Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is averaging 25 points per game. Although a lot of NBA stars average more points than the “King,” he’s actually outscoring some of his younger counterparts. He’s also averaging 35 minutes per game, a feat that a lot of athletes at Lebron’s age are having trouble with.
Israel Adesanya is a Mixed Martial Arts fighter who is currently the reigning middleweight champion. MMA is a grueling sport that involves punches, kicks, and submissions. Israel Adesanya is by no means young at this point in his career. At age 30, you might mistake the “The Last Stylebender” to be 18 years old because of the way he fights.
Most of the time, average people like us love to have what Lebron James and Israel Adesanya have. The skills, strength, mental acuity, and health are just a few of their traits that everyone would love to have. You might argue that these people are “born” with their athleticism and talent. However, it’s undeniable that almost every pro athlete puts a lot of work and effort when they train.
As an average joe or jane, the most we can do is train and live healthily. With enough hard work, an average person can defy the odds and stand toe to toe with elite athletes. Although not on par with their skills, a person that’s fit, healthy, and ready can offer real competition.
Here are some tips on how you can perform like an elite athlete:
1. Food
Food is essential for the body as it is fuel and used for a lot of bodily processes. Without food, a person goes hungry and eventually dies. In the world of sports, most athletes look at food with a more scientific approach. For example, NBA athletes have dietary restrictions that significantly improve the way they play basketball.
For most average janes and joes, the first problem they often encounter when wanting to play a sport is their weight. Food plays a crucial role in your weight. If you tend to eat more unhealthy food such as processed food, junk food, and food with high sugar, you’ll develop fat and make your body heavier.
On the other hand, if you opt for healthier options such as green leafy vegetables, lean meat, and fresh fruits, your body responds better. Instead of developing fat, your body becomes more muscular and more capable of making high impact moves, especially when playing sports. Balance is also essential when it comes to food. Eating healthier food and staying away from eating binges are crucial elements for you to have a more capable body.
Some doctors and trainers also recommend using health supplements. Most sites such as barbend.com have reviews on what supplements you should take to improve your health. Supplements are safe as they only contain specific nutrients and vitamins and won’t harm you as anabolic steroids do.
2. Water
You may see athletes on posters and advertisements holding a bottle of sports drinks. No matter how good companies say these drinks are, there is no substitute for water. Some people can survive for weeks without food, but they can’t survive for three days without water.
The body is made up of at least 60% of water. Water is also responsible for a lot of essential processes in the body. Avoid drinking too many sports drinks, as most of them have high sugar levels. Some beverages also have an excess of caffeine, taurine, and other chemicals that can elevate blood pressure.
3. Exercise
Going to the gym and working out is another critical factor in developing a healthy and robust body. When you’re participating in a physical sport such as boxing or football, your body is often subjected to tremendous amounts of physical punishment. Even when you’re just training with a volleyball serving machine, your muscles are continuously working. If you’re planning to get one for yourself, check out Anytime Sports Supply for sports equipment and more here.
No average person can withstand a standard 3-minute boxing round. These sports are physically demanding and require those who want to excel in them to have healthy bodies.
Exercising and training your body to endure the physicality is the perfect way to attain success in the sporting world. Programs such as strength and conditioning also help an athlete stay healthy when doing sports. These programs focus on the durability of the muscle and enable athletes to perform at a high level without the risk of injury.
4. Sleep
When you work out, your muscles and other tissues inside the body often suffer micro-injuries. Sleep helps the body regenerate and fix micro damages that the body sustains during a game or match. Not only does sleep help heal the injuries, but it also strengthens muscles and allows them to grow.
Believe it or not, sleeping or resting is a crucial part of an athlete’s training program. Without sleep, muscles won’t develop and become weak. When this happens, the tissue shrinks and is often easy to injure. Aside from having a positive physical effect, sleeping also helps the mind relax.
Every athlete knows that going into a match with the right mindset is often the key to victory. If you miss sleep, you’ll perform terribly as both your mind and body are exhausted. Always get enough rest and ensure that the quality of your sleep is also decent.
5. Mental Health
As mentioned earlier, having the right mindset is a must-have for athletes who want to win. Having the right mindset is why most athletes should take care of their mental health as well. Sure, you might have the strength, speed, and ability to do something amazing, but without a sound mind, you won’t even have the power to get up from the bed.
To take care of your mind, allow yourself rest periods wherein you rest and reflect on yourself. Don’t do any training, just have fun, and focus on your objectives. Having a healthy mindset also benefits you even if you lost a match.
For athletes, losing is a hard thing. One great example of that is Ronda Rousey. After two straight knockout losses, Ronda quit MMA. Although she might have a lot of problems beforehand, strengthening your mind can help you avoid any adverse effects should you lose a game.
Takeaway
We can’t be like Lebron James or Israel Adesanya when it comes to excelling in their sport. However, we can train like them and perform close to their levels. Through training, having the right diet, exercising, sleeping, and taking care of your health, you can be one step closer to perform like an elite athlete.
