Figure 1 Training is important – but so is your diet
Most people who play sports at any level realize the importance of eating healthily. Success can be measured in the details and that sometimes means that it comes down to what you are putting into your body while preparing for a big event, just as much as the performance on the day.
There is, of course, no substitute for natural talent. Just because you follow some of our tips for eating like a pro athlete, it doesn’t mean that you will be making newspaper headlines and featuring on the best site for sports betting. However, paying close attention to your diet is still crucial to your potential for success.
The truth is that what you eat and drink will play a part in how good you will be on game day. To that end, we have put together some tips to follow away from the gym and the training field that will hopefully improve the way you play your chosen sport. Or you can just follow this advice, secure in the knowledge that it works for the finest sports athletes on the planet.
Don’t Skip Breakfast
It might be tempting to show just how committed you are by jumping out of bed in the morning and immediately clocking up the miles on a long run. But that would be a mistake according to experts in nutrition. It doesn’t have to be a lot – but you should be getting some food inside of you first thing.
Breakfast is sometimes referred to as “the most important meal of the day”. That may not be strictly true but missing out on it will have a detrimental effect. Blood sugar is low first thing in the morning, so a carb-filled breakfast is just the ticket to give yourself some much-needed energy.
Stay Healthy
This one might sound a little obvious. But maintaining a healthy lifestyle is possibly the single most important element of eating and training like a pro. If you are too sick to be able to train or compete, you are not going to be able to succeed and reach your goals. So, staying healthy is a must.
Staying healthy could even stretch to making sure you are getting your vitamin supplements. But, as long as you are taking in carbs, proteins, fruits, and vegetables, you will be looking after your body. Antioxidants and super-foods are vital to keep you going and caring for your body.
Hydration
This article may be about what to eat to live your life like a sports athlete. But the liquids you take in are just as important as the food. You should be drinking water throughout the day and definitely before training. Your body just won’t be able to perform if it is not properly hydrated.
So-called specialist sports drinks are not really required – although you can work on a specialist diet with a nutritionist. They can also be beneficial to replace electrolytes, so restrict drinking them to competition days. Remember, you should never wait until you are thirsty to drink, as it is already too late to do the most good.
Recovery Plan
Another very important factor when it comes to your food and drink intake is that it doesn’t all stop once you have competed. Obviously, as far as the event goes, you want to be at your optimum for the duration of the game. But your body will need a special recovery program after to get you ready for the next time.
The case is the same even for a big workout or training session. Drinks with protein are advised, as are carbs. This could be the best time to have that sports drink too, to replace electrolytes. How you recover is incredibly important to how well you will perform in the future.
High Performance Foods
If you are wondering whether you should increase your intake of high performance foods, then the answer is almost definitely “yes”. Unless you are already a pro sports athlete and follow a strict dietary program designed by a team nutritionist, then you are probably not getting enough.
High performance foods are the fuel for your body. Eating then every two to four hours will get you in the best shape for your sport. Pre-workout and competition should be all about carbs, with a full meal around three hours before. Complex carbs and proteins are then essential afterwards, within an hour of the event.
Figure 2 Remember to stay hydrated too
Game Day Intake
You shouldn’t have waited to load on the carbs on the day of the event. This is something that should be part of your daily intake while you are preparing. Focus on your nutrition in the same way as you focus on the training regime. Nothing should be left to chance for your performance to be at its optimum.
Once again, it is all about the high performance foods and fluid intake. It is also a very good idea to not introduce anything new to your body on game day. You cannot risk anything adverse happening, so keep to the rules set around your high-intensity training sessions.
Plan Ahead
You may think that professional athletes have it made, with specialist nutritionists making sure that they are eating and drinking the correct things all the time. But a good pro will also be an expert planner. They can never be in a position where they are not able to get the intake they need. So planning ahead is essential.
Quality foods – including those high performance staples – should always be at hand and the best idea is to prepare your meals and snacks for the week ahead. That way you will never be caught out and desperately searching for the right snack to keep you going. You may not actually be a professional athlete – but that doesn’t mean that you can’t train and eat like one.