Essentially, athletes should maintain a healthy lifestyle. They have to stay strong, both mentally and physically, to maximize their potentials. Otherwise, they won’t be able to perform on the field during big competitions and events.
Because athletes undergo hard-core training and engage in strenuous activity often, taking care of their bodies must be of top priority. Their physical activity requires a more responsible and disciplined self-care routine. Here’s an athlete’s guide to a strong and healthy lifestyle.
Hydrate
Even if you don’t feel it, your body dehydrates quickly, especially during physical activity. That’s because there is an increase in body temperature and sweat rate, which causes the loss of bodily fluids. Dehydration can result in muscle cramps, low blood pressure, and other serious conditions. That’s a big no, especially for athletes.
We all know we should drink eight glasses of water in a day. That’s the ideal amount of water we need to stay hydrated. But for athletes who have very active lifestyles, the demand for water is significantly higher. Experts would recommend that athletes divide their body weight in half and drink 1 ounce of water per pound to stay hydrated. So if you weigh 145 pounds, you have to drink 72.5 ounces of water a day.
Diet
It’s common for athletes to bring out the protein shakes and health bars. That’s fine because it enhances the number of nutrients and vitamins in the body. But don’t make the mistake of ditching real food for supplements.
It’s much healthier to eat real, nutrient-rich food than to rely on protein products. Our bodies still need natural and organic vitamins and minerals found in fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, etc. Don’t get too caught up on using supplements that you forget to eat real food – healthy ones, of course.
Rest
Athletes tend to think that they have to be active all the time. They believe that if they miss a day of training, they’re sabotaging their strength and physical health. But that’s not necessarily true.
They need more rest compared to average individuals. The amount of physical activity they do makes it essential to rest to repair and strengthen their muscles. If you don’t adhere to the required period of rest, you’ll run the risk of developing serious injuries.
Quality over quantity
If you’re spending hours in the gym, you might think you’re doing your body a favor. But you might be wrong. Even if you spend a lot of time training and exercising, you’re only exhausting yourself if you’re not doing it right.
Make sure the workouts and exercises you’re doing are of quality. Otherwise, there won’t be any significant effect – even if you’re training every day.
Don’t ignore the pain
We often see athletes who endure the pain and keep pushing themselves even while having an injury. Indeed, it’s a very noble act that shows dedication and drive. But don’t overdo it.
Addressing your pain and injuries won’t make you less of an athlete. It’s only natural to have check-ups to make sure your muscles and bones are in optimal condition. If you don’t, you might be making the damage worse and running the risk of having a severe injury.
The human body needs to be taken care of, especially for athletes who undertake a lot of strenuous activity daily. So listen to your body – rest when you need to, get the required knee surgery in Orem to heal your injury, and, most importantly, engage in physical and mental self-care activities.
