Overcoming Obstacles

Someone wrote me the other day saying he can’t start my program until his foot is better. He’s had chronic foot pain for years, so he’s not able to start an exercise program.

How’s that going to work out?

They have a saying in the National Football League in the US: “Anyone can play this game uninjured. That’s not what we do.”

I keep emphasizing to people, there’s only one thing to do: make progress toward your goal. However you do it. With whatever limitations. Can you be better and stronger tomorrow? Can you do more to lose fat and build muscle? Can you find a way to take your diet one small step closer to a better one? Can you find five more minutes in the gym? Can you work around your limitations?

I work around my limitations all the time. Some days my knee hurts, some days it doesn’t. I still stretch every day. I still do stairs. I still do squats. I run until it hurts. If it hurts, I walk.

I have tennis elbow in my left arm. I’ve had it before. It takes time. Immobilization doesn’t help. What helps is gentle use, do whatever you can but stay under the pain threshold. So I do light bicep curls and use a machine to help do pullups. When I can, I increase the resistance. When I can’t, I work on something else.

Now is the absolute best time for you to start your longevity training. Now is the time to commit to getting in shape, 30 minutes a day and three times a week. Waiting is always worse. Start with what you have. Find workarounds. Do your workout every day, even if it’s less of a workout than you used to do. If you have a fever, I’d say you can skip the workout. If you just have a sore throat or a stuffed nose, that’s no excuse. Keep moving forward.

Stick with your diet. Take your supplements. Get your protein. Drink your water. Keep moving forward.

That’s the deal: keep moving forward. If you want to use your time and energy best, if you want someone who is flexible but doesn’t accept excuses, set up your onboarding call with me and let’s do this together.