If you're really going to blast and cruise, I hope it's something you're still going to want to do 5 years from now. Different situation, but I decided to pursue elite competitive gymnastics when I was 16. It was my life for the last 5 years, and my body is a piece of trash now because of it. I look amazing on the outside, but I've broken my back in 4 places, broken both my ankles, cracked my cranium and gave myself frontal lobe damage and a seizure with a steady dose of Lithium to keep me from freaking people out, broken my nose twice, dislocated my shoulder, screwed up my meniscus, and tore my Achilles tendon. I AM NOT AN ATHLETE ANYMORE. My body needs to rest and repair itself. I really wish I didn't now. I could've had a freaking college degree and been in grad school by now getting on with my life!!