2601: [Part 1] Beyond The Physical Benefits of Health and Fitness Programs by Ross Enamait of Ross Training

[00:00:00] Have you ever noticed how a calm mind can really set the stage for a good night's sleep? That's the idea behind our new podcast, Good Sleep. Greg, our host from Optimal Relationships Daily is here to help ease you into a peaceful night's rest with some positive affirmations.

[00:00:15] And these affirmations aren't just comforting, they can help ease anxiety and nurture positive thoughts, setting you up for true good sleep. So, press play on good sleep tonight because a good tomorrow starts with a good night's sleep. Just search for good sleep in your podcast app

[00:00:34] and be sure to pick the one from Optimal Living Daily. This is Optimal Health Daily, Episode 2601. Beyond the Physical Benefits of Health and Fitness Programs, Part 1 by Ross Ennemite of rostraining.com and I'm Dr. Neal.

[00:00:51] Hey there and welcome to another edition of Optimal Health Daily where I read some of the best blogs covering health and fitness just like an audiobook and always with a bit of my

[00:01:01] commentary at the end. Now, we have a bunch of shows where we do this very same thing. Just search for Optimal Living Daily to find all of them. Now, today's post is a bit longer than

[00:01:12] what I typically narrate so I'll read the first half today and then finish it up for you tomorrow. So with that, let's get right to it as we optimize your life. Beyond the Physical Benefits of Health and Fitness Programs, Part 1 by Ross Ennemite of rostraining.com

[00:01:34] Earlier this week, I received an email from a young man who questioned my pursuit of physical fitness. He wondered why anyone would invest so much time into building a body that will eventually expire. In other words, why build strength if it is only temporary? Initially,

[00:01:53] I wasn't sure if the individual was serious or just trolling me. Upon responding though, it was clear that he was quite serious. He was genuinely confused about physical fitness, the benefits of exercise, and life itself. With that in mind, I believe it's worth discussing

[00:02:12] how the long-term benefits of physical activity extend far beyond physical strength. Long-term Benefits of Physical Activity Before discussing specific benefits, it's important to understand that everything we do in life is temporary. Yet the fact that life will someday end isn't a reason to be miserable each day.

[00:02:34] I'd rather enjoy the moment instead of worrying about what the future will bring. Whether I'm strong tomorrow, next year, or in 50 years is irrelevant when choosing to be strong today. Furthermore, exercise isn't just about developing physical strength. My ability to lift

[00:02:52] a certain piece of iron or perform a particular exercise isn't what drives me to train each day. I view exercise as something that's more powerful than even the heaviest of loads. Unfortunately, the fitness industry has failed to convince more people to pursue healthier lives.

[00:03:10] The ever-increasing obesity statistics don't lie. Thus, while there is more fitness material available than ever before, the abundance of information hasn't compelled more people to exercise. The bulk of articles about physical health are in many ways preaching to the choir.

[00:03:27] They're targeted towards those who are already in the know. Therefore, in this entry, my goal isn't to tell people who already train how to train better. Instead, I'll share what drives me to exercise each day. Hopefully, there's someone out there who hasn't taken their first step

[00:03:46] who will hear something that inspires them to begin their own journey. 1. Vitality In a world filled with fitness celebrities who snap selfies wearing next to nothing, some might be surprised that I list vitality as my primary reason to exercise. Merriam-Webster defines vitality as a lively

[00:04:08] or energetic quality. Exercise is what gives me that feeling. Who wouldn't want to attain more vitality in their life? I couldn't imagine anyone who wouldn't want to feel more vibrant and energized

[00:04:21] throughout the day. The vitality that I have allows me to get so much more out of life. How can you live life to the fullest if you plod through each day feeling tired and unmotivated?

[00:04:34] That's no way to live. I'd rather feel and act younger than my age. I'm still a big kid at heart. I wouldn't trade the ability to go outside and play with my kids for anything. I'll never be

[00:04:46] that parent who sits on the sidelines scrolling through his phone while his kids are off running around having fun. It's much more enjoyable to participate, and the smiles that I see from my

[00:04:58] children are the greatest rewards of all. Their joy is all the motivation I'll ever need to stay physically fit and active. 2. Mental Clarity Another benefit of exercise that doesn't receive adequate attention is what I call mental clarity.

[00:05:16] In short, my mind operates at a much higher level as a direct result of exercise. Not only is my mind sharper throughout the day, but many of my best thoughts come in between sets of heavy lifting. The mind-body connection is undeniable. In the words of Henry Rollins,

[00:05:35] I believe that when the body is strong, the mind thinks strong thoughts. Time spent away from the iron makes my mind degenerate. End quote. I could not agree more. I always think, feel,

[00:05:49] and act better after an intense workout. It doesn't matter how I felt before, I always feel better after I've challenged myself physically. I'm never more than one workout away from a better mood. 3. Hear that on tomorrow's episode.

[00:06:09] You just listened to part 1 of the post titled, Beyond the Physical Benefits of Health and Fitness Programs by Ross Enemite of RossTraining.com and I'll be right back with my commentary. Dr. Neil here for my commentary. When I was practicing, my patients would tell me things

[00:06:26] like this all the time. I would rather eat my pizza and drink my beer because they make me happy instead of giving them up and being unhappy for the rest of my life. You only live once I say,

[00:06:39] so might as well enjoy it. The response I would give them is basically the same as Ross described in today's post. I would say things like, well, what if you could feel even better today and most days going forward but without completely giving up those things?

[00:06:56] What if I said you could still enjoy those things while improving the way you feel and extending your life? Now when I asked them those questions and framed it in that way, they usually stopped and thought about what I was saying. I was trying to make the decision

[00:07:13] easier for them. They don't have to give up anything completely. Instead, they just need to cut back on a couple of things while increasing a couple of others. Small changes like these, when performed over time, can make a big difference. Same goes for exercise. Rather than thinking about

[00:07:31] all of the things we might lose by exercising, if we switch our perspective to all of the things we gain, it's a much easier sell. And I'll leave you with this quote, do something today for which your future self will thank you.

[00:07:48] Alright, speaking of today, that'll do it for today. We're going to jump into part two tomorrow so definitely come back for that and where your optimal life awaits.