Even if you don’t compete in the Olympics, you may want to adopt eating like an athlete, and here is why!

In a recent article in VOX, several athletes, their diets, and the calories they consumed during lunch were examined.
As we know, Michael Phelps used to eat 12,000 calories of whatever his stomach desired. Carb-loading and the “whatever you like to eat” approach was the rage back in 2008.

Fueling for competition has changed dramatically over the years as nutrition has become more intelligent and food choices smarter. According to a survey, healthy foods like Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and kale were surprisingly prominent among the athletes.

Do you eat like an Olympian?

Asker Jeukendrup, a leading sports nutritionist who has worked with Olympic champions, stated: ”The differences between winning and not winning are becoming smaller and smaller, and more and more athletes are becoming serious about nutrition.”

According to the article: Athletes eat from all food groups and choose the highest-quality foods — natural and least processed. The athletes also didn’t follow popular fads, like gluten-free, or restrict themselves from eating particular foods or food groups. They even indulged in the occasional treat every now and again.

You don’t have to be an elite athlete to eat like one, but you may have to keep an eye on your calorie consumption. Calories in vs. calories out to create the right balance for your training and your goals.

I remember back in 2007 when I trained for my first marathon, I did gain weight despite logging 50 miles per week. I could not explain why I would gain weight running so many miles. When logging not only my miles but also my nutrition, it became clear that I simply overrated and enjoyed “treats” way too often. My reward for running so much and doing so well. I learned from that and became more aware of what I actually ate.

Whether you train for endurance or strength goals, the balance between working out and eating requires planning and thought.

These days, my nutrition focuses on which training cycle I am in as a triathlete and what really fuels my body to give me the biggest bang for the buck.

So go ahead and eat like an Olympian to stay lean and fit for life.

Not sure what that would look like for you? No idea where to start?

Reach out to me, and we can develop the right nutrition plan for you.