Olympics and Fitness Survival

Are you really fit and at peak performance? Are you able to walk or run without exhaustion? Can you squat or lift without pain in your hips and shoulders? This summer the television and internet have brought us unforgettable images of the finest athletes in the world to ever compete. The Olympics demonstrate fitness survival and peak performance.
As we watch swimmers, gymnasts, rowers, and track athletes and dozens of other events, we witness the different components of overall fitness. Technique, agility, and balance are evident in gymnastics. Muscular strength is seen in rowing and volleyball. Excellent lung capacity is critical in swimming, cycling, and track. The ability to adjust to pain and mental agitation is seen in wrestling and weight lifting. At stake for Olympic competition are the components of power, strength, agility and coordination, peak lung capacity and the ability to adjust to pain.
To put it into Olympic perspective, Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian of all time, won his 22nd and final Olympic medal, 18 of them gold recently. He was presented with a silver trophy which declared him to be, "The Greatest Olympic Athlete of All Time." How did he achieve that decoration? In the pool he demonstrated rigorous kicks and strength, not to mention great lung capacity. Michael Phelps symbolizes the extreme dedication to tedious practice day in and day out.
In the arena of technique, artistry, coordination and balance, the main event is gymnastics. Gabby Douglas, the sixteen year old African-American girl, to win the gold all-around, had a rigorous schedule of practice away from her home. Who could not marvel at the spectacular performance and precision of this Olympian prodigy on the bars, beam and vault?
The Russians are favorites of the men's wrestling to win medals at the Olympics. These Olympians are strong and agile. To perform well, there must be a propensity to endure pain and mental agitation. Wrestling is about setting peak performance and strategizing to win a competition.
These are only a few examples of high performance and fitness demonstrated at a world level. For the average person who does not train 5 to 6 hours a day six days a week for years, there are lessons to be learned from these world-class Olympians.
1. Physical fitness is about having the discipline to exercise regularly. For example, walking or cycling need to be done consistently over time to increase lung capacity and endurance.
2. Physical fitness is a mindset that does not acquiesce to pain or weakness. Fitness begins in the mind with visualized goals and materializes in the body.
3. Physical fitness is a healthy lifestyle about eating right, good posture and body mechanics and a positive attitude.
4. Physical fitness extends past the individual to the family and community. Healthy bodies build healthy families which in turn build healthy communities.
The 2012 Olympics demonstrate peak performance on many levels. They also demonstrate to us the absolute need for fitness survival. The foundation for any society begins with the health and fitness of its citizens.

Anna Marie Hernandez is a physical therapist and teacher. She has written articles and books on integrative health, fitness and children's educational books. For more information visit: http://www.healthforsurvival.com

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Change How You Think About Losing Weight Today

Have you ever considered losing weight to make you feel better and more energetic?
When you start the process of losing weight you'll want to weigh yourself at least once a week and take measurements. Doing these things can make us even more excited and motivated to lose those unwanted pounds. This is the best way to see if all the hard work is paying off or not.

Using weights is a good way to get your muscle tone going. This is also a good way to lose weight. You will be losing weight and gaining muscle tone by putting your body in shape and getting your muscles in better shape. You will notice the difference after the first few uses of the weights. Do not start out with ones that are too heavy. Start low and then build your way up to the heavier weights.

To lose weight you have to do more than just diet, you need to exercise. It is important to exercise because you have to make sure that you are keeping your body in tone and in shape for losing the weight. Exercise can be anything that keeps your body moving. You have to keep your body in motion in order to lose weight and to keep it off. You can stay fit with any form of exercise that you feel comfortable with and that makes you feel good about what you are doing. This is the most effective way of staying healthy and staying satisfied with your weight loss program.

If you are trying to lose weight, limit the intake of alcohol. You will gain weight if you drink accessibly. This is even more likely if you are drinking the regular beer instead of the light or the carb free beer. This is a choice that is up to you and you alone. You will have to decide what is more important losing weight or having a good time every weekend. Once you slow down on the intake of alcohol, you will notice a change in your body mass.

Getting lots of rest is another important factor in losing weight. You will want to make sure that you get a good nights sleep each night. This will put you fresh, alert and energetic for the next day. You will want to do more and get more exercise when you are feeling more awake.

Another important step in losing weight and feeling great is to be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to flush out the fat and toxins that we have in our bodies.

The challenges of losing weight do not have to get us down. If we stay positive and keep our mind focused on what we have to do, we will find that getting in shape and losing weight does not have to be so hard. Getting our bodies in shape and looking great is the best incentive that anyone can have to drop those unwanted pounds.

By far I think that getting on herbal diets is a terrific way to lose weight. They do work for most people. Herbal diets are 100% safe, natural and ephedra free. We find that many people have gotten off their prescription medicine by being on an herbal diet. You'll want to be sure to check with your doctor first to make sure that this is the right weight loss program for you.

But don't wait. Get started right now to start feeling the difference.

Author: DeniseWalston         Source: Free Articles