There is a lot of work behind the scenes when it comes to an athlete's diet.

Athletes need to discipline themselves to continue to work out (whether cardio, strength, or anything else) and eat the right foods that suit their bodies. A lot of the time, the right foods are not the best-tasting food, so you might convince yourself one cheat meal that you're craving won't change anything. However, this mindset causes a repetitive thought in your mind that one meal won't do anything, and gradually, one by one, it turns into many meals. Soon enough, you might lose your eating routine, which will be clear when you play your game. Sometimes it also brings a feeling of guilt, and people deal with it differently. Some think, "ah well, whatever I already messed up, I'll just eat whatever I want now." Others believe, "oh no, I messed up. I need to fix it and do too much over the next few days to try to make up for it." Yet, it's important to understand that both mindsets are flawed.

One way athletes can regulate their routine is by tracking what they eat, how many calories, and, if possible, when they eat. Tracking these data points keeps you accountable, and then if you have a cheat meal, overeat, or undereat, you feel responsible for tracking it, so it would help you not to disrupt your consistent healthy eating routine. In today's age, many apps can assist you with tracking by telling you how many calories a meal is and if you accomplished your calorie goal for the day or not. Sometimes the app even provides suggestions of what foods to eat to reach your calorie target.

Learning to discipline yourself is an excellent quality to have and will help athletes stay fit for their sport and improve. Unlike feeling guilty for not following a healthy routine, sticking to being accountable can go a long way in sports and life.

Photo by Verywellfit