Learning Experience, don't forget to eat

[Anchovynist]

Had a learning experience at a showcase this weekend. I had about 14 dances lined up. Most of them went pretty well but two of them were train wrecks. They were routines I had practiced many times but I had a sudden brain freeze. Here's why: I think I didn't enough before and during the showcase and my tank ran dry. During the wait for my last couple of dances I had a delicious banana muffin and some juice, and the last two were fine.

Don't forget to keep some fuel in the tank.

[danceronice]

Had a learning experience at a showcase this weekend. I had about 14 dances lined up. Most of them went pretty well but two of them were train wrecks. They were routines I had practiced many times but I had a sudden brain freeze. Here's why: I think I didn't enough before and during the showcase and my tank ran dry. During the wait for my last couple of dances I had a delicious banana muffin and some juice, and the last two were fine.

Don't forget to keep some fuel in the tank.

Yeah, every comp I go to, the lesson I need to keep relearing: coffee is not a food group. You cannot dance on coffee alone.

[NonieS]

or energy drinks... they also are not a food group... learned that one the hard way too.. dancing on an empty tank or no sleep is a recipe for disaster!!!

[mad123]

True!

What are some of the favorite "grab and go" snacks that people enjoy while at a comp to refuel? It can be hard to find something healthy and quick at the venue but are there some tried and true pack ahead items?

[JANATHOME]

instant oatmeal
Snack size containers of peanut butter and apples

Slice of pizza for breakfast is also good!!

[mummsie]

I always pack some fruit and vegie sticks - just carrot, apple and whatever else that doesn't make a mess, some raw nuts, a packet of lollies for a quick sugar fix and lately I have taken to buying protein bars - the ones that body builders use. They seem to give you a good burst of energy when you need it. mummsie

[DennisBeach]

I am not a competitive dancer, just a social dancer. But since we drive about an hour to dance, I want to make sure I can dance the whole dance time. I always try to eat well before any exercise, dancing, biking, hiking etc.. and carry some Marathon/snickers energy bars, in case my system does process the food effectively and I run out of gas.

[dcharmd1]

I always keep a granola bar in my purse for emergencies such as these and too many times it has saved me

[j_alexandra]

PBJ on wheat toast, wrapped in a paper napkin and hidden (carefully) in my dance bag.

Fuel is so important. No fuel, no go; this is true of cars, planes, trains, and people. If I want to dance, I have to have the fuel to do it.

[sambagirl]

My pre-comp meal is steak and potatoes or, if it's breakfast, steak and eggs and home fries. :)

Honestly, carb loading in itself doesn't do it for me on the day of a comp. I need protein or I run out of steam in the first minute of the stress of dancing. I also bring Power Bars and nuts with me just in case, as well as Gatorade and, for that final round, a half can of Red Bull.

[etp777]

snickers, granola bars, protein bars, protein powders, fruit (quick sugar), PBJ samdiwches, though only eat half or go light on PB, or quickly feels heavy.

And lies, coffee is too a food group!

[and123]

How to put this delicately....
Let's face it. Dance costumes are often not bathroom-friendly, nor is the nearest restroom always right nearby. I find myself snacking carefully throughout the day, and feeling like I'm running on fumes for those final rounds. But which is worse -- being hungry/thirsty, or suddenly having to "go" at a really inopportune moment? :shock: I heard somewhere that lack of hydration leads to muscle cramps, and I have definitely noticed that happening at comps in my legs and feet; whereas it doesn't happen to me during lessons/practice where I drink liquids freely.

What to do?

[NonieS]

I have never had to use the bathroom while i am on the floor... I think that my system must just temporarily shut down bc it knows that I will not get to use the bathroom. I usually drink fluids and eat throughout the day and then force myself to use the bathroom right before I put my costume on and then after that, I honestly think my bladder just turns off except in the case of *dire* emergencies...

as for foods, i usually carbo load for the week leading up to the comp. Day of comp, I try to have a full, healthy breakfast... like eggs, or a bagel with lots of toppings. Better yet, egg and cheese bagel ;) During the comp, if I am too nervous to sit down and have a full meal for lunch, I will eat luna bars and cliff bars, bananas, apples, vitamin water, and chocolate!!! Then when the comp is over (as an open dancer, my session is in the evening) I am sooo hungry, I usually rush for the nearest chinese food, pizza, hamburger, or whatever I can find!!!

[samina]

What are some of the favorite "grab and go" snacks that people enjoy while at a comp to refuel?

http:// www. thenibble.com/REVIEWS/main/chocolate/images/almond-37-270.jpg

has come with me to nearly every comp. seriously wonderful food.

[samina]

when it comes to dance-day, whether comps or showcases, i'm not a big eater. day before... yes. after comping... YES.

no surprise i'm a big fan of live green smoothies to hydrate when it comes to comping & intense lessoning (vaguely remembering this, now:rolleyes:). i add coconut oil for energy (it's a medium-chain fatty acid, used similarly to carbs as directly usable energy). of course... it makes you pee. but... meh... it sucks to be dehydrated so, i'll deal with the gown-in-bathroom-stall fiasco in order to be hydrated.

