Nutrition in the GAA

J-Fit

Hi guys, just interested in getting peoples opinions on this. Do you think the nutritional practices being used in GAA today (at club or county level) are slightly behind the times? I've tried to give lads certain info on protein intake etc. only for them to shy away from it for various reasons. Many guys I encounter seem to think cheese and yoghurt are high protein foods and this this will more than satisfy their need for amino acids. Many diets are carb heavy "for energy" and consist of many of the wrong types of carbs like white bread.

'Fat' is a dirty word and is to be avoided at all costs while I've noticed some (but not all ) have a serious aversion to whey supplements for fear of failing a drugs test (I blame this partly on the recent asthma enhaler fiasco). Many guys are confusing 'protein' with 'anabolic drugs'.

If you don't agree with any of this, please say so. This is simply my experience and I'm determined to break down these barriers so players will perform to the optimum level.

Jimmy Bottlehead

Its all true but whats the point of this topic? Just a rant? Or is it going to lead somewhere? Genuine question.

IIMII

J-Fit wrote: »

This is simply my experience and I'm determined to break down these barriers so players will perform to the optimum level.

Ok, so throw us a few sample diets

J-Fit

Jesus lads I'm not having a go at anyone here! Take it easy! I'm trying to see if other peoples experiences have been the same as mine. Old habits die hard and its difficult to get this across to guys. Am I blanketing/stereotyping here or is what I'm saying true?

EDIT: And if you are a footballer/hurler is this the way your diet is and do you place importance on your nutritional intake?

IIMII

J-Fit wrote: »

do you place importance on your nutritional intake?

Yes

Why not post the knowlege you want to impart?

J-Fit

IIMII wrote: »

Yes

Why not post the knowlege you want to impart?

I didn't start this thread to show off my nutritional knowledge. I feel you're being quite cynical in your comments and theres no need for it. If you don't want to be constructive no problem, but don't start hijacking my thread because you may not like what i originally said or it struck a nerve with you. I'm not here to rant or to boast, simply to be inquisitive, so either stop commenting or contribute by elaborating on my original query.

IIMII

Jeez, get off your high horse. I actually want to hear what you want to say. If you'd say it.

I'm not an expert, you kind of launched into the whole thing yourself in a very abrupt manner, I'm just saying tell us what we should be doing, and not just gereralise about players

Bottle_of_Smoke

I have no direct experience but my brother's played GAA since he was 5 and has been on Dublin panel for minor, he's 21 now.

He's never had an issue taking protein supplements and last time I saw him was on a diet of meat/vegtables/fruit.

Are you sure this is actually a major issue in the GAA or just isolated incidence?

injured365

Ive seen the opposite more often, too much protein and not enough carbs. Its a very very limited number of GAA players who have to worry about failing drug tests. But why would you press them to take protein shakes so much? I find the right recovery drink is needed more than protein drinks.
Also, Ive never met anyone who may need a protein supplement who considers it an illegal performance enhancing supplement.

Its also being my experience that talking to older GAA players is a fruitless task as they feel that they have being through it all and a big fry up before matches worked as well 15 years ago as it does now. Although the ones that do listen tend to take everything up, a lot more than the younger lads.

Out of curiosity, are you a teacher?

Irishswede

J-Fit wrote: »

Jesus lads I'm not having a go at anyone here! Take it easy! I'm trying to see if other peoples experiences have been the same as mine. Old habits die hard and its difficult to get this across to guys. Am I blanketing/stereotyping here or is what I'm saying true?

EDIT: And if you are a footballer/hurler is this the way your diet is and do you place importance on your nutritional intake?

Dont think you are stereotyping. For example. I live with my brother in his apartment Dublin. He plays hurling at local level. I left a container of Whey protein on the table. My brothers mate was coming up from Kilkenny to visit. He wanted it taken away and hidden. Then he commented that "that stuff would make you dick fall off" . I didnt argue with him. I just laughed to myself at how misinformed he was.

