Can I enjoy optimal health without being an athlete? No! Athletes experience a protection from the ravages of aging and disease that non-athletes never find. For instance, 80 year old athletes are stronger than non-athletes in their prime at 25 years old. If you think that strength isn't important consider that strength loss is what puts people in nursing homes. Athletes have greater bone density, stronger immune systems, less coronary heart disease, reduced cancer risk, fewer strokes and less depression.
The question I pose to you is what is an athlete? Please post and I will share my thoughts later this week.
Interesting question. An athlete, in my opinion, is someone who consistently trains for strength, endurance, agility and improvement in a sport or exercise AND competes. Competing is a big factor in gaining optimal health, as it is a great way to measure one's strength and improvement. But it does not necessarily have to be an organized formal competition like a Marathon or Race. One can be competitive against one own's time and that in itself can be a competition. The desire and drive that an athlete experiences when in a competition is what pushes them further and makes them stronger and challenges them like nothing else.
ReplyDeleteI think the key word is "optimal". Personally, my goal when working out was to lose weight (which I did). Now that I'm at a healthy weight, I've been struggling to convert my mindset from just working out to lose weight to a mindset of athletic competition. I am enjoying health without being an athlete, however, I do believe I have to be an athlete (as defined by Anonymous above) to experience "optimal" health. I'm now working on the "optimal" part --- it's a tough transition for me, but I know its worth it. Thanks for posing the question!
ReplyDeleteThe term "athlete" comes from the Greek for "to contend for a prize." My question back is what is THE PRIZE?
ReplyDeleteAn athlete is one who contends to reach a high state of readiness. This preparation is through not only physical endeavors, but also through an increase in knowledge of the sport or challenge and a mindset filled with thoughts of, visions of, and a commitment to winning.
Athletes possess traits within a vast array of physical traits and skills...such as the 10 aspects of CrossFit.
Lou! The prize is reaching those steps towards "optimal" health!! Challenging the body and self mentally with these 10 aspects of CrossFit is competition! Its competition against self and taking the body to its maximum potential! Once reaching that feeling of accomplishment it pushes you to try harder and harder. The mindset is the challenge, our bodies can accomplish so much it is the challenge to stay focused on the effort and sense of accomplishment when you beat the clock or the prior personal record!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jackie, Lou and anonymous!!
Since my last comment, I ran across the definition of an athlete as defined by CrossFit Silverback in Texas in their mission statement:
ReplyDeleteWe are all athletes: no matter what our current physical condition:The human body is designed to run, hunt and fight and make more little hunter warriors. The training needs of an Olympian and grandparent differ by degree not kind.
Just thought I'd throw that out into the comment pile!