Age Is Just A Number

At the age of 50, the Lefty who needs no introduction, Phil Mickelson, has done the unthinkable!  Proudly raising the Wanamaker Trophy, Phil earned his 6th major golf title after winning the 103rd PGA Championship.

Phil made history Sunday evening at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, becoming the oldest major winner in PGA Tour history. Not only is that an incredible feat in itself, he also joins a very small group of elites to ever win a tournament in 4 different decades!

This was glory for the ages, a sporting fairytale and a life lesson for 50-somethings everywhere. “I just believed that it was possible but yet everything was saying it wasn’t,” Mickelson said. “I hope that others find that inspiration. It might take a little extra work, a little bit harder effort to maintain physically or maintain the skills, but gosh, is it worth it in the end.”

Phil attributes a lot of his recent success to his incredible physical transformation.  The journey this almost 51 year old has taken, has lead him to the most incredible shape of his life.  But how?

Mickelson says staying accountable for your health all comes down to two things: being educated and honest about what you’re consuming, and how. Earlier in his career, Phil said he didn’t know or care what he ate. He ate whatever he felt like, and didn’t think about the consequences. It was only later in his career that he realized the consequences of that attitude.

“I wasn’t educated,” Phil says. “I either wasn’t aware or didn’t want to know the things I was putting in my body, whether it was diet soda and how toxic that is, or whether it was the amount of sugar and how much inflammation it causes, or whether it was the quantity; all of those things, I just kind of shut my eyes to.”

So, if anybody wants to follow his advice for losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle, that’s the place to start. Learn about the food you’re eating, and how much of it you should be eating. Once you get educated and honest, it’s easier to change your habits and make better decisions.

Another key aspect to keep in mind during your health journey is to be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day and Phil wasn’t in the best shape of his life until he was twice the age of half the golfers on tour. 

The journey to your goals is just as important as the result, if not more.