Let me begin by saying that even if you’re not a fan of podcasts, at least listen to this one episode. I’ve listened to it three times. And I’ll probably listen to it again whenever I need a bit of inspiration. The energy and passion of these two guys is powerful and I can’t help but get caught up in it! Darin’s guest is exercise guru and Mind Pump podcast cofounder Sal Di Stefano. He also authored the book “The Resistance Training Revolution” which is all about strength training as the way to more energy, more fat loss, increased metabolism, and better overall health and aging, which is true, but this episode isn’t about his book . . .
This particular episode is about how working out, though it may begin as a way to “fix” something we don’t like about ourselves, can become about the journey rather than the destination. Sal asks why we punish ourselves with [insert exercise of choice] if we don’t enjoy it? Why do we spend hours upon hours beating ourselves up to chase some imagined (and quite possibly unattainable!) aesthetic? Think about it . . . how many times have you heard people talk (or worse, complain) about the hours per day they spend at the gym? How many people do you know who have signed up for a gym membership in January, all pumped up to work out, only to fizzle a month or two later? In this episode, Sal relays a story about a woman whose friend was super-healthy and still died young, therefore she stated that eating well and working out didn’t prevent her friend’s death so she decided she was just going to enjoy life. This blew his mind – and suddenly set him on a new trajectory. If we don’t like the exercise we’ve chosen, then it turns into a chore, and we give up. He suggests that when we do the right kinds of exercises, and we stick with it because we enjoy it, “the result is the side effect and what you love is the journey and the journey is where everything happens”. The bottom line is this: “If you enjoy the journey, you’re going to do if for the sake of doing it.”
Sal also suggests one more thing: change the purpose of working out from self-hate to self-love. If we approach exercise from the perspective of ‘I’m going to take good care of myself’, it’s so much more sustainable than if we punish ourselves and circle the shame drain. (Plus, it’s much more uplifting – I know I’d rather spiral up!) And health isn’t just about working out and/or eating good-for-you food. He describes health as a “sphere”, encompassing many different aspects of our lives, not just the physical. And when we pay attention to those things, and incorporate them into our pledge to take care of ourselves, then it all comes together in a way we could never imagine.
There’s a LOT more to the episode, which I won’t detail here – I’m much too excited and would probably ramble more than I already have! Go! Listen to it! See for yourself. Listen to his story, his A ha! moments, his own health hiccup, and his no-nonsense, common sense approach to health. Get swept up in his energy.
Click to listen to The Darin Olien Show episode featuring Sal Di Stefano. Enjoy!!
Check out Darin’s web site and all the things he’s into at darinolien.com
If you’d like to learn more about Sal and his book, go to theresistancetrainingrevolution.com or give the Mind Pump podcast a try.
The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.
Wholeness Health and YOU! 