Muscle Soreness and Diet Change

[rocknrollgirl]

You got me thinking......

I would do anything to help speed my recovery. We do make sure we have an appropriate post ride snack. We have an hour drive home from the trails where we train, so I always bring something.

But I wonder if increasing my daily amount would help. I have been hesitant, because everything I have read, including Nancy Clark says that athletes do not necessarily need more protein in their diet.

Ruth

[GLC1968]

says that athletes do not necessarily need more protein in their diet.

Have you read "The Paleo Diet for Athletes"? Really an alternative way of looking at the diet of endurance athletes. A very good read... if nothing else, you'll want to eat more lean protein and more veggies just from reading the book!

[rocknrollgirl]

I have not read that book...I will scope it out.

[mimitabby]

I don't think this is a problem we carnivores have. I think this might be more of a problem to vegans and vegetarians. As a carnivore, one tends to eat enough protein, and in fact, I cut back during rides and then eat well the day before and the day after.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Ahem, we aren't carnivores! Rather omnivores, I do like my greens too

EDIT: GLC mentioned an excellent book - highly recommended


On a serious note, I've read some of those studies too about how athletes don't need more protein, etc.

The reality though is I have to go with what my body is telling me, what it is doing, and how it responds. The simple fact is that since I've started adding a steady 40 grams of protein a day (for a total of 70 which is about 1 gram of protein/1 kg of weight in my case), I have recovered faster, and am getting stronger especially in hill climbing.

I think my body now has the raw materials, nutrition-wise, to build and strengthen my muscles, whereas before it didn't.

You could argue that maybe it has nothing to do with protein, but I am going to opt for the simpler explanation. Added protein - recover faster - stronger in the mountains. My training hasn't changed, except I'm doing better and not nearly as sore.

Mind you, the reason I feel it has helped me improve is because I had a deficiency in this particular nutrient. 20-30 grams a day of protein for a woman training fairly hard and riding 100+ miles seems lacking, or it was for me.

I am not suggesting people load up on protein, but just to get the right amount for their bodies to recover and get stronger. What that amount is, what number it equates with is something people need to determine themselves obviously. Also I am not a vegetarian, but I simply didn't eat a lot of meat and am fairly slender to begin with.

[SouthernBelle]

Also I am not a vegetarian, but I simply didn't eat a lot of meat and am fairly slender to begin with.

I think that is the same as me.