Stop the Drift!

Lots of us grew up with the magical cartoon series, Calvin & Hobbes. It was created by the genius of Bill Watterson, who often in a very gentle way made you stop and think about your outlook on life. So when the above quote by the man himself popped up in my feed the other day I was intrigued. Once again he made me think about life. How many of us can sometimes find ourselves drifting through life only to discover that we have ended up somewhere where we didn’t think we would?

That could easily apply to our jobs, our relationships and our health.

John Lennon summed it up with his famous quote, “Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.” Or possibly more succinctly stated on a t-shirt in the iconic movie, Forrest Gump, “Sh*t happens!”

Life has a way of creeping up on people, and suddenly they find that they aren’t as healthy or strong or athletic as they once were. Work, family, and a host of other things have worked their way in and stolen time, increased waistlines and reduced the ability to do things as readily as you once could.

Which is why it is important to be reminded of this fact every so often.

Not to make you feel bad, but to give you perspective on where you are now, and that you can make small changes that will, in the long run, improve your health and fitness and so ultimately your life.

I don’t think anyone wants to end up decrepit, despite the best attempts of time to make us so.

We can change how we view life. 

Add in some purpose regarding your health, fitness and strength. 

Make it your mission to defy the ageing process; stick two fingers up to decrepitude and the multitude of metabolic conditions and diseases that accompany it.

And the beauty of that is, by doing so you will probably be able to enjoy old age as a fit and able being who has been determined to be the best they can be and has shown their body some love over time.

Here’s another great thing: it is never too late to start!

There are so many stories about people who started strength training in their seventies and eighties and have transformed their lives. And coupled to that, and backing up the anecdotal evidence, is a whole raft of scientific papers showing how septuagenarians and octogenarians who had never done any strength training in their lives, found themselves getting fitter, stronger, healthier and their muscles actually becoming younger through undertaking some simple exercises a few times a month.

So by being purposeful about it, you can change your health and stop the drift into old age. 

As has been stated in previous editions of this newsletter, the changes don’t have to be huge; it is often far easier to accommodate change when the changes are small and manageable. Add a few minutes of walking into your day. Do some squats while cleaning your teeth. Dance around the kitchen while waiting for the kettle to boil. Eat a few more meals cooked from scratch. There are so many little things you can do that will have a big impact on your health.

You could start going to the gym. But, just as awesome, would be moving your body more and using it in ways you haven’t done previously. Push. Pull. Lunge. Twist. Hinge at the hips. Maybe jump or sprint a little. In short, challenge yourself.

Your body will respond. It will become fitter, stronger, leaner and healthier.

In the words of Rob Schneider in just about every Adam Sandler movie, “You can do it!”

And if you are not sure where to start, click the gold button below and book a chat in the diary.