Fitness Over 50

It will in all probability determine whether or not you will achieve your fitness and health goals.

Determination and motivation will be responsible for you reaching your goals. Physical ability or lack of it will not.

I have been thinking about writing this for awhile now. We are now 2/3rds of the way through the Winter Olympics. They have been fantastic.

I have watched most of the events and have marveled at how certain athletes have the mental strength to overcome all obstacles while others don’t. I am convinced that mental toughness makes the difference between the gold medal and no medal at all.

The reason for my writing this today is that Canada had had high hopes for medals. Hockey being one of them. We took it for granted that we would win the gold medal. We had an “Own the Podium” program running for the past several years. The goal was to train Canadian athletes to achieve more medals than ever before. We wanted to excel at our home games. There was a lot of money poured into the program. It was taken for granted that we would win medals left, right and center.

Our athletes are all committed and trained hard. I don’t want to take anything away from them. However, it looks like they will not “Own The Podium”. Time after time, athletes that were expected to medal have fallen short. Why is that?

Watching them perform in their respective sport, I am convinced that for all the training they received, they were still lacking in the mental strength department. They simply did not place enough importance on the mental game. It was on the physical. When crunch time came, they were unable to overcome distraction, pain, fatigue, etc. So they didn’t achieve the goals that they were after. What a shame.

Our hockey team is an example of how important mental strength and toughness is. We have the talent, but so far the commitment, dedication and determination is not where it should be. Coming into the tournament we were supposed to have the strongest team. So far the team that no one expected to do well (the U.S) is the best. Basically they are working harder and have the motivation. Again, I am convinced that mentally, they are the strongest. I would not be surprised if they repeat the miracle of the 1980 Games.

So, how does all this affect you and me. The answer is exactly the same. Regardless of what your health and fitness goals are, you need the mental toughness to see them through. Whenever, you don’t feel like exercising or feel like pigging out, you need the mental toughness to stick to your goals. For the few that do, the goal will be achieved. For those who don’t, failure will be the end result. But then, isn’t everything in life like that.

Use the same Olympic spirit, drive, determination and mental toughness that all gold medal winners use. Focus on your goals, and master the mental element. If you do that, you will be a winner.

So get out there and be mentally tough.

Peter
Fitness Over 50
Get Up And Get Out There