Staying Young: My Workout Practices

Staying YoungI’ll admit that I was a bit of a mess at the beginning of this year. I chalk it up to a long and particularly harsh winter, but in the end that’s an excuse. Work had overtaken my personal life, and I was losing focus. Realizing this, I had to re-prioritize my goals and routine.

While I think it’s important to establish and re-evaluate goals, it’s likely even more important to determine the “why”, or the real reason for wanting change. Thinking of an end state is fine, but as a species, we’re not really good at focusing on the long term. That’s why New Year’s resolutions rarely stick. I think it’s much better to focus on daily positive habits and practices.

For me, this is what is improving my day-to-day life:

  • Working on squat, thoracic and shoulder mobility;
  • Taking my fish oil and other supplements;
  • Eating heaps of vegetables and greens;
  • Getting outside every day for at least 30 minutes;
  • Training 4+ times a week;
  • Supplementing my heavy lifts and training combos with a bit of bodybuilding;
  • Moving as much as possible. Running, walking, jumping over rocks, taking stairs 3 steps at a time.

It’s not hard for me to think of the “why” when I look at this list. I want to feel young, not old. I want to be able to move, pain-free, in my 60′s, 70′s and beyond.  And I really enjoy working on these practices, every day. If I didn’t, I obviously wouldn’t do them or prioritize them. If my nutrition and workout practices were just check boxes of calories, macronutrients, sets and reps – I’d likely despise the routine and lose sight of the overall objective. That’s why I really think it’s important to love the process of working towards a goal — not just staking your happiness on some future desired state. And if it helps in staying young, that’s just the bonus.

Today I got out for a run and a bit of fun with a trainer friend of mine, Tyler Sarry. We didn’t do anything intense; the goal was just to get some fresh air and a bit of movement. The week prior I was in the same place scrambling over the rocks at the beach. These are habits that don’t take a lot of time, and they keep me sharp, positive and pumped. I’m likely to repeat them…

Do you root all your goals in some imagined future objective? If so, make sure you link them with enjoyable activities and habits that you can practice every day!

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July 23, 2014 No Comments
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