On Fitness

Most people that I work with are confused about what to eat. So many contradicting theories, micro-nutrients, macro-nutrients, carbs, proteins, good fat and bad fat. It really is no wonder people have no idea what to eat. What I have also found is that there is a whole lot of confusion around exercise too. Being a runner, I trained for marathons and ultras by using the high mileage, long, slow, distance (LSD) approach to my training. I have run over 20 marathons, 50k’s and 50 milers and have been lucky enough to be able to run two sub 24 hour finishes at the VT100 miler.

I always thought that I was in pretty good shape and in better shape than most of the people my age.

Reality Check.

How many pull ups can you do? How about push ups? Can you do 100?, you don’t have to do them all at once, although that is a pretty good benchmark of fitness. Try doing 5 sets of 20. I got my reality check this summer when I found myself injured from running and had to change up my routine. I started using the rowing machine at the gym. Ever notice how there is never a line to use the rowing machine at the gym? That should be a hint about how effective that machine is. I started rowing and doing push-ups and quickly found out that I wasn’t in anywhere near the shape I thought I was in.

You can’t just eat right and not exercise and expect to be well. You don’t need to be able to run a marathon, or bench press 300 lbs, but if you don’t find a good way to combine daily exercise into your life, you are only addressing half of the problem. People have all kinds of great reasons why they don’t exercise, and most of them can be broken down into a simple excuse – laziness.

Face it, most people don’t want to work hard at getting in shape. Most people just want to buy the next best fitness gadget that is being sold on QVC. You know the one that you can get a full body workout in 15 minutes, all for 3 equal payments of $19.95. Everyone wants to see results immediately, just like we want our meals. Maybe you aren’t seeing the results that you want because you aren’t looking for them. You may not lose 15 pounds in 15 days after starting an exercise routine, but how about the little things? What about being able to breathe easier, your clothes fitting better, being able to touch your toes. What about being able to go from a 20 minute walk on the treadmill to a 20 minute run?

These are all results, the problem is we are only looking for the big results, not the little ones.  The fact of the matter is it really is all about the little results, they are what stack up on each other to create the big results.

Remember, you don’t need to be able to run a marathon, or do 100 pull ups.  Studies show that moderate exercise, read – taking a brisk 30 minute walk 5 days a week, can reduce mortality risk by 50%!

You need some more motivation? how about exercise reduces the risk of DEATH.

Now you just don’t know what to do to get in shape? how about trying on an old school Jail House workout?