Winter Is Coming… So Is The Competitive Season!
As winter approaches, so does the competitive season. All the effort put into this past summer in preparation to perform new skills and be ready for competition is ready to put into action! Everyone wants to succeed, improve from last season, and stay away from injury and illness.
Ways To Help You And Your Team Enjoy A Better Season:
- Eat Well
- Getting enough needed calories can help maintain your energy to get through practice (carbs like grains and fruits); your recovery before the next practice (proteins like meats and fish); and your immune system and brain strong for the season (fats like nuts and avocado).
- Sleep Well
- Research continues to add reasons to emphasize the importance of good sleep hygiene– going to bed around the same time every night and staying asleep for at least 6-8 hours each night can help reduce stress and illness, assist with recovery, increase mental sharpness the following day, and optimize growth and development.
- Think Well
- A good attitude really does make a difference. Treating yourself and others with positive feedback and intentional kindness can help the whole team in succeeding to reach a goal but also can help in ensuring the work to get there is FUN!
Hints To Helping You And Your Teammates Stay Healthy This Winter:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Keep your distance from those that are ill
- Don’t go to school/work/sport if you have a fever over 100.5 F
- Cover your cough
- Stay hydrated and eat healthy
- Talk to your health care provider about vaccines that could help
- Keep your surroundings disinfected
Gift Ideas For Your Gymnast:
- Massage Gun: Massage guns have become much more affordable. There is research showing percussion therapy can help with muscle readiness, reduce soreness, and in some cases have even suggested helping with flexibility and strength gains. (Talk to your health care provider or athletic trainer on when to consider using—and when to avoid– don’t use a massage gun directly over bone or on a bruise or recently impacted muscle)
- Smart Watch: Smart watches have continued to improve. Some notify you on vitals such as pulse (and EKG, oxygen level, blood pressure), number of steps taken and calories used, as well as monitor sleep and exercise. While there isn’t anything (yet) to replace your coach, trainer, or health care provider, the smart watches sure are a good tool to help.
- A Drink Tumbler that does more than hold water: Adding fruits, proteins, and fun flavors to your drink can help supplement your diet but also encourage hydration. Tumblers that hold additives or blend healthy foods can be a real game changer!
Dr. Goldstein’s Editorial: Working Towards A Similar Goal Makes The Whole Team Stronger
With today’s social media, 24 hour news cycle, and ever increasing criticism of well, just about everything... it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of every second’s newest trend. Distractions can risk missing the importance of being in the moment, reaching your goals, and even risk how vital your purpose is in playing a part on the team.
Consider a health care team– what if the newest member of the team’s job was to simply hand a tool to the technician that ensures the tool works before giving it to a surgeon who is responsible for the delicate procedure that only twenty people in the world have been trained to perform. Now, if you are the patient– who is the vital person in the operating room to help save your life? I would say– they all are. If the surgeon doesn’t get the tool– the procedure can’t even begin.
Each member– no matter their title, level, or last season’s outcome makes a difference in your team reaching its goal. Yes, everyone on the team– especially you!
Your coach helps creates the goal for each practice, each week, and each season. But it takes every athlete to ensure the goal is successfully completed. If just one athlete gives less effort in their work out, gives less support to their team mates, or comes with a negative attitude– the whole team can get weighed down by the same issues as the distractions seen with ‘too much’ social media– ultimately, getting the team off course.
Hard work, team work, and yes, your work can be fun, positive, and exciting! Working together to reach a similar goal makes the journey (rather than just the outcome) worth it!
Happy Holidays and Be Well!
Dr. Goldstein
www.wellbodykc.com
Proud medical partner of Pinnacle Gymnastics
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