With the rise of deadly diseases such as obesity, heart disease, type II diabetes, and high blood pressure, the training of an athlete is a must requirement for everyone. Sports and athleticism give us strength, power, speed, and zeal. We would not get worn out easily if we exercised regularly. It plants a dose of positive influence within us. Now, many of us may think, that, is it possible for normal people like us, to train like an athlete. The answer is YES. In fact, if you are determined and disciplined enough, training like an athlete is quite rewarding.
Training like an athlete may be tuff at first, but you will get immediate benefits like the ability to do daily activities will improve. Not only that, it will help strengthen your muscles and bones, along with that it will assist in weight management. Overall, it is going to be beneficial for you as it going to increase your chances of living longer. As a matter of fact, your life will be full of zest and positivity. So let us start preparing our bodies like an athlete. Here are 8 ways on how to train like an athlete. Scroll down to learn more.
Table of Contents
How to Train Like an Athlete?
Now that you’ve gotten the brief let’s take a look at how to train like an athlete:
1) Making a Schedule
The utmost important rule about how to train like an athlete is to make a schedule. A schedule will not only keep us in a routine but also make our timetable flexible. We can divide our worthy time into partitions and then allot exercising into one of them. This will ensure we do not get stressed over exercising and can focus on other significant work as well. You can schedule your routine in this way- on Monday you can keep your upper body and core. Similarly, for Tuesday you can do lower body. For Wednesday you can keep cardio. In this technique, you can be one step ahead to train your body like an athlete.
2) Setting a goal
Setting a goal while exercising or bodybuilding is required as it aids you in staying on track. You need to keep a measure of how much you can exercise both in quality and quantity. Also, setting a goal is required for motivation. You must constantly remind yourself that you can do it! Not only athletes, but everyone can transform themselves and change into a better shape like a sportsperson. Another thing you should keep in mind while training yourself like an athlete is that you should set realistic goals.
3) Maintaining a diet
To get faster results while training like an athlete, you need to maintain a healthy diet. A good diet will boost your athletic performance. The recommended diet for an athlete should be 40% to 60% carbohydrates, 20% to 30% fat, and 15% to 25% protein. You should take a nutrient-rich diet which would include lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. You are recommended to take omega-3 fats like fatty fish, liver, and cod liver oil. Try to eat consistently. For example, eat up to four times a day. Do not skip meals ever or else your energy levels will drop down.
4) Recovering
Exercising is important, but so is recovering. There are various reasons, one of them is reducing soreness of muscles. When you train like an athlete, your muscles may get sore due to heavy workouts. Resting or recovering assists your muscles to heal over time. Another factor is overexercising. Many people overworkout which may lead to the risk of injury. You can keep your schedule this way- for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday you can keep exercising, and Thursday you can keep recovering. Similarly, Friday and Saturday you can work out and Sunday you can take a break.
5) Movement Other than Exercising
If you want to train like an athlete, you must remember you need to be active. You should always be on your feet. For instance, if you need to drink water, jog, and go to drink it. If you need to travel somewhere, do not use a vehicle. Instead, walk and go. Jog every day to work. These little things will ensure that we get energetic in no time. Also, before exercising we should do warm-ups. Warming up before exercising is important because it prepares our body and our mind for the arranged exercise. It also increases our blood flow which further allows oxygen to reach our muscles.
6) Getting Enough Sleep
Keeping a sleep schedule is one of the salient factors for training your body like an athlete. Get at least seven hours of sleep before heading out to work. Sleeping profoundly will give our body muscles time to recover and heal so that they are stronger than before. When we sleep our body secretes growth hormones which in addition aid in maintaining athletes’ workouts. Sleeping also assistances in the retrieval of damaged tissues within our body cells. If you get an insufficient amount of sleep, your body is bound to reduce muscle protein synthesis.
7) Consistency
The benefits of consistent exercise are many and immediate as well. First, consistent workouts increase our overall health. It makes us active and filled up with energy and zeal. Consistency upsurges our fitness level and makes our body flexible, just like an athlete. Furthermore, regular exercise increases our physical activity, which adds up to better sleeping. Even aging athletes have included consistent training in their schedules. At the end of the day, constancy improves results. You will be determined each day to stay and to slay. To train like an athlete, you should have a consistent exercise plan.
8) Keep a Check on Mental Health
This is one of the most crucial points to keep in mind if you want to train like an athlete. Exercising way too much may create stress and pressure inside the head of a person which may lead to less or no results at all. You need to be confident when you are working out. Remember, self-belief is a must. You must know that while you are exercising, you may end up hurting yourself accidentally. But that should not demotivate you or stop you from exercising further. You can even watch some YouTube videos that will be able to teach you how to mentally train yourself to improve your concentration.
Benefits to Train like an Athlete
Now that you know how to train like an athlete, let’s take a look at the benefits of it:
1. Increases heart capacity
Training like an athlete will improve heart capacity which in turn will lower the risk of diseases of the heart and will also aid you in recovering from depression.
 2. To maintain weight
If you are training like an athlete consistently, you will never ever gain weight. Even at old age, you will remain active and strong. weight management is very well-regulated if you are training daily.
 3. To lose weight
If you are suffering from obesity, then worry not! Start training like an athlete from today! We can promise you that if you are consistent with your workout, you can reduce weight in a very short amount of time. Just the right amount of daily exercise and a proper diet will give you immediate results.
 4. Strengthen bone and muscle
Training like an athlete means vigorous working out which will lead you to sore muscles. After recovering, you will notice that your muscle strength is healed and stronger than before. Therefore, if you intend to increase bone and muscle strength, you can opt for training.
 5. Increase confidence
Once you are done training like an athlete, there will be a change in your energy levels. You are going to feel lighter and happier than before, which will increase your overall confidence level. You will feel a wave of energy whenever you try to help someone out or do some physical labor.
6. Fight Against Cancer
Studies have shown that regular training like an athlete would reduce the risk of cancer. Reportedly cancers such as breast cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer, and gastric cancer have condensed in patients who indulge in consistent training. At the end of the day, if you are physically and mentally strong, you can fight against any disease- not only cancer.
7. Reduce Stress
Working out releases happy hormones which in turn reduces pressure and depression. Exercising also releases endorphins- a stress-relieving hormone, that helps you to overcome stress. Regular exercise improves your mood and helps in better sleeping as well.
Final Thoughts
Hence, I would like to conclude by saying that there are lots and lots of good reasons why we should train like an athlete. Overall, training like an athlete will make us feel like one, confident and strong. We would start believing in ourselves again, which will give us strength to get over any obstacles that come in our lives. Also exercising and working out helps us with our mental health which should be protected at any cost. Not only that, our physical health is saved from fatal diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many hours do athletes need to sleep?
Ans) At least 7-8 hours.
2. Do I need to maintain a schedule if I want to train like an athlete?
Ans) Yes.
