Life as an athlete – Guest Post by Billy Craig part 2

Submitted by Matthew Needham on Saturday, 12 September 2009No Comment

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

As some of you know I’ve rode for more years than I can remember and I’m paid to do so, which makes me an athlete.

Being good at anything, from sport to business takes talent, but, it’s more about the ability to perform physically and mentally at a high level which is something everyone should strive for in every aspect of their life. As previously mentioned in part one you need your health to do this.

Many athletes are unhealthy, they may have an amazing physique or perform well, the inside of their body could very well be in disastrous shape. Because of the burden that athletes (and business people) put on their body, they have even more of a need to follow healthy lifestyle habits than the average person, but very few of them do. The excessive amount of activity coupled with inadequate rest and nutrition amounts to a body that is being gradually destroyed from the inside out.

To maintain performance, a smart athlete/business person takes they’re health seriously and builds a foundation for their longevity. An athlete with a long successful career ahead of them gets plenty of rest instead of cheating with supplements, they eat real food instead of fast food and performance enhancing carb loaded energy bars, they avoid overtraining by respecting their physical limits, and they maintain a positive outlook no matter what the drama.

To be successful in anything, we must have energy, strength, resilience, skill, mental sharpness, determination, and self confidence, no matter whether its me jumping up a 20 ft wall on a motorbike or that crucial business deal. So, it’s in your best interest to train and eat like a professional athlete. (remember I don’t consider a lot of them pro because they don’t act like a pro)

Remember, no matter how talented, educated or trained you are its worthless without the energy required to use your skill.

I use a lot of weight-training in my clinic, anyone can get their clients lifting weight. Most programs fall down because of in adequate recovery. Eating and sleeping are two very important factors for developing strength. This is because a strength training workout causes a considerable amount of tissue breakdown. The food you eat provides the nutrients needed to repair the damaged tissue and make it stronger, and adequate sleep provides the optimal environment for this to happen. The physical demands of a sport are no different to the demands of a hard day at the office, and in fact, the harder you work the more you need quality food and recovery time.

Even though you may not be running around a football pitch, the physiological stress of a day in the office means you need recovery. Excellent diet and sleep habits are just as critical to sustaining your mental focus as they are to repairing tissue damage.

The average person spends most of their life sitting and gradually loses their ability to perform movements that are essential for daily life. Its not uncommon to see people with physical limitations, pain, that are hugely susceptibility to injury.

Every time you get out of your BMW, you’re squatting all of your body weight on one leg while rotating your spine. This is a massively complex function and few people realise it until they can no longer do it (check your parents). Although it’s easier than ever for people to live a sedentary lifestyle, daily life still requires a full and healthy range of physical function. Loss of physical function leads to pain and injury which is why I’m in business.

Lifting heavy objects and maintaining your balance during a fall are two other common situations in every day life that require healthy physical function. Unless you do something to maintain your full range of physical function, such as strength and mobility training, you will eventually become physically challenged and it will interfere with your life in one way or another.

Talent is a prerequisite for success, however determination, hard work, and perseverance are required to make something of it, that stands for health, diet changes, sport and your business.

Unless you want to live a life of mediocrity, you too need this type of determination reach your goals. As my mentor Paul Chek always states you need a clear understanding of what you want to achieve in life which will help build the desire to make it happen.

Some people have so much trouble handling pressure that it ruins their career. In fact, mental strength is such an important component of performance that the entire branch of sports psychology has been dedicated to it and it’s not uncommon for professional athletes to work with a sports psychologist on a regular basis.

Athletes do everything they can to build their confidence and keep a clear mind. Sports important but your life and health is even more so. Imagine living an unrewarding life because you don’t have the confidence to chase your ambitions. Just as an athlete needs the confidence to go for their best shot when the game is on the line, you need the confidence and courage to aggressively pursue the life you want.

Are you training smart enough for life on the pitch or in the office?

By Billy Craig

Billy Craig is a CHEK Practitioner I and CHEK HLC III, NASM CPT, Cert. Neuromuscular Therapist, Advanced Metabolic Typing Advisor, BSc Sports Science/Psychology

Recommended reading Eat Move and Be Healthy by Paul Chek