Did you think that an athlete’s success was all down to their talent? Think again. While their innate abilities may be the initial spark for their success, plenty of work remains to be done. As they always say, determination tends to beat talent; when you have talent and determination, then you’ll be on your way to superstardom.

There’s more to determination than simply the number of hours you put in at practice. Determination to succeed is something that permeates every facet of an athlete’s life. One of the most overlooked components is diet. The best of the best follow diets that optimise their bodies for success, and sometimes, that involves eating a lot of food.

In this post, we will look at some of the highest-calorie diets from known athletes. Some of these would be impossible for an average person to consume, but then again, most of us aren’t looking to become the best in the world at our chosen sport.

Michael Phelps: 12,000 Calories a Day

Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer there’s ever been, and that doesn’t happen by accident. Phelps didn’t just spend significant hours in the pool — he also gave his body enough calories to make your eyes water. The American Olympic champion ate an average of 12,000 calories per day during the height of his training regime. That’s the equivalent of more than 40 Big Macs, every single day. Well, you don’t win 28 medals at the Olympics by eating salads.

Thon Maker: 6,000 Calories a Day

You can be a good basketball player if you’re tall — but if you’re going to succeed as a professional, you’ll need to be tall and muscular. Alas, it’s often difficult for people who are extremely tall to put on weight. After all, they already have a pretty big body that needs to be taken care of! To compensate, they have to overeat a lot. This is the case with Thon Maker, a basketball player who clocked in at over 7 feet. Too thin to compete in the big leagues, the player ate the equivalent of 23 Big Macs daily. He was able to become a professional basketball player, so you can say that the plan worked.

Team Columbia: 9,000 Calories a Day

You’ll have noticed that cyclists tend to be pretty thin. So, you may be surprised to learn that they tend to consume a lot of calories. Their body needs it — you can’t cycle up steep mountains without having a lot of energy in the tank. Team Columbia, a Tour de France team, consumes 9,000 calories a day. They have to be thankful that they’re not paying for all that food themselves!

Andy Murray: 5,500 Calories a Day

Andy Murray was the best tennis player on the planet for a brief period. He did this thanks to hard work, an enviable sponsorship deal with Adidas, excellent coaches, and a lot of food. When he was in training mode, Murray would eat some 5,500 calories a day, which he burned off during more than 5 hours of training. You can use Adidas discount codes to get the clothing Andy wore on his way towards winning Wimbledon, but unless you can get a sponsorship deal, you probably won’t be able to match his diet. After all, you’d need to eat a week’s worth of food in just a day or two, and who has the money for that?

Usain Bolt: 5,000 Calories a Day

Usain Bolt is the fastest human to have ever lived, and as you might expect, your body needs to have a lot of energy to burn if you’re going to run the 100 metres in record time. During the height of his career, the Jamaican star ate some 5,000 calories a day. What’s somewhat surprising is the food he chose to eat. When he was at the Olympics, the running star wasn’t eating high-quality pasta dishes like most athletes — he was eating chicken nuggets! According to one report, he ate 1,000 of them during his time at the Beijing Olympics.

Hafthor Bjornsson: 10,000 Calories a Day

Hafthor Bjornsson, one of the world’s strongest men, played a character called The Mountain on Game of Thrones, so that probably tells you everything you need to know about how big he is. He eats more than 10,000 calories a day and prioritises eating quality food. You don’t become a giant by eating salads!

Your style can say an awful lot about you and your lifestyle. People perceive you differently depending on how you dress, making it always worth focusing on. The better you dress, the better people will see you.

That’s why you might want to improve your style. Not only will people see you better, but you can even feel better about yourself. You could already know that, but you mightn’t know what to do about it.

While this seems complicated, it’s far from it. There are more than a few things you can do, many of which are relatively simple. You shouldn’t have to put too much time or effort into it. Instead, it’ll be quick and easy.

It’s worth diving into what you can do to improve your style and feel better about yourself and your appearance.

Why Improve Your Style?

Before diving into how, it’s worth looking into why you should improve your style in the first place. There are plenty of reasons why, and it offers more than a few benefits. Simply looking better is the tip of the iceberg.

