HPU athletes take on nutrition for best performance
Anglica Byan sits coxswain when racing in a regatta in August 2015. She maintains her position by working out and following a strict diet. Photo submitted
By Deirdre Logan // Sports Editor
Collegiate athletes spend countless hours working out and practicing to be in the best shape they can be. They strive for better performance, but can often times forget about a key factor- eating right. For High Point University students, one trip to the school nutritionist can change the diet of an in-season athlete.
Junior Angelica Bryan, a member of the crew team, visited the nutritionist to get the best advice for her meal plan. Her goal is to gain weight to be the right weight for her position as coxswain.
“In crew, the female coxswains should be around 110 pounds,” Bryan said. “I am about 8 pounds off that weight. If you are not at least 110 pounds, you have to carry sand in the boat with you to make up the weight which is not ideal, so I am trying to gain weight by dieting and lifting before the spring racing season starts.”
Bryan and her teammate, sophomore Alec Dickson, share their efforts in proper eating. They have both been given specific instructions to get the best result. Dickson shared his plan on working out and eating right.
“I’m trying to gain muscle so I’m on a high-carb, high-calorie diet ranging from 4200-5000 calories a day depending on my workouts,” Dickson said. “I am typically burning around 4400 calories a day.”
According to WebMD.com, the average, moderately active college student should have a daily caloric intake of 2000 to 3000 in order to maintain their appropriate Body Mass Index. Dickson is clearly advised to exceed this in order to achieve his goals.
“I get to eat a ton of food honestly, which is always nice, though sometimes it can be a bit much to eat as much as I’m supposed to before practices,” Dickson said. “My daily intake consists of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between meals and after dinner.”
Not all athletes are on specified diets, but most are encouraged to eat right. Coaches and nutritionists advise athletes to replenish calories and electrolytes that they burned during their workout in order to maintain a healthy weight. Freshman Becca Sands shared her experience while being on the HPU dance team.
“We have workouts five times a week that we have to do,” Sands said. “I know some people tried to have specific diets, but I don’t think anyone has really stuck to it. Our coach recommended watching what we eat but it wasn’t mandatory.”
Freshman Drew Roeber had similar thoughts when approaching the concept of athletes and diets. As a member of the track team, he gives us a glimpse into the life of a HPU D1 athlete.
“We just have to make sure we hit all the food groups,” Roeber said. “Really just eating smart is the biggest thing.”
For those who are used to eating unhealthy, this might pose a challenge but for athletes like Dickson, it is something he has always strives for.
“As far as what I can’t have, I wasn’t given too many specific rules for that,” Dickson said. “I eat so much throughout the day that I don’t have as many cravings. I tend to eat healthy anyway, so it’s not like I’ve stopped eating french fries or pizza. I just wouldn’t have them at school in the first place.”
HPU athletes all try to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the on and off seasons. Healthy eating and specified diets can be the difference in how they perform and their placement on the team.