Another Reason I’m A *Former* Fitness Consultant

Certainly that is a takeaway, but chiefly that we neglect to consider the myriad sudden movements we make during the day. Ex: if we kept track of the number of times we squat or lunge, in a day, it would probably be dozens or scores or even more.

 

I never ran track formally, although my dad was an assistant UF track coach under Percy Beard and ran the 100 *yard* dash.

I was a decent long jumper.

I did play high school football and remember the coach yelling “Water makes you weak!” and also the spring back dummy we were taught to stop with the crown of our helmet.

Amazing no one was killed.

In my 20’s I got into Nautilus training and since have never practiced volume training, my routines have always been minimalist.

While a fitness consultant I usually recommended a couple of brief workouts a week and encouraged them to work in some walking.

My only recovery strategy has been to wait until I feel fresh and ready.

I also stopped static stretching a few years back.

 

Only like an animal, maybe spontaneously when I stand up. I’ve never been able been able to touch my toes no matter how disciplined the static stretching, probably because it has nothing to do with muscle length. I was just trying to stretch a piece of meat.

I’ve given up on the idea of touching my toes, with locked knees, as I can’t imagine it’s a necessary movement.

On occasions where I have to squat or lunge, as in picking up something, I try to seize the opportunity to be more mindful about how I get into position. In that respect I suppose I turn a necessary movement into an exercise.

 

Impressive, to be sure, but I’m reluctant to associate this level of activity with health.

I’ve heard it said that if you want to imagine how you’ll look in twenty years, look in the mirror after you’ve run a marathon.

 

Yes, Europeans walk more than we do. But I suspect that is because the cities they live in are more conducive to walking.

In Charlotte, where I live, I’d love to be able to walk to a train station. But the nearest light rail stop is a 25 minute car drive.