GenInv – Health and Wellness

Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of an athlete’s career. Still, many athletes do not realize the importance of this or they’re just simply clueless about the subject. Not knowing anything about nutrition will lead to bad habits that then result in an unsuccessful career.

Take for instance bodybuilders who take weight loss to the extreme before a competition. Extreme weight loss produces a lot of stress on one’s body and this can lead to a difficulty in increasing muscle mass and strength

over the long-term. You can avoid falling into the trap of a poor nutrition program by maintaining a log of your food and caloric intake, and making sure you follow the key nutritional guidelines for bodybuilders in training.

The book “Nutrition for the Recreational Athlete” states that an exclusive high-protein diet negatively affects an athlete’s training and career. Catherine Jackson, the book’s author, explains that eating purely protein for a prolonged period often causes irritability

and lowers stamina. This can be remedied by initially consuming adequate amounts of calories. ou can avoid the pitfalls of poor nutrition by making sure you’re not experiencing any of the following throughout your training program:

Dwindling Strength – Strength is an important factor in maintaining a regular training program and too little protein affects strength. It would be ideal if you were getting your supply of protein from a variety of sources. Eat lean proteins such as chicken, tofu an

d egg whites to make sure you’re getting enough of this nutrient in your daily diet.

Being moody and irritable – Irritability is often the result of low blood sugar which means you might not be getting enough carbohydrates in your diet. Not eating enough carbs can also affect your ability to concentrate and focus during your weight training routine, so eat healthy carbs at regular intervals throughout the day to optimize your results. If this is the case then you can stabilize your blood sugar level by eating small amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains throughout the day.

Increase in sick days – Not eating a varied diet can make you prone to developing a cold or infection, which makes it very difficult for you to maintain a consistent workouts schedule. Make sure you’re getting enough B-vitamins and minerals from a variety of foods to stay on the right track.

Reduced pace – If you’ve been focused on increasing endurance but can’t get past your usual times on the treadmill or during your sprint sessions, you may not be fueling up or eating before your workout. Eat just a small amount of carbohydrate 1 hour before training. This will give you the fuel you need especially if you are training for speed.

Loss of motivation – Losing interest in working out is a surefire sign that you’re not eating enough and getting enough rest. Proper diet and nutrition and enough rest will bring back your initiative in no time. Make it a habit to eat small meals over the course of a day. Professional athletes are commonly known to eat mini-meals every 2 to 3 hours. This helps in maintaining a stable blood sugar level needed for training.