Sounds like a weird title, right?
You might be asking yourself, “Yuri, what on earth are you talking about?”
Well, let me tell you.
What I plan on doing in this blog post is comparing two similar concepts that have nothing to do with each other – food and team sports.
The Individual vs. the Collective
I’ve played soccer my entire life. I love the game and I’m so happy now that I get to watch the World Cup every single day – talk about being blessed!
One thing I’ve realized in my years playing and coaching soccer is this…
No ONE player is greater than the team. I don’t care if your name is Lionel Messi or Christiano Ronaldo – no single player can ever have a great impact the synergy created by the collective unit called the team.
After all, don’t some people refer to the word TEAM as “Together Everyone Achieves More”?
Makes sense to me.
Let me show you what I mean…
To give you an example from my career let me quickly tell you about my last year playing at the University of Toronto in 2002.
On paper, this was the weakest team that we had fielded in 4 years. Our strongest team had been the year prior where despite not making the national championships (losing in a heartbreaking semi-final loss) 4 of our players, including myself, were nominated to the All-Canadian team!
However, we lost 6 key players from that year’s team and the team in my 4th year would need to get by on something other than individual talent.
Because it was my final year as a player, I decided to take matters into my own to give ourselves the best possible chance of kicking butt. So, in the summer, I rounded up the troops and we began running “informal” fitness sessions each Saturday morning. That was the beginning of the best season I ever had.
After going through some tough challenges during the season, we bounced back and triumphed to win the provincial championship and placed 4th at Nationals – the best showing by U of T soccer in almost 10 years!!!
So what was our secret?
Good old fashion teamwork, collective belief, and a never give up attitude.
No one player stood out but as a team we came together to beat teams who had some real individual talent.
Look now to this World Cup. Personally, I feel the Germans have played the most effective and beautiful soccer. And their star player – Michael Balack – isn’t even playing because of a busted ankle.
Each of the German players plays within their system. No one needs to do anything spectacular because if everyone just does their job, then collectively they will be unstoppable.
And these examples are just from soccer but they can be applied to any team setting on the world from families to businesses and everywhere in between.
Food vs. Diet – Which is More Important
Now, with the “single vs. the collective” in mind, let’s look at specific foods vs. your overall diet.
A lot of people ask me questions like…
“What’s the best food to eat for more energy?”
“Which foods will help me burn belly fat?”
And on and on.
My answer is always the same.
Are you ready?
Here it is…
There is NO single food that is more important or has more of an impact than your overall diet.
Please re-read this sentence and take it to heart because it’s very very important.
I have nothing against superfoods like goji berries, noni, acai berries, and many others but I think too many people get caught up on the latest “miracle” food and forget to focus on the basics – natural whole food nutrition.
Here’s the thing guys…
If you spent more of your energy (and money) on quality plant-based foods (and some organic meats and eggs if you like) you will reap far greater health and energy benefits than drinking one ounce of mangosteen (or other) juice each day.
Now don’t get me wrong, if your diet is already sound and want to include such superfoods into your diet, then by all means go ahead – I certainly have and continue to do so. I personally use green barley grass as my “drug” of choice.
I think you can now see where I intended to go with post.
Are you with me?
Whether we’re talking about food or sport or anything else, the collective will always outweigh the individual. But let’s not forget that the collective (the team, your overall diet) is made up of the individual components, which, in and of themselves, need to be of the best possible quality!
After all, you are an individual. So what can you bring to the table to better the outcome of your “team”?
=> What are your thoughts on this topic? I’d love to hear what you think in the comments.
P.S. If you’ve enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends by simply clicking on the appropriate icon below (ie. Twitter, Facebook, etc…). I really appreciate you taking the time to spread the word.
13 Comments
The interesting thing is, as I search for foods that are rich in this or that nutrient, is that the foods are mostly very healthy foods. You can forget searching the vitamin content, just eat a variety of fresh and natural foods.
Some people claim that a potassium rich diet will help you lose weight regardless of calorie counts. Well, look at the foods you would be eating, fresh fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, multi-colored vegetables. Sounds healthy. Just remove the focus on one nutrient and look at the bigger picture.
