Exercise. It’s an eight letter word for some of us… don’t quit reading and don’t skip today’s podcast!
During Next-Level Life, we always reach a point in the process where the attendee is working through what’s keeping them from being the strongest and best they can be. Almost every single time, the area of exercise is lacking. For most people, there was a period in their life when they were exercising regularly and they felt strong emotionally, physically, and mentally.
I can tell you, this has been a huge gate in my life. When I exercise, my stress level is way down and I have a greater balance every day in work and life.
Many of us start up exercise programs to lose weight. We work at it for a few weeks, don’t get immediate results, and go back to our regular routine. Instead of focusing on weight, ask yourself, “How do I feel?” Is your stress level down? Are you making better decisions? Do you feel less emotional when you work out?
Start. Put it in your calendar and just do it. You’ll have more energy, a desire to do more and you’ll feel better!
Dude MY LIFE is a testament to this. In 2009 when my world was crashing, I was in the WORST shape of my life. I needed something…outside of a reintroduction to Jesus, I found it in the sport of triathlon.
So I’m training for a Half Ironman now and exercise is a priority, but I find myself battling for time between running a business and building a new one. There’s always this tension to exercise, but at the expense of what.
So, what I’ve tried to do is recite my speeches while I run, read while I’m on the bike, etc. Now – I do fully unplug sometimes, but I can’t give up the exercise.
Thanks brother!
Good for you Matt – Have fun PS don’t change anything on race day, anything.
Thanks Robby – first Half was in 2011 – had to take 2 years off (identical twin boys). Race day was rocking then until a 20knot headwind on the first 30 miles of the bike – blew up at mile 9 on the run. Actually have a post coming out about in on Wednesday. Do you race??
My first race was in 2002. I have 4) 70.3 races under my belt and lots of shorter races, Children have slowed me down also. Hard to train lots of miles with three children 6 and under and a wife that needs a break. I also started and ran a cycling ministry from my church for 12 years, we helped raise over 200K for MS.
That’s incredible Robby. Good on you. Is the ministry still happening?
Joel,
Thanks for asking, the ministry is in a holding pattern while someone else
learns the ropes. Stepping down was one the hardest things I have ever done but
it was the right thing to do in retrospect. It was a great training ground for learning
how to lead and organize. I have been
able to mentor two other organizations of how to do the same thing. That was a blessing.
So cool.
I’ve found that if I don’t exercise, I just can’t sustain what it is I’m trying to accomplish. Knowing exactly where you are, It’s vital to your success. Otherwise, it’ll get pushed to the side, and soon after so will other things.
I’m proud of you for keeping on. The endorphins will help you juggle. 😀
It’s interesting that if you start pushing good habits to the side, other good habits follow – if you push bad habits aside, bad habits follow.
Endorphin Juggling – sounds exciting!
Nothing.
I stopped going to the gym. It’s 24 minutes roundtrip, so if I only have 30 minutes, it’s impractical.
So I started working out at home and running.
A 3-mile run is a good workout if you only have 30-35 minutes.
Or I’ll spend 30 minutes running in place, doing jumping jacks, doing pushups etc. I spent maybe $75 on equipment and most of that is optional.
Excuses for not exercising are dumb.
Are you calling me dumb? 🙂
I have very smart excuses why I don’t have time to exercise
In 30 minutes, I could easily knock out like 7 miles. And then I’d spend the remaining 5 minutes dying. Is that too intense?
I think that, by definition, dying would be too intense 🙂
Okay. Good point. I’ll consider that.
Amen! The feeling after working out is worth squashing the excuses no matter how tough.
Chris,
There is no doubt that exercise is an essential part of our
overall well-being. We live in an office environment that, in most cases, is not conducive for movement. Think about this. We sleep laying down, commute to work sitting, sit at a desk all day, commute back home sitting down, sit when we get home and start the cycle over again. As a Triathlon Coach, Personal Trainer,
Spin and Row instructor I would like to offer some advice to your listeners and readers that will help them.
1. Start today – Just going for a walk will be huge
2. Find a fitness coach – this will save you time and
help dispel the bazillion fitness myths out there
3. Focus on these area, Frequency (how often), duration
(how long) and Intensity (how hard) –
starting guidelines
a. Frequency: 3-5 days a week
b. Duration: 15-30 min – to start
c. Intensity: don’t go breathless
The goal is long term health and wellbeing – consistence is key.
This is awesome
Great stuff Robby!!
thanks for this post – recently had a doctor appointment at which they told me to get back at it exercise wise. Besides the health benefits, i looked back to last year when I did exercise regularly and realized that I was a better employee, a better manager, and in a better health position to manage the stresses of leadership in ministry. unfortunately, it is an area that I had too easily pushed aside as unimportant.
haha…if only the rest of our country could discover this!! Excellent perspective Brad!
