Update: I recently purchased Tiger Woods ' new book, "How I Play Golf" (Warner Books, $20.97). Although the book contains very few new ideas about the full swing, I liked the golf instruction part quite well and thought the pictures tracking his golf swing were great. The section on the short game and putting are really outstanding, and I recommend the book for that alone.
The most important chapter in the book, however, describes the changes Woods made in his eating and exercise habits, enabling him to become the outstanding competitor he is today. These principles apply to any person who wants to become healthier, stronger and more fit during the new year.
In his book, Woods says that the most difficult change in his diet was eating the proper kinds of food. "It meant cutting back on my two favorite food groups — fast foods (cheeseburgers, fries and strawberry milkshakes) and faster foods (pizza, hot wings and tacos)," Woods writes.
Woods learned quickly to avoid grease and cut out the empty calories in order to increase his strength without putting on fat.
In the book, he mentions some foods that "are not conducive to good health." He recommends "that you minimize your amount of dairy fat like cheese, cream and whole milk products, and pick leaner cuts of meat. You don't have to become a vegetarian. I'm not. In fact, I still have a cheeseburger every once in a while, but I never pig out on them."
Woods goes on to list 10 foods to win and 10 foods to lose.
When it comes to actually playing golf, Woods also offers some do's and don'ts:
1. Avoid teeing off on a full stomach. (He says he eats at least two hours before tee time to give his food time to digest.)
2. Drink plenty of water before and during the round.
3. Keep a good supply of nutrition bars in your golf bag for instant energy.
4. Avoid dehydration by drinking sports drinks.
5. Fruits, especially apples and bananas, are a good source of energy.
6. Avoid sugar highs from chocolate.
7. Avoid heavy foods (hamburgers, hotdogs) as they can make you lethargic.
8. Avoid eating meals late.
9. Substitute fruits and frozen yogurt for desserts.
These guidelines are pretty basic, and anyone who wants to improve his or her diet could benefit from them.
Garth Fisher is the former director of the Human Performance Research Center at Brigham Young University.