G FUEL Fitness And Gaming Series: thebesttaco

It’s not only a new year but a new decade, so, like many people, you may have made some ambitious plans and resolutions for the coming year(s). At the top of the list of New Year’s resolutions, year after year, is nearly always “becoming more fit.” It’s around this time of year that local gyms see a spike in attendance, but not everyone manages to follow through. Don’t be discouraged! G FUEL ambassadors like thebesttaco are here to provide motivation, tips, and routines to ease your fitness journey in the G FUEL Fitness and Gaming Series.

For Melissa (AKA thebesttaco), daily workouts are just as important as getting a good night’s sleep or eating a healthy meal. Hitting the gym every night has become a routine that keeps her both physically and mentally fit.

Melissa is a professional streamer and a former Smite Pro League caster. As a female public figure, she not only works long hours keeping audiences engaged with Pro League matches or her streams, but she also deals with toxic behavior from fans. Physical fitness has become an avenue to deal with the resulting stress.

“For some people, it can really stick with them. I’ve had a much easier time dealing with negatively and toxicity because of fitness,” she explained, calling fitness a part of self-care.

Melissa went on to explain, “I started to realize the gym had become therapy for me. I wasn’t happy with the messages I was receiving but I started to get over it.”

The gym has become such an important part of her daily routine, Melissa says she misses the gym when she can’t go.

In September, Melissa decided to leave her Smite Pro League job at Hi-Rez in pursuit of other opportunities in gaming. She has been spending her days (well, nights) streaming Smite to keep up with the fanbase she gained over the years in the game and also exploring new games like Rainbow Six: Siege.

“With Rainbow Six, I like that there is a similarity between the games in terms of the high skill ceiling. There’s always something new to learn and you can always find ways to improve,” Melissa said, comparing Rainbow Six to Smite.

Learning to play Rainbow Six is an important step to reach her ultimate goal, which is to transition her casting career into the game.

Melissa says that making the decision to leave Hi-Rez was like taking a leap of faith, but she made the decision in order to expand her opportunities. Other games she has an interest in include Overwatch, Rocket League, and Call of Duty.

“One of the exciting aspects is that esports is really growing right now and in 2020 I think that there’s going to be a lot to look forward to,” she said.

Melissa, 26, began playing Smite while she was in college, at which time she was majoring in criminology. She easily gained skill in the game and was soon thinking about a future in gaming.

“I kind of just took a chance and decided to go full time with this. [I was] 19 at this point and everyone thought it was stupid. It was just something that I felt extremely passionate about and I realized there aren’t many opportunities to pursue a passion,” she said. So, that’s exactly what she did, knowing that if things didn’t work out she was still young and could always find a new path. But so far, Melissa has found success in esports and is continuing to build her career.

Like any job, a career in esports can be stressful. Melissa found relief and a new passion away from gaming when her boyfriend, Smite player Mattypocket, invited her to the gym.

“I started fitness when I was 24. I was tired of feeling stiff. I just didn’t feel healthy,” she said. “So, I signed up for a gym membership. I’ve got Matty, who helped encourage me towards fitness because I’d always complain to him. He said, ‘Hey, why don’t you try working out with me?’ That sort of kickstarted the addiction.”

Melissa says being physically active does more than just tone your body, it affects your mental state as well.

“If you’re actively engaging in fitness, the endorphins your body is releasing will keep you in a more relaxed state,” she said.

According to WebMD, the endorphins released during exercise act to reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and even improve sleep. These are things that are good for everybody, but people who work desk jobs or spend all-day gaming often don’t move enough to receive these benefits.

“There are a lot of people who just sit at their computers for hours and probably have really bad posture. I know I definitely have a tendency to lean in. It’s really not good for the body,” Melissa explained.

Melissa has a few pointers for those stuck at a desk all day: “I really think that stretching is undervalued. It’s one of the important things that gamers should try to do more regularly.

The path towards becoming more physically fit and making it a habit begins with you. You have to make exercise a priority and set aside the time for it. But starting out at the gym can be a daunting task.

Melissa says she understands the struggle with getting started. She started at “ground zero” herself, and now working out is a passion.

“It’s not about how much weight you can throw around or how fast you can sprint or how long you can run. It’s really about doing something as consistently as possible. Whether it’s everyday or every other day, or even two times a week,” Melissa said.

A good start to working out can be as simple as doing pushups and situps at home. Beyond that, Melissa says the best way to prioritize your physical training is by separating muscle groups by day of the week.

For example: 

Monday: Legs

Tuesday: Back and Biceps

Wednesday: Chest and Triceps

Thursday: Freebie day; Cardio, Core, Full-Body, etc.

Back day is Melissa’s favorite day of the week. Check out @thebesttaco on Instagram for new workout routines covering all the muscle groups.

Melissa likes to add variation to her workouts to keep it interesting, but it also helps train your muscles for strength rather than endurance. But when you are just starting out, Melissa says to try to keep your fitness routine simple.

“[Newcomers] try to do too much at the start. They tax their body too heavily and it makes their body miserable a few hours later, and then they can be out of commission for the next few days. You’ve got to keep in mind your body’s current limitations,” she says.

When it comes to cardio, Melissa recommends splitting time between elliptical, bikes, and stairs, saying it’s best for weight loss and better for the joints when compared to running. And to fuel your workout, Melissa has been enjoying G FUEL as a pre-workout energy source.

Her favorite G FUEL flavors?

She has a few: Watermelon, Dubmelon Mint, Pewdiepie (Lingonberry), Cherry Limeade, HYPE SAUCE, and Ragin’ Gummy Fish.

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Women of G FUEL: thebesttaco

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This article was written by Josh Billy, an esports fan living in Columbus, Ohio. Follow him on Twitter @CH3MISTRY_.