Integrity | Supplementation | Periodization
Mindset Principle: Integrity
Integrity is the quality of being honest and fair; doing the right thing no matter the consequences or results.
The sports industry isn’t typically a great place to look for integrity. We’ve seen so many superstars and idols have their reputations crumble because of a lack of integrity. At the end of the day, winning means more than anything else to these kinds of athletes. At DST, we encourage our athletes to flip the script. Play your game the right way. Don’t let anyone have the opportunity to drag your name through the mud for cheating, cutting corners, or taking the easy way out. Your integrity is who you really are.
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
– Proverbs 22:1
Nutrition Principle: Supplementation
Supplementation is a large part of many athletes’ nutrition plans. And, just like in training, there isn’t a ‘silver bullet’ when it comes to taking supplements. Every athlete has different demands (in-game, training, etc.) and should plan both their diet and supplementation intake with those demands in mind.
Typically, we recommend getting most, if not all, of your necessary nutrients from natural food sources. We know sometimes this isn’t possible – especially for extremely active athletes or people with deficiencies outside of their control. In these instances, a well-planned supplementation strategy can be very effective to help you get all the nutrients your body requires to prepare and recover.
Below are some supplements that our trainers recommend looking into (*note: this is not an exhaustive list).
- Supported for use (In specific situations in sport using evidence-based protocols):
- Sports drinks, Gels, and Bars
- Whey Protein
- Iron & Calcium Supplements
- Multivitamins
- Vitamin D
- Probiotics
- Caffeine
- Beta Alanine
- Creatine
*For any specific questions about certain supplements, or a supplement strategy, get in touch with any of our trainers*
Physical Principle: Periodization
One of the core principles for our athletic development processes is the concept of periodization. Having goals is vital for all athletes. You need to know where you want to go before you can take the proper steps to get there. However, constant fixation on an end-goal can be detrimental to actually achieving it. That is where the idea of periodization helps immensely.
Periodization is taking the end-goal and breaking it down into smaller, more achievable steps. Think of it this way: Your end-goal is a finished bookcase from IKEA. Periodization is what helps you build it with steps A through J. This process-oriented mindset creates daily opportunities for little victories, which helps sustain the motivation required to accomplish long-term goals. Focusing on, and believing in, the process is what periodization is all about.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour.”
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