becoming an "athlete"

bunnysone
bunnysone Posts: 486 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
How many of you out there have gone through this MFP process and come out the other end an "athlete"?

I bet you NEVER thought that you could do what you done - I know I sometimes struggle to come to terms with my abilities in gaining fitness here, and I can now see how much further I have to travel.

At what point do you come to accept what you are being told by others in that you are now an athlete?

Replies

  • rocketpants
    rocketpants Posts: 419 Member
    Interesting question.
    I dont' know that I feel like I am yet an athlete. Mainly b/c to me an athlete conjures up an image of a well chiseled athletic machine. I still have some work to get there.

    However, I do a lot of athlete things. I dress like an athlete everyday and I go out and train. I compete on a regular basis in local races, I can out perform most of my thinner friends at running, biking, and mountain climbing. I spend a lot of money, time, and effort trying to improve my performance in those sports.

    Perhaps one of these days I will feel comfortable calling myself an athlete
  • bunnysone
    bunnysone Posts: 486 Member
    Interesting question.
    I dont' know that I feel like I am yet an athlete. Mainly b/c to me an athlete conjures up an image of a well chiseled athletic machine. I still have some work to get there.

    However, I do a lot of athlete things. I dress like an athlete everyday and I go out and train. I compete on a regular basis in local races, I can out perform most of my thinner friends at running, biking, and mountain climbing. I spend a lot of money, time, and effort trying to improve my performance in those sports.

    Perhaps one of these days I will feel comfortable calling myself an athlete

    Same. This is why i ask ... I do all the "athlete" things but the image of an athlete for me is essentially an Olympian!!

    I'm guessing others are kind of in the same limbo predicament where they are not ready to change their mindset of themselves just yet!
  • aviduser
    aviduser Posts: 208 Member
    I am an athlete. I was one before I got fat, and I am one again. More specifically, I was a swimmer, then a runner and now I am a cyclist. I have not done any races this year, but I have done several 100 mile rides. My total mileage for the season is around 1200. I work out at least 4 days a week. I am fit--some might even say cut.

    Most of the athletes I know are middle aged men and women trying to keep some physical edge--and the mental edge that goes with it. These folks train with me, compete in triathalons and do large organized rides.

    So go ahead and call yourself an athlete. It sounds like you have earned it. There are many athletes out there that are not Olympians, but they are athletes just the same.

    Thinking of myself as an athlete also helps me stay focused on good nutrition--will the food I am eating help my performance or hinder it? The answer to that question does not always guide my behavior, but I try.
  • jo_marnes
    jo_marnes Posts: 1,601 Member
    I feel that I am getting there, but yes, I totally understand about the whole 'aren't athletes those people in the olympics...?' sentiment. The thing that started changing my mind was when I discovered that my body fat %, measured accurately during a research project for a nearby Uni, said I was in the 'athlete' range. I train hard every day, but I don't have a particular 'field' that I'm athletic in I guess..... I do all kinds of exercise and tend to just think of myself as being athletic. I suppose most would think of me as a runner xxx
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    Never. I'm not really what I consider athletic. I run, I run in races, but would never win. I train hard and can probably lift more than most women my age, but I don't/won't ever play organized sports, which is what I consider an athlete. I'm more of an athletic build, but hardly an athlete.
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    i technically did become an athlete... lol I went from just a college student to a college athlete on the cross country team :D ! When I got an email back from the coach, I considered myself a true athlete lol :D !!!
  • GettingFitterVicki
    GettingFitterVicki Posts: 82 Member
    i technically did become an athlete... lol I went from just a college student to a college athlete on the cross country team :D ! When I got an email back from the coach, I considered myself a true athlete lol :D !!!

    Congrats at getting into the team!
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    I think a couple months back is when i decided that i'm an athlete. Basically if you take on those habits and do them long enough, you become it.
  • atsteele
    atsteele Posts: 1,358 Member
    athlete: A person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.

