TubeNet

when I play my tuba that makes me hungry... I dont know if that's normal, but like I always am super hungry after rehearsal. And it doesn't help that I dont like to eat or anything like that... so is that the problem? just that I'm not eating and playing makes me realize that or am I just weird?

If you're hungry when you start, you'll be very hungry when you're done.

I hate eating less than an hour before playing. Besides my stomach, it's just gross as hell to brush, rinse, and clean your mouth good enough to keep the crud from going in your tuba. Better to just eat after I'm done.

Plus, if I eat dinner first, I'm going to eat again afterwards... and 2x dinners means a lot of extra gained weight.

I also dislike eating before an evening out playing but it comes back in spades. I've stopped at the convenience store and scarfed a whole bag of pretzels on the way home from a late evening rehearsal. So good but oh so bad lol

Eat.

breannalynnplaystuba wrote:when I play my tuba that makes me hungry... I dont know if that's normal, but like I always am super hungry after rehearsal. And it doesn't help that I dont like to eat or anything like that... so is that the problem? just that I'm not eating and playing makes me realize that or am I just weird?

I have sub-clinical hypoglycemia myself, so I must eat within an hour or so of a rehearsal or concert so I can make it through without having to run off stage and pig out on something. Make sure you are eating enough protein before playing, sugar is always bad. Prepare and you will be better off after you play.

ALWAYS!

the elephant wrote:Time for rehearsal…

Man, those were the days. The meals I used to be able to eat right before a concert....Burritos. Primanti's. Cheese fries. You name it.

Nowadays I play best on a slightly empty stomach, but really I take what opportunities I can get. If there is a lull in the day right after lunch, an hour before dinner, whenever.

the elephant wrote:Time for rehearsal…

Thinks of the aftermath. And people wonder why we tuba players have to pretend we're shifting posture for comfort when there's really something else at play like serious Mexican food

Reflections of, how TubeNet used to be.... (posting pictures of victuals and libations as the answer to importune posts)

smileatom wrote:I wasnt going to say anything but ya know.
When I was young I had this problem (not the hunger the hypoglycemic part), and it was usually due to 1) nerves and 2) using about 10X the effort required to play the tuba.
Playing the tuba is not physical. It is not hard. Chill out, and have a burrito

I'd beg to differ, picking up and hauling around the tuba is most definitely physical and you use up a lot of energy. You use quite a bit of energy inhaling and exhaling heavily, which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system depending on how fit (or not) that you are and what shape your hormone and endocrine system are in as well. It's too much to think about, so just play and eat but it's actually true. Surprised Arnold Jacobs didn't get much past the respiratory system in his discussions.

groth wrote:I have sub-clinical hypoglycemia myself, so I must eat within an hour or so of a rehearsal or concert so I can make it through without having to run off stage and pig out on something. Make sure you are eating enough protein before playing, sugar is always bad. Prepare and you will be better off after you play.

Many people have problems playing on an empty stomach, and it makes my essential tremor worse. It was never a problem for me when I was younger.

But after extended practice, those popsicles made with sugar-alcohol sweetener (about 15 cals a pop) really taste good.

Rick "75 pounds down from two years ago" Denney