"I'm Not A Bodybuilder, Why Should I Supplement With Protein?"
This is a common question asked by endurance athletes. When you get down to it, endurance athletes are bodybuilders, moulding and training their bodies hard to achieve the desired athletic results. The truth is that endurance athletes and bodybuilders have similar protein requirements; however, their bodies use this protein differently. Bodybuilders need protein primarily to increase muscle tissue bulk, whereas endurance athletes need protein primarily to maintain and repair existing muscle tissue that is undergoing constant breakdown from day-to-day training.
Endurance athletes tend to focus on carbohydrate intake and pay little attention to protein. As a result, protein deficiency often appears among endurance athletes, resulting in negative effects on both performance and health.
Inadequate Protein Intake is Catabolic.
High quality protein intake isn’t just for body builders! Endurance athletes need considerable amounts of protein, far above the normal adult RDA, because maintenance, repair and growth of lean muscle mass all depend on it. Low dietary protein can significantly lengthen recovery time, cause muscle weakness, and compromise immune function, all of which may lead to "overtraining syndrome". This hampers the beneficial effects of your training and potentially, can adversely impact your health.
The Balancing Act: Protein, Carbohydrate and Electrolytes.
Due to the unique stress endurance athletes put on their bodies, they require a sports supplement that provides the best quality nutrients, in the ideal ratios, proven to enhance recovery, repair and optimise performance. Endura Optimizer is such a supplement.
Endura Optimizer:
The Complete Formula for Today's Endurance Athlete.
Endura Optimizer is a powdered sports supplement that contains the right balance of protein, carbohydrate and electrolytes all in one convenient formula to meet the exact needs of today's endurance athlete. It is a complete formula to assist with:
- Repair and maintenance of muscle tissue.
- Replenishment of depleted glycogen stores.
- Replacement of electrolytes.
The Highest Biological Value Protein Available.
The whey protein in Endura Optimizer is specifically hydrolysed and predigested to form a complex of di and tripeptides. Di and tripeptides are absorbed faster than non hydrolysed proteins and offer greater muscle recovery.
Balanced Blend of High Performance Carbohydrates.
The carbohydrates in Endura Optimizer are a specially balanced blend of high performance branched-chain glucose polymers and pure crystalline fructose. These multiple energy sources are metabolised at different rates, resulting in a steady stream of nutrients being supplied to the blood stream for prolonged periods. This greatly enhances endurance and helps stabilise blood sugar levels.
Ideal Ratio of Carbs to Protein For Glycogen Restoration.
Endura Optimizer contains carbs and protein in a 4:1 ratio. Supplementation with high quality carbohydrates and protein in a ratio of 4:1 is the most efficient way of replenishing glycogen stores, allowing the body to use the carbohydrates as a source of fuel, thus conserving muscle mass.
Broad Spectrum Electrolytes.
Endura Optimizer also contains a balanced spectrum of electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride as well as MetaMag™, the most bioavailable form of magnesium available in Australia and New Zealand. These electrolytes and minerals help reduce the effects of electrolyte loss and minimise cramping.
The Importance Of Protein
By Allan Pitman - Triathlon Coach and Ironman Competitor
Whenever I sign up a new athlete, I always send out my standard questionnaire. "What I need to know about you."
Among the many questions I ask, I ask them to provide a three day food diary so I know how they eat, what they eat and when they eat it. It's very interesting to see what some athletes are training on. One girl was virtually living on coffee and muffins! She would have three muffins and three coffees each day.
I explained to her, the importance of a good quality protein and carbohydrates in order to help her perform at her best. We restructured her diet and over an eighteen month period, she developed from a muffin eater to a Hawaii qualifier.
She now starts the day with her vitamin and fish oil supplements with a serve of Endura Optimizer. She usually trains for around two hours before breakfast. Her breakfast consists of another serve of Endura Optimizer and either cereal with added almonds or leftovers from the previous night's dinner.
Her next snack/meal is mid morning. Usually at this time she has a chicken leg or two boiled eggs served with a couple of slices or wholemeal bread.
Lunch is often early afternoon, and is a salad with tuna, or a brown rice salad with avocado and tuna. Sometimes if time is limited she'll have a smoothie made with soy milk, three scoops of Endura Optimizer, a handful of almonds and half a banana or a mango. A liquid meal like this provides all the nutrition she needs and it can be prepared and consumed in ten minutes.
She often has a couple of pieces of fruit right before evening swimming or sometimes an Endura Energy Bar. Dinner after evening swimming needs to be lighter and easily digested. Often it consists of steamed vegies with grilled fish, chicken or a well cooked casserole. (The slow cooker can be a great investment for a busy athlete. A meal can be assembled quickly in the morning and be ready to serve right after evening training).
The most important change I made to her diet was the inclusion of protein in every meal and snack. Blood sugar levels are kept fairly constant so energy is always there for training. Another benefit is her body fat percentage has dropped by 15% over eighteen months and her performance has gone through the roof.
An athlete training for long distance events like the Hawaii Ironman needs more protein than a body builder because training sessions go for so much longer and the amount of muscle breakdown is far greater than when a body builder trains. An athlete training on less than sufficient protein will not "age well", their hair will lose its vitality and shine, their fingernails will become brittle, skin repair is not going to be as good and the strength of the immune system will be lowered.
The combination of high quality carbohydrate and hydrolysed, predigested protein in Endura Optimizer, ensures fast absorption and stable blood sugar levels. These two factors when combined with a balanced training plan will deliver a leaner athlete and a great improvement in performance.
