Athletes: Gain size with these quick tips
As an athlete, I’m sure you have goals to make varsity, play D1 in college, or even go pro.
However, if you are trying to make it to the next level, you can’t be focusing ONLY on the smaller rocks. These smaller rocks include all technique work such as your bat swing, lacrosse shot, lay ups, footwork, etc.
Many young athletes will take most of their time, going to clinics, private lessons, and practicing on their own to try and master their specific sport skills. Although these are definitely important, there is one thing that could be holding you back. And that is being an undersized athlete! Majority of athletes I see lack the muscle mass and strength to fully express the skills that they have.
Gaining weight and size is in my opinion the lowest hanging fruit for many young athletes that can get them noticed by coaches from all sectors. Simply gaining weight can make you bigger, stronger, faster, and more explosive. In addition, these qualities will improve your specific sport skills. You’ll be able to swing harder, shoot harder, easily take contact, drive through lanes, zoom past your defenders, and more.
Coaches look for the raw athleticism of athletes because they know and have the confidence that they can teach you the skills and IQ of the sport on top of your physical qualities. So start focusing on building muscle mass and strength!
Here are the two things you need to do to successfully gain size:
Make sure to eat in a caloric surplus. As a skinnier athlete, you probably have a hard time gaining weight. This means you have to find efficient ways to consume more calories by eating more food and drinking your calories. Eat multiple meals and snacks everyday and drink smoothies/shakes packed with protein. Find foods that are high in protein, carbs and fats and of course, eat your fruits and vegetables.
TRAIN. You don’t want to gain weight by gaining fat. You have to follow an appropriate training program so that you gain muscle mass along with strength, speed, and power. This is where trainers and strength coaches can come in to speed up the process. We would train you so that you actually become a better athlete specific to your sport rather than just a bodybuilder.
If you follow these two things, you will see results. Although simple, these are not easy. Eating more food than you’re used to will be uncomfortable. Training hard to build muscle and strength will get tough. But if you have the will to put in the work and have trust in your trainer, you will see the fruits of your labor. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out for any questions you may have!