This is one of those fun times of the year where we all want to be social, but also are looking to squeeze in training while we can. All this while trying not to run ourselves down and stay as healthy as possible.

Building and Maintaining Strength- Yes, even in busy times of your life, you can build some strength. Even if you’re not quite getting the training in that builds your strength, you’ve likely taken a lot of time and care to build your strength, you don’t want to go back to square one if you can help it, right? Just 1 training session a week, though I’d recommend 2, can help you at the very least maintain what you’ve built. 

Stress Management- When you’re in a busy period of your life, you will undoubtedly be stressed out. Unless you are perfect when it comes to managing your stress on the, then you are going to need take time to relieve it to some degree before you have some sort of break down. Strength training might not be the cure all, but it does the job well for most. You exert yourself, you get back some of your confidence, release some of those endorphins, pretty good stuff if you ask me.

Keep the Sick Bug Away- Not unlike above, when you train during a busy block of life, assuming you don’t train to absolute train-wreck-failure, you can keep that little sick bug away that tends to pop up when we overdo it and our body breaks down. Adjust the weights and your intensity of your training to match your energy, and you’ll keep your immune system in good shape, let alone your body.

 
Hope you find these little bits helpful for you as we get into the New Year as well. Have yourself a week and great end of the year fam!

To me the biggest focus on the fitness industry should not be on little ins and outs of nutrient timing or posting about how much time you should be off social media before you lift (seriously I saw this one and wanted to throw my phone). It should be about how can we get more people moving. Especially when you consider our healthcare system in the U.S. has so many issues, the focus should be on trying to get movement in, so we don’t need to lean on it so much. I know for some that is hard because of certain conditions, still let’s do our best to get moving so we can let those that have issues that nutrition and exercise can’t fix, have the room they need. Won’t go further into this part because there’s tons of layers to peel back, I think you understand what I’m driving at here.
 
         Of course, I’m biased to picking up heavy stuff and putting it back down, not only because I enjoy it but because of the loads of benefits it provides, I’m not against other things. Hell, if walking is what is going to get someone consistent movement, get after it and good on them. The way I see it, is if we can get more of the population up and moving, more of them will eventually find themselves with weights in hand.
 
         One of the reasons I very much enjoy working with my young athletes is because I know I can set these kids up to do this for life, so they do not end up like those that are working on just getting off their butts. I get to teach them that just because their sports go away does not mean there is benefit in getting to the gym and getting a bar in their hands. Does the reason change? Yes, it does. Do the benefits change? Not a chance. I’m especially proud of the female athletes that move on from me but continue to get in the gym and pick up some heavy stuff, that is another positive way to move fitness forward.
 
         The question remains if you were not taught this at a younger age, how do you start now? Just do the thing. Ready for a walk? Off for a stroll you go. Feeling like some yoga? Get your stretch on and enjoy. Body weight circuit? Cool go for it (and hit me up if you need ideas). If nothing else, ask someone you feel like has some (even if limited) knowledge about exercise and go from there. Those are the things in my brain for today folks, happy Thursday and enjoy your weekend!