Some of the more notable reasons why are:

• Increasing Your Confidence – The better you look and the more stylish you are, the more confident you’ll feel in your appearance. You’ll see this seep into other areas, making you more and more confident all-round.
• Improving Your Mental Health – Speaking of improving your confidence, this could have a knock-on effect on your mental health. You’ll feel better about yourself, which can have positive mental health implications.
• Helping You Stand Out – When you’re not stylish, you can blend into crowds, which nobody wants to do. Once you’re more stylish, however, you’ll stand out more, which can often be a good thing.

With those in mind, you might want to improve your style as quickly as possible. Where do you even start with this? Thankfully, it’s far from complicated, and there are more than a few ways you can do it.

Five stand out, as they’re some of the more effective tips to use.

Improve Your Style: 5 Great Ways

1. Accept Yourself

One of the first things you should do is learn to accept yourself the way you are. While this should usually focus on the positives, you can also include the negatives, too. It lets you figure out everything you need to about your appearance, so you can then start working on them.

Don’t be too harsh when you’re doing this. Take the time to understand yourself, and your style. Once you do, you can create a foundation to improve from. It’ll make the process easier and easier going forward, so there’s no reason not to take this approach.

2. Be Objective About Your Body Shape

Speaking about accepting yourself, it’s always worth keeping your body shape in mind. It affects your style a lot more than you’d think. There’s no reason to feel embarrassed about your body shape. Instead, it’s just a matter of knowing your shape and then proceeding accordingly.

You can find clothes that suit your body shape a lot better than others. You can focus on clothes that enhance features you’re proud of while minimizing areas you don’t like. Be objective about this, and you shouldn’t have a problem picking out the perfect clothes for you and your body shape. It’ll get easier in time.

3. Learn To Coordinate Colors

Colors are a core part of putting an outfit together and making sure it looks great. Some colors go together much better than others. It’s worth making sure you know what these are. Once you do, you’ll end up being able to put an outfit together and improve your style much better than you would’ve thought.

Use the color wheel to help you out with this if you’re struggling with it. With a little time and effort, this gets easier and easier. Focus on a color you love, and build outward from there. You shouldn’t have much of a problem getting it done.

4. Get Some Neutral Pieces

There are some clothes that never go out of style, with these usually being neutral pieces. These are clothes that you’ll look great in, no matter the time of year or what occasions you’re going to. Blazers, shirts, and similar items can be some of the more obvious of these.

It’s worth investing in a few of them. Once you do, you’ll always have something stylish to wear, no matter what you’re doing or where you’re going. You can mix-and-match them with other clothes, so you shouldn’t have a problem looking great, no matter what outfit you’re wearing.

5. Don’t Forget Accessories

Accessories are an essential part of being stylish, but it’s also one of the more overlooked areas. Don’t forget about them when you’re trying to improve your fashion sense and style. Take the time to get accessories that’ll complement the outfits you want to wear. It’ll help more than you’d think.

There are more than a few of these you can get, ranging from jewellery to custom drawstring bags. Find ones you like, and work them into your outfits. You’ll take your style to the next level once you’ve picked up a few essential accessories you love wearing.

Improve Your Style: Wrapping Up

There are plenty of reasons to improve your style, ranging from looking nicer to feeling better about yourself. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t put a little time and effort into it. You could feel like it’ll take a lot of time and effort to actually do.

You might even think it’ll be complicated. Thankfully, that doesn’t have to be the case. You could get it done much easier than you would’ve thought.

It’s just a matter of focusing on the right areas, and you’re good to go. You’ll improve your style quite a bit, and you wouldn’t even have to spend a lot of time on it. With the amount of benefits putting the effort in offers, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a go.

Starting an e-commerce business? Or maybe looking to scale? Either way, your choice of a hosting platform can make or break your online store. Among the top contenders is Magento, a powerhouse known for its flexibility, scalability, and rich set of features. Yet, when it comes to Magento hosting costs, things can get a bit fuzzy. Let’s clear the air and ensure you have all the details needed to make an informed decision.

What Makes Magento Stand Out?

