BEER AND PIZZA
An eater we all know told me yesterday that his performance in a recent contest was less than what he expected, possibly because he had "a lot of beer and pizza the night before." I'll let him own up to his behavior with a comment if he wants to.
I fast before a contest. It's what a lot of people do. Some for a shorter period (no food the day of) and some longer (no food for 24-hours prior). The 24-hour fast is one of the toughest parts of the pre-contest preparation for me. Depending on how much is at stake, I might have a salad the night before, but that's it. I find the practice to be strangely theraputic. It's a psychological victory and it gives me a mental edge during the contest (trust me, I need all I can get). Plus it makes me feel a lot better about consuming so many calories during the contest. And I don't believe any of that stuff about fasting "shrinking" your stomach. I'm convinced that my stomach is no smaller from fasting than it would be if I ate a ham sandwich and some Doritos the night before.
posted by Dave S. at 7:10 AM
12 Comments:
That rookie. Hope he learned his lesson. Dave, I was always curious as to how long before the stomach starts shrinking back. Models are known to have tube stomachs. I hear it is not at all healthy, so keep stretching. Does anyone remember the Myth Busters about the exploded stomach? I think that was in response to that movie Seven. Could you imagine?
8:23 AM
Nobody really fasts pre-contest as far as I've ever seen or heard.
10:56 AM
Love MythBusters and yes, I saw that one.
You think that rookie was using beer and pizza as a stretching tool? I'm not so sure. I think he was hanging out with friends and just lost his willpower and forgot that the preparation process starts the day before.
I've read in several places that it takes three to five hours for food to vacate the stomach, so technically you could eat a healthy breakfast and still be ready to compete by 1pm. The only difference is, will the gnawing physical and mental hunger be there when you need it?
11:03 AM
I've spoken to many eaters, including some top 10 eaters, who don't eat the day of a contest. Or, if they do, they eat jelly beans or other sugars to get their metabolism levels up (whether metabolism plays a role during a contest is another debate).
It's the same strategy, although also with skeptics, that some athletes use when they abstain from sex the night (or weeks) before a big game or performance.
11:08 AM
Pizza and beer stretching? I like the idea, but would still not recommend it the night before. Maybe two nights before. That white flour dough sticks inside you forever.
Yeah, Ian was talking to me about the abstinence thing, he believes that having sex a year before a contest will hurt his performance. :)
As for the eating, don't forget that the stomach pushes on the intestines, downward, and when you fill up, it is the pushing on the top that you feel. I believe that you need to clear your whole system, Large and small intestines included, to achieve maximum capability.
11:33 AM
wait, that eater you are talking about isn't gandhi, is it? He is a Pro CE? No wonder he was starving himself, but I don't see why he would be eating pizza and drinking beer.
1:24 PM
Carey, you BASTARD! I think we all know if that was the case I would be throwing some Kob'esque numbers up there. As for fasting before a contest, I think an eater should do whatever they feel is best. A majority of CE is psychological in my opinion. I did the "fasting" thing and believe it is bullshit. BUT that's me. I always go out the night before and have breakfast the day of. My breakfast size only varies depending on "table-time."
2:14 PM
So now that we are all here, let's talk about the next UEPa meeting, and the stunt we are going to pull. Ian, check your inbox.
3:20 PM
What's it going to be? Giant pizza? Giant burger at Tony Lukes? North Philly Cheesesteak tour?
I think we should try something with teams of two or three against another team of two or three? Maybe a trip back to Denny's to take down Ye Old 96er in teams of two (because, let's face it, we ain't gonna do it individually).
5:13 PM
Yeah, let's do Denny's again. I am going to Tony Lukes this weekend to do the burger with some friends (well, I am doing it, they are going to watch and squirm)
7:46 PM
no one liked my mayo idea huh? How about jalapeno peppers? Or Sushi? Philly is in my back yard, so I am down. Carey, sorry I missed a chance to eat against you, I was looking forward to it. Hopefully soon.
3:52 PM
well Elliot, if you find a bowling alley with an all you can eat buffet we could create our own competition.
7:25 PM
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