Eric Stevens, Author at Whole Life Challenge https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/author/eric-c-stevens/ The Game That Changes Your Whole Life Wed, 08 Nov 2023 13:00:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.7 The 4 Steps to Finding the Best Fitness Community for You https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-4-steps-to-finding-the-best-fitness-community-for-you/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-4-steps-to-finding-the-best-fitness-community-for-you/#comments Wed, 08 Nov 2023 13:00:23 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=6985---92a3e6e7-bb39-421c-bc0b-835d8d3465f3 I’m an introvert. I don’t like fairs, carnivals, airports, or malls. I don’t particularly like loud, overcrowded, sweaty fitness classes, which is ironic considering I’ve taught thousands of them. But despite my personal preference for a low-key vibe, group fitness environments can provide the extra motivation and accountability some people need to thrive.

One thing I have learned over and over again, as both a student and a coach, is that when it comes to reaching and staying at your goals, support matters.…

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]]> I’m an introvert. I don’t like fairs, carnivals, airports, or malls. I don’t particularly like loud, overcrowded, sweaty fitness classes, which is ironic considering I’ve taught thousands of them. But despite my personal preference for a low-key vibe, group fitness environments can provide the extra motivation and accountability some people need to thrive.

One thing I have learned over and over again, as both a student and a coach, is that when it comes to reaching and staying at your goals, support matters.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-4-steps-to-finding-the-best-fitness-community-for-you/feed/ 1 How to Persevere as a Beginner and Get Past Intimidation https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-persevere-as-a-beginner-and-get-past-intimidation/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-persevere-as-a-beginner-and-get-past-intimidation/#comments Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:00:12 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=6311---33ba501d-5b9e-448a-8ddd-d1116a8c3ca7 When I first learned to ski, I was in junior high. I was a late bloomer, and I was old enough to feel the pain of being judged by my peers. Old enough to know the feeling of failure. Old enough to know that when you fall, you feel pain and you can get hurt in the process.

With that as my backdrop, I was full of apprehension on my first day of skiing.…

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]]> When I first learned to ski, I was in junior high. I was a late bloomer, and I was old enough to feel the pain of being judged by my peers. Old enough to know the feeling of failure. Old enough to know that when you fall, you feel pain and you can get hurt in the process.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-persevere-as-a-beginner-and-get-past-intimidation/feed/ 1 Why You Need to Focus on Moving Better vs. Looking Better This Year https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-focus-on-moving-better-vs-looking-better-this-year/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-focus-on-moving-better-vs-looking-better-this-year/#comments Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=9325 Every year some sixty million Americans try a new fitness routine. But more than 50% of them drop out within six months.

There are a variety of reasons people give for jumping off the fitness train — among the chief complaints are that exercise is hard, life gets too busy, and the failure to reach a goal. More than anything, though, people stop doing something when they stop getting better at it.…

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]]> Every year some sixty million Americans try a new fitness routine. But more than 50% of them drop out within six months.

There are a variety of reasons people give for jumping off the fitness train — among the chief complaints are that exercise is hard, life gets too busy, and the failure to reach a goal.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-focus-on-moving-better-vs-looking-better-this-year/feed/ 1 5 Ways to Get Fit and Strong If You Hate Lifting Weights https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-to-get-fit-and-strong-if-you-hate-lifting-weights/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-to-get-fit-and-strong-if-you-hate-lifting-weights/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2021 16:00:51 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=7151 One of the best things I’ve read in months was a quotation from Hall of Fame basketball player Allen Iverson. When asked why he didn’t lift weights during his storied fifteen-year career, “The Answer” answered simply, “That [stuff] was too heavy.”

While Iverson’s response is hilarious, it’s also a head-scratcher considering he was one of the most dominant players of his era.…

The post 5 Ways to Get Fit and Strong If You Hate Lifting Weights appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

]]> One of the best things I’ve read in months was a quotation from Hall of Fame basketball player Allen Iverson. When asked why he didn’t lift weights during his storied fifteen-year career, “The Answer” answered simply, “That [stuff] was too heavy.”

While Iverson’s response is hilarious, it’s also a head-scratcher considering he was one of the most dominant players of his era.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-to-get-fit-and-strong-if-you-hate-lifting-weights/feed/ 2 The 6 Degrees of Preparation: How to Exercise Intelligently https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-6-degrees-of-preparation-how-to-exercise-intelligently/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-6-degrees-of-preparation-how-to-exercise-intelligently/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2020 15:00:58 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=5978 “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln

There’s an old adage that says luck favors the prepared. Yet, in our modern culture of instant gratification, the preparation mantra doesn’t always seem to resonate. We want results and we want them now. And while discovering your true talents and passion will have a big impact on the outcome you achieve in any endeavor, preparation is what will make or break you.…

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]]> “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln

There’s an old adage that says luck favors the prepared. Yet, in our modern culture of instant gratification, the preparation mantra doesn’t always seem to resonate. We want results and we want them now. And while discovering your true talents and passion will have a big impact on the outcome you achieve in any endeavor, preparation is what will make or break you.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-6-degrees-of-preparation-how-to-exercise-intelligently/feed/ 2 Why You Need to Stop Drinking Soda (for Good) https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-stop-drinking-soda-for-good/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-stop-drinking-soda-for-good/#comments Thu, 20 Jun 2019 07:01:11 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=11390 Shortly after my divorce, I took a year off from drinking alcohol. Though it had never been a problem in my life, it occurred to me that during the aftermath of a trauma like a divorce, having a few alcoholic drinks to dull the pain might actually delay or worsen it instead.

