Brad Pilon wrote an interesting guest post on ZenHabits today, entitled "Dedicated but Balanced." In it, he talks about what he believes is a modern and unhealthy obsession with "health and fitness," or "... the endless promotion of obsession as health, exhaustion as virtue and suffering as dedication." His central message seems to focus on achieving balance in these regards, to "Eat less, move more, don’t be afraid to break a sweat every once in a while, and remember to be balanced. When we obsess over health and nutrition, it is no longer healthy."
I think Mr. Pilon makes an important point. Whether you adjust your eating habits and/or start a workout routine strictly for health, or for the sake of competition, finding balance can go a long way toward achieving either goal. In athletics, it is not uncommon for zealous individuals (or the poor athletes under a zealous coach) to overtrain and fail to realize their potential. Many become injured along the way, and some see a pre-mature decline in their abilities, as discussed in an earlier post on the subject.
Mr. Pilon suggests a more moderate approach. "Give full focus and effort when it is appropriate," he says, "Be present during your workout session, but after that turn it off." In other words, learn to be dedicated in what you do, but keep a healthy balance too. I suspect this is difficult for some people, but it is I think an effective method for improving fitness and maintaining a healthy life-style. We simply can't be gung-ho all the time it seems, and perhaps that is for the better. Sometimes ee need rest, disengagement, and perhaps even a little humor over the long-term. Something to consider anyway.
Happy Wednesday, friends :)
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