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What You Can Learn from the Olympics

WOW! What another great Olympic games!

I’ve been loving every second of it. And normally I don’t watch these games but this year I’ve been glued every night. They are tremendously THE GREATEST athletes alive. No doubt.

But what makes them great?

Genetics first and foremost.

Not just any one can be an Olympic athlete. It’s an amazing blend of physiological factors tuned with progressive training that will make an Olympian an Olympian.

Kind of like kids. Every parent seems to think their child has a shot at the majors or pro ball but in reality the child at best barely has a chance of playing Division 3 football, baseball or basketball in College.

Travel teams, Extra Leagues and the rest are just ridiculous and a waste of time. Kids will learn just fine by sticking to town leagues. Besides, if a child is competing in a sport year round or even more than 3 months consistently they most certainly will be FAR MORE harm than good.

Adults barely can handle that kind of stress on the joints yet alone a growing child.

But anyway, that’s an entire other post and book I’m working on right now….so we’ll leave that one alone.

So take home points of how the Olympics can help you and me:

1. Set a deadline and stick to it! They rise to the occasion because they are willing a response by a certain date. Deadlines always work! And if you don’t think so, think about society and how we always live by deadlines. You always pay the mortgage or rent on the 2nd or 1st right?

2. Train intelligently. Set up a program and stick to it. Most people wing this one and it’s ridiculous. Unless you have a guide and measure to see if things are working you’ll end up wasting time and most likely dropping fitness all together. These Athletes have amazing programs set in place. Each workout leads into the next, thus yielding the response they want.

So if you’re training for fat loss, each week the weights you’re handling should increase, or the length of the set, or the reps should alter… something should always be increasing.

3. Eat for your needs. Too many people wing this too. Michael Phelps east between 8,000-10,000 calories a day to maintain his body weight. If any of us did that we’d gain 30-40 pounds in a year. But swimming 5 hours a day plus his training yields a greater need for more calories.

So if you’re an office worker or homemaker and you hit the gym only 2-3 times a week eat for your needs. You’re probably somewhere between 1,250-1,800 calories a day to maintain or reshape your figure. But don’t go less than 1,250. Even if you’re trying to lose weight.

4. Because I thought a 4th point would be fun. Teamwork is key. Notice Walsh and May tearing up the beach volleyball pool? These girls are awesome!! 104 straight victories?!?!?! That’s amazing. But after every play, even when they are scored on they slap hands or pat each other to say “hey it’s okay we’re going to be fine. Next play.” That in itself is amazing.

Imagine in life doing that with your spouse?

Something goes wrong, rather than walk away frustrated and mad at them you forgive quickly and say, “Honey it’s okay. So what’s next?” It’s not worth staying mad at each other. There’s so much life to live and to waste it with frustration and pain is never going to solve anything.

Well those are my 4 take home points about the Olympics today.

Dedicated to helping you achieve success,

Rob Belley