May 10 2008
Golf Mind Power ENERGY Meal!
What have you fed your golf brain lately!
The food you eat will either feed or deplete your brain power! Here’s the kicker, no one force-feeds you! “Chocolate, and donuts, and muffins… oh my!” That’s what Dorothy (from The Wizard of Oz) would have said if she saw what you were eating!
What’s a golfer to do? Think before you open your mouth. You are on the golf course for 4-5 hours. So not only should you carry some healthy snacks in your golf bag, like a Power, Cliff, or Kashi bar, piece of fruit, or nuts and raisins, you must eat something before you play. Now once you start eating “something”, make it work for you as opposed to against you.
FEED-BACK!
“But I have an early tee time… I don’t have time to eat!” Trust me, you have time when it’s important to make time. Eat something to wake your brain up. Golf is a thinking sport. When you feed your brain, it feeds you back. Think back to a recent game where you fell apart on the back 9. Did you eat before you went out to play?
Breakfast is regarded by many nutritionists as the most important meal of the day, yet it is the one meal that many people skip. To be of any real value, breakfast must be nutritious. Breakfasts vary according to the culture of the country. In Britain and the USA breakfasts often include complex carbohydrates which contain fiber, proteins, minerals, and vitamins, and provide a steady stream of glucose.
FOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN, IS GAS FOR YOUR CAR
I know someone who accidentally put regular gas in their diesel RV. OUCH! They didn’t get very far from the gas station before it sputtered and finally came to a halt. Can you imagine if our body and brain spoke that loudly to us… “Hey I’m not going another step further if you take another bite of that donut”! (That’s actually pretty funny.) Really, wouldn’t that be cool if we had some sort of warning signal that told us how much energy we were going to get from what we put in our mouth? Most of us are just so unaware of we unconsciously do, or put into our bodies, that we don’t notice the warning signs until it’s too late. Usually a heart attack or stroke will get our attention… for awhile.
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE GRASS!
After fasting all night, while sleeping, the human body (and brain) needs a fresh supply of glucose — or blood sugar. That’s the brain’s basic fuel.
Without glucose our brain doesn’t operate as well. The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly the carbohydrates are absorbed into our bodies and converted to fuel. When it comes to sustained the golfer’sbrain power, food that is low on the scale — such as whole grains — are best.
Sugary cereals absorb into your body quickly but your blood sugar levels fall severely after about two hours, (or when you are on the back nine.) Most golfers will stop at the half-way house only to buy another high sugar snack that repeats the process.
Whole grains and oatmeal, on the other hand, are absorbed slowly into the brain and body. Oatmeal eaters get a slow rise in blood sugar and enough energy to last through a good part of the round.
DO YOU GET EASILY FRUSTRATED?
Did you know what you eat can effect your mood? It’s true. Oatmeal eaters don’t experience a steep drop in blood-sugar levels. A drop in blood sugar can bring with it a release of ugly hormones that affect mood levels. In some, the hormones seem to affect concentration and memory. Yes, concentration is related to what you eat!
Water plays a part in your brain function as well. It also has many important functions in the brain and body including:
- Transporting nutrients and eliminating waste products.
- Lubricating joints and tissues.
- Temperature regulation through sweating.
- Facilitating digestion.
What to avoid before your next game: Limit or avoid refined and sugary starches and fatty foods like, white bread, donuts and a muffin with extra butter. The lack of fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein means lack of nutrition, and a meal that likely won’t help you play to your best potential.
MY LOSS, YOUR GAIN
Throughout my body building years, I learned the science of eating the right foods to lose body fat while increasing my energy. My diet was filled with pretty boring green and white foods. That meant I would eat any carbohydrate that was green, (lots of veggies and salad) and protein what was white, (chicken, fish, egg whites and protein drinks). Pretty simple to follow, and like I said, pretty boring. That’s the life of a bodybuilder! Since I no longer compete, I’ve expanded my food intake quite a lot! No one is perfect… in fact as a teacher once told me, “we are all fine, and could be finer.”
So if you want to “be finer” in your golf game, pay attention. Here is where I can help you gain the most out of your food to acquire your unlimited Golf Mind Power.
7 STEPS TO INCREASING YOUR GOLF MIND POWER:
- Sleep well before you golf. (Get my free power nap or sleep hypnosis to help you)
- Don’t play your next round of golf on an empty stomach.
- Say “no” to that donut or muffin.
- Say “Yes” to whole grains
- Fill your body with brain fuel – complex carbohydrates
- Stay hydrated - Drink plenty of water, before and during your round.
- Eat a brain and body healthy breakfast! (Try my recipe below!)
RANDY’S FAVORITE GolfMindPower BREAKFAST
Now What?
Enjoy! This is one of my favorite meals filled with incredible energy that will last you hours! Your brain and body will thank you!
See you on the links!
Randy