Magento, now part of Adobe Commerce, offers an unmatched level of customization and control. With Magento, you’re not just setting up a store; you’re crafting a unique e-commerce experience. From the get-go, Magento’s architecture is designed to handle the complexities of modern e-commerce, accommodating everything from small startups to large enterprises.

Whether it’s the open-source version for tech-savvy retailers or the Magento Commerce Cloud for businesses seeking a robust, cloud-based solution, Magento caters to a wide array of needs. But with great power comes great responsibility, including a need to understand the associated costs.

Understanding Magento Hosting Costs

The truth is, Magento pricing is not one-size-fits-all. It varies widely based on several factors, including the edition you choose, your hosting environment, and the level of customization required.

• Magento Open Source: Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, this free version can be deceptive in terms of costs. Yes, the software is free, but hosting it isn’t. Managed Magento hosting solutions for the open-source version can significantly reduce the technical overhead but add to the monthly expenses.
• Magento Commerce & Magento Commerce Cloud: Here’s where Magento shines for enterprise-level businesses. Magento Commerce pricing, including the cloud version, is tailored to your business’s size and requirements, often starting in the tens of thousands per year. The advantage? It includes premium features, support, and cloud hosting, ensuring your store operates smoothly under any load.
• Managed Magento Hosting: Opting for managed hosting means entrusting your site’s technical operations to experts. Managed Magento offers peace of mind with performance optimization, security, and support. While costs can be higher compared to unmanaged hosting, the investment is often worth it for businesses prioritizing uptime and customer experience.

Breaking Down the Costs

1. Hosting Provider Fees: Whether cloud, dedicated, or shared hosting, your choice will directly impact performance and costs. Cloud hosting is popular for its scalability and reliability, with options like Magento Commerce Cloud offering a streamlined experience at a premium.
2. Development Costs: Customization is king in the Magento world. Yet, custom themes, extensions, and integrations require professional Magento developers, which can add to the initial setup and ongoing development costs.
3. SSL Certificate: SSL certificates are essential for any reputable e-commerce site. They encrypt data, providing security for your customers. While costs can vary, some managed hosting plans include these certificates as part of the package.
4. Magento Extensions and Themes: To enhance your store’s functionality and appearance, Magento’s marketplace offers thousands of extensions and themes. Prices vary widely, but investing in quality extensions can significantly enhance your store’s performance and customer satisfaction.

Maximizing Your Magento Investment

While the initial and ongoing costs of a Magento store can be substantial, the return on investment is often unparalleled for businesses committed to e-commerce excellence. Operational efficiency, scalability to grow with your business, and the ability to provide a unique shopping experience can far outweigh the costs of Magento hosting and development.

Moreover, the choice between Magento’s versions and the vast ecosystem of extensions and themes allows businesses to tailor their expenditures to their specific needs and growth plans. Knowing your requirements and budget can help you choose the right Magento solution, ensuring that every dollar spent is an investment in your e-commerce success.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it typically cost to start a Magento website?

The cost to start a Magento website can vary greatly. For Magento Open Source, initial costs can be lower, focusing on hosting and custom development. Magento Commerce, with its more extensive features, can start in the tens of thousands annually, including hosting and support.

Why is Magento so expensive?

Magento can be seen as expensive due to its comprehensive, enterprise-level features designed for scalability and customization, requiring specialized development skills for setup and ongoing maintenance, contributing to higher initial and operational costs.

Is Magento Commerce Cloud more expensive than Magento Commerce?

Yes, generally, Magento Commerce Cloud is more expensive than its on-premise counterpart due to the added benefits of cloud hosting. However, it provides additional value in terms of scalability, security, and performance, which can justify the higher price point for many businesses.

3. Can I switch from Magento Open Source to Magento Commerce?

Absolutely. Businesses often start with Magento Open Source to scale their operations and later upgrade to Magento Commerce for enhanced features and support. The transition is supported by Magento, but it’s essential to plan for the associated costs and potential development work.

4. What are the hidden costs of Magento hosting?

Beyond the obvious hosting fees, potential hidden costs include SSL certificates, domain registration, custom theme and extension development.