English footballer and Lioness Alex Greenwood shares her tips for living a healthy lifestyle ahead of tournaments like the FIFA Women’s World Cup
The Women’s World Cup consisted of 32 qualifying teams for the first time in history this year, consisting of players at the top of their league, such as English footballer Alex Greenwood.
The Manchester City defender participated in the Women’s World Cup as part of the English national football team the Lionesses this summer. Although the team lost to Spain 1-0, the game broke a new UK record for a women’s soccer game, as it was watched by an estimated 14.8 million.
So naturally, we wanted to know how exactly how the Lioness prepared for the tournament that inspired women and girls all over the world.
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Here’s what Alex had to say…
‘Train smarter and listen to your body’
Trying to break into the male-dominated sport of football still proves to be a challenging task for women, yet there has been a significant increase in the amount of women and girls playing football worldwide, at an estimated 29 million according to FIFA.
Although challenging, it is certainly not impossible as proven by Alex Greenwood, 30, whose stellar football career has saw her play on the World Cup stage alongside her fellow teammates on England’s Lionesses national team.
According to an article published by England Football, Greenwood says that she initially found her way in the sport through gaining the respect of her male counterparts on the field – or as Greenwood states, on the streets of Liverpool.
The game has evolved, so I had to evolve
‘I started playing football from the moment I could walk. I played more often with the boys whenever and wherever we could, from the moment I woke up until I was called in’, she told Healthista.
Since then, Greenwood says that her fitness routine has significantly evolved, as she has had to train smarter and listen to her body over the years.
‘The game has evolved, so I had to evolve. That is why now with my experience, my diet and training has become the most crucial part of my preparations.’
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‘Preparation and planning ahead is key’
The football defender says her routine varies throughout the football season, from high-intensity running to power sessions. In general, Greenwood says that planning ahead and implementing small changes in her daily habits are key to staying healthy and active ahead of game days.
being apart of a special group of players is what made the entire World Cup that much more rewarding
‘There are moments of the season when you have to push your body to the limit to be available for every game, from international fixtures and training in between’, says the now 30 year old.
The Lioness made it clear that when it came to getting ready for the World Cup, her training and eating habits remained relatively the same, as she diligently prepares through the week until game day.
‘The most important thing for me is feeling prepared. I focus on my nutrition and my training sessions so that when the match day comes, I’m completely relaxed knowing I’ve done everything to be able to play to perform at my best and win.’
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‘Be comfortable in your own skin’
Although the loss of the World Cup final is still a hurdle the Lioness football players are trying to overcome, Greenwood says that being apart of a special group of players is what made the entire World Cup that much more rewarding.
Greenwood shares that as far as her diet goes, she has struggled in the past with both over-eating and under-eating, resulting in feelings of self consciousness when striving to feel comfortable in her body on and off the pitch.
I have had times when I have felt body conscious
‘As a woman, our bodies develop differently. I have had times when I have felt body conscious and didn’t feel like myself on the pitch.’
With increasingly more fans watching women’s football, the Lioness’s have become apart of the spotlight, which Greenwood says can sometimes affect the way she views herself.
‘Being pictured more, sometimes you can look at those pictures and not like them, or people have a comment or opinion on a picture that you don’t like.’
Another Lioness, Lucy Bronze, also expressed her views on the scrutiny women in football have received, commenting on the criticism that has increased since the World Cup tournament this last summer.
Despite outside attention, Greenwood told Healthista that she has learned to know what works best for her body and what will fuel her performance so that she feels comfortable in her skin.
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‘Nutrition is just as important as training’
Greenwood says that focusing on nutrition is just as important as training or going to the gym. But the non-negotiable is making sure she tracks her macros – so carbs, fats and most importantly protein is what the football star puts emphasis on.
‘Of course I switch off sometimes and allow myself to eat what I want, and I think that’s important in moderation, but in between I focus on my nutrition intake by incorporating plenty of protein and carbs into my diet.’
I believe that everyone, regardless of gender, deserves access to top-quality nutrition
Greenwood has recently founded her own supplements brand, Boast Elite, which she says she incorporates into her daily routine in addition to a balanced diet.
‘We created Boast Elite to support [everyone] with the right nutritional requirements to help you meet your own health and fitness goals. Our range of supplements contains nutrients that will nourish and hydrate your body to help achieve peak performance as a result’, says Greenwood.
‘I believe that everyone, regardless of gender, deserves access to top-quality nutrition and products to fuel their performance. Boast Elite is aimed at empowering [everyone] i their fitness journeys, whether that be athletes, fitness enthusiasts, or just health-conscious people in general.’
Boast Elite is set to become available later this year. Check out their Instagram for more updates and release date at @boast_elite
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