Athletics and nutritional discipline: a perfect combination.
Introduction to Sports Passion
My passion for sports and nutritional discipline has always been there, but before athletics, I practiced other sports: first swimming and then volleyball. At a certain point, I felt the need for a change and to try something new, so talking to a friend who was already involved in athletics piqued my curiosity. I went to the track with her, and it all started from there.Discovering Athletics
My passion for running and speed has always been a part of me. When I went to the track for the first time, I already had a clear idea of what discipline I wanted to do, and my coach agreed. My first race was in 2012, in the spring. It was an 80-meter race, a distance that replaces the 100-meter dash in the cadet category.Specialization in the 200 and 400 Meters
I started out as a 200-meter specialist, a discipline in which I won one Italian under-18 title and two under-20 titles. I then moved to the 400 meters, where I achieved an indoor PB of 55.01 in February 2019.Relay Experiences
Furthermore, I love relays, both outdoor (4x100 and 4x400) and indoor (4x200 and 4x400), and they have allowed me to win seven Italian titles among the under-18, under-20, and under-23 ages, as well as several overall podium finishes.First International Call-Up
My first international call-up was during the 2015 indoor season. I wore the national team jersey for the first time, running the 200m in France during an Italy-France-Germany triangular tournament. The feeling of pride and responsibility you feel when competing for your country is difficult to explain, but what all races have in common is what I feel when I'm on the track: a great sense of satisfaction. I like the idea that my achievements depend on my own strength;it makes me feel capable and proud.
Importance of Discipline
To achieve this, I believe discipline, and especially nutrition, is fundamental. Discipline is everything. Athletics has taught me to be diligent both on and off the track. I am without a doubt the most disciplined person I know, and this has allowed me to learn to work hard and understand that there are no shortcuts to achieving certain results.Nutrition Education
And this also applies to nutrition education: I pay close attention to what I eat, from the origin of the products I cook with to their nutritional values. I believe that a healthy diet with minimally processed, whole foods is the foundation of well-being, but I'm not an extremist when it comes to counting calories or weighing every food I eat.Daily Eating Habits
Dried fruit is a daily part of my nutritional discipline. I usually eat it three times a day: for breakfast with yogurt and for two snacks with fruit. Of course, I also eat it on race days, sometimes in slightly larger quantities than usual.Food Preferences
For lunch, I always eat a portion of grains combined with vegetables and protein. I love legumes, which I eat about four times a week, always combined with vegetables and whole grain carbohydrates. When it's colder, I really enjoy legume and grain soups, while in warmer weather, I prefer salads with grains, legumes, and vegetables.Evolution of Food Preferences
Yet they haven't always been my passion: as a child, I never ate grains and legumes, only rarely. My family always teased me because as a child, I ate nothing and was never hungry, and now, instead, I'm way too hungry!Role of the Nutritionist
The turning point in my dietary discipline came with my "nutrition coach," who was my nutritionist. My family has always eaten a fairly balanced diet, but it was when I began a program with my current nutritionist that I truly learned to eat properly.Commitment to Sustainability
Furthermore... I am very attentive to the environment just like you at ZIG with your compostable packs Fruits&Nuts. It's nice to commit to being more sustainable!
