Triathlon training isn’t a weight loss program. Though I tend to track the number of calories burned during a training session, thanks to my Garmin Forerunner 305, it is really more of a gage of the level of effort and fitness for the session. It also helps me to get a better handle on nutrition needs while training so that I don’t bonk.
Many starting out in Triathlons either overestimate or under estimate their nutrition needs. There is much general guidance on what you need during a multi-hour session, but it is important to determine what your body needs. Some longer rides may consume more than 3500 calories — a caloric “pound” — and during the actual half-ironman distance event, I may break 5000 calories or more. So having the proper quantity and quality of nutrition is fundamental to having a successful race. I still have much to learn about proper nutrition so I strive to educate myself whenever possible.
If I am able to take in the right foods, I don’t have to worry about my caloric intake. And in The Weight Loss Hype: Why Counting Calories Never Works, Kathy Freston points out that studies show that most people end up where they originally started when they only diet by counting calories. Instead, a lifestyle change of switching to a low-fat, high fiber diet leads to long term success. However, a very-low-fat diet is not exactly ideal for endurance training but switching to the right balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates (such as in a ratio of 20-30-50) in ideal for sustained fuel during an event and to enhance recovery after. And with the right stuff going in, I only have to keep an eye on my burn to ensure that I can carry through a 7 or 8 hour event.
