How to Be an Athletic Person

Co-authored by Souad Gharib and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References

Being an athletic person isn’t just determined by your gene pool. It’s a decision that you make every day to be a healthy, active person. While becoming an athletic individual may seem like a daunting task, it’s easily achievable with the proper steps. By maintaining a healthy diet, developing an exercise schedule, and participating in sports, you’ll be ready to live a fulfilling, athletic life!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Participating in Sports

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Find a sport that interests you. Take steps to become an athletic person by finding a fun sport to play. Depending on your own personal interests and strengths, this decision could vary. If you enjoy especially competitive games with a lot of running, consider soccer or rugby. If you enjoy strength-specific activities, try power lifting or wrestling. Take this quiz to see which sport is best for you: https://www.kentsport.org/get-active/find-your-sport.
- Research the sport to see if it’s right for you. Sports like basketball may seem fun, but they could be difficult if you’re on the shorter end of the height spectrum. Check here to see which sport is best for your body type: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28062001.
- For example, more aggressive people might be interested in hockey or boxing, while less aggressive people might have more fun swimming.
2
Go to a local park or gym to practice the sport. Stay regimented in your exercise routine by incorporating a sport into your daily workouts. Check online to see if there are nice gyms or parks nearby where you can practice the sport of your choice. Depending on where you go, you might bump into someone with similar interests and athletic goals!

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3
Buy some clothes that give you more breathing room while you exercise. Running shorts and yoga pants are great options to consider, as well as moisture-wicking shirts. Also, make sure you have comfortable sneakers or running shoes on whenever you exercise.^{[1]
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- Tank tops and wind resistant jackets are also great items to consider.
4
Join a local team or league. Sign up for a school or community team after you feel more comfortable in a certain sport. Playing on a community level helps you to pursue your athletic goals on a smaller level while also getting a better understanding of the sport in real
- If you get especially interested or engaged in a certain sport, consider looking into professional training options.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Maintaining a Healthy Diet

1
Incorporate lots of fruits and veggies into your diet. Take the time to eat plenty of produce each day. It’s recommended that you eat at least 4½ cups (790 g) of fruits and vegetables each day, which can be easily obtained with a proper shopping list. Include a variety of fresh foods in each meal to keep your body in tip-top shape for future athletic activities.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Souad Gharib
Exercise & Wellness Specialist
Expert Interview. 8 June 2021.}
- At breakfast, consider adding banana slices or berries into your cereal bowl.
- Have a side salad with your lunch, or make yourself a cup of soup.
- Try adding cut up vegetables like onions and garlic when you’re making sauces and soups at home.
2
Eat a diet rich in protein. Eat lots of protein each day to keep your muscles, bones, and circulation in top condition. Being an athletic person requires you to build strength, and half of that battle comes in eating enough protein-rich foods. If you’re not sure where to start, aim for foods that don’t have a lot of saturated fat, like greek yogurt, fish, beans, chicken, and turkey.^{[5]
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- Throughout the day, try and make a tenth of your overall calorie count come from protein.
3
Take a multivitamin to get a lot of nutrients at once. Purchase some multivitamins if you’re having difficulty consuming enough of the right nutrients per day. Athletic individuals need to have their bodies running in top condition, which means getting enough of the necessary vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin A, C, and E.^{[6]
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- Try taking additional supplements if your vitamin levels are low in certain areas. Ask a doctor before taking any specific pills.
- Don’t go over the daily recommended dose of vitamins, as this can do more harm than good.
4
Opt for multi-grains instead of processed breads. Get more energy for an athletic lifestyle by making the switch to multi-grains. These grains make it much easier for you to consume a variety of nutrients, such as fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Multi-grains also help keep your GI tract in great condition.^{[7]
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- If you aren’t a fan of bread, consider eating multi-grains in different forms, like oatmeal.
- Eating multi-grains is also believed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.^{[8]
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5
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Stay hydrated throughout the day when adopting an athletic lifestyle. While everyone should be drinking lots of water throughout the day, athletes especially need it to keep their bodies hydrated and ready to go. Men should aim for 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) a day, while women should try for 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) per day.^{[9]
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- You can also stay hydrated by eating fluid-rich foods, like fruits.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Developing an Exercise Schedule

1
Focus on an area of your body you’d like to improve. Examine your body and see which parts could use the most care and attention. Being an athletic person involves having a healthy body that can participate in a lot of physical activities, so you have to start somewhere! Pick a part of your body you’d like to improve, be it your stomach, arms, or thighs.
- If you’d rather focus on all of your body at once, that’s fine, too! There are plenty of exercise methods that can work out your whole body.^{[10]
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- For instance, swimmers use their core and lower back muscles a lot, so focus on strengthening those muscles.^{[11]
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  Research source} If you’re looking into snowboarding, consider strengthening your lower leg and back muscles.^{[12]
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2
Exercise for 30 minutes at least 5 days per week. Decide when you want to exercise each day, and for how long. Being an athletic person won’t come overnight, and will require a lot of time, effort, and dedication. Aim for at least 5 30-minute workouts throughout the week to start getting your body in shape.^{[13]
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Francisco Gomez
Fitness Coach
Expert Interview. 24 October 2019.} Mark your exercise plan on a calendar, or invest in a pedometer so you can monitor your fitness throughout the day.^{[14]
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- Find a workout that is enjoyable. You'll have an easier time sticking with it if you don't dread it.^{[15]
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  Souad Gharib
  Exercise & Wellness Specialist
  Expert Interview. 8 June 2021.}
3
Create an exercise schedule for the week. Set a specific schedule for your workouts during the week. Not only will a schedule help you stay motivated, but it will be easier to ensure you exercise all of your major muscle groups. When you make out your schedule, include the type of exercise you want to do each day, such as aerobics, lifting, or leg presses.
- Make your fitness routine a lot more fun and motivating by inviting friends and family members to join your workouts. Also, there are some fun stretches and workout activities you can do with partners.
- Don’t make your schedule too rigorous, either— just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, athletic bodies don’t form overnight.
- Switch up your exercise activities to keep your workouts interesting. Aim to include different types of fitness into your exercise schedule each week, like strength, flexibility, balance, and stamina.^{[16]
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- Track your progress so you can continue challenging yourself.^{[17]
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  Souad Gharib
  Exercise & Wellness Specialist
  Expert Interview. 8 June 2021.}

Expert Q&A

Question

What do you do when you are not motivated to exercise?

Souad Gharib
Exercise & Wellness Specialist
Souad Gharib is the Founder of Female Trainer, a boutique women's gym based in West London, United Kingdom. Souad specializes in helping women reach their goals through exercise, nutrition, and counseling. Female Trainer offers personalized training sessions delivered by Souad and her experienced team of female trainers.

Souad Gharib

Exercise & Wellness Specialist

Expert Answer

Find different ways to exercise so your workouts can be enjoyable. Then, keep track of your progress and try to challenge yourself.
Question

How can I find a sport that I like?

Community Answer

Keep trying every sport on offer at your school, college, local area, until you find one you like. It also helps to play with friends, as their enthusiasm will help you to decide on how enjoyable a team sport is. Have the attitude that it's all worth giving a go until you find something that you truly like and feel competent in.
Question

How do I get faster?

Community Answer

Run, run, run. If you want to be faster, just eat well and run as often as you can. Every time you run, push yourself a little bit further.