When it comes to the fundamentals - there is no choice
- Katie Murphy
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
July 1, 2024
'When it comes to the fundamentals - there is no choice' - Michael Johnson
We recognise that our physical health, our energy & vitality will greatly impact each & every one of our core values - family, career, sport, travel - no matter where our core values lie - our health is the greatest asset or liability to enjoying them fully.
So therefore, no matter what goals you have in life - dedicating time to exercise & balanced nutrition will be a key predictor in 1) your ability to achieve them & 2) your ability to enjoy them.
Using this mindset - we then took a stroll through some of the key principles around nutrition coaching, nutritional strategies that can support us in our performance goals and top tips to making consistent & long-term progress to good health, high energy & vitality.
The most important factor is, and will always be, consistency.
Next is energy balance - are we fuelling with the correct quantity of food.
Macronutrients are the next pieces of the puzzle - what types of food are we consuming.
Once we nail these three cornerstones - consistency, quantity & type - then we can start considering meal timing & supplementation - there are the final 'icing on the cake' - when all other areas are solidified - we can begin to consider the 'extra %' we can gain from timing & supplementation.
I often take time to reflect on how the above information fits into our lives. Looking at a profound speech delivered by Olympian - Michael Johnson - at the Pendulum Summit, we can see the mirror value of how your fundamentals impact your performance.
Speaking about achieving his pretty ambitious goal of becoming an Olympic Gold Medalist (four times) - Michael Johnson struggled a lot during his college years - and in the USA, if you aren't competing at a high level in college sport - you may miss your chance to get scouted & placed on 'team USA'.
He was incredibly concerned about missing his opportunity - because he kept picking up injuries & niggles - despite have the best of everything available to him - coaches, programmes, facilities, funding, physiotherapists, medical teams & of course - talent.
As his frustrations mounted - one of his most trusted coaches (who ended up working with him for the entire duration of his career) told him to take some time for reflection & this time, instead of focusing on what's going wrong with what his is doing in his daily training - focus on what he's not doing.
The penny dropped - he wasn't giving the same effort & energy to his strength work as he was to his running - neglecting a fundamental component to athletic performance
He wasn't giving as much effort to his stretching & mobility - neglecting a fundamental component to injury prevention & recovery
He wasn't giving enough effort to his nutritional intake - neglecting a fundamental component to athletic performance, injury prevention & recovery
"When it comes to the fundamentals - there is no choice - it takes what it takes"
It can be hard to equate our personal goals to that of one of the most successful Olympic sprinters of all time - but sometimes these super 'successful' people are super successful because they figured a thing or two out along the way to greatness!
I think Michael Johnson figured something profound out - at a very important time in his career. If we are truly committed to achieving our goals - no matter how big or how small we might consider them - when it comes to the fundamentals - the basics - there is no choice - it takes what it takes.
Happy Thursday everyone,
Katie
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