Firstly, thank you to all of you who read these newsletters every week. It means so much to me to have feedback that you (i) read them from start to finish, (ii) enjoy them and (iii) find them useful for your health and fitness. And when deciding on what to write this week, I wasn’t sure if I would be preaching to the converted, but thought it might be interesting to further affirm your thinking, so if you are ready, here goes…

Why bother with getting stronger, fitter and healthier? What’s the point of putting yourself through some kind of hardship? It surely can’t be all that enjoyable, can it? 

Great questions, and here is my take on why I bother, and think it is important to be actively trying to get stronger, fitter and healthier, especially as I am aging. 

As regular readers of this newsletter, you will know that I have many issues with how the fitness industry operates, and one of those is how it is marketed. Health and fitness is marketed towards young people, and is seen as abs and sex and vanity. Check out any health or fitness magazine cover and it is obvious that no one is paying attention to what matters: staying stronger and maintaining lean tissue as you get older;  moving around; and keeping your diet on point. All of those are going to help you live longer and make your life better.

Did you know that one of the top reasons why a person has to be admitted into some form of assisted living or an old person’s home is because they can’t get off the toilet? They can’t complete such a basic task of everyday living because they can’t do a half rep of a bodyweight squat to get off the toilet. Simple, yet scary stuff.

We all have hopes and dreams, but I can almost certainly guarantee that you have no desire to end up infirm, in pain and needing full time care. Old and full of life, yes. But old and decrepit, no. So why not take a few minutes each week to work on your strength, fitness and health? The quote from one of the greatest Olympians ever at the top of this page is testament to that.

“But, David, I am so busy. Kids! Work! Life!”

I completely understand. The world is a busy place, and while I have easy access to a gym, running two businesses, having a family and dog, and wanting to spend time with friends and having a life is important to me too. So, I make sure I diarise my workouts, my dog walks, my eating times, when I cook dinner. These time slots are in place and non-negotiable. They are meetings with myself. In the same way I won’t shirk out of meetings or sessions with clients, I won’t miss meetings with myself that are in my diary. It is a simple trick, and one that works for me.

The mantra, “Do what you can, when you can (with what you have available)” is a pertinent one here. Squats while you brush your teeth, or lunges while you wait for the kettle to boil are two great examples of doing something meaningful in a short time frame.

And if you are not sure what that meaningful thing is that you could do, or how to put together a series of meaningful actions, please get in touch with me, as I’d love to help you. 

P.S. The much promised ‘Summer Bash’ programme designed to help you navigate the summer holidays with excellent nutrition advice and fitness tips, as well as workouts that you can do anywhere is almost here. Registration opens up on Friday 23rd May (that is this week!), and places will be limited, so make sure you get in first! Watch out for an extra email from me on Friday, so you can get signed up and know that you can have a healthy summer.