    Im thinking that a LOT of people here on MFP now qualify!!
  • aimstein
    aimstein Posts: 94
    I've thought about this quite a bit. I feel I am a sort of an athlete, but I don't think I have an "athlete" body. I think being an athlete is more a state of mind....a confidence! I am physically fit and love it but I think the the term "athlete" can be relative to many people. Put it this way, last weekend we purchased a new wash machine. Guess who helped my husband carry the old machine out of the house, down our back deck, to our garage? Then, guess who helped him get the new washer from his truck, back up the deck staircase and into our washroom? Me. There is NO WAY I could've done that a couple of years ago....and there is an even lesser chance my husband would've asked me to even try. To me, my athleticism is the reason! I train hard....I'm not cut....I'll never have a body-builders physique.....but I consdier myself an athlete. And, apparently so do others. We shouldn't sell ourselves short. We work WAY too hard! Being an athlete, to me, doesn't have a definite "definition" or "look"....it's all about how you really feel inside. You either know it or you don't. It's not something you can fake...you just can't lie to yourself about it. Love to all!!!
  • jules_lives_outloud
    jules_lives_outloud Posts: 55
    I struggle with this too. Maybe when I actually hit my goal weight I will see it. One would think that completing a half marathon at a respectable first timer pace of 2.46 hr (I am short, only quit smoking recently, blah blah blah) that I would feel it. Maybe when I prove to myself that I have kept going after the half, then I will be an athlete. I will say, my legs are starting to look like the legs of a runner though.
  • outersoul
    outersoul Posts: 711
    I've always been an athlete, just a fat athlete. You know that one guy that's great at say...baseball but sucks at basketball or other sports? That's not me. I'm the guy that's not great at any one thing but decent at pretty much any sport. Now I'm working on looking the part.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Funny... I think I'm coming at things from a slightly different angle.

    I feel like I've always been an athlete, just a wider, softer one than I might like to be. I've always been reasonably strong and well conditioned. Even when I was heavier I was still biking a lot, and while no one would look at me now and think athlete, I'm still doing triathlons and century rides and almost whatever else I want to do.

    Good genes has a lot to do with it probably.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I don't consider myself an athlete. Even though I train hard, eat pretty well and am in great condition, athletes are WAY above the norm. You have to be competitive, and very, very disciplined and also have the right genetics. I'm sure some here will disagree, but many normal people can run, jump, hit a ball, etc., but if you were on par with these athletes, you'd be one of them. Can you become an athlete? Sure, but it takes much more than just a little dieting and exercise.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I don't consider myself an athlete. Even though I train hard, eat pretty well and am in great condition, athletes are WAY above the norm. You have to be competitive, and very, very disciplined and also have the right genetics. I'm sure some here will disagree, but many normal people can run, jump, hit a ball, etc., but if you were on par with these athletes, you'd be one of them. Can you become an athlete? Sure, but it takes much more than just a little dieting and exercise.

    This is more just for conversation than anything else, because I see your point, but...

    Where do you draw the line? Collegiate athletes aren't on the same level as pro athletes, so are they not really athletes either? Many pro athletes aren't on the same level as the select few superstars. How "good" do you have to be to be an athlete?
  • bunnysone
    bunnysone Posts: 486 Member
    Funny... I think I'm coming at things from a slightly different angle.

    I feel like I've always been an athlete, just a wider, softer one than I might like to be. I've always been reasonably strong and well conditioned. Even when I was heavier I was still biking a lot, and while no one would look at me now and think athlete, I'm still doing triathlons and century rides and almost whatever else I want to do.

    Good genes has a lot to do with it probably.

    Love this mindset - I guess it's a bit like the old saying "you're only as old as you feel"' in a way!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I'm athletic, but I don't consider myself an athlete. Just like I'm funny, but I don't consider myself a comedienne. I'm can cook, but I'm not a chef.

    I'm artistic, and I do consider myself an artist. I think the difference for me is that I've earned money through my art.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    This is more just for conversation than anything else, because I see your point, but...

    Where do you draw the line? Collegiate athletes aren't on the same level as pro athletes, so are they not really athletes either? Many pro athletes aren't on the same level as the select few superstars. How "good" do you have to be to be an athlete?
    Let's just say that an athlete of any caliber is much much better than the average joe. In college you might find some football athletes that run 4.9 40 yard dash. In the NFL, EVERYONE (including linemen) run that. There is a significant difference which is why they are separated from other competitors.
    You can be super fit, but have no skills. You can have super endurance, but no coordination. Most athletes have all of these.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I'm athletic, but I don't consider myself an athlete. Just like I'm funny, but I don't consider myself a comedienne. I'm can cook, but I'm not a chef.

