How To Stay Fit After Athletics End
Mental Shape:
The first step is admitting that we are no longer competing at a high level. We have transitioned or are currently transitioning to the “former athlete” title. Taking on this new identity can be a very difficult step to overcome. We are and will always be athletes, but our goals will have to change from what they once were. This change is a process and understanding that there will be highs and lows is a crucial key to wrap our arms around.
Nutritional Shape:
Shifting our mindset from eating for a competing athlete to eating for a healthy lifestyle, is a major adjustment. Recognizing this change will have a massive impact. It is no longer necessary to consume the calories we needed to perform at a high level.
Keys to begin focusing on a sustainable lifestyle include nutritional awareness, food quality, and food consumption. Understanding each of these areas will help make an easy nutritional transition. This is a major change and challenge for many athletes, but understanding the best way to eat to stay in shape and reading other athletes’ stories will help!
Fitness Shape:
Incorporating and modifying fitness to our new stage of life is critical to maintaining a healthy weight. Shifting our focus from performance to lifestyle will create new goals and aspirations. Creating new goals, making fitness a priority, and changing up our workouts, will facilitate a healthy balance. Read more here about revolutionizing your workouts.
This may sound like a lot and perhaps there may be some apprehension about where exactly to start. We have broken this all down in an easy customized fitness program where you will collaborate with a certified personal trainer (who was also a former collegiate athlete) to set up your plan.