Training for the Olympics is a major undertaking, requiring dedication for weeks, months and even years. That means Olympic athletes are among the healthiest and fittest people on the planet. So how do they stay on track and perform at the highest possible level?
Here are 5 pieces of advice, culled from interviews with dozens of Olympic athletes and the comments they have made online:
- Do the right things in the morning. Breakfast sets the tone for the morning, so you must eat right to start your day – if you want to start it off right. Swimmer Natalie Coughlin has been quoted as recommending healthy breakfast foods that make you feel like you conquering the day – not bulky or fatty foods that make you feel sluggish. Plus, getting off to a good start makes it more likely you’ll continue eating well throughout the day.
- Don’t be afraid of carbs. While most of us link carbs to gaining weight, soccer player Abby Wambach has mentioned that carbs can be your friend if you make the right carb choices. Athletes require carbs for body fuel – and so does everyone else. We recommend you adjust your carb intake so that you get enough for the level of activities you have planned each day, but not so much that you start gaining weight.
- Balance the aspects of your life. While some athletes seem obsessed with their sports, many – like some famous gymnasts – instead make time in their lives for rest and activities that add interest and excitement to life. When your life is well-balanced, stress can melt away – and a person who isn’t stressed isn’t likely to be susceptible to stress eating and other bad decisions.
- Don’t forget to rest. Another swimmer, Summer Sanders, has recommended in media reports the advantages of getting plenty of rest. Injuries happen when you aren’t well-rested and participate in sports, but a lack of rest can also amplify anyone’s aches and pains, leaving them feeling bad when there’s really very little wrong with them.
- Work on mental health too. Soccer player Christen Press points out the extreme pressure that Olympic athletes find themselves under. But we all have sources of stress in our lives that can cause moments of insanity. Staying mentally healthy includes adding meditation and other smart habits to your life. It can also including getting help from a mental health practitioner if you’re finding it hard to cope and can’t figure out the answers you need to move forward.
And may we suggest another healthy habit?
Detoxify every day in every way possible. We all take toxins into our bodies no matter how hard we try to avoid them. But we can eliminate much of what we take in by eating foods and using products that detoxify. Everything from apples to juice cleanses and green juices can help you release toxins, and so can detox foot pads.
When used nightly or whenever you feel sluggish, tired, fat or funny, detox foot pads are patches that contain bamboo vinegar and other natural ingredients and pull toxins from your system while you sleep. When you awaken in the morning, you can see on the pad how much difference your overnight detox has made. And hair analysis is available to help further prove the advantages to you.
But the real difference when you use detox foot pads – just like when you take these other 5 pieces of advice – is the difference you’ll see and feel in your life. Why not make today the day that you step out of your rut and move up to better habits and a better life?
