One of the best things about being a regular swimmer is that you get to eat like it’s going out of fashion – just ask Michael Phelps. The Olympic legend consumes between 8000 and 10,000 calories per day when training for the ultimate competition. But don’t worry – that includes treats like pizzas on the regular.
The gold medal detector also trains for hours every day, having little time to relax and do other things. Everyday swimmers who aren’t trying to pick up podium finishes don’t need to go to such great extremes, but it is important for everyone to follow a plan to balance swimming and leisure.
Eating is Leisure For Swimmers
When you’re doing intense exercise, your body is going to be burning way more calories than usual – that’s why Phelps needs to load up on so much food when he’s training. You can’t just eat anything, though. In fact, it’s important for everyone – from amateurs to professionals – to follow a strict diet that complements the training load. If you’re going to swim a lot, that means you’ll be eating a lot too. So, why not treat eating like a leisure activity?
If you’re training loads, you can eat pretty much anything you want in moderation. Just make sure there’s a good mixture of all the essentials. Getting the timings of your meals right is important too, so make sure you have a plan of action about when to eat. For example, the main meal should be a couple of hours before your workout, and then it’s a good idea to get some protein in you soon after you’ve finished. Everyone knows those post-swim protein shake taste so good.
Entertainment for Leisure
If you’re going to swim all the time, you might end up getting bored of it. That’s why you need to balance the activity with plenty of leisure time. The best way to spend that free time is with entertainment that completely transports you to another place away from the splashing and chlorine.
You need to dedicate some hours in the day to simply kicking back and relaxing.
Phelps is known to enjoy poker in his free time, as this takes his mind completely off his sport. This is easy for anyone to do these days, as many live casino sites offer table games like American Blackjack and roulette. With a vast amount of choice, there’s something for everyone.
Table games aren’t everyone’s preference, though, so this is where slots could be a good alternative. Monopoly slots appeal to a lot of players because the brand is so famous and offers nostalgia and feelings of familiarity. If you want to see the classic board game’s iconography in a completely new way, spinning the reels on these games is an excellent way to do so. These titles couldn’t be further detached from swimming too, meaning that they represent a great way to forget about the pool for a while.
You don’t need to live exactly like Phelps to enjoy swimming. Going for a balanced life between the sport and leisure is the best way forward for most people.