An athlete's success at meeting energy requirements depends on accomplishing these two goals:
Monitoring body weight is a practical way to assess both energy and fluid balance. Weight stability, particularly during periods of heavy training and competition, provides athletes with a good indicator that overall energy requirements are being met. In addition, monitoring body weight before and after individual exercise training sessions gives athletes the feedback they need to assess hydration status and to take action to prevent dehydration. If body weight loss or weight gain is desired to enhance athletic performance, it is best addressed in the off-season. Weight loss during the competitive season places athletes at risk for inadequate energy, carbohydrate, and fluid intake. Weight gain in the form of body fat compromises endurance, speed, and power.
Predictive equations are used to determine an individual's resting energy expenditure (REE), the energy needed to maintain basic metabolic activities at rest. Exercise Physiology: Energy Expenditure contains more information. As shown in the table below, total daily energy expenditures (TDEE) of individual athletes can vary greatly. Body size, training demands (Intensity x Duration x Frequency of workouts), non-training physical activity, and age are primary factors that determine energy expenditure. Body size and training demands are the most significant factors for athletes. Energy expenditures for training are increased during short bouts of high intensity training, long duration workouts, and multiple daily training sessions.
Body weight (BW) is expressed in kilograms (kg.) Energy is expressed in kilocalories (kcal.) Resting energy expenditure (REE) was calculated from World Health Organization (WHO) equations (see below) for predicting resting energy expenditures from body weight, 1985.
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To meet energy demands of
exercise training lasting 90 minutes per day or longer, the following
are general guidelines for the level of daily kilocalorie consumption
needed to maintain energy balance:
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