Little does he realise it is a by product of milk and he drinks milk by the gallon.

On the other side of the coin I know another guy from Kilkenny that plays hurling at local level. He also follows a weight training program and so becuase of this takes whey protein. He has admitted other members on his team dont follow his methods. It is based on his own reasearch and experiece.

He said the training along with his diet has improved his distance he can hit the ball.

kevpants

The two sides to this argument are:

1. Laps and Pints are still the norm

2. GAA is moving forward in it's training & nutrition like other sports.


As usual the truth is somewhere in the middle. I'd imagine the stubborn streak that seemed to run through the GAA in the past would mean the sport would fall slightly on the backwards side of the scales with a sizeable minority of exceptions.

Transform

i train two gaa guys (one for lonford and the other from meath) both have better diets now that i have structured it for them. The challenge is not even supplements its getting the bloody basics right for them i.e. carb drinks during sessions, protein after, not dropping weight (muscle) during season when they are doing lots of training, taking good fats etc.

from my limited experience its like most people - getting the basics right. some are still very old school and it will work in that sport (eat sh1t loads as long as your fairly lean) but you would not be able to get away with that in rugby IMO as your weight has to be so much more.

The aussie rules guys are light years ahead - maybe its the pro set up.

Antisocialiser

not dropping weight (muscle) during season when they are doing lots of training

How!?! i try to do weights to get muscle on but i feel when doing intensive sessions with the rest of the lads the weights inhibit my ability to perform as well at sprints etc (i.e. squats make me perhaps fastest for the first set of sprints then i fall into the middle group then the slowest group at the end feeling totally fatigued!! )

When i just try to do the trainings to the best of my ability I feel although i may lose a bit of fat im generally gettin leaner and losing muscle and strength to some extent.:pac:

Jonny303

Antisocialiser wrote: »

How!?! i try to do weights to get muscle on but i feel when doing intensive sessions with the rest of the lads the weights inhibit my ability to perform as well at sprints etc (i.e. squats make me perhaps fastest for the first set of sprints then i fall into the middle group then the slowest group at the end feeling totally fatigued!! )

When i just try to do the trainings to the best of my ability I feel although i may lose a bit of fat im generally gettin leaner and losing muscle and strength to some extent.:pac:

Could be way off here....but listen to your body....ITS HUNGRY!!!!


As regards the original point, i think things are changing, but slowly. It is still believed it some quaters that getting strong makes you slow!

Im involved on both rugby and gaa, and i find that there is (probably pointing out the obvious here) a much keener interest in the nutrion side when it comes to rugby. I agree with a previous poster when they mentioned oz. Most rugby clubs around the country at this stage would have an ozzie or 2 in there somewhere, and it seems to be the general trend over there is healthier eating supplemented by....supplements. These lads come over here, are looked up to, and the younger lads follow.

With regards to gaa, the coaches in alot of cases are players from days gone past, and in a lot of cases are uneducated and not hugely interested to change there point of view and way regarding nutrion. (dont get me wrong here, im not saying thats its the lads involved in GAA are unwilling to change, im saying the past generation of any of the sports) are unwilling to change.

there is a growing trend i think (meaning at local level, county level i would expect it to be the norm) in gaa for gym work, which in turn tends to get people more interested in nutrion.

Transform

Antisocialiser wrote: »

How!?! i try to do weights to get muscle on but i feel when doing intensive sessions with the rest of the lads the weights inhibit my ability to perform as well at sprints etc (i.e. squats make me perhaps fastest for the first set of sprints then i fall into the middle group then the slowest group at the end feeling totally fatigued!! )

When i just try to do the trainings to the best of my ability I feel although i may lose a bit of fat im generally gettin leaner and losing muscle and strength to some extent.:pac:

your falling off in the sprints has NOTHING to do with the squats and all to do with poor fitness level. If your slowing up its because you need major work in that area

do intervals to get better at sprints and stop balming the feckin leg work thats helping you.

