Alright, so I decided to actually try and shed some pounds while also improving my tennis game. I mean, two birds, one stone, right? Here’s how it went down.
The Starting Point: Motivation & Plan
First off, I was tired of feeling sluggish on the court. Chasing down those drop shots felt like climbing Mount Everest. I knew I needed a change. So, I did a bit of research – nothing too crazy, just looking at some basic tennis fitness plans and healthy eating tips. My “plan” was simple: play more tennis, eat slightly better, and maybe throw in some extra cardio. No extreme diets or anything, just a bit more sensible.
Week 1: Just Getting Moving
The first week was all about getting back into the swing of things (pun intended!). I aimed for at least three tennis sessions. One was a lesson with my coach (that was brutal!), and the other two were just casual hits with friends. I focused on moving my feet and trying to stay active between points. Outside of tennis, I started walking to the shops instead of driving whenever possible. Small changes, but they added up. I also started swapping out sugary drinks for water – a major win for me.
Week 2-4: Upping the Intensity
Okay, so week one was easy. Now it was time to crank it up a notch. I started incorporating some basic drills into my tennis sessions – things like sprints between the baseline and the net, and shadow swings to improve my footwork. I also tried to focus on hitting with more power and spin, which meant using my legs more. This made me feel it!
Food-wise, I started paying more attention to portion sizes and trying to eat more fruits and vegetables. Snacking on an apple instead of a bag of chips became my new go-to. I found some pretty good recipes online – things with chicken and veggies mostly. Nothing fancy, just easy to cook and relatively healthy.
Week 5-8: Plateaus & Adjustments
This is where it got tricky. I started feeling a bit…stuck. The initial weight loss slowed down, and my tennis game wasn’t improving as quickly as I’d hoped. This is where I nearly gave up.
But I kept going! I decided to add some cross-training to my routine. I started doing some light jogging a couple of times a week. Not much, just 30 minutes or so. I also started doing some core exercises – planks, crunches, stuff like that.
I realized I needed to be more mindful of what I was eating. I started tracking my calories (not religiously, but just to get a better idea of what I was consuming). I also made sure to get enough protein to help with muscle recovery after my tennis sessions.
Week 9-12: The Home Stretch
Finally, I started seeing some real results again. My clothes started fitting a little looser, and I felt lighter and faster on the court. My serves had more power, and I was able to chase down those tricky shots more easily. I even won a set against a guy who usually crushes me! That was a major victory.
- Played tennis 3-4 times per week
- Incorporated drills focused on footwork and speed
- Added some light jogging and core exercises
- Swapped sugary drinks for water
- Ate more fruits and vegetables
- Tracked calories (loosely)
The Results
So, did I lose weight? Yep, a solid 10 pounds! Did my tennis game improve? Absolutely. I’m moving better, hitting harder, and feeling more confident on the court. More importantly, I feel healthier and more energetic overall. It wasn’t a miracle transformation, but it was a sustainable and enjoyable way to get in better shape while doing something I love. I didn’t starve myself and wasn’t killing myself on the court. And yeah, I am still eating a burger sometimes!
My advice? Find a workout you enjoy, make small changes to your diet, and be patient. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
