What I Eat: To Reach #1 in French Masters Swimming And Other Thoughts on Ageing Fitness

It's no secret that ageing profoundly alters our body, and not for the better. In my teens I was a member of the British swim team. Fitness and athletic performance were taken for granted, and I just ate whatever my mother put on my plate.

In the autumn of 2019, at the age of 72, my body had become a bit soft and my waistline had expanded alarmingly, despite a lifetime of being physically active in different ways (horse riding, weight training, gym work, and swimming included). Something had to be done!

To motivate myself in a fun way, I went back to competing in French Masters Swimming and set myself an optimistic goal to reach #1 in my age group. I also documented a typical week of my preparation, including what I ate. It occurred to me that my notes might be of interest to others facing the same ageing dilemma, and the idea for this book was born

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Then Covid happened and everything stopped. Once the competitive season started again, I managed to attend a couple of meets and, at Langon in 2022, I set a new French National Record in freestyle.

I will soon turn 75, and my new goal is to make this year's FINA World Masters Top 10. Join me in my personal journey towards improved fitness and strength as I apply the weight loss concepts, exercise ideas, and eating approach discussed in this book.