HEALTH

Gretchen Bleiler is out there provin’ why we all should have sky-high goals.

Be in the moment.
Gretchen knows pressure: She’s competed in some of the world’s biggest competitions and landed on top. So we were confident she’d have advice for staying cool as a cuke. “When you get scared or anxious, you’re thinking about the future,” Gretchen says. “Staying in the now and having a bit of gratitude helps me out.”

Learn to fuel right.
Whether you’re hitting the slopes for a day or are exercising for any other length of time, ya gotta give your bod the energy it needs. Gretchen opts for a bottle of H20 and either a bar or a fruit and cashew mix so she’ll make it through her workouts. Sporty girls should be wary of ski-lodge foods, which tend to be heavy. “I like to keep it light until I’m finished,” she says.

Protect your skin.
Cover up, girl. Snowboarders get double exposure from the sun: it hits their face and also bounces up from the snow. “I never go anywhere without my SPF 30 sunscreen,” Gretchen tells us. She also makes sure her skin is protected from the harsh rays by wearing a neck gaiter.

Take “you” time.
“It’s so important to take time for yourself,” she says. “That’s the key to the balanced life.” Whether you wanna read to relax, practice yoga or take a walk, follow in the boots of this busy babe and you’ll be on your way to major success.

Have a cause.
Gretchen is teamed up with the Playtex Sports “Be Unstoppable” campaign, which “is celebrating physical activity and girls and women in action.” Right now, if you pop over to their Facebook page and create a photo mosaic, they’ll donate $1 to the Women’s Sports Foundation (an organization that promotes the benefits of sports for girls). “I am who I am today because of the lessons I’ve learned through sports,” Gretchen confesses.

by Katie Abbondanza | 2/1/2016