Everyone is an Athlete

...To some degree.

New Year's Goal: You would do better combining cardio training, strength training, and playing sports versus only doing cardio and strength training.

New Year's Truth: Plus, anyone at any age can participate in a sport. No, that does not only include poker or chess. No, you do not have to spend a lot of many to join a league.

There was a study done at Harvard about 30+ years ago proving that the addition of a sport improved fitness and physical activity level. Something happened in between. Somewhere in between that study and society's mode of thinking said, "in order to play a sport after high school or through adulthood, you have to be a professional." Not hardly the case. Even a professional athlete has a short career, which means that he or she will spend a high percentage of his or her life not playing at the professional athletic level that garners millions or thousands in some cases.

You have a few things in common with a professional athlete:

1. Paparazzi: for you it is selfies and posing for photos.
2. Busy Schedules: for you it involves work, school, home, drop off the kids all within a 10-hour period in some cases.
3. Money: OK, here is the vast difference. But, you still have to spend it wisely.
4. Time: for you it is tight as well.
5. Your Body: for you, your body may not be the primary source of your income; but it is an important part in making income. A major difference is that you may have to spend the income you made in order to train the body that you have or would like while still making income. I am telling you that it all comes full circle.
6. Consumption: what you put in your body really matters. How you metabolize the things you put in your body really matters. How you prepare really matters. Athletes practice and prepare for games. Busy and non-busy individuals practice and prepare for any grind during the week.

 But, it does come down to intensity, frequency, and duration. Athletes have an advantage at these descriptors. You can control them to get you through this first month of exercise in 2015!

With heart,
Derek

Derek Arledge, MS, CSCS         www.teempt.com          TEEM Performance Training