10 Things The Best Athletes Do (That You Don’t) | Eat to Perform
Courtesy of Eat to Perform comes a list of 10 things that great athletes do that set them ahead.
"If you’re actively involved in strength and conditioning, I think it’s safe to say you live among people that are “different.” Supposedly, there are all these people out there that don’t even lift, hate their lives, and eat horrible things. Meanwhile, everyone I know is fairly active, loves their lives (for the most part) and eats pretty well.
For most people, working out is simply a way to improve health and longevity and that’s probably its most important function. But let’s face it, there is a next level. Having worked with tens of thousands of people, I can definitively say that food is only a small part of what gets you to there. Think about it – the most athletic people you know don’t tend to be too restrictive with the way they eat. Some people find this frustrating but it’s actually the missing piece for a lot of people. The people we look up to must be doing SOMETHING different right?
I thought I would provide you guys a list of things that the best athletes I know do that you might not do. Once again, this is not a judgment by any stretch of the imagination, but that ideal physique that you want comes with a price that I don’t think most people are aware of.
1. They don’t look for a quick fix.
The best athletes with the best physiques – the people you admire – have been working on their bodies for a long, long time. They’ve been dedicated to their craft for years or in some cases decades. It’s simply unreasonable to give up on a dream because you couldn’t make it happen in a matter of weeks. Likewise, if you’re dissatisfied with your results, you won’t improve by throwing in the towel. You need to be in it for the long haul.
How do you shake the defeated mindset and make fitness a part of your life? Enjoy the struggle. At some point, “winning” becomes more about the journey than the destination and you find yourself delighted over the smallest accomplishments. If you can find something that excites you, that keeps you going even when you’re not moving as fast as you might like to – if you can remain passionate and motivated – you’re almost guaranteed to succeed.
2. They know where they are, where they want to go, and how to get there.
The best athletes move from goal to goal, constantly setting their sites on new horizons to maintain a sense of interest along the way. Even if they aren’t competing, they are training for something.
If you find yourself in a state of listlessness with no clear direction of where you’re going, do not despair. Set a goal like putting 50 lbs. on your squat or PRing your Fran time, give yourself a realistic deadline (3-6 months), and commit to it. Picking out a sport to compete in and entering a competition is a great way to motivate yourself and remain accountable too. If competition doesn’t seem worthwhile because you don’t want to embarrass yourself, remember that your first and foremost competition is you."
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To read the other 8 reasons & the original article, click here: 10 Things The Best Athletes Do (That You Don’t) | Eat to Perform.