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Golf Grub
By: William Breland
GOLO GOLF GRUB
Fuel for the golfer.
“A good diet can not make an average athlete great, but a poor diet can make a great athlete average.”
-David Costill, Ball State University, Indiana
Golf is a lifetime sport that both men and women of all ages enjoy participating in. However, for the competitive golfer, it is a test of the athlete’s physical and mental endurance. While equipment and physical fitness are important to the game, a balanced diet is often the most overlooked aspect that all serious golfers must consider.
DEFINING A BALANCED DIET
For golfers, a balanced diet begins with eating at least 50% of your total caloric intake from carbohydrates such as whole grains, breads, pastas, rice, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred energy source during activity. It fuels the brain and nervous system, preserves protein while helping to burn fat. Consuming carbohydrates during activity helps maintain blood glucose levels, allowing the golfer to have improved concentration.
Protein is another important macronutrient to incorporate into the balanced diet. Have 6 to 8 ounces of protein daily, and choose lean protein sources such as chicken, fish, round or loin cuts of beef, beans or legumes. Protein is needed for growth and repair of muscles, and helps regulate body processes as enzymes and hormones.
Fat is the final macronutrient in the balanced diet. Fat, like carbohydrate, provides fuel for working muscles, but it is a more concentrated fuel source. Recommended fat intake is the same for athletes as for all healthy people – no more than 30% of your total calories coming from fat. This is approximately 4-5 servings of fat (based on 2000 calories). One serving of fat equals 1 teaspoon of oil or margarine, 6 nuts, or 2 teaspoons of peanut butter.
FILL UP ON FLUIDS
Hydration is an imperative component in the successful golfers game. Consuming adequate fluids before, during and after playing golf is beneficial. Even a slight decrease in bodyweight due to dehydration can affect your performance and result in fatigue & mental dullness. Consume approximately 8 oz of fluid before tee time. While golfing consume 4-8 oz of fluid every15-20 minutes or at every hole. If celebrating with alcoholic beverages is planned at the 19th hole, alternate fluid (nonalcoholic) with alcoholic drinks. Alcohol acts as a diuretic and actually increases fluid loss, so it is not a good choice for the replacement of fluids lost during the round of golf.
To help your performance try these nutrition tips as you eat for “peak performance!”
BEFORE THE MORNING ROUND
1 cup oatmeal
1 banana or 1 cup orange juice
1 cup skim milk or 1 cup nonfat yogurt
2 slices whole-wheat toast
2 teaspoons margarine
AFTER THE 9TH HOLE
12 ounces Sports Drink
2 tablespoons peanut butter and crackers
or
1 piece of fruit
or
1 granola or cereal bar
POST GAME
Don’t forget to re-hydrate as mentioned above!
3-4 ounces grilled chicken breast
1 cup brown rice
1 cup steamed broccoli
1 cup mixed greens salad
2 teaspoons low fat dressing
1 cup fruit salad
These are just a few tips to jump start proper fueling as an important and integral part of your training program. Each athlete is unique and has different training schedules, food preferences, lifestyle factors, and weight concerns. For a more individualized assessment and recommendations for your needs submit a rquest at: www.GoLoGolFitness.com
About the Author
William Breland has been a Physical Therapist for over 25 years. He is the ONLY Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Therapy and Touring Golf Professional in the United States.
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How to Benefit from the Mind-Body Connection
(excerpt)
You are about to gain insight into the
mind-body connection. The number of
people who truly understand these principles on our
planet are relatively few.
There is an undeniable connection between our minds and
bodies, you can learn to use this fact to your benefit.
Dr. Bernie Siegel, author of "Love, Medicine and
Miracles" was once a distraught cancer surgeon until he
began to understand the greater principles of the mind-
body connection. He felt dragged down by the artificial
barriers that existed between patient and doctor, and the
helplessness he often felt as a result of his inability
to effectively serve those patients. Eventually, those
barriers were disintegrated by Dr. Siegel's recognition
and growing understanding of the mind-body connection and
how it could serve his patients and himself.
Dr. Siegel, or Bernie as he began to have his patients
refer to him, had some
startling realizations as a cancer surgeon. He found that
there were actually
quite a few people in the world that successfully beat
the statistics on cancer
survival. He began to recognize that a patient's ability
to defeat something as
serious as cancer had to do with the patient's mind and
attitude about their
disease.
If you would like to see the rest of
this article, please go here:
http://www.tobeinformed.com/repository/mind-body.html
copyright 2004 - David Snape
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