Simon says nutrition - with Simon Williamson

Simon Williamson - The food loving coach with a degree in Chemistry, Masters in Nutrition and a PGCert in Applied Sports Nutrition, Simon is more than qualified to help RUBC members excel. He give the athletes advice on how they can use nutrition to better their training, performance, and recovery, including providing weekly tips in ‘What to Eat Wednesday’.

Simon presenting a nutrition talk to the students

What’s the best diet to make me fast? 

One that fuels your training and supports your recovery. This will look different for everyone should be the product of lots of trial and error by an individual to find what works best for them!  

Will eating more protein make me stronger? 

Not by itself, but when eaten at the right time and quantity it can definitely help support muscle growth and development.  

Catered or self-catered at University? 

Moving away from home for the first time can be daunting when it comes to cooking your own food making catered halls an appealing option! They can be a great way to socialise and meet new people but can be limiting as they have fixed mealtimes and food options which can be challenging around studies or training.  

I’m vegetarian, will that impact my rowing? 

Not at all! Meat and fish are obviously a great source of protein which is needed to recover properly from strength and conditioning sessions in particular but there are plenty of vegetarian friendly options out there!  

Any food I should avoid? – dairy, bread, etc? 

This is very individual and not a one size fits all. Some foods can cause people to feel tired, nauseous or have an upset stomach. Something to look out for and maybe keep track of if it and any changes you make and their impact. 

“plan and think about when we’ll need certain foods it will help to keep us better fuelled and recover better”

How much sleep do I need? 

8 hours is an absolute must every night. It has such a positive impact on all aspects of your training and recovery. We therefore need to be careful not to negatively impact it by consuming foods containing caffeine or sugar too close to bed! 

What else can help me eat healthier? 

Keep it simple and plan ahead! Poor food choices happen when we’re rushed and trying to do something on the hurry up. If we plan and think about when we’ll need certain foods it will help to keep us better fuelled and recover better.  

What do you find so interesting about Nutrition? 

For me the interest in nutrition started through trying to make weight as a lightweight and how different foods can impact different people