What is Health?

Being a trainer is an incredible experience to help people learn and achieve more in the gym and in how they live their life. But I want you to realize that becoming healthy and looking like some of the guys and girls at your gym can be total opposites. In fact most trainers have this idea of health all wrong as well.

I have a friend that runs long distance races and sprint triathlons. He trains to a point of ridiculous. His light run is a 7.5 for 45 minutes instead of 8.5 for an hour followed by a swim or bike most days. He is lean, sculpted and confident in the gym. I have clients all the time ask me what they have to do to look like this guy. When I tell tell people that this guy is not healthy they look at me like I have no idea what I’m talking about. Here’s the deal. This guy doesn’t even consider himself a triathlete. In fact he does these races for fun and doesn’t train for specific races. He just does a late sign up for that weekend if he’s free. He trains to be in marathon shape year round.

His idea of fitness is completing a triathlon. But his bodies idea of health is very different. He has a spinal injury that is caused by compressions and impact from running. It is almost unbearable to run, but he keeps doing it anyway. His body is breaking down and soon he will not be able to run anywhere. This isn’t limited to endurance athletes. You see guys in the gym everyday that are not competitive bodybuilders that are trying to lift 3 times their body weight on a bench. Why? Who are we all trying to impress.

Exercises have consequences! Continued use injuries like arthritis cannot be repaired. You will have deep joint pain the rest of your life. And for what? If the way you train right now is causing more harm than good is it really becoming healthy? No, it is not! Take a look at your goals. When I was a professional hockey player, I assumed a certain level of pain and injury on a constant basis to achieve my goals. Now that I am looking at being healthy, my training is about being injury free and mechanically sound. I don’t lift the heaviest weights I possibly can because there is no reason.

You have to ask yourself “why” every now and then. Does what you are doing make sense for the quality of your life in the future. This goes for nutrition too. Does it make sense to eat the way you do. If not, it’s time for a wake up call. Just because you see people in the gym doing circus act exercises or trying to wear out their treadmill doesn’t mean that what they are doing is right for you. Be objective. If you have questions, ask. Let me know how I can help, but I challenge you to look inside yourself and work on real health and happiness that will last a lifetime!