Remember Your MEDS
You may be thinking why is a chiropractor turned triathlon coach reminding you to take your meds. Well, in this case it is not the kind of meds you are think about but rather MEDS, all caps. So you say what does that mean, well I am here to help you out. MEDS is the acronym for:
Mind
Exercise
Diet
Sleep
You hear Coach Amy and I talk about the cornerstones of athletic training and MEDS pretty much sums it up. As we begin a new year with focus on 2022, I thought it appropriate that we remember this little acronym to help us as we move along our athletic journey.
To better understand what we mean let’s take a look at each cornerstone on its own.
MIND
Life is stressful, there are no two ways about it. Add in training and this seemingly never ending pandemic, it can get even more stressful; so taking care of your mind is as important as taking care or your body. Spending a few minutes each day nurturing your mind through meditation, being mindful of the moment and practicing gratitude for all things can go a long way to help with stress reduction, improve focus and aid in overall relaxation. It does not have to be a lot; 5-10 minutes a day is all it takes. For those times when we need a little extra help with focus, be it a really tough interval session, a big presentation, or taking a test, there are a few supplements out there that can help. We at Catalyst like Spark, from True, which contains caffeine (True Spark) or Brain Drive from Momentous, without caffeine (Momentous Brain Drive) to improve focus and reduce mental fatigue.
EXERCISE
This is pretty much a given for multisport athletes. We train/exercise and we do it a lot, but the key is consistency above all. A little each day is much better than a whole lot once in a while. If you are not a Catalyst athlete, feel free to reach out to us (click the link below) for a no pressure chat about how to integrate exercise into your already hectic life and we can also share our approach to training and racing. (Chat with a Coach)
DIET
Diet is another key element in the Catalyst philosophy. You cannot exercise away or cheat a bad diet. What goes in is what comes out in performance, awareness, focus and overall achievement. Eating clean, reducing CARBS, reducing the intake of processed foods are all stepping stones to improving one’s diet. While it can be a struggle in the beginning, it gets easier, trust us. If you need a little help reach out to us (again click the link below) or our friend at FUEL.IN (https://www.fuelin.com/) to help dial in your nutritional requirements to perform your best in training and racing.
SLEEP
This is an oft ignored, but essential component to athlete performance. Sleep is where true recovery occurs and, in conjunction with a healthy diet, allows for athletic gains to take place. For you to perform at your best, you must prioritize sleep, ideally 7 to 8 hours per night. It is imperative to develop a solid sleep routine, such as limiting exposure to electronics 1 hour prior to bedtime, limiting caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening, sleeping in a dark and cool room and using sleep apps with stories or meditation to facilitate deep and recuperative sleep. If you need a little help with sleeping, a magnesium supplement can be of great assistance. Our favorite products are from True and Momentous (True Zinc/Magnesium, or Momentous Magnesium) For a little extra help, here are some additional supplements to assist your sleeping (True Zenn or Momentous Elite Sleep).
Winners are those who have mastered these fundamentals and incorporating them into their life.
Thus, Remembering Your MEDS will help secure your health, improve your well being and improve your athletic excellence.
If you have any questions regarding this topic or any other aspect of the multisport lifestyle, please to do not hesitate to reach out to Coach Amy or myself and we can schedule a time for a chat.
Happy Training.