If you are an athlete you should be aware that not eating properly and not allowing your body to rest can have a detrimental effect on your body and your ability to excel in your sport. Your body needs fuel and the opportunity to restore itself. Ignoring these two things can negatively impact your performance no matter how many hours you spend practicing your sport.

Not eating before practice or competition can lead to light-headedness due to low blood sugar, feeling weak, fatigue, and in extreme cases, passing out. Not eating enough before practice or competition will not make you better. Your body will start to break down your muscles for fuel, so it actually does the opposite. Different sports require different amounts of carbs to perform effectively, so make sure to research your sports recommended calorie intake to compete at peak    performance. It is important, too, to not rely on processed foods and an “easy” meal. Take the time to plan your meals ahead of time and to balance your diet among the food groups

An athlete’s body is under constant strain and needs to have time to repair itself. Plan your day so that you have allowed for time to do homework and chores so that you can get your 8 hours of sleep. Unplug from your phone and tv before you plan to go to bed so that you can more easily fall asleep. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep there are natural supplements that could help. Ask a parent or your doctor for help if this is a problem for you. Not getting enough sleep will make it impossible for your body to perform the way you want it to.

In order to excel in a sport, athletes must take care of their bodies. Doing so involves eating balanced meals and getting proper sleep. Without this their efforts to excel will be futile. Our lives are very busy and it can be hard to fit everything in. Planning ahead to ensure that sleep and nutrition are a priority can go a long way towards an improvement in an athlete’s skill and performance.