How does an athlete think?

[all4fitness]

A friend told me, in order to get fit I have to think like an athlete as oppose to a couch potatoe!!  Help me make a list of statements that would fit an athlete's way of thinking!!

1.  Food is fuel (this one was from the fitbit community Kathleen)

2.  Exercise beacuse you WANT to not because you Have to!

Add to the list please

[Spang]

THINK ACTIVE. When somethng needs to be done don't look at it do it. Park further out at the store. Don't think that the "trip" is a drag just do it. Once you get started it becomes fun.  

[CarolS]

I have a friend of a friend.  When he was asked "Why do you work out so much?", he replied, 
"Because I can!"

Interesting answer, isn't it?  Right now, I CAN exercise and I CAN walk/jog, so I'm going to do it.  I look at some of my friends who CAN'T climb one flight of stairs without getting winded and for whom walking 2,000 steps is a major achievement.  I'm so thankful that I CAN so I WILL as long as I'm able.

All the best!

[EmersonFitbit]

I really like "never settle." I used to think that 10,000 steps a day was reasonable for me. Slowly, I started to think differently. 10K a day slowly turned into 10K before 7PM. Afterwards, it was 10K before 5 PM. Over time, I've taken it to much more difficult (but still realistic) goals. I now make sure that I have 10K before 6AM every day.

While this exact plan may not be applicable universally, I think the "never settle" concept can be. I think the moral of the story is keep pushing yourself! 

[Lawndart]

Do you have a goal that requires a certain level of fitness? Perhaps think of  getting fit as a means to an end.It does not have to be sports related. It might be picking up the grand-kids. It might be running a Marathon if running is what youlike  (hate it myself)

In my case, I'm learning to dance. I don't particularly like some of the things that I have to do at my age to get where I want to get. But I absolutely do love the results. 

An athlete has a specific goal I think. If I said to myself that I just want to get stronger, then I'd feel like I was chasing a never ending and thus unattainable goal.But i want to get stronger so that I can do the xyz move, then I can focus. 

Everyone is different in what gets them moving. In my case, I exercise becuase I have to (in order to reah my very cleaerly defined goal). 

[Jack123]

Keeping active and eating right,

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@Spang wrote:

THINK ACTIVE. When somethng needs to be done don't look at it do it. Park further out at the store. Don't think that the "trip" is a drag just do it. Once you get started it becomes fun.  

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[Heybales]

Those are 2 good ones.

Also, every day as hard as you can is counter-productive - must have smart workouts for specific focus.

One day hard, one day easy, gives best chance for improvement when using the same muscles.

Exact same reason why intervals provide better response in shorter amount of time compared to steady-state cardio, you can push harder when there is an easier following, and then harder again.

You may be able to do a weekly routine where the days are done right, but then again - athletes are rarely eating at deficit during good training, so they don't get the bad effects of slower recovery.

[Sallythatgirl]

I am very active.  I lost 90 lbs and have kept it off for almost 10 years. I own a pilates studio so I have no excuse;) The shift to being active or an athlete is easy: It is part of your daily maintenence.  Like brushing your teeth. Or showering.  You never skip those activities do you?? So add in exercise! Its not something you make time for, or skip if you don't have time...its brushing your teeth...often, always, and often times without much thought beyond that its part of your job as a human being!!!!