Training/Nutrition for Better Sports Health (02)

The Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes
What makes an athlete successful? Many people believe that athletic success lies in awards, fame, and achievements, but according to Ohio Center for Sport Psychology Director Jack J. Lesyk, Ph.D., success in sport is not measured by these. In this article, Dr. Lesyk discusses that successful athletes are committed to being their very best within their limits. This is why they are able to set high yet attainable goals for themselves. The article also lists the mental skills of successful athletes, such as positive attitude, self-motivation, positive people skills, concentration, and the ability to set SMART goals, to do positive self-talk, and to deal effectively with emotions.

Electrolytes 101
This article on Active.com includes information about sports nutrition and electrolyte replacement. Water is the most abundant substance in the human body and is essential for normal physiological function, according to this article. Water loss due to sweating during exercise can result in decreased performance and other problems. Fluids should be consumed prior to, during, and after exercise, especially when extreme conditions of climate, exercise intensity, and exercise duration exist. Approximately two glasses of fluid should be consumed two hours before exercise and at regular intervals during exercise; fluid should be cool, not cold as well. Flavored sports drinks containing electrolytes are not necessary for fluid replacement during brief periods of exercise, but these electrolyte drinks may be more effective in encouraging the athlete to drink frequently and in larger amounts.

The Best Damn Cardio Article - Period
If you are now into cardio workouts, then this article at T-Nation.com is a must read for you. According to fitness trainer and nutrition expert Nate Miyaki, cardio exercises is not really important if you want to lose body fat. So instead of running and other traditional cardio workouts, Miyaki suggests that you only do walking. And despite the fact that walking is one of the most underrated physical activities, he believes that it has the same benefits as traditional aerobic exercises. In addition, it cannot cause muscle loss and lowered metabolic rate. However, he emphasized that walking on outdoors is much better than walking on a treadmill.

Heart Rate Monitors for Endurance Training
Every athlete should have a heart rate monitor to help them achieve their best training results. Heart rate monitors (HRMs) revolutionized the endurance sport coaching business. HRMS are responsible for a new accuracy and specificity in coach/athlete communications that's not possible by simply describing workouts in terms of RPE (relative perceived exertion) or 'feel,' according to this article, which can help an athlete find their targeted heart rate. The monitor simply keeps track of numbers, indicating whether a triathlete needs to push harder, maintain speed and strength or slow down.

Acupuncture and the Athlete
Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, practiced for more than 2,000 years now. It works on the premise that the body is composed of meridians or channels that allow the flow of energy throughout the body. Acupuncturists believe that sickness is due to blocked meridians, and in order to bring wellness, these channels must be cleared by sticking needles into acupuncture points in the body. This article written by licensed acupuncturist Whitfield Reaves discusses how acupuncture works for athletes, not only for relieving pain, but also for enhancing performance and for speeding up recovery.