top of page

Losing Weight for Athletes: Eating to fuel, not to gain weight

Content by: Nancy Clark MS RD CSSD

Many athletes struggle to maintain a desired weight, while having enough energy to train. Read these helpful tips, if you are trying to lose weight!

Losing Weight for Athletes: Eating to fuel, not to gain weight

Calculator

Share Item

PDF

Presentation

Author

Tips for losing weight and having energy to exercise well.
• Rather than going “on a diet,” eat smaller portions of the foods you currently enjoy.

• Chip away at fat loss by subtracting 10- to 20-percent from what you normally eat.

• Be sure to eat enough during the day, so you will have plenty of energy to exercise at your best. Surround your workouts with food.

• Eat less at night, so you lose fat while you are sleeping. Your goal is to fuel by day, lose weight (diet) by night and wake up hungry for a good breakfast.

• Eat slowly! Your brain needs about 20 minutes to receive the signal that you have eaten your fill.

• Keep food out of sight, so you can more easily keep it out of your mouth.

• If you eat because you are bored, stressed, tired or lonely, make a list of ten things you can do instead of eating: read emails, surf the Internet, go to bed early, etc.

• Learn how to handle stress and anxiety without over-eating. No amount of food will satisfy stress-induced hunger. Process problems by writing in a journal for 5-10 minutes.

• Every morning before you get out of bed, visualize yourself eating appropriately and achieving your weight goals.

• Once a week, plan a maintenance day. Eat normally, but don’t over-do it!

• If you weigh yourself, do so once a week first thing in the morning, after you have gone to the bathroom and before you have eaten. Don't weigh yourself after exercise or at night, as it gives a false weight!

• Be proud of your new healthy eating patterns! They should be sustainable for the rest of your life.

Making Health a Priority

A fun video about quick steps to better commit, and achieve your fitness goals.

Making Health a Priority

Supplements and Sports Performance

Understanding supplements and nutritional needs for athletes. Learn a few basics.

Supplements and Sports Performance

Glucose Wands Made Simple

Glucose wands are great for learning what is going on in the body? Listen to your body and learn about actions you can take to manage high blood sugar and low blood sugar.

Glucose Wands Made Simple

bottom of page