Insider Secrets: Do you think like an athlete?
What does it mean to “think like an athlete”?
For me, thinking like an athlete is about being focused on your goals. As well as being a former professional sprinter, I’m from a family of athletes, and I married an athlete, so I know a little something about what makes athletes tick.
Athletes think differently. By focusing on the end result, I think athletes are better able to prioritize and we really can apply that focus in every part of our lives.
Whether we’re preparing for a training session, thinking about food and how to refuel our bodies, or planning a fun and relaxing outing, we’re thinking about what we want to achieve.
I think this approach can be helpful for everyone, in all walks of life. Try thinking about what you want to achieve and you may be able to think past all the other chatter that your brain is always throwing at you.
For instance, when you’re heading to the gym are you already thinking about what you’ll be doing later? Is the gym something you want to get over and done with? Perhaps you’re even one of the many who dread going to the gym and try any number of avoidance tactics?
I understand. Believe me, there are days when I’ve wanted to skip the gym, curl up on the sofa and eat cookies. Nowadays, when that happens I make a promise to myself if I still want to do that after I’ve worked out then I’ll let myself. The thing is, in the back of my brain, I know that I won’t want to.
By deciding to think like an athlete, I can make a work out more fun and less of a drain. Rather than counting the minutes until I can stop, I think about how my body is improving with each thing I do. I think about the positives: how I look, how I feel and how much happier I am when I’m active.
It’s the same with meal times. As an athlete I think about my long-term goals rather than focusing on short-term treats. While I believe in rewards and know we can’t all be virtuous all the time, I also know that if I want to feel good then I need to eat healthy, balanced meals.
For an athlete the end goal is always the primary focus.
This way of thinking has worked for me at every stage of my life and I’ve never looked back. I continue to think like an athlete even though my competitive days are behind me. I feel that having a plan and a definite direction keeps me positively moving toward self-improvement.
Try thinking like an athlete in every part of your life for just one week and see what a difference it can make.
Written by Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA. Samantha is Director of Fitness Education at Herbalife.
Tags: athlete, athlete's nutrition, Discover Good Fitness, DiscoverGoodFitness, Exercise advice, fitness, Fitness advice, fitness expert, Get fit & feel great, Herbalife, how to, nutrition, Samantha Clayton
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Samantha is correct in saying athletes look at the long term goal! Usually that goal is training for an event or events that may be months away. To do that it takes focus on that long term goal, but also setting short term goals (micro/macro cycles) at the same time to ensure that you reach your long term goals. If you set your sights up to look at the goal at the end, it is much easier to conquer the short term ones, or maybe not even feel the pain that it takes to do so because you have your eyes set on the end “prize” (goal).
As far as eating right, if you are focused on a long term goal it is hard to wrap your brain around eating unhealthy and working out/training. At least it is for me. On my “down” times I can eat a little “junk” food, but when I am focused, it is hard. I am looking to be the best that I can be, the healthiest that I can be, so I can perform the best that I can! As an athlete at the ripe age of almost 43, I have to look at the ending goals because my path is not an easy as it once was. Too much straying can double the work! LOL
Great article and perspective. I’ll work harder to “think like an athlete”. I know my best efforts make a difference. I just have to apply.
Actually, I kind of disagree with what you say. For athletes and dieters, short-term goals are more important than long-terms goals. And using (nonfood) rewards for reaching short-term goals is a good idea.
Excelente matéria!
Muito obrigada pela ajuda.
Great information, thank you. I had not seen it from that point of view. It is easy lo lose focus when we enjoy the short term life responses. Regards.
Just to thank you Samantha for your article i just love it, i been havin´ the kind of athlete thinkin´even i didn´t know it. i just started goin´at te gym y i keep thinking to myself what a nice body i´ll achive and have for the rest of my life if i keep training. by the way welcome to the herbalife family… my best wishe to you all the way from Mexico…
Hey Samantha, you’re right, you do know a lot about athletes. This is so helpful because we do need to think about what our improved body will look like. I have the FIT videos and did well til 8 weeks, then had to skip a couple of workouts and have not been motivated to get going again. I am 74 and recently saw a you tube video of an 80 year old female body builder, so maybe still hope for me;)