Train to maintain

In the fitness industry there is a lot of talk about goals:  What event are you training for? Are you looking to lose 15 pounds? Are you trying to get stronger? What is it ultimately that you are looking to achieve? The responses, of course, are numerous, and each person has their own list of items they'd like to check off. In many cases, they are very specific; for example: mastered the Scorpion pose - done; 5 dead hang pull ups - got 'em; lost 10 pounds - I hope they never come back...

Once the items are checked off the list, for many, another list merely comes to the forefront, usually building off of the previous one; however, for some there comes a point where the drive to workout becomes less about marking items off the checklist and more about maintaining the goods that are already in place. It's when this occurs that the athlete has moved officially into "maintenance mode".

For some the idea of maintenance mode may seem to go against the main purpose of athletic training.  Arguably, maintenance is a goal within itself. It keeps athletes working hard to continue to stay strong, to keep moving, to retain healthy habits that have already been established, and all without the added pressure (whether external or internal) to up their training. Regardless of whether or not you agree with the idea of "train to maintain", there is still something to be said for continually pressing on to sustain a healthy lifestyle.

Choose the maintenance method(s) that make you look and feel your best, and surround yourself with others who share in your passion to live a healthy lifestyle. There will be bumps along the way no matter what fitness route you choose, but never forget to celebrate the high moments that happen along the way. Maybe they are moments that were never a part of the original goal list, but those accomplishments are still to be recognized because they occurred as a result of a lot of hard work.