Whether we are working or competing, our performance is truly what matters...isn't it? There are other aspects of our lives where performance matters...or is it size? I always forget. It's kind of like the chicken and the egg...depending on who you ask, the answer varies. In either case, we wont be discussing topics of that sort here...you'll have to look elsewhere for that kind of help.
Okay, let's get back on track here...I've barely begun this post, and I'm already off on a tangent.
Where were we? Oh yes, performance. I can honestly say I have never heard an athlete, at any level, say that they were completely satisfied with their performance. Whether during training or competition, we always want to do better. Why is that? Why can't we be satisfied with what we accomplished on any given day, during any given training session...during any given moment of competition?
Potential. That's right...we all have more to give. We have the potential to accomplish more than what we did. Human potential may not be limitless, but for most of us...we have barely begun to scratch the surface of what we are capable of. Our unlocked potential is what provides motivation and incentive to push against those intrinsic, self-imposed limits. Or better yet, those limitations that have placed upon us extrinsically...what we have been told we are capable of, or not capable of.
As athletes, we are driven by the desire to push the limits of our potential. We throw around terms such as Personal Record (PR) or Personal Best (PB) to describe what we were capable of...at our best. At our best? What is our best? Can we be better? Do we have the potential? Are we willing to push the limits of our unlocked potential so that we may proclaim a new personal best?...that's really what it's all about. Potential.
A smart man once said "If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves". That man was Thomas Edison. Very profound indeed.
A smart man once said "If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves". That man was Thomas Edison. Very profound indeed.
Whether in work or sport, there are a variety of factors that limit our performance. Rest/Recovery. Nutrition. Movement. Strength. Power. Endurance...I could go on and on. Interestingly, I chose to list rest/recovery first. Many athletes are led to believe that rest is for the weak. To truly push the boundaries of their own potential, and improve their performance, they must train...relentlessly. Are you one of those athletes? If so, I am here to tell you that you are wrong. It's not just my opinion...it is fact.
As adaptable as our bodies are, and as much untapped potential as we have, the human body is still only capable of doing so much...across a given amount of time. Gains in performance, those that stay with us for the long haul, are developed incrementally...through progressive-based training that incorporates not only stress, but rest. You see, it is during these periods of rest and recovery that the gains made during highly stressful training sessions really take hold. This is when the body makes physical changes as a result of training stresses. During rest.
Garbage in, garbage out. It's a phrase repeated by many an athlete, and is used (most of the time) to describe the importance of proper, performance-based nutrition. Performance-based nutrition...now there's a term you don't hear everyday, and one that most likely has different meanings to different people. We'll talk about performance-based nutrition within this blog of mine, and I'll promise you two things: I promise to give you my thoughts on what performance-based nutrition is, and I promise to provide you with sound, evidence-based information...not just the latest fad-based perspective on what we should and should not be eating. I'll come clean right now...I am not a nutritionist. I am not a dietitian. In my profession as a trainer and strength coach, it is considered 'out of my scope of practice' to prescribe specific dietary guidelines to my clients. It is not however, out of line for me to share information about nutrition and nutritional concepts in an attempt to provide my client a foundation from which to make an informed decision. I will help you develop or bolster your nutritional foundation through this blog.
Performance is also limited by our ability to move. Human movement is the foundation for physical performance. There are many factors that affect our ability to move, and the overall quality of our movement. Poor movement quality equates to poor athletic performance...right? You might be surprised by my answer...which by the way is "not necessarily". Over the years I have been very surprised by the physical performance levels of athletes who had extremely poor movement quality. Despite their movement limitations, these athletes were highly successful in their respective sports. Power development, agility, speed, strength...they had all the tools, and they could use them.
Have I peaked your interest yet? Do you have questions? I hope so.
Check back often as I will be posting weekly on the topics that we just discussed, and more.
Yours in Health and Performance,
John