Great podcast Chris. Nothing is keeping me from this. I use to not exercise… I had high blood pressure and stress was killing me. Now I am running my second marathon in June. It has helped my health, stress, and given me higher confidence. Though I used the time excuse I know work harder and have higher focus. Blessings CLo.
Which one are you running?
Joel I am running the Seattle Rock and Roll.
Sweet. I’ve done the Virginia Beach and Nashville Rock n Roll halves but never that one. I need to change that!
Cool…I will tell you how it is:) Portland’s Marathon was fun.
We need to put a race on the radar and get a bunch of folks in on it!
That would be fun…I am in:)
That would be amazing
That’s awesome Zechariah! I’m proud of you for doing fulls. I’ve done 4 Rock n Roll halves. I’ve tried to imagine a full, and changed my imagination. 🙂
Always great stuff Chris. I’m a competitive guy so I have taken the “gaming” approach to my exercise and health. I started gaming my fitness plan 73 days ago. I joined a citywide challenge with 1000 other people, I joined an office challenge with 200 others, started using my Fitbit device and diligently using the MyFitnessPal app. As of today I have lost 40 pounds, am working out 5-6 days each week and have seen a significant number of other positive health markers. My mental focus has increased exponentially which has led to greater engagement with my team and the things we are accomplishing. So…exercise – DO IT!
Way to go Chris!!!
WOW CHRIS!!!! That’s crazy awesome!! Well done sir!!
Here’s another “secret” that I started applying two years ago.
I work it into my day.
I walk while I read.
I use a standing desk and move around.
I walk while I talk on the phone.
Little things like that make HUGE differences.
I bet that makes for some interesting phone conversations for the person on the other end. :-O
I don’t think they notice 🙂
I don’t do it on important calls, but I do about 90% of the time.
Yeah, the heavy breathing would…distract me
I don’t run, just walk haha 🙂
Speaking of phone calls…I’d still love to talk. I even promise to stand still LOL!
Words to live by – need to get my exercise routine back in – if effects EVERYTHING!!
Exercise is part of my normal routine; however, over the past 5 weeks or so it has been absent due to an injury in my leg. Almost cleared to get back to it (I do spinning and cycling outdoors primarily). Talk about CANNOT WAIT. It has been an adjustment the past few weeks. Brain fog; lowered resistance, edgy, you name it…..like Nike….DO IT….the benefits far outweigh the supposed sacrifices!
Simply put, AMEN. Not only do I feel better, but I look better, too. (Not model status, but the best me I can be!) My husband and I fit in the T25 workout every day. It kills us quickly, so it’s over and done!
I have 52 good excuses NOT to exercise: I get up at 5 AM, get four of us ready and out the door by 6:15, commute to work for 90 minutes, work for 8 hours, commute 90 minutes to home. Take care of homeschooling, house chores, business tasks, play with the kids, bedtime stories, crash exhausted at 9 PM to get 8 hours of sleep and do it all over.
My doctor keeps bugging me about it. My body keeps bugging me about it. I have never been athletic and exercise to me is unnecessarily painful and pointless. However, I know I need it. I think I’ll start with 15 min daily walks. That is doable and could be fit into my schedule. In my previous life, I could attend yoga twice a week and thoroughly enjoyed it. My current life allows for less time, but it’s time to start today.
This may come up when you see Chris soon. 🙂
Thanks for convicting me Chris. Did my wife call you? 🙂
What’s keeping me? In the engineering world I would say I’m having trouble overcoming the static coefficient of friction. Translation = If I would just start, I could probably get going (again).
So very true. I’ve ebbed and flowed for years and it never fails that when I start again it’s so much easier to move forward.
Chris, I second what Gary said…For real i want to change and not bc you talked to my wife. Ok i am 37 and people don’t think im overweight but at 192 lbs and 5’11 i have a gut and just a resistance to exercise. I should lose lose around 20lbs and eat better. I realize the reason i don’t is bc I am addicted to food and comfort. Other areas in my life i have died to being lazy. This is my next one to go.
What holds me back? I get bored, don’t like doing it alone, and have wasted money in the last year on gym memberships. And it’s cold outside. I also want fast results, but I’m working on changing my thinking there.
That being said, I went for a run for the first time in a couple of months the other day. It felt great. I am working to remember that health is a lifelong journey, not a destination you hit once and a while. It’s definitely a thought-changing process.
To also note, I lost 20lbs. in the last year just due to the Lord breaking shame off my life (and healthy habits).
Just like with everything else, I think it’s that “first step” that’s hardest for most. I have to say, even if I’m not seeing direct results, I still feel amazing that I’m going. It boosts my confidence. Since I’ve been between jobs and not been able to run (as I had to chuck my old shoes) and had a regimen, I can sense a major difference in my mood. What’s holding me back at the moment is all the major life changes we’re going through (just moving back from Germany, awaiting our first child, now moving to TX, full time student, etc.). However, I’ve already got a plan for TX to really kick it into gear.
Can’t wait to get back to boots on the road before work. Just makes the day that much better!