If you're a sports enthusiast, you need to keep up the proper nutrition to maintain stamina. Stamina, by definition, means to sustain long periods of physical or mental exertion. This involves not just the ability to ensure prolonged incidents of cardio workouts, but improving on your strength training as well. If you've been feeling a little sluggish during your games or workouts and are looking to increase your athletic endurance and stamina, check out the following five tips for increasing your endurance.

1. Mix up your fitness routine.

By employing an equal mix of strength and cardio days, you're challenging your entire cardiovascular system to build complete endurance -- something you can't achieve with just running on a treadmill, says Men's Fitness. Weaving strength days into the days you actually do cardio, such as bench presses and pullups followed by a mile on the treadmill, you're doing the most service to yourself.

2. Make sure you get the proper sports nutrition.

It's important to get the nutrition for endurance athletes you need in the form of healthy foods and sports supplements. You can get these by drinking energy-boosting beverages that contain a blend of caffeine, amino acids, green tea, protein and more to keep up your strength during and after workouts. This is especially true when it comes to supplements for runners, who need a healthy dose of nutrients to help them go the extra mile.

3. Implement high-energy challenges to your workout.

Explosive motions such as through burpees, power push-ups and box jumps weaved throughout your work can boost your strength and stamina all at once. The worst thing you can do is get into a routine or rut with your workouts, so vary it up every day and add in these movements to start moving faster and gain much-needed stamina.

4. Take baby steps.

Gradual endurance happens over time for many athletes. Consistency and patience is key to build up your stamina, especially for runners, says Active. This is true for anyone regardless of level. From the guy who starts out barely being able to run around the block in one stretch to the woman who's trying to advance from a 10K to a major 20-mile marathon, work to slowly build up your stamina by gradually extending your workout efforts.

5. Rest up and get the proper nutrition.

There are days when you'll go at your workout hard and days that you take it easy. Don't mix the two. In order to make it for the long haul, you need fresh muscles -- don't ever do too many hard days in a row without taking time off to rest, suggests Greatist. The meal plan you incorporate will depend largely on the type of training you're doing, but a general rule of thumb is to get a good blend of carbs, fat and protein. You'll soon find out what meal plan works best for you and your needs.

Follow these five tips for improving your endurance and stamina so that you can stay strong and active for as long as you need to. If you’re looking for an extra edge in performance or to take your workout to the next level consider adding one of the sports supplements from G6 Sports to your meal plan. Whether you’re looking for energy throughout your workout or a way to speed up muscle recovery and prepare for your next workout, choose one of the innovative, high-quality supplements from G6 Sports and get your body moving today!