There have been times when yours truly could be heard to say, “I used to run” or “I used to do triathlons” or “I used to be in really good shape.” There have also been times when the current reality exhibited “a few” extra pounds and not much physical activity. If the same could be said of you, then you might find this motivational.
There’s an interesting phenomenon among former athletes. They seem to get the impression that the fact they were once in superior condition makes them bulletproof for life. They assume that because they were once in superior condition, their health is guaranteed from then on.
These folks eat and drink with the belief that they are exempt from the health risks their non-athletic friends may suffer. Unfortunately, scientific studies do not support this viewpoint. To the contrary, too much food and too little exercise, even after years of intense activity, can quickly offset years of optimal fitness.
One study from Greek researchers demonstrated that overweight ex-athletes have no better protection against heart disease than anyone else. As these former athletes added pounds, their risk factors for heart disease also increased, meaning that they, like those who have never been athletic, are at increased risk.
So, if any of this hits home with you, don’t make the mistake of believing your former active lifestyle gives you a free pass from health problems now or in the future. If you continue that belief, you truly could be “living in the past and dying in the present.”
