Make healthy choices.

Food is important to function, and if you are training and putting your body under extra strain, it is even more important to get it right. Eating the right things at the right times can make a huge difference to performance.

I know it’s a bit cliché, but I think of the body as a car, and if you want to drive a Ferrari you can’t put diesel in it. How many times have you woken up with a dry mouth? This happens because we sweat in the night. So the first thing in the morning you should do is get some water on board.

You need to fuel your body in the morning, so try and eat some carbohydrates – porridge is my favourite breakfast energiser. After training, try and eat something within forty minutes of exercising. This is when your body needs food the most. One of my best tips is to drink water half an hour before a meal, as it enables you to digest food better.

There are complex carbs and simple carbs. Complex carbohydrates, like vegetables and salad, give slow released energy and, I believe, are better for you and your waistline. Eat simple carbohydrates too like bread, pasta, rice and potatoes, but try to moderate them, as you digest these faster and they quickly release energy. When eating carbs, as a general rule, brown is better than white as it is less starchy.

I make sure to eat lots of protein, lots of vegetables and salad to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, you can’t be good all the time, so enjoy a little drink or some fast food every now and again. It’s really all about moderation.

Make healthy choices become habits!

All the best,
Mark