Think about your why

Banged up, beat down, and running into nagging injuries? It would be smart to take a brutally honest look at your current idea of fitness training. Powering through movements and workouts just to get some work in and hope things get better is a recipe for dysfunction and a legitimate decrease in fitness.  No workout is worth a permanent injury to your shoulder, back, etc.  Risking a debilitating injury during a lift or exercise would be the exact opposite of fitness. There is a limit to everyone’s capacity for their back, shoulders, hips, etc. and overtraining and overuse can be often overlooked or brushed off as not doing enough. Take it from me. I went to get tested for Lyme’s disease (I was constantly fatigued and didn’t know why) a couple years ago and the doctor asked what my routine was. I started to describe my morning CF workouts then running with clients then afternoon CF workouts and a pickup soccer game that night, then up at 4:30am and repeat that the next day. I saw his eyebrows raise when I got through Wednesday and it became apparent that I was overtraining/underresting to the point of becoming physically ill. He asked me the simple question of “what would you tell a client to do if they we Training that hard?” The answer was obvious, but I was blind to it because I had been able to maintain that activity level before. This time I was closer to 30 and had the wake up call of actually being a human that is aging. F.

Welcome to the club. If I figure out a way to reverse that, it will be the first time in the history of mankind. Now my training methodology is to be fit enough to chase my son and dog around without having herniated discs and torn rotator cuffs. Being the best at exercising is something I no longer have any interest in. I would much rather be healthy, happy, enjoy a pickup game here and there, and look good naked for the wife. Seriously though. She doesn’t give a $H!T about my sub 4 Fran time or that I squatted 405. To be honest I don’t really care either. More of a test of what is possible. Awesome 👏. However there’s no weight fairy that will leave $5 under your pillow after that PR. It’s cool...But it comes at a cost.  If I come home limping and dejected that I tweaked my shoulder/back, that actually affects things in a much more negative light than any of the PR’s are able to in a positive way. Risk vs benefit. I can’t help but see that at all times and I’ve been there done that. Onto the next phase. Structured strength training. Appropriate levels of rest. Not redlining everyday(that’s been shown to have detrimental effects on humans even vs a sedentary lifestyle 😬) getting some mobility in, and pursuing a balance that gives the most benefit from the minimum effective dose. Scaling movements that will still get the proper stimulus but don’t break your entire body. It’s an art form honestly and finding new methods as you go along your fitness journey is part of the adventure. You’re not the same person you were when you were 18 so you need to have some clarity on what is realistic when you are 35/45/75/etc. I cannot wait to hit up a water aerobics class, golf course or yoga at 76. Whatever keeps the body moving! #personaltrainereagan #eagan #fitness