He holds the world best time in the toughest sport in the world – the long-distance Triathlon. In an Interview with FOCUS Online the German Ironman Jan Frodeno gives tips for a healthy – and delicious – diet. In addition, the world record holder explains why it’s for Breakfast with an Espresso.
FOCUS Online: Mr Frodeno, you are the Olympic champion, multiple world champion and world record holder in Triathlon, endurance sports in General. What distinguishes the fittest people on the planet, in terms of diet of people, perhaps only one or two Times a week sports?
Jan Frodeno: Nothing.
FOCUS Online: you are an Ironman swim 25 kilometers, sitting 600 kilometres on the bike and run in addition, yet 100 kilometers. Week in and week out. And it differs nothing from normal people?
Frodeno: No. Why? Before we eat all of something, we should be always thinking of what we recharge for so. It can’t be, that we pour the most expensive gasoline in our cars, but then – because it, apparently, good and cheap is to go to a Discounter. If you are familiar mind of his own common people, then the knuckle of pork with Sauerkraut and dumplings in the lunch break is not just, before a Meeting or a run unit may be the best strategy.
FOCUS Online: The media to clarify the German mantra about healthy eating. The world to the cashier at Edeka co. but it looks different.
Frodeno: I’ve recently read: Almost 90 percent of Germans would like to eat healthy, but don’t know how! I’m not surprised. You go in to the nearest grocery Store and look at what people load into the cart: Chips, pasta and Cola.
“Our own body betrays us, never”
FOCUS Online: What is means for you actually eating right?
Frodeno: Everyone should eat what he wants. Finally, our own body betrays us, never. Really never! On the contrary, our body tells us exactly what he needs. You should listen to him and learn to understand him properly. Essential is, of course, that is products with a high quality. I prefer only natural products. Best of all, what comes out of the Region. Motto: Brutal regional! If I am in Girona, I eat exclusively Catalonian fruit and vegetables. I am in the Winter with my family in the Australian Noosa, the home of my wife –only Australian food.
FOCUS Online: you can Be honest with you: eat it you really never have a Ready meal or a frozen pizza? Frodeno: A really hot Burger with fries I eat only when I was back in Hawaii world champion. Everything else is just poison for the body. Fresh fruit from the market, fresh fish from the dealer, fresh vegetables from the farmers. The recipes are all so delicious, it really tastes like. Previously, it was once that only unhealthy food tastes like a currywurst or a Döner. This is complete nonsense. A spelt pizza with capers, salmon, onion and Buffalo mozzarella and a glass of good red wine – that is the Highest! In the countries that I where I live, people have a completely different attitude to food.
“Germany suffers from a cheap culture”
FOCUS Online: What do the Spaniards or Australians different?
Frodeno: it is My observation that in Germany more and more under cheap culture suffers. In comparison to almost all other Nations, we give the German percentage is much less money for food. You can discuss whether this is morally a good thing or a bad. But in Spain on the market of live animals to be sold. What I’m trying to say is that the Spanish deal despite their history with the terrible bull-fight, in the meantime, mindful, and sustainable with the animals. And if you slaughtered an animal with his own hands, thought about it three Times, if you really need to eat meat every day.
FOCUS Online: How is it with the Australians?
Frodeno: The healthy eating world leader – also in terms of movement. Here’s the power felt by the child in the kindergarten, to Granny, everyone, every day, a bit of sports and eats healthy. That’s why shooting everywhere Restaurants with the Australian Bowles (editors ‘ note: This is a dish with different ingredients) from the floor. Similarly, many so-called Poke to make all stores in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin. Poke consists of raw fish, soy sauce, rice, and many delicious and fresh ingredients.
FOCUS Online: it Tastes really?
