TriOurWorld

When it comes to competitive sport and getting in shape, among the most commonly associated lifestyle changes is a closer monitoring of what you put into your body. In order to compete in a triathlon, your body must be a well-oiled machine, requiring the proper fuel, if you will. Not to be confused with the term “dieting,” which takes on primarily weight-loss connotations in common vernacular, maintaining a healthy diet with performance in mind will not look like the average man or woman’s New Year’s resolution. Here are a few oft-forgotten tips to keep in mind.Though triathlons can be extremely grueling, extreme and rapid diet changes can do as much harm as good Consider your body like a car in motion down the highway. Even if you’ve slowly been drifting out of your lane (read: slacking in terms of fitness and eating), it’s best not to overreact and slam your body back the other direction. Any change is good in terms of unhealthy consumption habits, but gradual, structured change is better.You may lose weight, but weight loss is not your final goal A lot of diets out there will promise to leave you slim and feeling great, all while minimizing effort. As an aspiring triathlete, minimizing effort should be listed under the cons. The root cause of any weight loss should be an increase in exercise, not a decrease in the amount of food on your plate. Remember, skinny people can be just as out of shape as overweight people, as the actual shape of your physical body has limited bearing on whether or not you are in-shape. Much more important is how you feel and your energy levels after periods of high exertion.Your diet should not look the same the whole year through As triathlons place a strain, even on the physically fit body, you will need to prepare and replenish your vessel before and after an event. Accordingly, pre-race and post-race meals will look entirely different as they serve different means to maintain a cumulative normalcy.As far as specific diets plans are concerned, it is always best to consult a physician and/or nutritional fitness expert.