Part Four in a Series
Bees ne Editor's Note: We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Fred _ ¢ People on high-protein diets tend to be protein starved, Hatfield share some of his insightful training ideas on paradoxically; those on a high carbohydrate diet generally are in achieving peak athletic performance without drugs. Dr. Hatfield is a prolific and creative writer of over fifteen much better amino acid balance.. Over the years it's been ers, weightlifters and boxers making meat the main course books on weight training. After spending years as a track © and field athlete, soccer player, gymnast, olympic weightlifter and bodybuilder, Dr. Hatfield turned to the sport of © powerlifting. He is known as Dr.
Squat and his 1014 squat in Hawaii this year was another world record; one of many of their diet. After all, these strength athletes are the “lions” set by this champion of champion. customary for athletes to think, "If I want to excel in my sport, if | want to become big and strong, J must eat more protein — specifically, animal protein. Yes, there seems to be a certain logic in football players, wrestlers, bodybuildof the sports world, and who ever heard of lions sitting down toa meal of nuts, fruits and vegetables?
Yet when biochemical analysis is done, revealing how So the elite modern athlete intent on maximizing perthe body is functioning, that traditional, seemingly logical formance can — and should — take steps to ensure that the theory of sports nutrition just doesn't hold up. The direct body is biochemically correct and balanced. It's important to check whether the thyroid, adrenals and liver are funcimore than 2 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight tioning properly. Is there a sufÏcient amount of vitamins per day) is that they are very unhealthy, tend to suffer from and minerals in the body?
Most important ofall, it's crucial nutritionalallergies, have problems with their kidneys and for such an athlete to make sure there are no blocks in any other organs, and — remarkable — are protein starved of the amino acid cycles, the metabolic pathways in the Scientists in Georgia tested athlets who were taking in more than 2 grams per kilogram of bodyweight of animal proteina day, yet their bodies were assimilating only about 30 grams. These individuals actually were losing muscle body. And how do you make sure there are no blocks? The only way to find out is by undergoing an amino acid analysis.
weight and strength because they were intolerant to that There are only a few labs in the country which perform excessive amount of protein. Their bodies were not able to a new analytical technique measuring levels of amino break it down. If you take in too much protein, the body acids in the body. This is done primarliy by means of a gets to a point where it actually seems to turn off the urine test. It can be mailed in, so the athlete does not have to leave home to have the analysis performed. Following much. I can't handle it. There's too much for me to break the test, the athlete is put on an appropriate amino acid down and de-toxify. So, forget it, I'm shutting down.
supplementation regimen, and periodically retested to As far as amino acid analysis is concerned, no one determine if there are imbalances in the individual's amino seriously would suggest that such testing is imperative for acid cycles. This allows the scientists to fine-tune the diet everyone active in sports. The weekend or recreational and supplement regimen to optimize physical performathlete really doesn't need to worry about body chemistry ance. and maximum performance. Most serious athletes may not see a need for sophisticated biochemical testing, either.
For such individuals, a basically sound diet (minimum 70% carbohydrate, with 1.2-1.8 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight per day), daily vitamin-mineral supplementation, and a careful, intelligent amino acid program (high in branch-chain amino acids; i.e., a formula BOOKS BY HATFIELD Ultimate Sports Nutrition $11.95 plus $.50 postage specially designed for athelets) should serve the nutritional needs adequately.
But at the elite level in athletics, sophisticated bioanalytic techniques such as amino acid analysis are important, if not imperative. After all, athletic performance has en- Canoga Park, CA 91305 Toll Free call: 1-800-544-5485 In California call: (818) 993-8251 tered the high-tech age. And it hardly makes sense to use highly scientific training techniques and the most advanced equipment while leaving one's nutrition up to chance.
From BFS Magazine — March/April 1988. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
