Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly with five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball through the defender’s hoop.
Women Fitness Team got an opportunity to interview three inspiring female basketball players to share their diet & fitness routine along with a message for fan & followers. Go check them out.
Tamara Abalde:
Tamara Abalde Díaz started playing basketball when she was eight years old. According to her “Basketball has always been a huge part of my life, my father played professionally in the first league in Spain and my little brother also became a professional basketball player, so the passion for this sport definitely runs in our family“
Talking to Women Fitness this is what the champ has to say “Playing for the Spanish National Team has always made extremely proud. I was lucky to be able to enjoy representing my country in tournaments around the world since I was fourteen, and winning this gold medal while I was at the top of my career was very special. And the fact that it happened in Belgrade, where I have family and consider my second home, made it magical“
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding basketball-playing girls
Tamara Abalde:
My advice would be to enjoy every moment. Have fun playing with your friends, have fun practicing. It takes a lot of hard work to succeed, to be able to play professional, and I think it’s very important enjoy the process. Basketball has given me so many special moments to cherish, and the most important thing: some amazing people I was lucky to meet along the way.
Namita Nayyar:
Fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Tamara Abalde:
During the season the team’s strength and conditioning coach is in charge of the whole training planning. It involves basketball practices (individuals and with the team), workouts in the weight’s room and some specific work to preventive injuries, plus the games of course. When I’m off season I love to exercise outside as much as I can. I go out for runs at the park or at the beach, and I do a lot of functional workouts with my body weight to stay strong. I like to do some yoga and Pilates during summers as well.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Tamara Abalde:
I like to eat healthy but no special diets or strict menus. I follow a Mediterranean type of diet. Lots of fish and vegetables, chicken and some read meat. I also eat pasta, rice and good bread. I love all kinds of fruit, especially during summer, and I could not live without cheese.
Namita Nayyar:
About the website Womenfitness.net
Tamara Abalde:
This is a great space for women who like sports and a healthy lifestyle.
For full interview: https://www.womenfitness.net/tamara-abalde/
Leonor Del Pilar Rodríguez Manso
She started playing with Spain’s youth teams at age of fifteen, winning a total of six medals from 2006 to 2011. She made her debut with the senior team in 2014, when she was 22 years old. Up to 2021, she had 97 caps with 4.2 PPG, participating in two Olympic Games, one World Championship and two European Championships.
She shares her winning as “I feel blessed. Playing in the Olympic Games is the highest achievement as an athlete. I’ve had the privileged to participate in two. Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. A memory I will never forget is at the Rio Olympics, holding my teammates hands and stepping onto the podium with a silver medal around our necks while listening to the Spanish anthem.”
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words
Leo Rodriguez:
My main advice would be to have fun, study hard, listen to the teachers/coaches, meet other girls their age, and share their passion for basketball. Even if at the end, maybe, they don’t climb the top of the ladder, I’m sure that in the process, they would have learned very important life values and made friends that could last a lifetime. Just enjoy the process!
Namita Nayyar:
Your fitness regime or workout routine
Leo Rodriguez:
About 9-10 months out of the year I’m training with my European team or Spanish national team. They plan our schedules with the trips, practices, and games. Workout routine is individualized. In the summer I love going for runs along the beach and nature. Pilates, stretching and body weight workouts.
I try keeping it fun and having a good variety of different exercises. Overall I just like being active. It makes me happy, mentally and physically.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Leo Rodriguez:
Not any specific diet. Healthy eating habits and body intuition are important. No restrictions. Knowing my own self is the key. What makes me feel good and gives me energy both mentally and physically. I Enjoy life and food is a great part of it.
Namita Nayyar:
About the website Womenfitness.net
Leo Rodriguez:
I choose to do this interview because I love how womenfitness.net empowers women and encourages women to feel good and healthy in their own skin.
For complete interview: https://www.womenfitness.net/leo-rodriguez/
Yulia Sergeyevina Kozik
Yulia Sergeyevina Kozik is a Russian basketball player for Dynamo Kursk and the Russian national team.
In her interview with Women Fitness she shared ”Since fifteen years of age I’ve played basketball 3 on 3 during summer holidays just for fun. At that moment it wasn’t an official sport. It was amateur. After some years it became the professional sport. At first it was hard to switch from classical baseball but then we got used to it and some practice games were enough for us”
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words
Yulia Kozik:
Never distance from your Aim. The result of the work will be always visible!
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Yulia Kozik:
During the vacation I try to keep fit. Basically it’s a cardio workout for 30 minutes. These practices I take from the internet. And surely I use base exercises for the abs.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Yulia Kozik:
I try to listen to my body what it needs in some period of time. I don’t keep any diets but always try to control myself.
Namita Nayyar:
About word about “Women Fitness”
Yulia Kozik:
Womenfitness.net provides motivation for the girls who can’t go to fitness.
For complete interview: https://www.womenfitness.net/yulia-kozik/
“Winners are not people who do not fail, but people who never quit“-Anonymous