Download - Stress-free Weight Loss Tips
DON’TSWEAT
GAME-TIMESTRESS
The Stats onGame-Time Stress• TV Talk: When watching their favorite
team play, 71 percent of everyday
athletes admit they talk back/yell at the
TV to relieve stress.
• Child’s Play: Sixty-six percent of
everyday athletes agree competing in
sporting events/competitions is more
stressful than watching their favorite
team play. However, of adult athletes
with children, 52 percent agree watching
their child play competitive sports is
more stressful than actually competing.
• Battle of the Sexes:Female athletes are
more likely than male athletes to
experience stress from themselves (81
percent vs. 73 percent), whereas men are
more likely to feel pressure from
teammates (29 percent vs. 19 percent).
• Pre-Game Stress: Eighty-four percent
of athletes admit they get anxious
waiting for the sporting event to begin.
• Pressure’s On: Everyday athletes who
play football (61 percent) or basketball
(56 percent) are more likely to feel
pressure to win than other athletes.
DR.COHN’STOPTIPS to Help Athletes RelieveStress Before the Game:1. Concentrate on your preparation for the game,
not the outcome. Stress comes from worryingabout winning or losing.
2. Trust your practice and preparation. Confidentathletes don’t feel stressed – they feel well-prepared.
3. Focus on what’s under your control, not what’s beyond yourcontrol. You control your thoughts and performance, not whatothers do or say.
4. Embrace your pre-game butterflies. Your body is signaling you’reready to compete.
ECES
Whether you’re a member of
the office basketball league or
attempting your first 5K,
preparing for the big event is sure
to bring a sense of excitement. For
many athletes, however, this
experience can be a nerve-
wracking one as well. In fact, one-
third of everyday athletes surveyed
admit preparing for an athletic
event is more stressful than a trip
to the dentist’s office.1
Additionally, preparing for an
athletic event is more stressful for
everyday athletes than public
speaking and being late to an
important meeting, according to a
recent survey by Wrigley’s
Doublemint® gum.
Chew More, Stress Less
One way athletes are combating
stress, both on and off the field, is
by chewing gum. “It’s common for
athletes to experience pre-game
anxiety, such as feeling butterflies
in their stomachs. Focusing your
mind on the present moment by
chewing gum, listening to your
favorite music or warming up
your jump shot can help you relax
and boost your confidence so you
can perform your best,” says
Patrick Cohn, Ph.D., sports
psychology expert and founder of
Peak Performance Sports.
Get the Stats
The survey indicates that 67
percent of everyday athletes who
chew gum say they chew gum to
relieve stress for a sporting event
and 59 percent of everyday
athletes who chew gum admit that
they do so when they need to focus
on a competition. These athletes’
testimonials further emphasize
recent research findings that the
use of chewing gum can help
reduce stress, improve alertness
and relieve anxiety.2,3,4
With over 80 percent of athletes
looking for ways to combat stress,
Doublemint gum could be just the
edge you need when you’re starting
to feel stressed on game day.
1 Wrigley Athlete Study . StrategyOne. September 2008 – Survey of 1,000 everyday athletes(adults ages 21-34 involved in intramural or amateur sports organizations, non-professional
races, tennis or golf.) Statistic based on those who chew gum.2 Scholey, Andrew. An investigation into the effects of gum chewing on mood and cortisollevels during psychological stress.10th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine
For more informationabout the survey and thebenefits of chewing, visit
www.wrigleygumisgood.com.
Four Ways to HelpPrepare for the Big Game1. Catch Some Zzzz’s: It’s important to
get seven-to-eight hours of sleep the
night before a sporting event. This is
the perfect amount of time for your
body to recharge. If you sleep more
than eight hours, your body will start
another sleep cycle and you’ll wake up
groggy.
2. Visualize Success: Taking two minutes
a day to visualize your goal can give
you an edge by helping you to
anticipate the possible outcomes of a
few key plays. If you’re feeling pre-
game anxiety, chew Doublemint gum
to help stress less and rebuild the
confidence you need to succeed.
3. Look Good, Play Well: Dress
appropriately for the game to help
maximize performance; make sure
your shoes provide enough support to
avoid injury and your attire allows a
full range of motion.
4. The Early Bird Special: Arrive at the
venue early to give you plenty of time
to warm-up and review plays so you’re
relaxed when the clock starts. This also
demonstrates commitment to your
team.
5. Many of the athletes I coach are looking for ways to limit pre-gamestressors. Try chewing gum. Research shows chewing gum canreduce stress and help improve focus and concentration.2,3,4
levels during psychological stress.10th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine .
Tokyo, Japan. August 2008.3 Sasaki A. "Influence of mastication on the amount of hemoglobin in human brain tissue."
Journal of Stomatological Society . 2001; 68(1): 72-81.4 Yue Z, Huang L, Zhou X. "Regional brain activities during gum chewing."Psychological
Science 2006 ; 29:1153-1156.
© 2008 Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. All Rights Reserved. Wrigley’sDesign, Doublemint and all affiliated designs are trademarks of the
Wm. Wrigley Jr.Company.