Nutrition is (or should be) a big part of everyone’s lives, especially athletes. An athlete can train all they want, but without the right foods in their body they won’t be able to perform to their full potential. My coach, Paige Ramsey, is very strict about my nutrition. She’s worked to find foods and supplements that work well with my appetite and lifestyle.
Protein, for example, is essential to an athlete’s diet. I usually get my protein from lean meats such as chicken, turkey, pork, and fish. Other protein sources in my diet include steak, eggs and tofurkey. In addition to foods, I also use chocolate milk/chocolate protein shakes after hard workouts to help build muscle.
Another thing that has helped me is always check the ingredients on the back of drinks I buy. High Fructose Corn Syrup is very common in drinks, and is poisonous to your body. I always stay away from it, as well as soda. Soda has the same effect, and does nothing for you.
I also stay away from sugary cereals and other breakfast foods like donuts and pastries. I usually eat things like bagels with cream cheese or fruit. I love coffee, but I try to stay away from sugar and sweetener loaded drinks like frappacinos. I get things like white mochas, or just plain coffee and add milk and sugar.
Another thing that I should mention is fast food. It’s cheap and ea
sy but their food is…cheap and easy. A Whopper from Burger King has 42 grams of fat and 700 calories, a Big Mac from McDonald’s has 33 grams of fat and 600 calories, and the Six Dollar Burger at Carl’s Jr. has 62 grams of fat and 956 calories. The small amount of protein in these burgers is far outweighed by the fat and calories. When I need something fast to eat, I get a Subway sandwich, which was much less fat and calories. For example a 6-inch Turkey Breast sub has 3.5 grams of fat and 210 calories. That is a HUGE difference.
For me, nutrition is about knowing what I’m putting into my body and the calories I’m taking in and putting out. And of course, making the right food choices.
sy but their food is…cheap and easy. A Whopper from Burger King has 42 grams of fat and 700 calories, a Big Mac from McDonald’s has 33 grams of fat and 600 calories, and the Six Dollar Burger at Carl’s Jr. has 62 grams of fat and 956 calories. The small amount of protein in these burgers is far outweighed by the fat and calories. When I need something fast to eat, I get a Subway sandwich, which was much less fat and calories. For example a 6-inch Turkey Breast sub has 3.5 grams of fat and 210 calories. That is a HUGE difference.