Practice makes Progress?

My little niece made a comment the other day. She said her 4th grade teacher told her that"practice makes progress." Since no one is perfect, practice will only get you better not perfect. At first I said "Oh, come on. I bet this teacher doesn't give any A grades either."

I began to ponder this statement and how it relates to exercise, fitness and leading a healthy lifestyle. Is this statement discouraging? After all, if you can never achieve the perfect squat why bother working at squatting at all? If you can never achieve the ultimate fitness level then should you bother working very hard? On the other hand, is this statement encouraging because if you are always making a little progress then it motivates you to continue your path and be the best YOU can be? Hmmmm.

When I was running on a regular basis (aka before Audrey!) and racing I knew I would never win a race. I'm just not that fast. This knowledge didn't stop me from running and doing special speed training runs or particular exercises and stretches that I knew would make me a hair faster than last race. For me, however, if I wasn't striving for my perfection then why train at all?

When I asked my friend, Jill Oksenhorn, a winning amateur body builder this is what she said: "The statement practice makes progress if anything unmotivates me!!!! I like practice makes perfect better!!! "Perfect" I interpret more like making your body the best it can be. After all there is only SO much you can do! It gives you something to strive for. In my training, I personally work every year on improving certain body parts that seem to be lagging. I enjoy the challenge and love to see how I can change my body. "

I agree and think PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT is a goal that we should try to achieve even though we all know perfection might just be a dream.

What do you think? How do you interpret this statement as it relates to your health and fitness goals? Post your comments.