, admitidly i could stand to do some core work but im solid muscle and eat what ever i want when i want. but the water does make a big difference in how you feel everyday. when i did my lead class i had drank a quad latte before i went to the gym and was weak, flushed with water all day went back and did twice the difficulty just a thought. oh sorry rambling
cheers
bill

"there are only three sports motor racing mountain climbing and bull fighting all the rest are only games" Hemmingway

all i drink is water. I hate soda... its gross! I think RedBull is even kinda gross, but i drink it like once a month or once every 2 months. Its crack in a can for me - people at the gym have even made a video of me "on it"... But yeah, water is the best. I'll have to drink more. THanks.

i dont drink any sodas but im a coffee fiend. thats one thing im not trying to kick though. just my laziness about training

umm coffee

"I wouldn't go there if I were you. They steal from the store and they smell and they wear rags and even piss right outside their tents. I tell you, it's like a leper colony, that place."Yosemite Lodge bellman trying to dissuade a girl from visiting camp4

As much as people like to do the energy drink thing before climbing, I think its definitely not the best idea. I've definitely participated in this ritual, and although it provides a nice little boost for a while, the coming down effect afterwards can greatly hinder your climbing performance and stamina. As far as snack food goes, Kashi makes great energy bars that I recently turned to in place of my old faithful Clif Bars. They have a better all around taste and more nutrients for sure. Hope this helps somewhat.
-Peace

yeah for sure.

good call on the energy drink thing. I'm no doctor but when i used to drink them all my body said to me was "what is this crap your putting inside me?!" I do the coffee thing here and there. not sure if it's bad or good; everybody has their own opinions. for me I drink lots of water. i try not to eat a "meal" when i'm outside for the day cause it tends to make me tired. I just graze on trailmix, bars, tuna, or whatever. the main thing is stay away from stuff you know is no good: fast food, soda, etc. also I really try to focus on eating small portions. even if I'm eating healthy sometimes I tend to eat really large portions. unless your trying to be a body builder, then have at it.

Check out nutrition for sport blog at Laus Deo for pre, during and post workout nutritional needs. Resources sited.

Grant Walker
Laus Deo

Badash,
Have you ever tried drinking Green Tea? The antioxidants help purge your body of any built crud and the caffeine is pretty mellow so you get energy without all the jitteryness (is that a word?) you get from energy drinks or coffee. Another benefit for people like me that have the metabolism of a dead whale is that it acts as an appetite suppressant. After a few cups in the morning, I'm less likely to be shovling to much food into my system that never gets burnt and transfers to fat. But like all teas it also acts as a diuretic so you still have to keep up the water intake.

Sorry,
Performance Nutrition blog at Laus Deo

Green Tea is great. It's great after any physical activity. I also like it before early in the morning like breakfast time(Eat Breakfast everyday!). I'm also a huge fan of REAL juice. I also eat a tone of fruits too. The energy drinks taste like crap and they are loaded with caffeine which will only dehydrate you. Power Aid and Gatorade keep your electrolytes up too so they are good. A lack of energy can sometimes be you electrolytes being messed up, this can be caused by dehydration, and general exertion. Oh Protein eat your protein!!! I like Salmon and Tuna, I eat legumes (nuts beans etc)too. I tend eat several smaller meals a day , especially when climbing. I also suggest getting a nutrition book. I stole my one of my Mom's text books on Nutrition (Mom's a Nurse). It helped me a lot with keep energy when climbing and all other physical activities. OK I am a health freak but Hey I've lost 90lbs, and have a tonne of energy, and feel better than ever.

Thanks guys. I have had Green Tea, and I really like it. I dont drink soda... its gross. I dont even like energy drinks, but i DO drink them now and then for the energy. But now that you told me that Green Tea gives energy too, I guess i will start drinking it more. I also like Gatorade, so that might help rehydrate me. But for the protein: its hard. Im a vegetarian... I dont eat tuna or any other fish or meat. I need more ideas. Im going to start a new topic specifically on vegetarian diet for climbing... maybe there are more out there.

thanks for the replies, guys.

Veggie diet...hmm remember Legumes (nuts, beans, sweet potato, tofu, hummus) For something pocket size and full of protein Nature Valley Sweet and Salty (they're amazing), Nature Valley Trail Mix bars (pretty good). Fruit leather, Trail mix...I am also all about Peanut butter. Almond Butter is great if you have a sweet tooth. The only meat I eat is fish. Falafel full of protein and so yummy, through Falafel with hummus on a whole wheat pita with lettuce and tomato travels pretty well. Hummus with raw veggies (hummus is full of protein. A good veg cookbook should give you some balanced ideas or again a nutrition book. I'm thinking about posting recipes on my blog, mainly because I am almost veg (I'm anemic so Doc order I have to have some meat at least once a week. They're are some tofu desserts that rock too, pudding like things. Also Yogurt has protein as does cheese...cottage cheese. Hope this helps. Vegetarian is slightly easier than Vegan. But what you were describing originally really seems like an electrolyte imbalance. Oh and Banana's have tonnes of potassium and protein. Potassium prevent leg cramps, as does calcium. And as my one friend says "Drink Water Or Die!"

Sweet, thanks... that was really helpful. I just posted another topic on vegetarianism and climbing... im too lazy to get the link, but you should see it.