Pro Fitness Tips From the US Women's National Soccer Team

Wouldn't it be great to have the stamina, agility, and physique of a professional soccer player? While working out like a pro may be your ultimate goal, it can often feel unattainable, especially if you've hit a slump from running on the treadmill day after day.

To provide some much-needed inspiration for your next workout or upcoming Austin soccer game, consider these professional training tips from the US Women's National Soccer Team:

Fit in Exercise Every Day

According to Christie Rampone, winner of the 2011 World Cup, the best way to stay in shape is by squeezing in physical activity on a daily basis. The good news is that daily exercise doesn't have to fit into a cookie-cutter formula. As long as you're raising your heart rate and breaking a sweat, you'll receive benefits to keep you going strong all week long.

Rampone is a mother who enjoys working out with her kids and dog. If you're looking for fun activities to try with your children, you can start encouraging a love of exercise at an early age by going on family bike rides or learning a new skill together, like yoga or table tennis.

The point of the matter is this: Make exercise a fun activity that you'll look forward to each day to burn calories, strengthen muscles, and increase energy levels between regular workout sessions.

Don't Forget Strength Training

To become a top-notch soccer player, regular strength training is critical to build muscle and prevent injury on the field. While improving leg strength may seem obvious, core strength is just as important in a soccer player because it controls upper body motion.

You can improve your muscular strength inside and outside of a gym setting. If you don't have access to traditional weights in a weight room, you can build total body strength at home by using bodyweight exercises. Bodyweight strength training exercises include push-ups, crunches, squats, lunges, and much more that will use your own body weight to challenge each muscle group.

A commitment to strength training over the long term will increase your results in any type of workout, whether it's running 3 miles or playing a full soccer game from start to finish.

Fuel Your Body

Last not least, any professional soccer player will tell you how important it is to fuel your body with healthy, nutritious foods in daily "clean eating." Many of the pros on the US women's soccer team avoid processed foods whenever possible and eat organic instead.

Even if you can't afford organic food, eating fresh, whole foods will make a world of difference instead of reaching for a bag of chips before your next workout. Clean eating is easy when you take the time to visit local farmer's markets and commit to making your own meals at home instead of eating out.

By knowing exactly what you put in your body, you can predict how it will perform during exercise and when playing your next game on the soccer field.