Steve Haywood Health & Fitness

During the week before a competition, your two main aims are:

1 to fill your muscle and liver glycogen stores so that you compete with a ‘full’ fuel supply.

2 to keep well hydrated.

Depending on the length and type of event you are competing in, you may benefit from special eating plans, such as carbohydrate loading and/or a reduction in fat intake -as you rest and taper your training before the event. Ask your coach or personal trainer for details on the correct eating plan.

Supplements

Advice to UK athletes on the use of supplements, taken from The Global Drug Information Database:

In light of concerns about contamination and poor labelling of supplements, UK sport, the British Olympic Association, the British Paralypmic Association, National Sports Medicine Institute and the Home Country Sports Council have issued a position statement on supplements. They advise UK athletes to be ‘extremely cautious’ about the use of any supplements. Anti-doping rules are based on the principle of strict liability and therefore supplements are taken at an athletes risk.