Raptor Advantage
Swimmers typically train for 2 hours twice per day 5-6 days/week. They need to have excellent anaerobic capacity, muscular endurance, and stamina to withstand grueling training. Although most swimmers compete in events lasting 30-seconds to less than two minutes, training for competitive swimmers often involves performing multiple sets of 50-200 meter swims with limited rest recovery between sets over two hour training sessions. This may involve cumulatively swimming 5-10 miles per day. Many swimmers have difficulty eating enough to match their energy needs, particularly for those going to school. Swim meets also typically involve competing in a number of heats and events throughout the day so planning meals and snacks is critical to perform well. The Raptor bar can help swimmers gain a competitive edge by helping them meet their nutritional needs to optimize performance and recovery.

The first nutritional goal for swimmers is to provide carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels. The Raptor bar contains a mixture of fast, intermediate, and slow releasing carbohydrates that can provide a sustained release of carbohydrate over time. Ingesting a Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to training can help swimmers fuel prolonged exercise.

The second nutritional goal to optimize performance of swimmers is to provide nutrients that can enhance exercise performance. Research has shown that sodium and calcium phosphates and β-alanine can help buffer muscle acidity and increase anaerobic threshold. In addition, sodium phosphate supplementation has been reported to increase maximal aerobic capacity and endurance running and cycling performance. The Raptor bar contains high levels of sodium and calcium phosphate that can help swimmers optimize aerobic performance and get the most out of their interval training sessions.

The third goal of optimizing performance of swimmers is to minimize the catabolic and immune-suppressive effects of intense exercise. This can help swimmers recover from workout to workout day to day. The Raptor bar contains the right amount and type of protein and amino acids that can help minimize catabolism during exercise and promote protein synthesis after exercise. The Raptor bar also contains a rich source of antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, selenium, Coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, and taurine) that have been reported to minimize the effects of intense exercise on muscle damage. In addition, the Raptor bar contains high levels of nutrients that support the immune system (i.e., L-glutamine, Vitamin C, zinc). Swimmers who train two times day are particularly susceptible for upper respiratory tract infections. Ingesting a Raptor bar within 30-minutes after training and performance can help swimmers recover from intense exercise and tolerate training to a better degree.

Exercise

• 4-6 hours per day of swimming (six days per week)
  
  
• 1-2 hours per week of dry-land resistance training

Nutrition

• Carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels and exercise capacity throughout the event
  
  
• Nutrients that support aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold
  
  
• Protein/amino acids and antioxidants to reduce muscle breakdown, oxidative stress, and muscle damage from exercise
  
  
• Nutrients to promote recovery and support the immune system following exercise

Refueling

• Consume a high carbohydrate/low fat meal 3-4 hours prior to training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume 1-2 cups of water and/or sports drinks every 15-20 minutes during training
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar within 30 minutes following training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume a high carbohydrate/low fat meal within 2 hours following training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume enough fluids to regain weight lost from exercise (3 cups per pound lost)
  
  
• Consume Raptor bars as a nutrient dense snack between meals and training sessions