The body is a complex machine that, like all machines, needs energy to function. Nutrition is the fuel the body requires, making it one of the central elements in an athlete's daily routine, helping to enhance performance. This applies to both beginner and elite athletes.
Therefore, as a fitness professional, you must be aware of the necessity for your athletes to adopt a balanced nutrition. The creation of a dietary plan by a nutritionist is something that should be considered.
On National Nutritionist Day, observed in Portugal this Thursday, December 14th, we will share how to balance physical exercise with nutrition and how a nutritionist can assist in outlining a training plan with specific goals.
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CONSULTING A PROFESSIONAL IS ALWAYS THE BEST OPTION!
"What to eat?" "When to eat?"
These are often questions that athletes, especially those new to fitness, struggle with. It is important to stay updated on this topic. And no one is better suited for this than a nutritionist, who knows the best foods for optimal performance, how to prevent diseases like diabetes or obesity, and how to eat properly to avoid regaining lost weight.
You might advise someone yourself or allow them to choose so they feel more comfortable. However, you should always recommend consulting a nutritionist to ensure the training plan is fully effective.
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"A DIETARY PLAN?! WHAT FOR?"
There are athletes who do not pay attention to their nutrition and, consequently, have no idea how it can affect their performance. It is true that what you eat matters, but when you eat is also important. We can give two examples of excellent players who strictly maintain this care: Cristiano Ronaldo, at 38, and Pepe, at 40, both still performing at the highest level.
If your athlete is a healthy person with regular training sessions, they might not need special nutrition plans. However, those with more demanding training may require more proteins and carbohydrates, necessitating other nutritional strategies. It will always be up to the nutritionist to determine the best foods to consume, portions, and meal times.
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STRESS BEFORE/DURING/AFTER EXERCISE
When seeking a fitness professional, many people may have unrealistic goals or ones to be achieved within an impossible time frame. We've stated here on the blog that you should set realistic and measurable goals with your athletes, as each athlete is unique.
However, these expectations can create some anxiety, turning goals into stressors for athletes trying to achieve them. This extends to nutrition. Many practitioners start following dietary plans about timing, portions, and allowed or forbidden foods from magazines or websites that do not consider health conditions, causing stress before, during, and after exercise sessions. This will only cause problems: besides being a distraction from focusing on goals, it can even be self-sabotage.
Try to convey the message that results do not appear overnight: nutrition is indeed very important in the process but requires professional guidance to develop a nutritional plan tailored to the needs and goals.
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SHOULD I RECOMMEND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS?
This is a very common question.
However, we advise you not to do so, as supplements that work for you might not work or could work counterproductively for practitioners. Leave this to the nutritionist: advise your athlete to consult a qualified professional, who will indicate whether supplements are truly necessary by assessing nutritional needs that must be met in the diet or are required to achieve goals. Nevertheless, nothing stops you from sharing your history: always remind the importance of being followed by a nutritionist.
An adequate nutritional plan must go "hand in hand" with planned training cycles
There have been thousands of studies conducted in the field of Nutrition. But one conclusion remains: our nutrition must always be adapted and personalized to our goals and training plan. An adequate nutritional plan should go "hand in hand" with planned training cycles, taking into account the athletes' health conditions.
At BOOMFIT, we always believe each athlete is unique and needs the best advice, feeling supported and motivated to continue their journey. After analyzing the entire defined nutritional plan, it is then time to set the exercises so goals can be effectively achieved. That is your role!
We want to give a boost to that function, and for this reason, you can find in our online store the best equipment to help those working with you reach their targets.
That is why our team is ready to advise you at all times: send us a message. We will be delighted to help you become an increasingly better professional!
Happy training!
