I absolutely love this time of year! December is always very hectic with traveling for the holidays so January is the perfect time to reflect and reset. You have probably seen posts and articles about setting goals and how to realistically achieve them. These articles are helpful and serve as a guide. Maybe you have performance goals such as run faster or throw further. Or, you have weight goals like to gain muscle mass. These are all goals that you CAN succeed in this year! (I am here to cheer you on!)
As you are writing or reviewing your goals, there is one question I want you to ask yourself:
What season are you in?
Are you in the middle of conference play with your sights on a championship? Or are you in the off season, taking this time to rest and train?
Depending on which season you are in, this should depend on which goal you should focus on. I break this down below.
Here are examples of nutrition goals you should focus on while you are in-season:
- Adequate nutrition to enhance recovery
- Support energy levels for maximum performance
- Prevent fatigue through proper hydration
- Weight Maintenance
During the off-season, nutrition goals will look similar to the below:
- Rest and recover from an intense season
- Increase muscle mass, or other desired body composition changes
- Establish meal plan and prep habits
- Practice specific nutrition strategies that will be helpful for in-season
Your goals are ACHIEVABLE, but based on the above, rethink if it’s the right time to work on those goals. When you combine writing your performance goals along side knowing which season you are in, this will set you up for success. For example, you know that during the off season you have more time to make and prepare meals whereas during the season you will have to navigate eating on the go more often. During the season, your focus will be competing at a high level but during the off season you will be spending time in the weight room to increase strength. Your nutrition plan should be specific to your goals.
Keep your goals simple
When I work with clients, this is a major focus during our sessions. It may sound silly or too simple, but making one, small change really adds up overtime. For example, being more consistent about breakfast, or adding in an extra serving of veggies during the day. Right now, I am focusing on meal prepping for week night dinners and making sure it includes a good source of veggies and protein.
Let me know what your goals are for this year! Hop on over to our Facebook community to share and ask questions!