J-Fit

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Are you sure this is actually a major issue in the GAA or just isolated incidence?

Well I suppose thats what I'm pretty much trying to find out if you like. It's certainly my experience and I'm trying to see if this is going on across the board. I daresay I've even witnessed it at intercounty level through various guys I've met or worked with over time.

J-Fit

injured365 wrote: »

Ive seen the opposite more often, too much protein and not enough carbs. Its a very very limited number of GAA players who have to worry about failing drug tests. But why would you press them to take protein shakes so much? I find the right recovery drink is needed more than protein drinks.
Also, Ive never met anyone who may need a protein supplement who considers it an illegal performance enhancing supplement.

Its also being my experience that talking to older GAA players is a fruitless task as they feel that they have being through it all and a big fry up before matches worked as well 15 years ago as it does now. Although the ones that do listen tend to take everything up, a lot more than the younger lads.

Out of curiosity, are you a teacher?

I think you may have picked me up wrong. I haven't pushed anybody to take protein shakes and don't even recommend them unless asked, but I sense the collective gasp from guys around me (I'm a player and trainer) when I fill my shaker. It's almost as if I have decided to 'drink' my steroids in front of everyone!

eroo

J-Fit wrote: »

but I sense the collective gasp from guys around me (I'm a player and trainer) when I fill my shaker. It's almost as if I have decided to 'drink' my steroids in front of everyone!

Unfortunately.. that is not restricted to GAA.. or sports for that matter.:rolleyes:

Antisocialiser

your falling off in the sprints has NOTHING to do with the squats and all to do with poor fitness level. If your slowing up its because you need major work in that area

do intervals to get better at sprints and stop balming the feckin leg work thats helping you.

At the risk of sounding like a twat i know my body and i can see that if i do no weights i am fine in the sprints probably middle of the group for all sets whereas if i do weights im faster than usual for the first sets and dropping off terrible at the end. I think im going to try a post workout shake to aid recovery as my legs are tired for days after heavy squats. Waxy maize was the one i was thinkin yay or nay anyone!

Once again sorry for askin for advice and then dismissin it but i know that my fitness level is fine when i havent done leg weights in a while. also sorry for takin it OT! :pac:

J-Fit

eroo wrote: »

Unfortunately.. that is not restricted to GAA.. or sports for that matter.:rolleyes:

I haven't noticed the same thing in rugby, all the guys take it. Not sure about soccer etc.

eroo

J-Fit wrote: »

I haven't noticed the same thing in rugby, all the guys take it. Not sure about soccer etc.

Ya rugby is fine.. play myself. But in general.. people look at as if you have two heads when your drinking a shake!

Hanley

Antisocialiser wrote: »

At the risk of sounding like a twat i know my body and i can see that if i do no weights i am fine in the sprints probably middle of the group for all sets whereas if i do weights im faster than usual for the first sets and dropping off terrible at the end. I think im going to try a post workout shake to aid recovery as my legs are tired for days after heavy squats. Waxy maize was the one i was thinkin yay or nay anyone!

Once again sorry for askin for advice and then dismissin it but i know that my fitness level is fine when i havent done leg weights in a while. also sorry for takin it OT! :pac:

Without wishing to go wildly OT.... Consider this;

The weights are making you faster, you've realised that. You also think they're having an effect on your recovery and ability to perform repeatedly.

If you don't do weights, you're not as fast, but more consistent.

Your level of fitness if fine when you haven't done weights, but when you've done them it's not.

Seems like a simple fix to me.... Improve your fitness levels!! They may be ok when you haven't been lifting, but surely your game will only improve if you can bring up your fitness levels to match your new faster sprint times??

I'm not a sports coach, but I woulda though (goes into charlie francis mode) speed kills, and anything you can do to get faster is good??

Anyway, WMS is meant to be really good for recovery. One of the guys I train with swears by it. I've some on the way to try out myself!