[DL]

no surprise i'm a big fan of live green smoothies to hydrate when it comes to comping & intense lessoning (vaguely remembering this, now:rolleyes:). i add coconut oil for energy (it's a medium-chain fatty acid, used similarly to carbs as directly usable energy). of course... it makes you pee. but... meh... it sucks to be dehydrated so, i'll deal with the gown-in-bathroom-stall fiasco in order to be hydrated.

Any diuretic (not that I know anything about coconut oil) will contribute to dehydration.

[and123]

Collegiate comps are a different atmosphere than Pro-Am, IMO. *Especially* when things aren't as well-organized as they could be. You get herded onto the dance floor, herded off, b!tched out if you're not in line when called, even if you end up standing there for 20 min. Events can get shuffled around and changed unexpectedly. It makes planning bathroom breaks very difficult! Combine that with getting up at the crack of dawn and not having a "normal" eating schedule, and you've got a recipe for a confused and disgruntled tummy & bladder.

Nibbling and drinking sparingly has been my only solution, and doesn't hold up too well when dancing multi-dances in multiple levels. Loading up pre-comp sounds like it's worth trying.

[j_alexandra]

My pre-comp meal is steak and potatoes or, if it's breakfast, steak and eggs and home fries. :)

Honestly, carb loading in itself doesn't do it for me on the day of a comp. I need protein or I run out of steam in the first minute of the stress of dancing. I also bring Power Bars and nuts with me just in case, as well as Gatorade and, for that final round, a half can of Red Bull.

I wish I could metabolize the steak and then I'd join you. Fast-burning carbs for quick energy combined with slow burning protein for long term energy: balance is everything. It's why I like PBJ. Some of each, some fats, too.

[Joe]

Had a learning experience at a showcase this weekend. I had about 14 dances lined up. Most of them went pretty well but two of them were train wrecks. They were routines I had practiced many times but I had a sudden brain freeze. Here's why: I think I didn't enough before and during the showcase and my tank ran dry. During the wait for my last couple of dances I had a delicious banana muffin and some juice, and the last two were fine.

Don't forget to keep some fuel in the tank.
Gotta remember to eat enough to be able to type the word "eat" too ;)

[19DancerBabyLin]

Lol herein lies the skill disparity between me and most of everyone else... i'm a crappy lower level dancer and am usually dancing right at 8am... with shower, hair, makeup and trying to get to the venue on time to check-in and practice, no such thing as steak and eggs for me in the morning. Probably no lunch too. I bring bottles of gatorade, granola bars, and bananas as well for potassium to minimize crampings. Just like NonieS I think my system kinda shuts down for comps and I haven't had to do too many bathroom runs, or maybe I'm still losing too much water from sweating anyway. Then right after I'm done I go stuff myself silly :D

[TinyDancer109]

I can't eat much before a comp just because i am not a big breakfast eater anyway. If i eat a big breakfast, i get nauseus. Right before and during the comp, I eat nothing but BANANAS. lolol. tons of them! like 19DBL said, the high potassium is really good for not cramping and gives you lots of energy too. Bananas + water = my entire day. I feel like a monkey at the end, but that night i normally eat something awesome like a steak. ;)

[Anchovynist]

Gotta remember to eat enough to be able to type the word "eat" too ;)

Thanks for the.

[LaWa]

Thanks for the.
*snort*

[Benjy]

I tend to basically stave off food the day of comp. It's not a nerves thing... the idea of having that feeling of extra mass weighing me down is really unpleasant.

[liz]

I don't usually eat right for the last couple of weeks before a comp... I know it is bad, but I have to get into this little nothing costume.. I usually eat a late breakfast. I don't ever dance before about 4:oo in the evening.. I don't do alot of rounds.. It's the late scholarships that I run out of steam for.. I get all hyped up then cool down then have to get hyped up.. drains me. I am going to give pbj a try next time..

[wonderwoman]

Oranges and almonds are good little energy boosting snacks :) Id peel oranges in advance so I can just grab a slice when I want one.

[Standarddancer]

I eat all I want the day before comp since I noticed that doesn't really affect me too much what I ate the day before.

For the day of comp, the best for me is eat a full meal 5 or 6 hours before comp or showcase time and then not eating at all after that, if multiple rounds comp, bring snack bar or chocolates for between rounds. Not eating at all for comp doesn't work for me, I'll suffer from stomach pain and fails to focus, and eating too much too close to comp not good either, I feel heavy during dancing.

[Standarddancer]

My pre-comp meal is steak and potatoes or, if it's breakfast, steak and eggs and home fries. :)



this is my fave too, I prefer steak with mash potatos 5 or 6 hours before comp; i also like steak, or ham, or eggs for breakfast. I think breakfast is important, I can't function well without breakfast.