Staying In Shape, Even Mid To Late Season

Want more energy when you ride? Ever hit the wall while your friends run circles colse to you? Time to do something about it. As in, get up off the couch and pay attention. All the Red Bulls and Rockstars in the world are useless if you don't put down the taco pizza and pick up some weights. Here's what you need to do to get primed for the shred.

Eat oatmeal for breakfast.

Train Table For Kids

Nearly all nutritionists agree. Oatmeal is the best morning meal option, period. A single bowl will give you tons of energy and make you feel full for most of your day. Oatmeal isn't only packed full of carbs. It's got a bunch of other nutrients and vitamins to top off your tank. No doubt when I talk about oatmeal, those tiny, ready-to-eat maple syrup and blueberry oatmeal packets are off the table. Those are for kids in their jammies. You need the real stuff, the giant unprocessed Kroger-brand can (Bob's Red Mill or Coach's Oats if the wallet allows). Fill a medium-sized bowl and do your best to skip all the sugar. I know it tastes yummy, but you're bound to crash later on. I man up and eat mine with whole fruit.

Lift weights when the weather sucks.

If the pow is poor, don't stay inside and mope. Get off your Xbox-playing butt and go to the gym for a few hours to acknowledge a real Call of Duty. Because you're not tired from riding, this is the best time to go. Plus, you'll unmistakably feel like you're doing something with your life. Weird, huh?

Here are a few better-shredding exercises to check out:

-Reverse crunches -Leg press -Cable crossover "wood chops" -Dead lifts -Lunges. Go with anything that works your quads and/or your core. Avoid over training or doing the same rehearsal two days in a row. I see kids go to the gym every day and do the same things. If you want more power, that is lame (fo' real).

Eat a post-workout / post-shred meal.

After riding or the gym, your body is in a depleted state. While saving time, hit your muscles with a quick jolt of protein and sugar. Yeah, you heard me. Sugar. All you pre-ride Red Bull guys are missing the point, dear bros. It's for after when the sugar goes right to your muscles while caffeine speeds up the process. Whenever I go riding, I pack some protein powder and candy for the bus ride home. I make a quick shake and load up on sugar. Red Bulls and Rockstars are cool While this time, but one is enough (even if you scored a sweet two-fer deal at the 7-11). You've got about 45 minutes to get all of this sugary awesomeness into your body. After that, the sugar doesn't help much so you're best off eating "real food."

Get enough sleep and take a day off every now and again.

I'm serious about this. There's no way staying up until 2 A.M. Finishing the Law and Order Marathon makes you a best rider. Put down the remote, say goodnight to your valuable other and unmistakably sleep. No estimate of oatmeal eating or gym training will replace solid rack time. Even listening to Coach Ted, you'll hit the wall. Take a day off. I once tried snowboarding for a month straight. After three weeks, I was off my game, running on empty every time out. Missing your Xbox yet? Use your day off to reacquaint yourself. There's no best feeling than shredding on a full tank. Lines are cleaner and girls notice you more when you aren't falling asleep on the chair. If you keep at it long enough, you might even stop sucking at snowboarding. Just sayin'.

Staying In Shape, Even Mid To Late Season