    I'm artistic, and I do consider myself an artist. I think the difference for me is that I've earned money through my art.
    This^.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    I dunno, I think we're splitting hairs here. ninerbuff, I'm calling you out! You're an athlete. Maybe not a professional competitive athlete, but an athlete nevertheless.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member

    Love this mindset - I guess it's a bit like the old saying "you're only as old as you feel"' in a way!

    If that's the case... my body is trying to convince me I'm 50!
  • idwoof
    idwoof Posts: 76
    I like this topic, and I've discussed it before. I think to be an athlete you have to compete in an athletic event.
    So I think someone who enters a 5k trying to compete and win is an athlete. I don't think working out like an athlete, or looking like an athlete makes you an athlete.
  • spyork
    spyork Posts: 187
    Hi,

    I played semi pro rugby and also worked as a personal trainer then 2 serious injuries put me out of action for over 18 months, I want to get back to my peak fitness and I guess that would mean "Athlete" and that would be fine by me!
  • mheightchew
    mheightchew Posts: 334
    Athlete? Not by normal standards. But if you compare the me I am now with the person I was a year ago, I am a gold medalist! Although sitting on the couch shoveling food in my mouth took YEARS of training!
  • bstamps12
    bstamps12 Posts: 1,184
    I am an athlete. I was one before I got fat, and I am one again. More specifically, I was a swimmer, then a runner and now I am a cyclist.

    Weird, but almost the same thing here. I was a competitive swimmer, definitely an athlete!, before I got fat. Then I started swimming and running to get back in shape, then started cycling so I could do triathlons. Someone who does triathlons is a "triATHLETE" so yes, I am an athlete.

    I think many people can be athletic, and many people on MFP are athletic, but I think competing and training with competition in mind is the line where you become an athlete. So MFPers who train for 5Ks, marathons, 100 mile rides, bodybuilding competitions, etc. are athletes. They are probably not "elite" athletes, which is what I think ninerbuff described, but they are athletes.
  • hml1976
    hml1976 Posts: 64
    Athlete? Not by normal standards. But if you compare the me I am now with the person I was a year ago, I am a gold medalist!

    This. I am not an athlete. I'm slow, I'm kinda weak. I'm frankly really uncoordinated. I was that skinny girl in school that no one wanted on their team. Then I became the chubby woman that didn't do anything.

    NOW. I can walk 5 miles in 75 minutes and not have to catch my breath. I can run. I can hike for a whole day with my husband. I can lift way more than I used to be able to.

    My body wasn't built to be "athletic" and you can't force coordination :) BUT I am stronger than I ever thought!
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Lots of different views of athletes here.

    Honestly I'm having a tough time figuring out my own definition.
    It lies somewhere between playing a pro sport or being and Olympian, and Jim Bob the 3rd baseman in his local softball league. OR having an exceptional amount of athletic talent even if you don't compete in a specific "sport".

    I'm a former collegiate track athlete. Once out of school I played many different organized "social sports leagues", but I don't really consider those things to neccessarily still quallify me as an athlete. Although I play with and agaist some tremendous athletes. They were very gifted.

    So to wrap up, I have 2 kinds of qualifiers to be an "athlete". One is consistently competing in a sport at some level of that sport's competitive system. OR being tremendously athletic regardless whether you competed seriously or not.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I think to be an athlete there should be competition against people in the same sport. Weekend warriors for instance are fun to kick it with, but they don't really train to compete. Competition helps to define it I guess.

    Here's a twist though. Just because you play or engage in a "sport" professionally, does that make you an athlete. For instance are pro fishermen athletes? Or dart throwers? Or bowlers? Or bodybuilders?

    I say no.
  • bunnysone
    bunnysone Posts: 486 Member
    I like this topic, and I've discussed it before. I think to be an athlete you have to compete in an athletic event.
    So I think someone who enters a 5k trying to compete and win is an athlete. I don't think working out like an athlete, or looking like an athlete makes you an athlete.

    I love this answer!
  • idwoof
    idwoof Posts: 76
    I think to be an athlete there should be competition against people in the same sport. Weekend warriors for instance are fun to kick it with, but they don't really train to compete. Competition helps to define it I guess.

    Here's a twist though. Just because you play or engage in a "sport" professionally, does that make you an athlete. For instance are pro fishermen athletes? Or dart throwers? Or bowlers? Or bodybuilders?

    I say no.

    Well to play a "sport" professionally, it has to be a sport. If that makes sense. I think your answer kind of answers itself, fishing, darts, bowling, bodybuilding aren't sports so of course they aren't athletes.
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