2010, The Year Of The Athlete

If you care about your ability to function to your highest potential, you are an athlete. You may not have a chosen sport, and you may not compete against others in any organized way, but you share the desire to perform with a high degree of capacity and skill just like any athlete who does.

This notion has many ramifications, but mainly it should help you to avoid comparing yourself to societal norms in terms of fitness. The bar for fitness relative to society as a whole is extremely low and getting lower. Just like an athlete, you would never dream of comparing your abilities to the average citizen. To do so will leave even the most unhealthy people feeling pretty good about themselves. Even when their unhealthy state is entirely reversible. For example, doctors will treat athletes differently from you and me because the expectations for the athlete are so much higher. Which treatment would you rather receive? Likewise athletes have a strong motivation for eating well. Do you?

Consider yourself an athlete and you will begin to act like one. Happy New Year.

If you are not yet eating like an athlete, the first Gravity Janes Nutritional Challenge for 2010 begins January 9th. There is still time to sign up.