There is No Such Thing as a Natural Athlete
You may have heard others referred to natural athletes, and this term may have even been applied to you at some point. There are those who have natural athletic talent, but there are no true natural athletes in terms of performance or fitness.Athletes workout to stay in top physical condition, and if they participate in sports, they spend countless hours practicing and perfecting their performance before competing. What this means is that even if something doesn’t come naturally to you, you can still be a great athlete.
10 Ways to Maximize Your Athletic Performance
- Drink Plenty of Water – You absolutely must stay hydrated before, during, and after exercise. Not only does this enhance your performance, it also helps you to avoid cramps.
- Get Plenty of Rest – If you don’t get the proper amount of rest, you simply will not be performing your best. It’s impossible. Get at least eight hours of rest.
- Avoid Sugar and Get More Complex Carbohydrates – Sugars bog you down, and you body will use complex carbohydrates for energy. Cut out the one, and increase the other.
- Get Lots of Protein – Protein is essential because this is what keeps your muscles fed. You cannot build muscle without protein, but you will lose muscle if you aren’t getting enough.
- Consume Solids and Liquids at the Right Times – During workouts, don’t eat solids. While it is important to eat the right meal before a workout, do not eat solid foods directly before a competition. Remember that the body uses energy to digest food, and that is energy that you need for the competition. In these cases, go with liquid protein shakes or other liquids instead of solids.
- Don’t Use New Supplements – This doesn’t mean that you should never use new supplements. Instead, it means that you shouldn’t be trying out new supplements close to the start of any competitions.
- Eat Before and After Exercise – Give your body something to work with – Protein specifically. Make sure that you are doing this immediately before, and immediately after a workout.
- Competition is Healthy – Even if you are not in a race or competition, create competition. Get a workout buddy and make it a competition, and you will always perform better.
- Have a Winning Attitude – Attitude is everything. If you think of yourself as a winner, you will be a winner. All athletic competitions are partly physical, and partly mental, and you would do well to remember this and apply it.
- Avoid Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices – Avoid alcohol and tobacco at all costs. These are the two most unhealthy lifestyle choices for athletes.
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