Incorporating Good Nutrition Into Your Training Regimen

It shouldn't be a surprise that good nutrition is a keystone of peak athletic performance. However, what many people don't realize is that the kind of fuel you need to provoke optimum performance varies depending upon what sport you compete in. Despite the tweaks necessary for individual sports, there are some guidelines which apply to all athletes.

In general, you want to eat as many fruits and veggies as possible. How do you know if you're getting a wide enough variety? If your fruit and vegetable menu for the day resembles a rainbow, then you're doing a good job!

Breads and cereals are an important part of your diet as an athlete. You want to take in smart carbohydrates so your body can most efficiently change stored fat and proteins into energy. Pasta, oatmeal, cereal, rice, noodles, potatoes, and kumara are all good things to put on your plate.

Low fat dairy products should definitely make the cut on your nutrition team. These yummy foods aid the body in recovery, hydration and muscle building.

Protein helps your body build and repair muscle. Try eggs, tofu, and lean meat choices like chicken, turkey, fish and lean cuts of red meat.

You don't want to eliminate fat from your diet. You want to consume healthy sources of fats, such as nuts, avocados, olive oil and seeds.

Now that you have the basic guidelines, let's take a look a timing your meals. You want to try to eat a large enough meal to get you through your entire workout or competition. If you can't do that, then plan a snack to help you cross the finish line. This helps your body initiate the recovery phase. A dairy-based treat will jumpstart your body. A piece of fruit or a sandwich is also good picks. Also, don't forget to hydrate with water or even a sports drink if your workout was especially intense or in hot temperatures.

Good nutrition requires planning. If you don't shop for and purchase healthy foods, then prior to and after your workout or competition, you will shove whatever is handy into your mouth. This will compromise your performance. So be sure to keep good fuel for your body at arm's reach. And pack healthy snacks to take with you so you can keep your body going strong.

Some people think they can skip steps or take a shortcut by popping supplements and then eating whatever suits their fancy. Supplements cannot replace good nutrition. Taking a supplement doesn't counter bad food choices. You need to back up all your hard work with solid nutrition.

My name is Rhys Gwilliam and I'm a 16-year old kid from the beautiful islands of New Zealand ("Aotearoa"). I am a keen sportsman and understand that good nutrition and exercise is essential to stay in peak form. So you could say that I have a passion for health. I enjoy sharing my personal experiences and my daily goal is to help others live healthier lives.

That's why I designed a blog to share my sports nutrition tips & ideas for a healthier lifestyle with you. Simply head over to http://www.rhysgwilliam.com where I'll be waiting for you.