So the training’s underway and it’s got to the intensity level whereby we need to seriously think about how we fuel our bodies.  This week I’ve been reading about sports nutrition and I’m telling you it’s a minefield!  On a positive note, we get to consume a lot more calories now we’re training hard and rather than feel guilty about it, it’s a necessity!  Unfortunately, it means really thinking about the quality of the foods we eat and not just about finishing off the whole pack of biscuits from the staff room at break time!  Shame!

And it’s not just about the quality of the foods, it’s about how much to eat and when in order to maximise our training and to make sure our bodies can cope with the demands we are placing on them.   We also have to ensure we are not losing weight and more importantly muscle mass as we have to develop good reserves in order to make it up to the top of Everest.    From a female perspective, I may have to avoid the mini skirts this summer as I develop increasingly muscly legs and have bigger muscles than most of my male friends and family – arm wrestle anyone?!  Not quite sure how obvious this will be but only time will tell!

Another thing I’ve had to get my head around is the whole sports drink thing!  We’re currently trying out a powder variety whereby you have to heap scoopfuls of sweet powder into your drinking bottle and mix it up with a little water.   I seem to be having issues whereby I can’t stop thinking about how much powder I’ve put in my bottle and am convinced I’m going to get that horrible feeling of when you get a mouthful of flour and you try to swallow but you can’t as it’s all stuck on your tongue , then the more you try to get rid of it, the more it spreads around your month and throat and makes you gag!  (Must be a phobia I developed as a child playing that party game where you have to dunk your head in the bowl of flour to get the sweet! – Remember that one?!).   Anyway, of course this never has happened but I’m sure you can understand my concern!

Anyhoo, it’s early days as far as my nutrition knowledge goes, but I’ll keep you posted with my developments in this area as I learn how to develop a vegetarian sports nutrition diet compatible with Irritable Bowel Syndrome whilst ensuring weight gain!  Hmm…