Frodeno: it’s like riding an E-Bike. Anyone who demonized the electric wheel, and was never on a Fun. If you sat on a wheel of fortune, you can think of anything else. Okay, except for the one in 2019 would be again Triathlon world champion, but that is a completely different issue. My need, a pork roast or a liver and cheese Bread to devour, are kept within limits. Better said: I eat since 2017 no meat at all. The Australians would never put on the idea of sausage to come in the morning, on the Breakfast table. In Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, is unthinkable.
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FOCUS Online: What is on your personal “ban list”?
Frodeno: That’s not as much as you think. But what is not good for me. For me it is almost everything that comes out of the cow. So, milk, cottage cheese and Butter. It makes me sluggish, just as I avoid meat, and white flour.
FOCUS Online: And fish?
Frodeno: I love when Pesketarier as anything else. Especially in the evening in Girona. After a long wheel unit, a big salad with all the usually trimmings on the table: nuts, tuna, Quinoa or sweet potatoes. A friend of mine here in Girona fishing. Pablo brings us the wide variety of stuff: tuna, shrimp, Lobster. Precisely what will bear of the sea .
“In the past, if I was starving
FOCUS Online: What do you eat Breakfast?
Frodeno: in the Morning I sleep, drink a Latte, eat a few chocolate Croissants and Muffins. This Was A Little Joke. Seriously: for Breakfast there is an Espresso. That’s all.
FOCUS Online: This is the basis for the first unit, a quick Ten-mile run? Why do you do that?
Frodeno: Because it is by far the best and most effective Form of fat burning. The Iroman in Hawaii, I can’t take in 40-degree heat and humidity of incredible 90 percent not so many calories as I do during the race burn. This chronic under-supply of my body and I have to deal with it. My Body…
FOCUS Online: …you used to be as the “enemy” referred to…
Frodeno: …and I are now good with him. But I have learned a lot. As I was the 2008 Olympic champion on the short distance, I kasteit myself for months. It was hell on earth and today it is unimaginable for me. Without a good meal and a good Cup of Espresso, life is not worth living. Earlier I haven’t been starving, I could do that today. I don’t have to.
FOCUS Online: Why is that?
Frodeno: On the cruel long-distance 3.8 km Swimming, 180 km Cycling, and at the end of the Marathon, 42 kilometres, would me psychologically straining, if I even go hungry. I need in addition to a fit body especially with a rested spirit. The Training for the Ironman is also different and I have changed my diet completely: more fat, more protein, and a decent sports drink.
FOCUS Online: you are a Testimonial for the carbohydrate drink Maurten…
Frodeno: That take but not only I, but also, for example, Eliud Kipchoge. The Kenyan has recently set up in Berlin the world record in the Marathon.
FOCUS Online: And what is the difference of this Wundergels to a normal Power-Gel?
Frodeno: so Far, the sport drinks are a Mix of sugar, salt and soda. The new Gel is different: without flavor additives, with no artificial flavors, no color additives, no preservatives. The so-called Hydrogel consists of only two ingredients: alginate, which is extracted from the cell walls of Seaweed. And pectin, a type of gelling agent as it is found in Apples, carrots and tomatoes.
FOCUS Online: sugar is sugar, and therefore just as “harmful” for the stomach, like all the other sports drinks.
Frodeno: That’s a thinking error. The sugar is in the small intestine, so after he has passed through the stomach, and then into the blood. The carbohydrates to be encapsulated, then in the gut slowly dissolved and only then is the glycogen, so the energy is released.
“Gluten-free bread with Avocado and Fried egg”
FOCUS Online: What you eat after the workout?
Frodeno: After the first workout there are a protein shake with frozen banana and a big spoonful of peanut butter. In the afternoon an Easy, gluten-free bread with quite a lot of Avocado, and a Fried egg.
FOCUS Online: Earlier, the Tour-de-France-riders kilos of Spaghetti for Breakfast shoveled.
Frodeno: pasta, I eat even more. Too many calories and too little carbohydrate density. Quinoa, buckwheat, rice or millet, for me, are much better. As I said: Everyone should eat what he wanted. Finally, our own body betrays us, never.