Xpost - Walking a half marathon - food needs for that day question

When you race, you can't really think like a bariatric patient. You have to think like an endurance athlete. This doesn't mean you go nuts with carbs, especially if you are still losing, but it means you can eat more carbs than a typical bariatric patient while exercising.

Most people find that they can't run and eat heavy food. I, for example, can't eat *anything* for a long run, not even gels or shot blocks/sports beans. It has to be liquid. So I'd be careful of the protein bars.

The basic rule of thumb is:

Workout less than an hour: water only is necessary
2 hours: carbs and electrolytes need to be replaced
3 hours and up: carbs, electrolytes and a *little* protein. Usually you see 4:1 carbs or 3:1 carbs as the recommended ratio. However, many experts suggest no protein during a run. My bike mix has protein in it but my run mix does not.

Since you are walking, it's not as critical, as Scott said. But you need to be careful you don't eat anything too heavy and get GI issues.

Also, the whole "pasta feed" the night before a big race is based on misinformation. You are really supposed to do it two nights before and the night before just eat something light. I usually eat my normal dinner the night before -- a slab of meat and some veggies. But I'll go for chicken over steak or maybe have an omelette. Nothing that's going to take forever to digest.