Eating Like an Athlete

Speak to any athlete and they will tell you that diet is one of the most important aspects of their training.  Mind-body nutritionist Michelle Babb on her blog Eat Play Be states that in order to succeed athletes need a healthy relationship with food. On her site she lists the recommended types of food that athletes follow and how it can be applied to your diet.

In this article we will look at the diets of different athletes and how it has helped their careers.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly told Men’s Fitness that his success (he was voted Defensive Player of the Year) is down to his nutrition plan. He told the fitness magazine that “to keep

up with my workouts, I have to get a lot of calories, but they have to be clean.” He goes on to state that this includes “good carbs and lean protein”. While many readers won’t be training to become a linebacker his commitment to keeping to a clean diet shows how important nutrition is to achieve fitness goals.

Venus and Serena Williams are the most successful female tennis players in the sport’s history. According to Eco Watch the two sport stars follow a vegan diet getting their protein from sources such as beans, nuts and lentils. The site also states that they supplement their diet with plant based protein powder added to smoothies. The vegan diet used to be seen as not applicable to dieters playing sports yet in recent years the diet has been shown to not only be equal to a meat-based diet but also have healthier benefits. For readers who are vegan or vegetarian this shows that you can push your body to the limit without sacrificing your diet.

Soccer is considered one of the toughest and most demanding sports on the body. Soccer players need to ensure that their diets support their fitness regime.  England soccer legend Wayne Rooney states on The Health Site that before a game he loads up on healthy carbs to increase his glycogen levels. This dedication to maintaining a good diet has ensured that Rooney has maintained a long and prosperous career. Soccer exchange site Betfair documents that England will face Scotland this November, so Rooney and his teammates will need to be at the top of their game to fend off their bitter rivals. Wayne Rooney is once again expected to captain the national squad for his 119th appearance, only 6 behind the all time record holder Peter Shilton. His longevity is down to making sure he eats the right food to stay in top shape.

Simone Biles’s success at the Olympics this year was down to years of hard work. Speaking to Women’s Health before the games she stated that her diet is very simple and one that would be recognizable to many readers. One example is that for breakfast she usually has Kellogg’s Red Berries. What this shows is that you don’t need to dramatically change your diet to achieve success and that as long as you have disciple you can achieve your goals.