This is something that I’ve thought to myself many a time.A part of me would love to be normal – love to be satisfied with less.
I wish that I didn’t have this burning fire inside of me that meant being “normal” was enough.
You’re likely the same – otherwise you wouldn’t do triathlon.
Its like a chance to do something special, out of the ordinary.
Maybe for some people this is because – and this is not the right thing to say:
Because they like to feel better than other people.
They like to feel fitter and stronger and more able.
I’m not saying thats right but if I am honest I have felt that in the past.
Now, for me its still about being fit and strong and healthy but I compare myself less to others.
That comparison to others is NOT good, NOT healthy and it can work in a paradoxical way.
For example:
I often speak to people who tell me that they:
“Eat healthy”
When I dig a little deeper they often mean they “Eat healthier” than their best mate Johnny who drinks 6 pints a night and has a kebab on the way home.
People never say to me:
“I don’t eat well”
They rarely compare themselves to the person they know who has the best nutrition – if they did they wouldn’t say “I eat healthy”
Oddly they may compare their fitness to the best person they know but not their nutrition.
That’s interesting isn’t it?
I think it’s because there is some sort of assumption that eating well means you are boring and being more liberal with your food makes you a bit more fun.
It’s like some people don’t want to take it too seriously – which to some extent is fair enough.
What though I have learnt from my journey so far is that what you consume is far more important than what training you do.
Quite simply it will make you:
- Feel a whole lot better
- Perform better
- Look better
- Live longer
Basically it makes you a far better version of yourself, especially when coupled with good quality training.
Why then do so few eat really well?
I think it’s down to poor education on food which isn’t our fault, I was no different.
We are fed so much nonsense by the press and large food conglomerates like Kellog’s who have somehow managed to convince the western world that cereal is good for us.
It started with our parents who passed that on to us (not their fault, not our fault) – We didn’t stand a chance.
Now I admit I have a war on my hands taking on Mr Kellogs and the like.
But I have started and my book The Triathlete Nutrition Code – http://www.nutri-tri.com/e-books/
Is my first battle in getting motivated, intelligent people like you to make some small changes which have a big impact.
There are nearly 10,000 reading this so even if you don’t buy it I am making a difference but if you do…………….
Well you will be ahead of the game by a long way.
Jamie “I DO eat healthy” Leighton