Vitalstrength sat down with ACT Brumbies three-try hero Matt Toomua to hear his top performance nutrition tips for rugby union players.
After a breakout season in 2013, Matt Toomua has been able to cement himself as one of Australia’s premier playmakers for both the ACT Brumbies and Australian Wallabies.
In the weekend Toomua was brilliant in the Brumbies 47-25 win over the Western Force, scoring the first two tries of the game, setting up the next two and then crossing for his third.
Find out what keeps Toomua in form week on week.
Vitalstrength: How strict are you about diet and nutrition?
Matt Toomua: I always think about what I eat and try to cater to my energy needs dependant on training loads.
Vitalstrength: What is your favourite food?
Matt Toomua: I love a good chicken and pumpkin salad!
Vitalstrength: Tell us about the supplements you use pre and post training to assist with your goals?
Matt Toomua: I take Vitalstrength 16:00 Nitroxl pre-workout before training. I enjoy the stimulant and it allows me to fatigue less during a tough session. I will always follow up a session with a whey protein shake, usually Vitalstrength Whey (low carb)
Vitalstrength: What is your favourite motivational quote?
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not found in a single act but a habit.”
Vitalstrength: What is your standard diet on a non-game training day?
Matt Toomua: Training day diet will include poached eggs with some bacon and avocado for breakfast (usually with some muesli also). Lunch is generally a chicken salad. Afternoon snack I will have a protein shake. Dinner is steak and veg with some sorbet or a little bit of chocolate for dessert.
Vitalstrength: What about your game day diet?
Matt Toomua: Game day I will have a late brekky (smashed avocado with eggs, mushrooms and bacon and a bircher muesli). My pre-game meal is either banana and honey on toast or vegemite and avocado on toast.
Vitalstrength: What are your favourite hobbies you enjoy doing away from rugby.
Matt Toomua: I love to go to cafes. A day off will generally involve sourcing a new cafe and checking out their coffee. I also like to watch docos.
Vitalstrength: What is the main thing you have learnt about nutrition since you started playing at a professional level?
Matt Toomua: That you eat according to your energy needs. A big training day will require more food and generally carbs. Days off require less food due to no energy output.
Vitalstrength: What gym session do you look forward to the most?
Matt Toomua: Power sessions. I enjoy Olympic lifting!
Vitalstrength: Who were your heroes growing up and how did they inspire you to be a rugby player?
Matt Toomua: I did and still do admire Jonny Wilkinson. His dedication is second to none.
Vitalstrength: Tell us something that very few people know about you.
Matt Toomua: I used to collect gel pens when I was a kid. I was addicted and had over a 100 of them.
Vitalstrength wishes UC Brumbies good luck for their clash against the Chiefs at GIO Stadium on Saturday in the club’s second home Qualifying Final in two years!
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