One of the most challenging aspects of open water swimming is nutrition.
I have been battling with it since I started swimming long distance.
In any endurance activities, nutrition is essential because it directly affects performance but it is very difficult to find food that is easily digested.
Swimming adds another level of difficulty because there is no gravity and food is not naturally moving down, it stays longer in the stomach.
I found out throughout the years that I cannot eat any “engineered” food that packs a lot of calories in a very small volume. My body rejects it, yes I have to say it, I throw up. I can only eat natural salty food. I also have to have enough fluids. So, after many trial and error or I should say, nausea and throw ups, I found out that soup works the best for me. Plus I get a lot of pleasure ingesting something hot when I swim in cold waters.
I have been very fortunate to find the right type of organic and nonperishable soup; LYOFOOD makes freeze-dried soup, we just add hot water to it and I am good to go. I eat some bread as well to supplement it with some solid food. We are all very fortunate that Yoav is a great backer and makes fresh bread for all of us every day. During my 8 hours of swimming, I eat about 8 slices of bread, about 1 litter of thick soup, and some water. I am always experimenting with food when I swim, I am tempted to include some cheese those days!
13 thoughts on “[DAY 69] My nutrition”-
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Thanks, this is very interesting to read. We have a lot of “engineered” nutritional sports products here in our country because we are a sport loving nation of long distance runners, cyclists, triathletes, swimmers etc. But I often wonder what it means long term to put all those chemicals and artificially made supplements in our bodies…
Hi Ben, since severals days the ocean weather on your position is good is not it ? So, you stop defintly your operation this year, so certainly next year for another start. Good luck and courage
This is great. I love the soup idea. I just created a brand of organic expedition food. It’s called http://www.organicexpeditionfoods.com After my ocean row of the mid pacific I had to find something better than what was on the Market. For me, I wanted Dehydrated food that would not be “fancy”: no crazy recipes or spicy oriental meals. Basic: potatoes, rice, beans, lentils, black beans, couscous, oat meal. Let me know if you want to try them Ben. Hello@organicexpeditionfoods.com. Cyril
2 months with 521 NM, current in this part is more important that your speed so I do not understand this progression. Courage & wish you the best
Very interesting. Our bodies definitely let us know what we need and don’t need. Stay positive Ben. Blessings on your swims
If the tracker is right, Seeker has been in port for a couple weeks and Ben has not swum for 24 days – is this right? When do you expect to be back in the water? Wishing you the best & see you in SF.
Hello Dan, we had to move out of the path of a typhoon heading in our direction. We are leaving to the last gps point this week, I’m excited to get back in the water. Ben
Hi Ben, this was an interesting read for our class. We were very excited to listen to your reply from the video we sent. Thank you for your time, keep up the great swimming we are in admiration of you and your mission. Year 5, Scots School Albury
Hi Ben, this was an interesting read for our class. We were very excited to listen to your reply from the video we sent. Thank you for your time, keep up the great swimming we are in admiration of you and your mission. Year 5, Scots School Albury
Hello Jacqui, thank you for the kind words and questions from your class! Ben
Thank you for the update and the last couple of articles . I enjoyed hearing about your brother’s amazing achievements. Soup is my fav food 🙂 Wishing you all the best.
Blessed be your journey!!
I honor you Ben!! We must do something…And you have!! Humbled to watch your story and praying for your fortitude and safety. Pacific Plastics Warrior!!!
Thank you, Ben