Why Serious Athletes Need To Listen To Jack

In the past I have featured articles on the late Jack LaLanne whom I have described as a modern day Cerutty.
 I have also previously posted this picture above as well as one of Jack doing fingertip push-ups with his arms fully extended in front of him, at the age of 84!
Jack was totally committed to personal fitness as well encouraging others to recognize the benefits of working out and eating right. He "walked the talk" as they say.
What follows are some things he said that all of us can learn from and be inspired by.
When asked if at the age of 84 he still worked out 7 days a week he responded: "Absolutely,see I'm one of these guys who don't want to take a step backward. I either want to hold on to what I have or improve a little bit. My workouts are part of who I am."
 I think most of us can relate to that last statement. Commenting on training Jack said this: :"Fitness starts between your ears (editor: where have you heard that before?). You have to figure out what you want and then go ahead and do it. Your body is your slave. We must learn to control the bestial and sensual sides of ourselves."
 A few thoughts on these remarks: many times people who say they desire running or athletic success are a bit hazy as to exactly what kind of success they want outside of the generic,"I just wanna race(perform) well." If you really want success you have to be much more specific then that or chances are you will simply continue on by just sort of going through the motions. Jack was big on the quote, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." If you really want it, then commit,totally! Finally,"controlling the bestial and sensual sides of ourselves" has become less common in this day and age,even among athletes. It is a quality we must have to not only achieve success but to become better people