TORONTO – Even before she was an Olympic-calibre athlete, Katie Tsuyuki was mesmerized by the Summer and Winter Games. Especially the opening ceremony.
“Watching the athletes walk in from each country in their colours always got me a little emotional,” she said.
And now, Tsuyuki is at the Sochi Games. The Toronto native is also the 2006 Canadian Champion in halfpipe.
For the Winter Games, Global News asked a handful of Canadian athletes to recount their training methods and share their tips on healthy eating before the big event.
Tsuyuki who is 5’1” and 125 pounds tells Global News about her daily Olympic training.
READ MORE: Canada’s athletes in Sochi – Meet snowboarder Katie Tsuyuki
Global News: What does your training schedule look like?
Tsuyuki: I train on snow about four to five days for up to four hours a week during training camp, which usually lasts for two or three weeks per month. I train in the gym for up to nine hours each week.
In the winters, I train in Summit County Colorado and in the summer I go to Mount Hood in Oregon and also to the south island of New Zealand.
Global News: What does a typical day of meals look like?
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Tsuyuki: For breakfast, I have two to three eggs, half an avocado, salsa or tomatoes, potatoes and lots of water. For a snack, I’ll drink Boost or have a gluten-free granola bar.
For lunch, I’ll have whatever I’m craving and as an afternoon snack, I’ll have yogurt or cottage cheese. Dinner is typically a big salad and protein like chicken, fish or beef.
Global News: What are your favourite healthy dishes? What is your favourite indulgence?
Tsuyuki: I love big salads with spinach, fruit, avocado and red cabbage. When I cheat, I love any type of deep fried potato – chips, fries, hash browns.
Global News: When it comes to training, do you have any tips you’d like to provide to Global News readers?
Tsuyuki: I see a lot of cross fitters out there with many bad habits. The main two are poor technique and poor rest. Remember, if you’re going to lift, do it right – it’ll be more effective and safer.
Also get enough sleep and don’t be afraid to nap during the day, you will actually increase your productivity and lose weight faster if that’s your goal. I take liquid magnesium supplement before bed to help with sleep and no TV or devices before bed. I read a book or do a quick crossword puzzle.
Global News: What habits, tricks or specific go-to things do you turn to when you’re trying to be healthy?
Tsuyuki: Lately I have been eating backwards in the sense that I will eat my biggest meal at the start of the day and the lightest at the end of the day. This way my body has lots of energy to burn when it needs it and less left over to turn into fat at the end of the day.
I also drink lots of water with electrolytes. Not the Gatorade type, but I use a water additive I get at a health food store. They are concentrated to about 10 drops per litre, that way you get all the benefit and no sugar. I also stay away from gluten and yeast.
Global News: What foods help fuel your training?
Tsuyuki: I keep a couple of instant shakes or meal replacements on me when I’m riding or running around the city because they are fast to intake and easily digested while I am working in the pipe or about to hit the gym. I also cannot live without eggs, it’s just not breakfast to me if they aren’t there.
Global News: What are you most excited about for the Olympics?
Tsuyuki: I am most excited to walk in for opening ceremonies. When I was first interested in sport, snowboarding wasn’t a part of the Olympics yet, and I always watched both Summer and Winter Games. I started competing at an elite level later in life, so I have had to work very hard, with many failures, to become an Olympian and have the privilege of representing my country in sport. I really am going to cherish that experience.
carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
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