In 2005, I would have never guessed that I was at risk for a pulmonary embolism. I was 21 years-old, playing college soccer and just living the dream.
— Ali Krieger
I do believe that everything happens for a reason.
I always need a little something sweet after dinner. Although I try to stay pretty disciplined with my nutrition when I'm in season - my brother Kyle eats super clean and always gives me nutrition advice - when I want something, I have it because I feel like you can really get in trouble if you restrict yourself too much.
You can control two things: your work ethic and your attitude about anything.
I feel like I have big thighs. My brother was always like, 'Yeah, I want big thighs! Big thighs are awesome!' And I'm like, 'Yeah, for a man!' But I've trained since I was 6 years old to play soccer, and this is just the type of body I have.
It's really difficult when you don't see much of a team and you're not familiar with how they play.
I surround myself with good people who make me feel great and give me positive energy.
I want to get good enough so I can play in Mia Hamm's golf tournament for her foundation and have an event of my own someday. I'm so competitive, I don't want to go and just pretend I'm a good golfer.
Injuries give you perspective. They teach you to cherish the moments that I might have taken for granted before.
I'm proud of my body, I'm proud of my sport, I'm proud of being a female athlete.
It's a dream that we, as women footballers, get to play in the same stadium as the men.
Just find things you think are fun, and then you'll be more inclined to want to go work out.
In order for me to perform the best I can out on the field, I have to fuel my body with the proper nutrients to be able to do all the running. I'm running four or five miles every game, so it's a lot. Even at halftime, I take electrolytes and have half a peanut-butter-and-jelly or whatever is sitting there just to keep my engine running.
Try not to completely change your diet just because you read it somewhere or someone tells you it works for them. Do what is best for your body and don't think that just because everyone else is doing it that it will work for you. Know what fuels your body to be at its best, and enjoy the little things! Indulge! Cupcakes and cookies.
You never know when it's going to be your last time to step onto the field.
I was clipped from behind, and my leg got caught between my opponent's legs. As we fell, my leg snapped. It was a spiral fracture. They had to put in a plate and five screws. It was a devastating moment: one minute I was on cloud nine, and then I was out for the season.
When I was 6 or 7, my gymnastics coach looked at my quads and told the other coach to come over and see my quads. They were big then and still are. But I've kind of embraced it through the years.
Because I don't like to play on a full stomach, I try to eat a bigger meal in the morning and less throughout the day leading up to the game.
Surround yourself with good people; surround yourself with positivity and people who are going to challenge you to make you better.
I felt like the Germans were being mean to me at training, but they were actually just trying to help. I learned really quick - which made me a better player. I'm appreciative of the way they treated me. It's just the language and, of course, as an American, I had to learn that. No offense to them; I love them to death, and I love my teammates.
I know it sounds crazy, but in order to run, I need something to chase after.
My mantra is 'healthy body, healthy mind.'
It doesn't matter: any weight, shape or form or however your body is, you want to be proud of it.
In college, girls would come up to me: 'I want your calves.' It just makes me laugh. I guess people pay a lot of money to have the types of bodies athletes have.
I once thought I would never be able to kick a ball again.
I'm super active, so sitting on the couch and staring at the walls isn't ideal for me.
Everyone is an athlete. You want to go hiking, you want to go biking, you want to go jogging or for a walk? You're automatically an athlete.
I'm the type of player that doesn't like to play on full stomach.
It's a part of my lifestyle to be healthy and eat healthy. I don't feel like I need to be like, 'You can't have this. You can't have that. You have to have this. You have to have that,' because then I feel like I will get inconsistent. I indulge when I want to, but try to be healthy every single day, too.
I love to do lunges because I don't want my butt to start sagging. I say that to my trainer all the time; he thinks I'm nuts.
I'm grateful that I got a good education and to have all the people I have around me.
When we're traveling for games, I always go down and have breakfast with the team - that's a must.
On game days, I'm pretty boring: I like to rest and watch TV with my legs up so I'm not on my feet too much before the match.
I'm proud of my thighs because they've gotten me to where I am today and give me the power that I have to play my best.
This is something I've dreamed of for a long, long time - to play in a World Cup.
I fuel up every morning, no matter if it's with a shake or a breakfast bar on the go. I eat well, but I have my cheats. I eat cookies, chips, and have a Coke, but only on days that start with S.
I love kids, and I really liked the idea of getting involved with something that was all about giving kids the opportunity to walk, run, or maybe even play soccer someday.
Lifting isn't my favorite thing, so I have to keep it fun and do exercises that I really enjoy.
Everyone makes fun of my calves. They are so big. I don't really even like them, I don't really want them as big as they are, but I have no choice.
I think it's nice to have a variety of lineups and formations to use against different opponents, depending on what they bring.
I don't think there's any disappointment in my career because everything that maybe didn't go my way was a learning experience.
I drink coffee 30 minutes before I want to nap. I think that really helps.
I usually have three fried eggs every morning. It always has to be three: two is just not enough, and three won't put me over edge.
I think my confidence came when I turned 30. I don't know, something about turning 30 has been unbelievable. I just feel a sense of freedom.
People ask me, 'What were you thinking during that game-winning penalty kick in the 2011 World Cup?' I was actually thinking absolutely nothing. I just walked up there and was so inspired by my teammates who rocked all their PKs; they just killed it. I figured I might as well do the same, or they might have my neck.
