An athlete’s job involves more than just what happens on the field. A healthy regime and a well-balanced diet are important when you need to perform at a high level. College coaches believe that diet helps student athletes to maintain muscle and stay at full strength. Jeff Labiento is the Intramurals/Recreation Coordinator and Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach at SUNY Old Westbury. He works with athletes everyday. According to Labiento there are many factors that come into play when maintaining a healthy regime especially giving the body the right fuel.
[photo credit: oldwestburypanthers.com]
“With over 20 years of coaching experience at all levels, I can tell you there is no student athlete out there in any sport that can perform at their optimum performance levels without maintaining a proper daily diet and conditioning program. A well-balanced diet is the fuel for the furnace. Without maintaining or giving it the right fuel, the furnace will not perform efficiently or effectively.”
It is important to incorporate a specific conditioning program. Athletes who do, perform better than those who don’t maintain a healthy regime. Every sport isn’t just a sport. It’s a marathon.
And not just during the season, according to coach Labiento,”College athletes need to maintain a healthy regime and a well-balanced diet in order to play at a high level all year round,”
[photo credit: oldwestburypanthers.com]
“As a coach, I emphasize health and fitness all the time [and] keeping my athletes in peak condition is a main priority,” stated Borawski. “I teach a cardio-core class two times a week during common hour and I also have worked out with numerous students. I pass along the knowledge that I have obtained for better results and a healthier lifestyle.”
Staying fit and watching your diet is not just about being a strong competitor on the playing field. It can help you with the aging process as well. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise suggests that staying fit when you are young makes a big difference. The data suggests “that higher initial fitness in younger years contributed to higher fitness with aging despite an expected age-related drop in fitness,” concluding that, “higher fitness could bolster quality of life.” So, fitness, a healthy regime, and a better diet may help you win the game of life.
