Diet and Nutrition

It is very important to eat the right food and at the right time when both training and playing competition. You may think as a professional my diet would be perfect. However, there are many places and times (airports, airplanes, hotels around the world, different countries, and so on) when it is difficult to get the correct sustenance you need. It becomes a case of anything is better than nothing. Although you try and eat a healthy breakfast including lots of fresh fruit, good quality brown bread and plenty of water, this does not always happen.

The most important thing is to make sure you have some kind of breakfast. It is the only meal of the day I fully digest. Lots of people skip meals, especially breakfast, but this can be detrimental to your state of well being, especially if you are training or playing a series of hard matches. For other meals you must make sure you eat varied and healthy types of food (for example, a good balance between carbohydrates and proteins. You need to work out the balance that best suits your own body). On match day I make sure I have not eaten too much prior to playing. I do not like the feeling of being too full. What is crucial for me is post match to eat and drink as soon after playing as possible. I have to replenish my body's energy sources in order to perform again the next day.