Get Your Game On! T
he key to tennis professional Tom Avery’s consistently high en- ergy level and peak performance on the court frequently surprises his clients. A passion for “the sport for a lifetime” and a raw food diet are what allow him to enjoy his favorite game seven days a week at the age of 62. Avery’s interest in using natural methods for maintaining optimal health began at age 32. “I read every book I could find and shopped at health food stores, but I was 58 years old before I found information on the benefits of eating a diet of strictly raw foods,” says Avery, the founder of Consistent Tennis Wins. After reading several books about the raw food movement, he suggested to his wife that they begin eating living food prepared as closely as possible to its original state.
Big Benefits from Eating Raw The payoff for two years of eating a 100 percent raw food, low-fat diet has made the effort worthwhile: enhanced nutrient absorption, easier digestion, no food cravings, heightened mental clar- ity, sustainable weight and increased stamina and energy, which Avery puts to good use teaching tennis and win- ning matches. “I don’t need to take a lot of different supplements any more to address any specific health challenge, and I feel better now than I’ve felt all my life,” Avery enthuses. On his
RawFoodChamp.com website, Avery shares his favorite recipes, including the fruity ones that provide him with enough fuel to spend two to three hours on a tennis court in intense heat. At a consistent weight of 155 pounds, Avery needs a high caloric intake to maintain his energy level during tennis matches and teaching ses- sions. “Fruit is my perfect fuel; it is high in calories, burns clean in my system, is easy on my digestion and readily assimilated by my body,” says Avery, who frequently consumes a lunch of 10 to 12 bananas, with in-season fruits
30 Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com such as
blueberries, strawberries or mangoes. He blends everything with a quart of water in his Vitamix blender, and additional chopped fruit on top satis- fies his need to chew.
To Boost Sports Performance, Eat Raw and Visualize by Linda Sechrist
Tom Avery
“Fruits such as bananas, blueber- ries and dates provide me with 1,100 to 1,200 calories that don’t require energy for digestion, like a sandwich of bread, meat and cheese,” advises Avery. Raw food meals leave the tennis dynamo feeling satiated, a key to eliminating his food addictions. “I don’t need the or- ganic pizzas or the chocolate almonds that I used to make special trips to the health food store to purchase,” he says. Avery confesses that initially, it took discipline to eat raw. “But after noticing that I had more energy and felt better, it was easier to adapt and eat for health,” says the self-taught player, who is certi- fied by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association.
Tennis Tips and More A graduate of Vic Braden Tennis Col- lege, a tennis camp for adults, Avery has been enjoying the game for more than 35 years, competing with world- class players and teaching and coach- ing at local resorts such as The Ritz- Carlton, Naples; Naples Grande Beach Resort; and The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. He draws upon his wealth of knowledge and experience to help other tennis hopefuls with instruction and racquet advice in a book and DVD series titled Consistent Tennis Wins. Proven tennis techniques that pro- vide consistency are Avery’s specialty, along with his transition coaching and
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