What The Trainers Eat: Part 3, Matt

We’ve had some great feedback about this series of posts. Seems there is a lot of interest about what the trainer put in their mouth. We’ve seen the diets of Scott and Hoodie, today we take a closer look at Matt’s food. Matt has unique needs due to his training for ultra endurance events so his food might look a little different to Scott and Hoodie’s.

When I asked Matt to do this for me he got back to me the same day with this explanation “Though it would get this job out of the way and as honest as possible without anticipating a ‘food log day’”…… Works for me. Let’s have a look at Matt’s typical day.

Wake: 5:00am

Breakfast: @ 5:15: Small lamb steak leftover. Medium pear. 1 1/2 Cups of oats with rice milk. 1 Carrot. Handful of mixed raw nuts (15 – 20?)

7:00 am: long black coffee

Lunch: 11:30am Pear. 3 boiled eggs. Kiwi Fruit. Raw mixed nuts.

Black Tea

Arvo Snack: 5:00 pm Apple, carrot, 1 cup frozen mixed berries. Small handful of raw mixed nuts

Training: @ home. KB exercises, sprints, gymnastics, stretching.

Dinner: 6:30 Home made Mexican mince with lettuce, tomato, 1/4 avocado

Bed: 9:00pm

a)i)You do some pretty intense and pretty long runs for your ultra marathon racing. What do you differently with your food on heavy running days and why?

Eat, and lots of it! I have done a little experimenting with eating and training and find energy levels are higher and training intensity is better when I have a little fuel going in before training, especially longer runs and workouts. This is a no brainer really. A typically option would be a little protein and carbs from whole foods, nothing more than a snack. Post workout is ideally as big a meal as I can muster. I opt for whole foods again if I can or a 180 protein shake for convenience.

ii) How does your food differ on days you do a CrossFit strength session or a or metcon?

Strength and high intensity metabolic work make up a big part of my training. A coffee before these types of workouts helps me focus and perform at a high intensity. When performing strength training or shorter timed workout I tend not to worry about eating before hand and opt only for a small snack after.

b) I have a weakness for? yoghurt, red wine, chocolate and peanut butter. I would eat plain natural yoghurt most days of the week with fruit. I might snack on a carrot with some peanut butter a couple of times per week and treat myself to some alcohol on the weekends.

c) Finish this Sentence: I think the key to good eating is…… finding healthy options that you love to eat and enjoy eating them every day. Variety is key to keeping things fresh.