During the season, a triathlete's main focus in terms of nutrition is which foods will help better our performance on race day. But what happens during the offseason? While the break between races can be a great time to unwind, relax and do things you didn't have time for during the year, triathletes still should be mindful about what they put into their bodies.
While snacking throughout the day is completely acceptable while in training, keeping up the same habits and eating schedule during the offseason is a recipe for weight gain. Use these five tips to help get through the offseason with ease and make your return to racing next season easier than ever.
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Nutrition Tips for Triathletes During the Offseason
Written by
ACTIVE.com
Decrease Energy Intake
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Cut out extra energy bars, sports drinks and other recovery fuel you'd typically take during the season. You no longer need these if you aren't training.
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Your Next TriathlonFocus on the Quality of Your Diet
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Eat foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables. Eat less refined carbohydrates and energy-dense foods that previously gave you energy to get through a workout but served few other benefits.
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Your Next TriathlonListen to Your Hunger Cues
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During the season you probably spent a lot of time eating without even thinking about it—maybe when you weren't even hungry. Take time this offseason to listen to your body and only eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full.
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Your Next TriathlonAdd in Old Favorites
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During the season you probably limited yourself or even completely eliminated some foods because they weren't healthy or beneficial to your training. But now that you aren't trying to stay in peak condition, it's OK to add back in some of your old favorites, such as pizza, alcohol and ice cream. Just remember, everything in moderation.
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Your Next TriathlonTry Something New
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We all know not to mix up our diet and try new nutrition close to or during a race. But the offseason is the perfect opportunity to tweak fueling and fine-tune what works without the repercussions of unexpected bathroom trips on race day or an upset stomach during an important workout.