Hurdle for 2009: Nutrition

In the last few months it has come to my attention that despite all the attempts made I have done little in the way of perfecting and refining my nutritional approach.  I haven't exactly focused on this issue but with the advent of racing at a higher level one seeks to improve anything that is in their control to gain the upper hand.  I am not one to take information simply at face value.  I am quite cynical when it comes to reading up on this sort of thing in the press or even in "the literature" if it lacks a scientific backing.  This obviously goes for the training side stuff too.  Just telling me advice, or telling me what to do does not work either.  I'm a HOW&WHY person.  I want to know intimately how something works both in practice and in theory.  Theory is only so good as a book... but to see it in operation solidifies that which has been learned.  I like to call it learn by getting burned.  Do it yourself (burned) and you forever remember (scared)... but all in a good way of course.  

Lately I have been playing around with some different approaches in an attempt to lean out and get a little lighter (helps the run) but all to no avail.  Then I started talking more frequently with my "bro" Chris 'Crash' Tremonte.  He's an ITU/70.3 professional and Microsoft program manager.  He stayed with me for 4 weeks last summer and I got to catch a glimpse into how he practices his nutrition.  Whereas my pursuits/interests lie in human performance his lie in nutrition and it's impact on sport.  He's well read and very well practiced.  He's been the most helpful in sending me in the right direction and I trust his guidance as well as his reading/research suggestions.  A number of which I am currently immersing myself in.  

I have come to understand that in sports nutrition there are three general components.  Quality of Content, Volume and Timing.  As far the first goes I've done very well in that area... perhaps too well in the sense that I eat more along the lines of what a sedentary person should eat.  High bulk foods that saitiate quite quickly.  This is not necessarily what someone who has 3-4 workouts a day should be doing.  Which leads me to volume.  Because of the high quality/high bulk nature of my food selections I am not getting in the volume of carbohydrates in.  I have increased my fat content by A LOT but it still comes down to what you need to fuel the efforts that are being put forth, and with what I am currently doing that is CARBS.  With CT's guidance I've been working on timing as well.  Finish a tough swim, bike, or run.  He's also got some ideas on post acute recovery meal timing and content that I have found enlightening.  This is all stuff that, yes, is out in the general media but I only seem to heed it when guided by someone that I trust.  

CT has heaps of great information on this topic and you can find more of it and read all about it over on his blog at http://christremonte.blogspot.com/search/label/nutrition