The Cons Of Becoming A Fitness Pro

The glamorous life of a professional sportsperson is a huge, yet often distant dream for many. Is it really the pinnacle of achievement worth betting your future on? Alice Hector pulls back the curtain from the competitors’ area.

I enjoyed being an amateur athlete way more than being a pro. There was time for normal things, a regular income and I mixed with different people. An evening socializing or a skipped session here and there didn’t matter. I could be more spontaneous and it was more balanced and I would argue, healthier. However, I wasn’t satisfied because it somehow felt meaningless.

Deep down I had a nagging feeling which left me wanting to know what I was made of. When you have something you can’t go a day without thinking about, it’s time to take action. This is when pro life beckoned.

Starting afresh

From the top of the pecking order as an amateur world champion, I went right to the bottom in the pro ranks. I chose elite races last year and quickly established myself, but this year I’m racing the best pros in the business. It’s humbling, but exciting. I’ll know soon enough how good I can be.

Thankfully, in a few years’ time I’ll be content knowing I won’t have to utter those dreaded words, ‘What if?’ It’s hard putting yourself out there because the fear of failure is a biggie, but that’s a mindset that can be overridden.

The price of success

Taking anything to extreme levels pushes your boundaries. To achieve anything extraordinary, you have to be obsessed, without becoming too introverted. Sadly, your social circle does diminish. You have to choose friends and social events wisely and say ‘no’ a lot. Spectators will also form opinions about you and you’ll need to manage sponsors while leaving plenty of time for training and recovery. The need for relentless self-obsession can become tiresome for everyone, including you.

Nutrition must be mastered. Wine intake must be monitored. Body weight must be lowered. Kit must be perfect. Anything out of sync and you’ll be beaten, so you’re always hunting for the smallest edge.

Making a change

Since turning pro I have been going through a process I describe as ‘turning the screw.’ I didn’t want to tighten it completely as I wasn’t sure how I’d react mentally to taking it so seriously.

However, bit by bit, I’m embracing the abnormal existence of being a pro athlete, and rather than taking it race by race, I am adjusting to the prospect of having a few years to progress.

It’s becoming a lifestyle, whereas when I was an amateur it was an  adventure with no real depth. Most importantly, while it isn’t ‘fun’ in your typical sense, I am enjoying it. I look forward to the day I can bask in chocolate again though. I’d argue nothing is really satisfying unless you’ve had to sacrifice a few things along the way (candy bars, I promise I have not forgotten you).

Is it worth it?

The glamor? Well, there isn’t any. The top 1% of athletes in most sports get paid handsomely and they’re the ones you see on TV. The hundreds of other elites just beneath them probably earn no more than minimum wage, but stick at it because they’re still dreaming.

And you just never know. All it takes is one good result to make that step up. Turning pro keeps an athlete’s dream and talent alive, but it isn’t easy and you can’t go it alone. You need a support network before you make the switch. Money is often super tight but if you want something enough, there are always ways to drum up enough to make it happen.

I truly believe that talent must be nurtured, and I like to think everyone has a talent and passion for something, be it sport, art, communication or otherwise. So find yours but realize taking the step from amateur to pro isn’t as easy as you might think.

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