Olympic Motivation

You've waited 4 years (or 2 if you're counting the winter Olympics; and you should) and now the London Games are only 3 days away!  The Olympics run from July 27 to August 12 and the Paralympic Games start August 29 and finish on September 9.  For all you sports fans, this means lots of coverage, multiple events to watch, and perhaps some great athletic feats to inspire you. 

One of my first thoughts is - don't become a couch potato.  Remember that events get replayed, highlight reels will come, and maybe you even have a pvr or other recording device at your disposal.  A great set-up would also be to workout while watching.  You should of course enjoy the events, but don't forget to be active!

Having been a high performance volleyball player, I know all about the excitement of competition.  I played volleyball for Team Canada from 2000-2006 and competed in an Olympic qualifying tournament in 2003.  Unfortunately we didn't qualify at the time, but I still find it interesting to tune in and recognize players that I competed against on the world stage.  The closest I came to the Olympic experience was FISU games in Izmir Turkey in 2005.  I say 'closest' not based on skill level, but on being in an athlete's village and running into athletes from numerous disciplines.  Typically at the international level we would just see other women's indoor volleyball players.

There is a lot going on for the athletes in London.  Some have trained for the last 4 years just for this event, some will get distracted by all the excitement.  There will be triumph.  There will be heartbreak.  Whoever you choose to cheer for, remember that we can't all be Olympians.  Some of the athletes train long hours and multiple times a day.  See if you notice the different body sizes and types, since different sports have different requirements (strength, endurance, speed...), but as we know (or should know) - healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes.

Get up and move, because every step, or every minute is better than nothing.  When you do turn on the TV or watch online, I would like to know:

What is your favourite Olympic sport to watch (or play)?

I'm hoping to catch volleyball, beach volleyball, and athletics.  I know I have some cousins who will be very interested in the synchronized swimming.  

Let the games motivate and inspire you,
Steph Langdon (Wheler), RD
something nutrishus counselling & coaching
www.nutrishus.com

Snacking

I did my first solo presentation as a Dietetic Intern yesterday. My advisor is half way around the world, so it was just me and my small audience. I've been working with a university volleyball team which is a personal interest of mine (having played volleyball for 15 years of my life). The presentation covered a few different topics, one being snacking. Especially for athletes snacking can be an important part of a healthy eating plan. We can think of our bodies like vehicles and so we need to keep the tank full in order to have energy. I will sometimes snack mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon. I try to go on my hunger cues.

Some points I used can be summarized by focusing on the letters W, P, and R:

W: Think about your eating behaviours. Where are you eating, when are you eating, what are you eating (and what are you doing), why are you eating, and how are you feeling?
These things are important to consider because we eat for many different reasons; having distractions can lead to overeating. Challenge yourself to only eat in one place, like the kitchen!

P: Get organized for healthy snacking. Plan by writing a grocery list to help guide you and keep healthy options stocked in your house. Prepare by getting things ready for the week (such as cutting up some vegetables Sunday night), because if they are available and ready to eat, you will be more willing to choose healthy snacks. Portion out your snacks; with meals we typically put a certain amount on a plate, but with snacks we often eat out of a box, bag, etc. Pack something in your bag, purse, car, etc so that if you do feel hungry it is available and you won't reach for a vending machine chocolate bar.

R: This is more for athletes and post-workout because it pertains to recovery. You need to refuel your body with carbohydrates and protein to replace the energy you used (muscle glycogen) and the muscles you used. Recovery also includes rehydrating your body because of your sweat losses and because water is important in many different body systems. Lastly, take time to rest so you are ready for the next practice, game, workout...

Steph Wheler
www.nutrishus.com