Have you really given up chocolate? Not even a little piece to boost your mood?
Gemma Spofforth: Honestly, I have. I remember five weeks prior to my world record in Rome at the World Championships, I stopped eating chocolate, ice cream and candy and I felt really good as a result, and of course set a world record in the process. However, afterwards, I neglected nutrition and my training was affected. So, with the help of my nutrition sponsors Myprotein.com, I’ve completely overhauled my fridge.
Before I gave up chocolate, my fridge consisted of:
And this is after I gave up chocolate:
We’ve published studies on how chocolate milk is effective as a post-workout recovery aid. Is this something your coach or your sponsors would recommend?
Spofforth: I do remember reading something about that. Yeah, I think that’s definitely worth considering but at the same time I know Myprotein.com has put together a supplement routine that’s so precise and calculates everything from the number of amino acids I need to the exact ratio of carbohydrates to protein.
How good is your own knowledge of sports nutrition?
Spofforth: It’s certainly got a lot better over the years, but I still have a lot to learn. Again, Myprotein.com is great at sending me relevant studies on the supplements I’m taking, so I’m not just taking the supplements without knowing what they do. Like I said, it’s certainly an area I need and want to improve upon since I think it makes such a huge difference to performance.
Can you explain how different you feel since changing your diet? How has it affected your training?
Spofforth: I do instantly feel better and not only have more energy in training but also feel that my recovery time is better. I use a lot of aminos to help this and I do feel I’m ready for the next session.
This is so important, since I can sometimes spend up to 24 hours in the pool a week, as well as land training to supplement this too.
Have you noticed any particular trends in sports nutrition over the past couple of years?
Spofforth: While I still think the governing bodies are very strict on sports nutrition – and quite rightly so – they do now acknowledge the benefits of certain safe supplements such as creatine and caffeine. So I think people’s perceptions and knowledge of what’s safe and what’s not, and what works and doesn’t work, is changing for the better.
Shaun Weston is managing editor of FoodBev.com
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