Is fitness your best insurance policy?
Kevin Brunson @ Reno UFC Gym
On June 8th, 2021, the Reno Gazette Journal published an online article for subscribers only about my 5,000th daily running streak milestone which occurred on June 13, 20201.
The benefit of the article is I feel like it’s been a coming
out moment for me and it has blessed me with the opportunity to share my
fitness philosophy.
I have a similar story of many runners I have had the
privilege to run with in the Greater Reno Nevada running community. I was
recruited for the Swope junior high school after doing well in the mandatory
one mile run for physical education class. I started running in 5th
grade for two reasons. One my mouth often wrote checks my body couldn’t cash.
Thus, I was always the smallest boy in my class until about 10th
grade. Even then I was painfully thin, so I was no match for some of the larger
boys. Secondly a friends dad told me the best way to become a better downhill
snow skier was to run.
I was excited to run cross country, although I had no idea
how painful it was going to be. Because of this I understand why running is not
loved by most of the population. Plus, the fact that running was the punishment
for every other sport.
Fast forward to me sitting at a desk at age 39. I was in a
lot of lunch dinner, type meetings, so I was eating caloric foods, and not
exercising. I was wondering what to do about, when I discovered a book at the
library, that stated to find exercise that you love to do as a child and lost
the passion. The book suggested that IF you regain the passion then boom your
participating in an activity you enjoy.
Just like that I was back to consistent running and
fortunately, two plus decades later I’m still enjoying the running journey. So
back to the title of this post. I believe that most of us want to move but have
either had a bad experience with exercise or just don’t know how to get
started. After you start, how do you stay consistent?
What if you don’t have to exercise to burn calories that
allow you to eat pie with your dinner without worry about weight gain.
For me it’s to move. For people able to walk, this should be
your go to movement. If you’re like me, I love to dance, and I’ve been involved
in dance as a hobby since I was four years. My dad allowed me to dance if I
didn’t do it public (LOL). He was embarrassed by my hip gyrations.
So back to walking. I started walking as a cool down after
my runs two decades ago. But today I find almost any excuse to walk. Its low
impact, the activity allows me to move with sweating profusely on cool days and
you do not have to have special equipment.
The big secret about movement habits, is once they become
part of your routing, hopefully you won’t think about it. Just do it!
To me the big challenge with not moving is thinking about
it. If you change to doing things you enjoy, hopefully you will change your
personal paradigm. From dreading to move, to I can’t wait to go see so and so. Go
hiking, visit a local park, walk to the bank, to get your morning coffee.
