Many athletes do not understand how important the nutritional balance of their diet is to their ability to compete. Even professional athletes sometimes don’t realize the impact their eating habits can have on the success of their career.

Too often, for example, a bodybuilder will take extreme measures to lose weight prior to a competition. In the process, they try to lose weight too fast and put undue stress on their body and health. This may actually be keeping them from reaching their goal, rather than helping them. Sufficient nutrients are essential to building and maintaining muscle and the best way to do this is to avoid developing bad habits. Having a nutritional plan in place and keeping track of what you eat and how much can help you get back on track.

The book “Nutrition for the Recreational Athlete” by Catherine Jackson shows how a diet that consists of almost all protein can have a negative impact on an athlete. Eating a diet of mostly protein causes irritability and will lower energy and an athlete’s ability to main a rigorous exercise program. This can be avoided by eating a balanced diet that is tailored to your training goals. Some of the effects of an unbalanced diet on your ability to train can result in the following:

Decreasing strength: Too little protein can have an impact on your ability to gain strength. Your source of protein should be from a variety of foods, such as egg whites, lean protein like chicken and tofu. The goal is to get enough protein in your diet and avoid unhealthy fat content.

Being moody and irritable – Irritability is often the result of low blood sugar which means you might not be getting enough carbohydrates in your diet. Not eating enough carbs can also affect your ability to concentrate and focus during your weight training routine, so eat healthy carbs at regular intervals throughout the day to optimize your results. If this is the case then you can stabilize your blood sugar level by eating small amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains throughout the day.

More frequent illnesses: If your diet is not balanced and you are not getting sufficient nutrition, you will be more susceptible to colds and infections. This will have a negative impact on your workout routine. Make sure the foods you are eating have adequate amounts of minerals and B-vitamins. Food variety is very important to achieve this end.

Difficulty increasing speed or time: If you are trying to step up your exercise routine and can’t seem to get beyond a certain point, it may be that you are not eating enough prior to your workout sessions. Try eating a small serving of carbohydrates one hour prior to your session. This may be all you need to reach your training goal.

Loss of ambition: If your motivation to exercise is shrinking, chances are you are not taking proper care of your body. It is essential to eat enough and to get enough sleep when participating in a rigorous training program. Eat small meals throughout the day and get plenty of sleep and see if that doesn’t fire you up again. Many professional athletes eat something small every two to three hours. Keeping your blood sugar level on an even keel will help you keep up with the demands you are placing on your body.

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