Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of an athlete’s career. Still, many athletes do not realize the importance of this or they’re just simply clueless about the subject. Not knowing anything about nutrition will lead to bad habits that then result in an unsuccessful career. Take for instance bodybuilders who take weight loss to the extreme before a competition. Extreme weight loss produces a lot of stress on one’s body and this can lead to a difficulty in increasing muscle mass and strength over the long-term. Nutrition simply is eating the right food, at the right amount, and at the right time. Knowing this is not enough, you also need to practice it. This entails you to strictly monitor and record your food and calorie intake and abide by nutritional principles.
The book “Nutrition for the Recreational Athlete” states that an exclusive high-protein diet negatively affects an athlete’s training and career. Catherine Jackson, the book’s author, explains that eating purely protein for a prolonged period often causes irritability and lowers stamina. This can be remedied by initially consuming adequate amounts of calories. Below are some warning signs indicating that you might have poor nutrition and some tips on how to get back on track.
Get enough protein from a variety of sources - Proteins are the building blocks of muscles and so a low level of it will lead to decreased strength. Make sure to get proper amounts of protein in your diet. It would be ideal if you were getting your supply of protein from a variety of sources. Foods rich in protein are meat, chicken, egg, milk and soya - based products.
Being moody and irritable -A moody and irritable athlete won’t be able to focus during training. Moodiness and Irritability is actually brought about by low blood sugar. This can be interpreted as a sign that you’re not eating enough carbohydrates. If this is the case then you can stabilize your blood sugar level by eating small amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains throughout the day. Don’t forget about protein as it also reduces your blood sugar absorption rate.
Increase in sickness - Being sick all the time is a sign that your immune system is weakened. Combat this by incorporating different food groups into your diet. Consume foods that are high in B vitamins and minerals such as milk, fish and soybeans.
Eat something before training - A lot of people starve themselves before training. This practice is actually counter productive since you’ll mostly run out of energy in the middle of training. Eat just a small amount of carbohydrate 1 hour before training. This will give you the fuel you need especially if you are training for speed.
Lack of motivation - losing interest in working out is a surefire sign that you’re not eating enough and getting enough rest. Make sure you’re eating small meals throughout the day to maintain a steady level of energy; successful athletes typically consume a small ‘meal’ every 2-3 hours to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and sustain themselves through a training program.
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