What to eat for energy before a game?

[Wizzykin]

Not sure where else to post this - but this forum seemed to fit.

I'm just wondering. I joined my college's intramural basketball league. Played today and found out I was in terrible shape. Only four players for our team showed, so I had to play the whole 40 mins - we still won too.

I was wondering what would be a really good, and relatively normal (i don't take shakes, or bars, or any of that crap) foods would be really good for energy before a game.

[shugknight]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

fruit.

Bananas are good before games.

[Dallasin2K3]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

Fruit is the best (with pasta as a meal ~2 hrs beforehand), but you can't eat anything to get you in shape. That's why they run you 'til you puke in organized ball. Eating right may buy you another minute or two, at most.

[Cardot]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

I'm just wondering. I joined my college's intramural basketball league. Played today and found out I was in terrible shape. Only four players for our team showed, so I had to play the whole 40 mins - we still won too.

Ah yes, I recall a similiar moment in my life. I was in my mid 20's playing in an indoor Lacrosse league and I made the sad discovery that I could no longer eat anything I wanted, when I wanted and still perform respectively. That lesson came courtesy Taco Bell.

I would just eat healthy and give your body a good 1.5 to 2 hours to digest. Protien from lean meats, fruits and vegetables should fit the bill.

[APOC]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

Not sure where else to post this - but this forum seemed to fit.

I'm just wondering. I joined my college's intramural basketball league. Played today and found out I was in terrible shape. Only four players for our team showed, so I had to play the whole 40 mins - we still won too.

I was wondering what would be a really good, and relatively normal (i don't take shakes, or bars, or any of that crap) foods would be really good for energy before a game.

If your in terrible shape, then nothing you take in before a game is going to do anything for you in that sense. Conditioning and energy are the same thing, so basically you only have as much energy as your conditioning allows.

As far as your question, most of the energy you use while working out comes from your storage of glycogen and fat. If your eating less than one hour before your game, something like a slice of toast with jam would be best. It will delay hunger and prevent low blood sugar. Though in the long run, it's beter to eat a high-carbohydrate diet to maintain your glycogen stores.

[daflyboys]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

I think you need to look at how much actual protein you're getting on a regular basis. Regardless of how well you're reconditioning your fast twitch muscles, they need to be fed. College students typically have poor diets largely related to the weak make-up of the cafeteria menu. Protein-rich foods are tough to keep around in dorms as well. If you don't mind enhancement bars, one that is relatively cheap and accessible with no refined sugars are Kashi (brand) bars which you can find in your local grocery store.

[ehh]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

Chicken is absolutely the way to go. Nothing fried or anything like that, a cutlet straight off the Foreman. I have that with a bowl of peas before every game and it's wonderful.

[Herbsinator]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

Nothing in life is free.....get in shape...nothing you eat will help you that much if you are fat and out of shape.

[ehh]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

Nothing in life is free.....get in shape...nothing you eat will help you that much if you are fat and out of shape.

That's not true at all.

[e0820]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

In another thread someone said to drink a diet coke before working out. I wasnt sure if this was to give you a boost in energy or to get your metabolism going. But will a diet coke benefit you before playing basketball? I ask because me and 15 guys from work rent out a gym 1 hour a day twice a week and usually get 3 full court games in.

[Dallasin2K3]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

That's not true at all.

Actually, I agree with that statement totally.

[Dallasin2K3]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

In another thread someone said to drink a diet coke before working out. I wasnt sure if this was to give you a boost in energy or to get your metabolism going. But will a diet coke benefit you before playing basketball? I ask because me and 15 guys from work rent out a gym 1 hour a day twice a week and usually get 3 full court games in.

Diet Coke contains caffeine, which is the issue here. It does not contain any sugar or calories, so you do not get any "energy" from it, but caffeine speeds up the usage of your current energy stores (raises your metabolism). Caffeine can be useful before heavy lifting (or anything anaerobic, non-cardio in other words) but not anything aerobic, because it is a diuretic. If you drink Diet Coke before a basketball game, you'll just be dehydrated.

My suggestion would be to eat something good for you with high complex carbohydrates earlier that day (at lunch, maybe?), something like pasta would be a good choice. Stick with gatorade or water before and during the games, and avoid caffeine that day.

[ehh]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

Actually, I agree with that statement totally.

I'm touched that you agree with it, but scientifically it's not true. How do you think 60 year old women who have gastric bypass surgery and don't do a lick of exercise lose 60-80 pounds?

[Dallasin2K3]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

I'm touched that you agree with it, but scientifically it's not true. How do you think 60 year old women who have gastric bypass surgery and don't do a lick of exercise lose 60-80 pounds?

Maybe you should re-read the initial statement.

Here it is:

Nothing in life is free.....get in shape...nothing you eat will help you that much if you are fat and out of shape.

That statement (and its context) means that nothing you can eat is going to help your performance on the basketball court if you are fat and out of shape. It has nothing to do with losing weight. I am well aware of people that lose weight without exercising, it's just that no one was talking about that.

[chia51]

Re: What to eat for energy before a game?

I find that before I play a basketball game I eat one to two bananas, have a cup of milk (fat free) and then have a glass of water with 2 scoops of NO-EXPLODE, and one pill of chromium picolinate, the reasons are as follows,
1) banana - will help you from cramping up (unless your really dehydrated)
2) milk* - protein at least 9 -11grams in a cup.
3) water (no-explode) 2 scoops - it has no2 in it and creatine, great for building muscle and giving tons of energy for around 3-4 hours, depending on metabolism, but for me I take it around 30-45 mins before a game and I get huge rushes of intense energy and my thought process is even clearer.
4) Chromium Picolinate - Assists the body in losing weight by helping it to build muscle to replace fat. Increases energy levels and burns fat. Also is suppose to help your blood circulation, which helps muscle growth, protein intake, and overall body health.***** I would really recommend this to anyone looking to get an energy boost and lose weight, it has really turned my basketball season around, since I started taking it I am averaging almost a double-double, 17.8pts and 8.6ast.

Now before you guys ask where I play and get my knowledge from, well I work on an Air Force base at the Gym and I play on the base team and its not just a base team, we travel to play other bases, we have had trips that have taken 8+ hours to get somewhere and we travel around the states to play other bases, and there is good competition, so I have to keep my body in good shape, especially being 6'1" and I am one of the smallest players on the team.


*(good for muscles) if you are trying to gain muscle and lose fat, workout(lift), run, basketball(cardio) and consume around as many grams of protein as your weight in lbs. Thats the best advide I can give you, other than stick it out, you might not see drastic results instantly so keep going and push yourself if you are serious.

I have met NBA players and various professional players in different sports from Football to Bowling, and they all say the same thing, practice hard, workout hard and you will see the benefits!!!
Chia