Nutrition
Rested and Ready
Photo Credit: www.istockphoto.com/ellobo1
Why Athletes Need to Hit the Mattress
By Molly Newman
For faster race times, higher energy and that all-around healthy glow, you plan your meals and workouts down to the last carrot stick and push-up. But you’re probably neglecting the part of your training that heals injuries, rebuilds muscle, and occupies up to a third of your life. Whether you’re a runner, a biker, a climber or any other kind of athlete, getting enough of the right kind of sleep is critical for optimal performance.
Vegetarian Victuals
By Melissa McGibbon
I’m a Lacto-Ovo Pescatarian. Bravo if you know what that means. If you don’t, it means I’m basically vegetarian, but dairy products and fish are acceptable forms of foodstuff for me. I also live an extremely active lifestyle, I have mountains to climb and waves to surf, so I have to feed my body the right provisions to keep up with my omnivorous counterparts. I’m not a preachatarian, go ahead and eat all the bacon you like, but if you are wondering…it’s a piece of cake to thrive without chowing cow. Sure, stashing jerky in a pack is easier than say, preparing an Ahi Poke snack for a fourteener, but I’ll trade the carnivorous convenience for a lower cholesterol level, lower risk of heart disease, lower risk of cancer and an increased life expectancy.
Fueling Up: Energy Bars in the Common Era
The first version of energy bars dates back to 1869 with Kendal Mint Cakes. These “cakes” provided compact nutrition and traveled well. So well, in fact, that they were provided for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917 led by Sir Ernest Shackleton and for Sir Edmund Hillary and his team on the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. Apparently digging in your pack for a tasty fix after an accomplished objective is fairly universal. Isn’t it nice to know you have something in common with pioneering legends?
Today the energy bar industry is so massive that you can choose from a wide variety of options at most pre-recreation pit stops. Not all energy bars are created equal, so how do you know which snack to pack? We’ll tell you!
No longer will you orbit foolishly amid deep vexation in the energy bar section and study each bar as if you were in a museum contemplating the significance of each piece. Instead, you can confidently stride through the aisle, grab exactly what you need and move on to your next adventure.
Injury Prevention Techniques
An advantage of living in Utah is the opportunity to experience every season and enjoy different outdoor activities during each one. When spring and summer roll around, the average weekend warrior tends to increase their activity level. Here are a few tips to stay injury free as summer activities begin.
First, compare your winter activity level with the activity level that is planned. Was the past winter spent skiing, snowboarding or being very active? If so, chances are your cardiovascular and muscular fitness levels are up to the challenge for these summer activities. If the last few months were spent on the couch drinking hot chocolate and watching movies, then you’ll need a slower start.
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