Keep Fit and Train Like a Pro Sports Athlete

There are obvious limitations when it comes to training like a professional athlete. Budgetary and time restraints will have an effect on your ability to put in the work like your favorite player in the NBA or NFL. But there is no reason why you can’t try to emulate your heroes as much as possible.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that these tips will turn you into a professional athlete, playing for championships and featuring in markets for online betting in Texas. But it will help you with your own personal fitness regimes – and maybe even make you feel a whole lot better about missing out on a career in sports!

Warm Up Properly

A popular misconception about professional fitness regimes is that it is all about the intensity and hours put in. Obviously an athlete will have more time to devote to looking after themselves, but it is the preparation that is just as important. Don’t just jump straight into your workout.

Don’t limit your warm-up to a few static stretches. You should consider this as part of your routine, not just a pre-cursor to the main event. You should be getting your body ready for what it is about to do – and that means preparing your tendons and muscles for the exercise ahead.

Use Compound Movements

When you exercise your muscles, they will grow and you will gain more strength. So, it is only natural that if you are exercising more muscles at one time, you will be gaining strength even more quickly. Compound movements such as squats and deadlifts will show your improvement.

Athletes use these compound movements in a very specific way depending on which sport they play. You have the luxury of not having to tailor your routine for your profession – but to gain more strength and improve your muscles. Center yourself and stay on the floor as much as possible for the best results.

Active Recovery

Just as the warm-up needs to be thoroughly thought through, so does the post-workout regime. The last thing you may want to do is a little more exercise after a punishing schedule, but leaving aching and sore limbs to contract without warming down can be a disaster.

If you have ever watched pro sports you will have seen players partaking in active recovery sessions after a game. This is like slowing down the activity, rather than stopping dead and expecting your body to deal with it. Even some short walks or stretching can help here.

You should probably be drinking more water.

Take on More Water

Drinking water is absolutely essential to keep fit and healthy – and to get anywhere near the levels of pro sports athletes. We know that you already understand the importance of drinking water, but it is probably true that you should be taking in more than you currently are.

It is not just a cooling mechanism for your body though. Your muscles will not work properly if they are not hydrated. The tissues surrounding your muscles are made up of water and you need to keep them hydrated for them to function. Pro athletes will drink around 0.6 times their body weight in ounces for an optimum level.

Exercise with Friends

If you are part of a sports team you will find that you always have someone right beside you to keep you going and pick you up when you are faltering. Even athletes who compete in solo sports, like tennis, need a trainer to help them achieve their fitness goals.

The same thinking applies even if you are not training towards a game at the weekend. You could use a personal trainer that could plan out an individual program to help you reach your goals, or you could just convince a friend to join you in your workouts. Either way, having someone to work off will help physically and mentally as you exercise.