same as most that take it seriously
I want to stay somewhere between not aware of my stomach at all to a little bit hungry. I don't want real hunger pangs knifing through me distracting me nor do I want to feel full.
I start thinking about what I am eating a day or two before a serious competition. I'm definitely thinking about what I eat at supper the night before and all day during competition. I want to eat fairly light and slow release foods. Although I will probably eat meat the night before it isn't going to be the biggest steak I can cram down. The next morning I am looking for something light that will stay with me. If the competition starts in the evening I'll probably have pasta or rice for lunch without anything heavy on it, a little red gravy or olive oil on the pasta, butter on the rice but not a lot.
I'll try to eat a handful of times during competition never eating much any one time. If I am at an outdoor event I'll usually have some bananas with me or maybe some in the truck if it is an indoor event like pool. If I bring sandwiches I like to cut them in half when I prepare them, a reminder to eat light. (I couldn't go the half a turkey sandwich, the bread alone would weight me down. Maybe half a cornish hen!)
If you can't resist a big meal during competition, try to time it for at least two hours to recover and if you can squeeze in a siesta during that two hours so much the better.
I like to think I am prepared to compete in every way I can be. Eating right gives me a little edge as does a half-dozen other little things. I learned long ago that a little edge here, a little edge there, all adds up to a pretty big edge over a lot of people and an edge over most people.
Eating right, resting when you can, and mentally resting when you can't physically rest all increase stamina at the table. Many mistakes are made simply because we are a little tired, a little distracted, and we don't think things through. Late game pressure bites many because that is when they are already a little tired and starting to run out of fuel for the body and the mind. I want to be the one that is closing strong. Aside from everything else there is a nice intimidation factor involved when your opponent is starting to fade and you are bouncing around going strong. :wink:
Hu
