What the NFL can teach you about your fitness goals

By: Jeff

How the NFL can impact your fitness goals

I am possibly the biggest Pittsburgh Steelers fan you would ever meet. I don't drive a Steelers car or dress up in crazy clothes when the Steelers play, but I love everything about the black n' gold. Growing up, Steelers Sundays were a ritual worth celebrating. You woke up, went to church and the rest of the day was dedicated to the Steelers and NFL football.

The NFL is a big money-maker, but if you are like me and watch every Sunday (or Monday or Thursday and the occasional Saturday) you can take something away from these players that can help your fitness goals.

As you watch these impressive human specimen running, jumping and hitting one another, it is difficult not to be stunned by their overall fitness levels. Even the offensive and defensive linemen are well-tuned athletes built for power and leverage.

So what does this have to do you your fitness goals? Simple. If you want to see the results, you have to work hard.

Look at these players, regardless of position, and you will see people who have dedicated their lives to the sport and their bodies, and it is paying them handsomely. What most don't see is the amount of work these players put into their bodies when cameras aren't rolling. Whether it is sleeping in hyperbaric chambers, having acupuncture multiple times a week or the rigorous workouts which would leave the average human sore and broken for months.

My trip to Pittsburgh in 2013 being a
Steelers NBC Fan of the Week

Obviously, the average Joe is not an elite athlete, but you don't have to be a professional athlete to carry a strong work ethic into your fitness routine. Most of these players didn't wake up fit and strong, it took time and effort.

The same can be said about your individual fitness goals. It isn't going to happen over night, but you have to work hard and have an amount of tenacity if you want to get where you want to go. Have a plan, be ready to execute the plan and when it is time for your workout give it 100 percent.

There will be times when life gets in the way, but remember it is dedication and work ethic that will leave you with the results you desire. Want six-pack abs or just to drop 25 pounds? It will ta
ke a work ethic and focus you've never experienced to reach those goals and stay there. Do the same workout over and over again, expect the same results over and over again.

Take time today to re-evaluate your fitness goals, but also your overall game plan to get the job done. Learn form the NFL players making plays on Sunday by giving your workouts your full attention, and reap the benefits.

If you ever have any workout or fitness questions, be sure to leave a comment below and I will answer as soon as possible.