As one of my clients is fond of saying, this weekend sees the coming of “Holy Day” in the sports world. Of course this only truly applies if American football is the thing you are crazy about, but with all it’s hype, big ticket sponsors, rock stars and media attention it is hard to miss Super Bowl.
Besides the glory of playing in the actual game, most if not all the players on both sides are viewed as the top in their sport – skillful and physically fit. Since that is the case, I think that the link to the article below is an interesting view of a certain faction of this sport’s athletes:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2313476
(Okay – you will have to had read the article above to understand what I am getting at with the rest of this)
What does this article have to do with me you ask?
While I cannot vouch for the overall validity of the study done in the article, it does bring to mind an interesting point. Like Reggie, once you have accomplished a goal with no forethought into “what am I going to do next” or had your January resolutions fizzle away, it is easy to forget the immense importance regular physical activity and healthy choices has to the quality and longevity of our lives.
Like many athletes around the globe, these guys didn’t learn that overall health is important at all times (and I am not exclusively talking about their bulk, I know many people who to others look “heavy” & unhealthy but are actually very fit) . Aspiring and elite athletes need the same great health markers as the “average Joe” to help them excel at sport, to recover in training and between seasons as well as to help them live a quality life once the competition is done.
If your New Year’s Resolution (or Super Bowl goal if you will) narrowly focused on losing a magic number on the weigh scale to “become all you can be”, then you could be setting yourself up to fall into a similar trap as these once greats of the gridiron. You could be missing the magic that is regular physical activity and healthy choices.
“Good”, “Great”, “Amazing” fitness & health is not all about going down 4 dress or pants sizes in 4 weeks…it is about the long haul stuff like:
* Blood pressure regularly in check
* Healthy cholesterol levels
* Great energy levels
* Decrease in the risk of depression
* Increase in self-esteem
* Risk reduction of heart disease, certain cancers, adult onset diabetes
* Healthy weight management (good body composition)with out the need of the extreme measures of fad diets
* Cardiovascular endurance & muscular strength to do all the recreational activities you like or want to try (improved performance)
* Improvement in athletic skill level (because you have the endurance, strength, balance and coordination to work on your favourite sports skills to a higher level)
* Ability to handle all your activities of daily living
* Lessen the risk of injury, especially of the overuse and chronic variety
* Reduction of your personal health care costs (and ultimately the costs on the system as a whole)
* Decrease in the risk of osteoporosis
* Increase in or maintenance of independence as you age
Was your New Year’s Resolution in the “extreme lifestyle” range? (I.e. lose 30 lbs in 5 weeks; run a marathon in 2 months with no previous training; drop all carbs, all fats from your diet)
If February sees you generally off-kilter…off track…or clear off the radar…the time is now to:
P Stop beating yourself up for the slip off the fitness route – it is not the end of the world! It is just a detour.
P Sit down, breathe and re-think your goal(s) – three at the most people!
P Plan how you are going to attack your goal – what are the steps you are going to take? Who are you going to get to help you (support)?
P Roadblocks – you know they happen & most often you know what they are because they have derailed you before, so what are you going to do about them? Think of an action plan to sweep each roadblock out of the way.
P Set a timeline that is realistic and appropriate for your goal. For instance, if you are unsure how long it really takes to train for your first marathon consult a local running coach.
P Remember: even if your goal is performance based (like running the whole Vancouver Sun Run), that if along the way the proverbial stuff hits the fan, ANY activity is better than no activity, so don’t just quit because you couldn’t get to “the workout for the day”.
Remember, the overall big picture or overriding intention of your fitness goals should be the best health & wellness you can give yourself…don’t let your eagerness to attain the goal of the moment sabotage the quality of life that could be waiting for you.
Diana Rochon, BPE, CSCS, NCCP, IDEA Elite PFT, Nat’l Strength & Conditioning Assoc. Provincial Director, Director-Dynamic Core Fitness, Whistler, BC - As one of Whistler’s most recognized and sought out conditioning professionals Diana has helped countless people achieve their fitness, health & sport goals. Her thoughts on fitness have been published in Chatelaine, the IDEA Fitness Journal, the Question & Pique Newspapers, as well as on-line at whistlertriclub.ca, sportspecifc.com, whistlerwellness.com & bodybuilding.com. She is a spokesperson for VIEWS (Voices Inspiring Equality for Women in Sports & Physical Activity). Learn more about Dynamic Core Fitness & Diana at www.dynamiccorefitness.ca.