How to Measure Progress
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N U T R I T I O N
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S O F T B A L L
How to Measure Progress Measuring game performance is achieved with numbers; batting averages, ERA, and fielding percentages. When measuring nutrition progress, numbers can be very tricky. Most people turn to a scale and use weight as a way to measure health but this is not the best way for an athlete to measure health. Image 1 compares the size of five pounds of fat to five pounds of muscle. It is common for an athlete to build lean muscle mass, drop clothing sizes, while increasing over all weight. When measuring progress, the scale can be used but should not be the only way to measure nutrition performance. Any improvement in the signs of poor nutrition listed above is the easiest way to judge progress. Other techniques are also helpful and listed below.
Image 1. Comparing the size of five pounds of fat to 5 pounds of muscle.
Body Fat Percentage
There is such a thing as “skinny fat” where a person wears size small clothing but they have very little muscle mass and an unhealthy body fat percentage. Athletes need muscle to perform quick and powerful movement and their training goals should always be to increase lean muscle. Testing body fat percentage can be done by a caliper pinch test, underwater weighting techniques, or through electronic analysis techniques. Underwater measurement is the only accurate way to measure exact body fat but the other techniques are sufficient to monitor changes.
Clothing Sizes
Dropping body fat and adding muscle will more than likely make you shrink in the waist, making pants feel loose.
Energy Levels and Alertness
If your body is being fueled properly, you will notice an increase in energy. You will experience a reduced need to take naps in the middle of the day and also feel more alert though out the day.
2 www.xtballer.com
N U T R I T I O N
F O R
B A S E B A L L
A N D
S O F T B A L L
How to Measure Progress Measuring game performance is achieved with numbers; batting averages, ERA, and fielding percentages. When measuring nutrition progress, numbers can be very tricky. Most people turn to a scale and use weight as a way to measure health but this is not the best way for an athlete to measure health. Image 1 compares the size of five pounds of fat to five pounds of muscle. It is common for an athlete to build lean muscle mass, drop clothing sizes, while increasing over all weight. When measuring progress, the scale can be used but should not be the only way to measure nutrition performance. Any improvement in the signs of poor nutrition listed above is the easiest way to judge progress. Other techniques are also helpful and listed below.
Image 1. Comparing the size of five pounds of fat to 5 pounds of muscle.
Body Fat Percentage
There is such a thing as “skinny fat” where a person wears size small clothing but they have very little muscle mass and an unhealthy body fat percentage. Athletes need muscle to perform quick and powerful movement and their training goals should always be to increase lean muscle. Testing body fat percentage can be done by a caliper pinch test, underwater weighting techniques, or through electronic analysis techniques. Underwater measurement is the only accurate way to measure exact body fat but the other techniques are sufficient to monitor changes.
Clothing Sizes
Dropping body fat and adding muscle will more than likely make you shrink in the waist, making pants feel loose.
Energy Levels and Alertness
If your body is being fueled properly, you will notice an increase in energy. You will experience a reduced need to take naps in the middle of the day and also feel more alert though out the day.
2 www.xtballer.com
