Since kindergarten, we’ve been taught that practice makes perfect. We all know that putting in the hours on the field or in the gym can mean the difference between performing at your best and disappointing yourself. But did you know that how you prepare your body with food and rest also makes a huge difference in your performance?

When game day arrives, an exhausted, undernourished or over-fed body can be just as damaging as a week of missed practice. Giving your body the energy it needs could be the edge you need to help you dominate on the field. Below, find some tips on how to eat up, rest up and fuel up the night before game day, so you can show up ready to win.

CarboHYDRATE 😉

1. That’s right, layering on the carbs and hydrating your body are two of the best things you can do in the days leading up to the big game. Eating carbs regularly insures your body has adequate stores of glycogen, the form carbs take when they’re stored in muscle tissue. Glycogen gives energy to your muscles—so you can tackle, kick, or sprint your way to the gold.

Visualize Victory

4. Plenty of professional coaches encourage their players to actually visualize themselves winning—kicking the ball for the goal that ends the game, scoring a touchdown that breaks the tie, or rushing past the finish line before anyone else. Why? According to British journal The Telegraph, “Sports psychologist Dr. Richard Suinn found that visual rehearsal actually triggers neural firings in the muscles and creates a mental blueprint that can ultimately facilitate future performance.” Take a page from a pro athlete’s book and picture the winning play. It might not hurt to practice your victory dance, either.

You’ve worked hard for this day, and supporting your body with the proper care will ensure all that hard work pays off. Liquid I.V.’s got your back. Good luck out there!

Written by: Samantha Colicchio, Liquid I.V. Brand Storyteller