The Huffington Post recently interviewed Abby Wambach of the US National Soccer Team to find out what it takes to get into shape like an Olympic athlete. She discussed just how dedicated Olympic athletes must be to a specific workout and diet regiment in order to maintain their physical fitness.
“As professional soccer players, we take our bodies to the extreme. We're the people at the gym that look like we're breaking the machines. Pushing our bodies to the limits is what makes us so strong and capable and Olympians. It's not an easy thing to consistently do over and over again to your body.” (Huffington Post)
Wambach says a well balanced nutrition is key to getting in shape. Eating well isn’t just something an athlete does during their sport season, but something that becomes a regular part of their lifestyle. If you’re looking to lose weight or eat healthier than you really need to stay dedicated to a specific diet. Occasional indulgences won’t hurt you, but staying on the wagon and making healthy foods a regular part of your day will help your body overtime.
Here are some tips we compiled on how to eat like an Olympian:
- Drink lots of water! Turkish female wrestler Elif Jale Yesilirmak says that she drinks up to 4 liters of water each day (that’s about 1 gallon of water).
- Snack on something healthy, like edamame beans, a favorite of soccer player Carli Lloyd.
- Have a hearty breakfast. A typical breakfast for runner Ashton Eaton includes a heap of eggs, turkey bacon, toast, and Greek yogurt sprinkled with muesli.
- Stick to lean meats. Gymnist Jonathan Horton says that for dinner he usually has a lean meat main course like salmon or chicken.
- Stock up on protein. Table Tennis Olympian Michael Landers says you have to keep your protein up to make it through a workout. Try eating more nuts, eggs, or fish.
