Practicing Nutrition

Lately, I've been having bouts of nausea during competitions, forcing me to slow down. It's annoying, because I'm not at my cardiovascular/muscle max, and I have to slow down because I feel like I'm about to throw up. I end up finishing the race about to puke, but not terribly out of breath. I feel like I'm short-changing myself!

But I'm HUNGRY! So I eat (not a lot, usually a protein bar and some raisins ~300 calories) ~45 minutes before my race (right before warm-up). I'm fine during warm-up, just during my race I get nauseous (my events are distance based, roughly 6 minutes long) and have to slow down.

Alternatively, I've gone WITHOUT eating (despite hunger, to try to ward off nausea) and while I didn't get nauseous, I didn't performed below my average. 

So what can I do to ward off nausea? I really want to push myself harder (I can, because I'm not absolutely exhausted after the race), but I don't want to throw up either!

Oh, and I've never actually thrown up during a race, but I've felt very close to doing so. (unintentionlly, of course. I'm not bullimic!)

Possibly eat even earlier, give yourself more time to digest. Or try eating something a little easier on your stomach. Belfore my workouts I like to have a protein shake. My stomach feels better if what I'm eating is a liquid.

Or, is it possible that you're nervous? All that adrenaline may be making you feel a bit sick.

Other than that I'm out of ideas. If it keeps happening, talk to your coach or your doctor.

I should try liquids.... Do you think gatorade, protein shake, smoothie? (not milk shake, that's for afterwords! ;D )

I just don't want to end up hungry though! (lol!)

I don't think it's adrenaline, usually I'm stretching, reviewing my race plan, listening to music, talking with friends up to a minute before I race. Kind of relaxed, but it keeps my hr at a decent level (I'm moving around) and keeps me from "panicking" (lack of better word) before I race.

I mix a protein shake with water, sometimes a little milk. It tastes terrible but it does its job! Gatorade doesn't have much nutrition in it besides electrolytes.

Ideally, you want to consume 350-500 calories  1.5 to 2 hours before your race.  You may be eating too close to your event.  I'm reading the book "Nutrition for Endurance Athletes".  It's got some good stuff in it.

You can try something like Power Endurance, Perpetuem, or Carbo Pro if you want to go the liquid diet route.

Like someone mentioned, I would try something different to eat. I notice that certain foods really effect how I feel during working out. Foods that people swear by beforehand make me feel like crap. So I would just experiment with different things. I know that dried fruit DOES NOT work for me. I feel nausous and tired. Before my long distance runs I would have like waffles or something more carb-y, not so much on the protein.  I think protein should be eaten more after the race. Good luck and I hope you start feeling better. Sounds like a crappy situation.