10 Fitness Tips from Olympians, including Olympians Angela Ruggiero (ice hockey), Erin Hamlin (luge), & Chellsie Memmel (gymnastics)

Learn professional athletes’ tricks for staying in shape—and how to apply them to your life

Woman’s Day Magazine

Having a tough time motivating yourself to go for a jog? Just imagine if exercise was your job. Welcome to the life of a professional athlete, or in the most elite cases, an Olympian. Even though they might seem superhuman, they too have to employ tricks and strategies to stay motivated and on-track. And guess what? You can use the same tricks to achieve your own fitness goals. Here, past and present Olympians share personal health and fitness advice that applies to everyone.

1. Have a goal in mind.
“I always think of the goals I am working towards, like a gold medal at the Olympics, and it motivates me,” says Angela Ruggiero, a four-time ice hockey Olympic medalist. “If you don’t have something to work for, it’s easy to get side-tracked.” You might not be reaching for a gold medal, but you can sign up for an exercise challenge, like a 5K or a mini-triathlon.

2. Rest doesn’t always mean sedentary.
Just because you’re taking a day off from working out doesn’t mean you should sit on the couch for the next 24 hours. “Staying active on down days actually makes me feel better the rest of the week,” says Erin Hamlin, a two-time luge Olympian. “Doing something low key, like going for a walk or taking a light yoga class, gets the blood flowing and results in more productive training days.” Chellsie Memmel, a gymnast and Olympic silver medalist agrees: “Walking on the treadmill or outside helps my muscles relax and loosen up.” (read more)