Thoughtful Thursday

Can I Enjoy Optimal Health Without Being an Athlete?
No! Athletes experience a protection from the ravages of aging and disease that non-athletes
never find. For instance, 80-year-old athletes are stronger than non-athletes in their prime
at 25 years old. If you think that strength is not important, consider that strength loss is
what puts people in nursing homes. Athletes have greater bone density, stronger immune
systems, less coronary heart disease, reduced cancer risk, fewer strokes, and less depression
than non-athletes.
What Is an Athlete?
The CrossFit definition of an athlete is
“a person who is trained or skilled in strength, power, balance and agility, flexibility, and
endurance.” CrossFit holds “fitness,” “health,” and “athleticism” as strongly overlapping
constructs. For most purposes, they can be seen as equivalents.