The problem is people’s taste buds have been trained to like processed junk foods. So they drink some fibrous super-concoction to make themselves feel better. This also reinforces the idea that healthy food doesn’t isn’t pleasure food! Au contraire…
All the info about specific nutrients is interesting, but in most cases they don’t work as well when taken out of their natural context. Another reason to look at the “team picture.”
Great post! I think that this mentality also applies to an overall lifestyle diet. Sometimes, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking things like: “uh-oh, I ate a potato chip and now my nutritional and weight management goals are ruined”, when in fact, it is INDEED the “collective” vs the “single” that will make the impact on anyone’s “diet”. We have heard of the 80/20 rule – where conscientiously eating healthy 80% of the time while allowing yourself to indulge (respectfully) in your cravings 20% of the time. I firmly believe in this method of eating. Food is fuel, but it is also to satisfy and provide pleasure! Enjoying what we eat is an important part of our well-being. By taking 80% of our eating and using it with the intention of fueling our bodies with naturally nutritious (and still tasty) foods to further our health, while allowing 20% of our eating to be about simply enjoying a tasty, soul-satisfying food without over-analyzing it, we allow ourselves to reap the benefits of healthy living, body AND mind – without that feeling of deprivation and guilt. Our collective eating habits far outweigh our occasional choices. One snack or one meal doesn’t equate to one day or one week or five year’s worth of eating HABITS. It’s what we do MOST that matters most.
good commenys,Shannon;I couldn’t agree with you more!(another secret;keeping balanced spiritually also.God did not intend us to be robots;He wants us to enjoy life to His glory!Have a great day.
Diana: I absolutely agree!!! (:
Life is all about balance. In every sphere this is applicable- be it food, work or leisure. Just imagine all the planets in our universe are moving in balance and the day any planet goes out of gear there is a problem! The theory of “moderation”is also true for everything in life.
Everyone’s food balance is different from the other according to their capacity. You know best what food is suitable for you. Do not worry too much on anything in life whether food, work or personal happiness. After all life is a temporary visa ! The greatest of achievers in any field are all forgotten as life carries on.
” Let this be the last port of call
Empty the holds and set sail for the boundless ocean
That rolls unto the sky”
Individual vs Collective…Great advice. We are actually in a transitional period where I work and I think this would be great to share with them. As we are trying to iron out the wrinkles of amalgamating 3 associations, I am seeing a lot of protectionism and self-serving attitudes creep up. Maybe this will put some things into perspective for our new “team” members
This concept of the team could also be applied to ourselves and how we deal with food. For example, I tend to make bad eating choices when I am stressed even though I know this is wrong. If I look at this from a team perspective, it seems as if I am letting the stress dominate. What I need to do is to create a team of different techniques that will keep the stress player in place and help maintain balance. You need to defend poison from entering your mouth.
Working with your “team” on Eating for Energy” and thinking of me is what is most important. My body is mine to upkeep and the foods to do that best are mine to choose,right?
Learning how to put it all together(game plan), making decisions based on knowledge(research) and accepting to try new things(game book strategy) all intertwine inside this team concept.
Following a leader gives us direction and having a great goalkeeper always makes the difference.
Hello,
Enjoy your wealth of information.
I say eat the proper foods and nutrients God intended for us and the body will take cae of it’s self. Food, exercise, rest, relaxation. Have a wonderful day! Susan
Yuri,
Great post. I think with a lot of things in life, not just diet and fitness, people are looking for “that one thing” or the “magic pill” that will solve their problems (in this case losing weight).
But the truth is that most things come down to just a few simple fundamentals like you mentioned above.
Chris
Great post…really,Individual vs. Collective great-great advice…i absolutely agree…..about the the said team…
Thanks for all the comments guys. It’s great to hear your thoughts and perspectives.
I’m writing an Essay in my AP Language and Composition Class and We are doing an analyses of Food choices and how people are effected by food, and whether these issues at hand should be used towards Individuals or as a Collective needs. I agree with your comment on how as a Team you work better and then relating it towards food as all food in general works together as a team. Thanks and I LOVE YOUR QUOTE –> “There is NO single food that is more important or has more of an impact than your overall diet.”
Thanks
Josh