Kobe Bryant is more than an amazing athlete who never ceases to amaze his fans. The Olympic medalist and Los Angeles ‘Lakers’ player is also a health guru who rears his daughters in the right ways of fitness. Bryant recently shared his five tips to a healthy lifestyle with iVillage readers, and some would be surprised at what the Olympic Gold Medalist associates with good fitness.

Exercise is key.

“We all know the significance of staying active. The hard part is finding the time to do it. The key here is to find a routine. I take my kids with me to the track sometimes and they enjoy running, walking or just laughing at my agony. LOL. But carving out a set time so that your body gets used to it will help exercise find and keep a place in your schedule as well as help your body adapt to the soreness from your activity.”

Nutrition matters.

“I only started really focusing on my nutrition a few years ago. I started experiencing low energy and was feeling bloated. Then it hit me: ‘Kobe you’re not 25 anymore’ (I once had pepperoni pizza before scoring 81 points). It was time to adjust, so the struggle began. Lots of veggies, fruits, fish and lean meats. Portions were small and I found myself craving a snack every two hours!! So I would dig through the pantry searching for anything to munch on to hold me over to the next healthy meal time. Recently I changed my outlook and it really helped. Instead of viewing my new way of eating as a diet, I looked at it as a way of life. Balance was the key. I didn’t want to feel like I was punishing myself. Now, though it’s still difficult, I enjoy the veggies much more knowing that if I have an occasional cookie I’m not a failure.”

Caring is sharing.

“Sounds simple I know, but the amount of good energy and inspiration YOU feel when you help someone else achieve their goals is infectious. You will also be less stressed if you’re not constantly critiquing the person in the mirror. Looking beyond that mirror gives you a broader life context and puts whatever challenges you may be facing in perspective.”

Breathe in, and breathe out.

“We all have bad days. They happen. It’s life. Instead of bringing that heavy energy to those around you it’s important to decompress. Find a space where you can be alone and let your mind settle. Whether it’s meditation, painting, piano or just reading a book, finding that space to simply listen to your mind and body is critical. It doesn’t have to be for a big chunk of time, but be sure you do it!”

Learn to live.

“I think too much sometimes and forget to simply enjoy the blessings around me. So I have to remind myself to see the beauty in life, look for the good in people, laugh and cry, be angry, get frustrated, be happy and BE MYSELF. These are all important parts of the ups and downs of life. Live to learn. Learn to live!”