Sports Nutrition 2: Maintaining Weight and Muscle Mass

Sports – so fun to have your kids play a sport. Last week we noted that sports not only require skill but also fuel. We noted how important it is to stay hydrated and how important carbs are to an athlete as carbs fuel the body. What about maintaining weight? Many teenagers lose weight when participating in sports as they not only need calories because they are growing, they need calories to fuel their sports activity. A local basketball coach was alarmed when one of his players kept losing weight and lost 11 pounds over the basketball season. And this was 11 pounds the teenager didn’t want to lose. What are some ways an athlete can maintain their weight and muscle mass while playing sports? What are some nutrition goals student athletes should focus on to “ eat better, play better ”? 1. Maintaining Weight – Not surprising, maintaining weight involves calories. Athletes, especially g...