Do top athletes eat a balanced diet or an all healthy diet?

[curiouschica]

What do you think? Does it change if they are training versus not? I know there are exceptions (Michael Phelphs loaded up on crap), but what is the general trend?

[WoIIie]

Athletes that aim to maintain their current body weight are actually quite liberal when it comes to choosing foods. For example, triathletes and experienced boxers who train hard but aren't looking to lose mass will eat whatever the heck they want.

I read an article about a triathlete who ate fast food. Floyd Mayweather would often eat junk food, because he took care of his body so well that he didn't need to get "cut" or lose mass to make weight. Doing so would be detrimental to his performance.

So the athletes who want to get trim and leaner will have strict diets, and athletes who compete at their optimal weight and aren't looking to lose anything will typically eat whatever they want.

[curiouschica]

That's interesting! It makes sense because a lot of people want to reward themselves for working out that hard, but, at the same time, it's hard to believe that fueling the body with those types of things will give it an efficient engine...Thanks!

[Longshot]

Phelps was unusual in that he had to eat 10,000 calories per day (not the reported 12,000 that the news media gave out). Being a swimmer I know that I have to get a fair amount of protein everyday in addition to fruit and veggies. When I am swimming hard over long periods of time, I was eating things like pie, ice cream and cake. However I still had protein, veggies and fruit.

[curiouschica]

Gotcha...that makes sense! Thanks for your input!

[Deft_maiden]

Not necessarily. Some do however but most burn so many calories that don't concern themselves with what they eat. Bu I'm sure they all have sufficient carb, protein and vitamin intake.

[curiouschica]

That's true...I suppose they have a nutritionist helping them...thanks Deft!

[Deft_maiden]

I want a personal chef from Santa :)

[curiouschica]

lol! I'll take an attractive personal trainer! =) ha ha

[Deft_maiden]

A hot chef who knows how to cook yummy healthy food is priceless IMO :D

But I take an attractive P.T too! Beggars can't be choosers lmao <33

[curiouschica]

lol Have you seen chef Sam Nash? Or Rocco? =)

[curiouschica]

*Sam Kass sorry lol

[Deft_maiden]

Omg! Sam Nash is a hottie. OK I'm revising my gift wish list from Santa :O

[Deft_maiden]

I meant Sam talbot lol. Check him out

[martyfellow]

Most watch their diet carefully, many have their food prepared by a training staff. Most of the ones I have personally known are vegetarians or near vegetarians, except for the heavyweights wo do lifting and shot put...

[curiouschica]

Hmm yeah I've always wondered about the vegetarian thing...if it's truly beneficial for those types!

[martyfellow]

Yes, the vegetarian diet increases endurance according to them. It takes much more energy to digest meat and makes them feel sluggish.

Even the heavyweights pay attention to nutrition and don't usually eat a lot of hamburgers or pizza, too much fat for them too.

[theydidntnameme]

It really depends on the athlete. Like ray Allen (nba) hasn't eaten a burger since he was like 18, he's in his 30s now. Then there is Chad Ochocinco (nfl) who swears by McDonalds... He has great genes lol

[curiouschica]

Interesting! I wish I understood that stuff better...to me it seems like eating too much of the unhealthy stuff would clog your arteries and all even if you're exercising hard...but who knows? =)