Many of us will never win a gold medal, play professional sports, or make the cover of a Wheaties box. That, however, doesn’t mean you can’t train like a champion. Following the health habits of the world’s top athletes is a great way to look and feel better. BMW of Freehold has some tips to help you get started.
Stress reduction. Stress can cause numerous negative effects, diminishing performance in all aspects of your life. One way to reduce stress, anxiety, self-doubt, and muscle tension while increasing endurance is breathing properly. The perfect breathing rate varies among individuals, but all can benefit from taking a deep breath, clearing the mind, and continuing to breathe deeply and relaxingly before training or competition. Top athletes also reduce stress by eliminating distracting, negative thoughts, which can be accomplished in a number of ways. Practice to find what works for you.
Eliminating excuses. Even professional athletes don’t want to go to work sometimes, and Olympians don’t always feel like training. So what’s the difference between top athletes and not-top athletes? Elite athletes train anyway. Keep in mind that most of the world’s top athletes aren’t getting paid millions of dollars a year. Most, in fact, have jobs, families, and school to worry about in addition to training.
Proper preparation. The world’s top athletes prepare their bodies before competition and training. This is done by warming up properly and getting into the right frame of mind. How an athlete warms up depends on the sport, but some routines—stretching, slowly elevating heart rate, and getting the mind right—are universal preparations done by elite athletes.
Proper nutrition. Despite ads featuring athletes chowing down fast foods and chugging sugary soft drinks, most of the world’s top athletes (including the ones who appear in these commercials) refrain from eating large amounts of foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and bad fats. Because different sports require different muscles and muscle function, diets vary. Most, however, include large amounts of fruits and vegetables, protein, and complex carbohydrates. A top athlete must also monitor how much food he or she eats. If an athlete is eating the right foods, then it’s very unlikely he or she will eat too much. It’s when athletes eat unhealthy foods that they can gain weight and/or be undernourished.
Staying hydrated. The world’s top athletes keep their bodies functioning by drinking large amounts of liquids, mainly water. Because the body uses glucose for energy during periods of moderate or high-intensity exercise, many athletes drink sports drinks that contain sugar, salt, and other essential hydrating elements. When not training, the world’s top athletes drink mainly water and refrain from sodas (including diet sodas) and sugary drinks.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and dominate! And if you’re in the market for a new vehicle to fit your active lifestyle, visit BMW of Freehold today.
