| Like most other endeavors, peak performance starts | | | | important throughout the day. Drink plenty of water |
| in the mind. Sure, athletes need to be in top physical | | | | too. Make sure you eat a large breakfast, a medium |
| shape to be able to perform at their peak. But without | | | | lunch, and a small dinner. Have 2-3 snack-type meals |
| the right mindset, peak performance cannot happen. | | | | in-between each meal. A secret of the Hollywood |
| On the other hand, without proper nutrition and fitness | | | | trainers is that they make sure their clients eat the |
| levels, the mind cannot perform at its best. It takes | | | | amount of calorie needed for a person of a specific |
| both the mind and body to work together in order to | | | | weight they're shooting for. For example, if a person |
| reach a level of peak performance. With obesity levels | | | | wants to get to 150 pounds, then they have to take in |
| at all time highs around the world, and especially in the | | | | the calories based on whether that person is |
| United States, performing at peak levels will eventually | | | | sedentary (1950), moderately active (2250), or highly |
| fail. A recent UCLA study in neuroscience discovered | | | | active (2550). |
| that obesity actually shrinks the size of the frontal | | | | The mind is important in both motivation and behavior |
| lobes of the brain and affects the memory centers | | | | in affecting one's peak performance. Getting into a |
| too. | | | | state of flow is the aim for mental peak performance. |
| Let's then start with getting into better physical | | | | Flow state is when one is performing at their absolute |
| condition, okay? | | | | best and time seems to move differently. Have you |
| Just moving your body throughout the day and eating | | | | ever been so bored at doing something that time |
| high quality foods will help in physical conditioning. In | | | | takes forever? Or have you been so involved that |
| fact, doing both housework and gardening are great | | | | time moves fast? Doing specific activities in a flow |
| exercises. Both use the whole body. You'll do squats, | | | | state seems to slow time that performing it becomes |
| lunges, lifting, pushing, digging, and so forth in creating a | | | | easier. |
| lot of movement. | | | | Using mental training such as meditation, hypnosis, and |
| If you're into doing regular gym type exercise program, | | | | visualization can aid in mental peak performance. Many |
| then you can put yourself on a schedule of these | | | | athletes and business people have found benefits with |
| bodyweight exercises: squats, pushups, pull-ups, | | | | these. Even first responders (police and fire personnel) |
| jumping jacks, mountain climbers, leg raises, lunges, | | | | have begun using many peak performance techniques. |
| burpees, front planks, bear crawls, and crab walks. In | | | | Deep breathing will help in alleviating stress and anxiety |
| fact, they can be put into a circuit of 10-15 reps for up | | | | prior to a performance. |
| to 3 complete circuits. Doing that way, it'll be challenging. | | | | New technologies have been used in increasing peak |
| You can start out at two exercises - squats and | | | | performance. Among these is EEG Neurofeedback |
| pushups. Do 20 squats and 10 pushups five times a | | | | using video computer-based training. Studies at UCLA |
| day. Eventually you'll work up to 50 squats and 25 | | | | and the Veteran's Administration have shown the |
| pushups five times a day. The most important thing is | | | | effectiveness of EEG Neurofeedback in affecting |
| to be consistent. You'll reap the rewards. | | | | one's neuro-connections - thereby changing behavior. |
| When eating, keep in mind that eating high quality | | | | Keep yourself fit - both mentally and physically - and |
| protein, fruits, complex carbs, and vegetables are | | | | you'll keep performing at higher levels. |