In a world where we have high performance athletes achieving unbelievable feats of strength, agility and athleticism, we have everyday people who are simply looking to feel good, be healthy, active and fit. While both goals are honorable, for a young athlete who wants to play professional sports, hearing about moderation and doing what you can is not an answer. For an everyday person who wants to be active, hearing about hustle, hard work, grinding and beating records doesn’t serve them and their spirit.
When I was a young athlete, training around professional scouts, college coaches and other elite players, it fueled my passion. I was utilizing training logs, high tech machines, unique specialty equipment and a multi-disciplinary approach to my consistent training both in season and off season. From training sessions before and after school, practices, strength training, skill and drill work, mental fitness training, diet, supplements, protein shakes, I was laser focused on achieving excellence in my sport. At some point, when I became a trainer, my routine changed.
The rewards of training like a peak performance athlete are undeniable, pushing past my limitations, competing at high levels, earning trophies, rings, jackets and all the success was what drove me. I was relentless in my pursuit, and it separated me from other people who were just there to play a game and have fun. These days, I can be active for fun, although I could not embrace this mentality as a peak performance athlete.
For most people, these are not the limitations they seek to push past. For someone who has worked in gyms, wellness centers, sport specific training facilities, hospitals, parks, homes and resorts, with corporate businesses, teams and families - my understanding of many diverse people and their unique goals helps me see insights and universal principles that drive fitness success whether you’re looking to be a world champion or simply just want to have the energy to go sightseeing on a family vacation.
The comparison my colleagues and I often discuss is that peak performance is a peak - you reach a peak, a height, or the top of the mountain, and then it’s all downhill from there. Athletes don’t get better after their career, because of age and most of the time, an unwillingness to keep up the demand that got them to where they were at their best.
An active lifestyle is like going on cruise control on the highway. You’re going at a nice pace, you have flow, momentum, and can get off the next exit to go to that rest stop whenever you’d like. It’s more about keeping the car filled up and in good shape to keep running. It’s not about driving the fastest speed or optimizing the engine for a race, it’s simply a mentality of consistency. Enjoyment, balance and sustainability is key when it comes to an active lifestyle.
This could be walking your dog in the park, attending a dance class with friends, or simply taking stairs instead of the elevator. It's about incorporating movement into your daily routine in ways that are accessible, enjoyable, and fit seamlessly into your life. Regular physical activity strengthens your body, boosts your mood, and improves your overall well-being. It's a stress reliever, a social connector, and a gateway to a healthier and stronger version of yourself, without the demands and extremes.
In my years of training athletes, everyday people, from those with chronic disease, injuries, young kids, seniors, men and women of all ages, I’ve found that many of my clients struggled with a peak performance mindset when they simply just wanted to be active, healthy and fit to spend time with their friends and live a simple, peaceful life.
I’ve worked with many athletes who also have made the transition from playing competitive sports with intense training as a lifestyle, to working an everyday job in finance, law and other non-physically demanding jobs. As you truly embrace fitness as a lifestyle, on a long enough time horizon, you will realize that your body will change, your goals will change, and your circumstances will influence what types of workouts you do, how you move and what you want to achieve.
It’s difficult for a lot of people who are not professional trainers, coaches or athletes to see that both the peak performance and active lifestyle mentality are both correct. There is an internet filled with everyday people who are telling athletes to moderate and athletes telling people with no desire to do what they do that they need to hustle, grind and do all the hard work that is not desirable for someone who doesn’t want to win a gold medal or championship.
The big question for you is: Who are you? Are you an athlete who is seeking a new level of peak performance? Are you an everyday person who is simply looking to be fit and healthy? The answer for everyone is to keep moving, but determining the right mentality and path for your fitness lifestyle is crucial. If your standards are peak performance and you just want to be fit and healthy, you will make yourself fail only by your standards, and not by your actions, and the same goes for athletes who want to have great success but train casually. I’ve been a witness to people on both sides.
Listen to your body and mind, embrace a variety of training styles, set goals and find your fit. Fitness is foundational to any healthy pursuit of life, so keep showing up and putting in the reps that align with the outcomes you seek. The best approach is the one that keeps you motivated, engaged and empowered. Your routine will change through time no matter who you are or where you’re at right now.