It was the right decision for me at that time and since I had never been a big drinker, abstaining from alcohol wasn’t an ordeal.…

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]]> Shortly after my divorce, I took a year off from drinking alcohol. Though it had never been a problem in my life, it occurred to me that during the aftermath of a trauma like a divorce, having a few alcoholic drinks to dull the pain might actually delay or worsen it instead.

It was the right decision for me at that time and since I had never been a big drinker, abstaining from alcohol wasn’t an ordeal.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-stop-drinking-soda-for-good/feed/ 1 Stop Making Failed Resolutions (Do These 6 Things Instead) https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/stop-making-failed-resolutions-do-these-6-things-instead/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/stop-making-failed-resolutions-do-these-6-things-instead/#comments Thu, 27 Dec 2018 10:00:27 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=6655 Almost half of Americans make resolutions each year. Not surprisingly, the most common resolutions people make are to lose weight and go the gym more. In fact, more than 65% of Americans say they plan to exercise more in the coming year.

But while many seem willing and eager to get started on a new objective, the percentage of people who are successful in achieving their resolutions is a meager 8%.…

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]]> Almost half of Americans make resolutions each year. Not surprisingly, the most common resolutions people make are to lose weight and go the gym more. In fact, more than 65% of Americans say they plan to exercise more in the coming year.

But while many seem willing and eager to get started on a new objective, the percentage of people who are successful in achieving their resolutions is a meager 8%.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/stop-making-failed-resolutions-do-these-6-things-instead/feed/ 1 The Problem with Plugged-in Fitness (and How to Cut the Cord) https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-problem-with-plugged-in-fitness-and-how-to-pull-the-cord/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-problem-with-plugged-in-fitness-and-how-to-pull-the-cord/#comments Tue, 17 Jul 2018 09:00:49 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=11144 When I first moved to Colorado, I frequented a lot of coffee shops to work, write, and even go on the occasional date. Picking a coffee shop to patronize seems like a simple enough task, but as a writer, night owl, and java snob, I had three important prerequisites: one that didn’t close early, offered great coffee, and, of course, Wi-Fi.…

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]]> When I first moved to Colorado, I frequented a lot of coffee shops to work, write, and even go on the occasional date. Picking a coffee shop to patronize seems like a simple enough task, but as a writer, night owl, and java snob, I had three important prerequisites: one that didn’t close early, offered great coffee, and, of course, Wi-Fi.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-problem-with-plugged-in-fitness-and-how-to-pull-the-cord/feed/ 2 There Is No Comfortable Way to Improve Yourself https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/there-is-no-comfortable-way-to-improve-yourself/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/there-is-no-comfortable-way-to-improve-yourself/#respond Wed, 06 Jun 2018 09:00:39 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=10752 “Every positive change — every jump to a higher level of awareness — involves a rite of passage. Each time to ascend to a higher rung of the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception.” — Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior

During the first part of my fitness career, I regularly taught spin classes.…

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]]> “Every positive change — every jump to a higher level of awareness — involves a rite of passage. Each time to ascend to a higher rung of the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception.” — Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior

During the first part of my fitness career, I regularly taught spin classes.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/there-is-no-comfortable-way-to-improve-yourself/feed/ 0 The Critical Reasons HOW We Eat Matters More Than WHAT https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-critical-reasons-how-we-eat-matters-more-than-what/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-critical-reasons-how-we-eat-matters-more-than-what/#comments Tue, 01 May 2018 09:00:24 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=10615 When I was a growing up, we had a sit-down family dinner every night. In high school and college, I regularly ate with friends in the cafeteria. When I started my first career, I went out for a proper lunch with coworkers almost every day.

But that was back in the day when the once common notion of the leisurely and social meal was the norm.…

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]]> When I was a growing up, we had a sit-down family dinner every night. In high school and college, I regularly ate with friends in the cafeteria. When I started my first career, I went out for a proper lunch with coworkers almost every day.

But that was back in the day when the once common notion of the leisurely and social meal was the norm.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-critical-reasons-how-we-eat-matters-more-than-what/feed/ 1 Why You Need to Rethink Your “Healthy” Bar Eating Habit https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-rethink-your-healthy-bar-eating-habit/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-rethink-your-healthy-bar-eating-habit/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2018 09:00:23 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=10466 In 1975, Nature Valley introduced the granola bar. The initial reception was lukewarm as granola was seen as a “fringe” food. Shortly thereafter in the mid-1980s, Power Bar introduced the first “energy bar,” which was designed for endurance athletes like marathoners and distance cyclists. Power Bar, while popular, was also seen as a niche food intended for elite athletes.

Little did Nature Valley and Power Bar know that they had started a massive trend in the way we consume food.…

The post Why You Need to Rethink Your “Healthy” Bar Eating Habit appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

]]> In 1975, Nature Valley introduced the granola bar. The initial reception was lukewarm as granola was seen as a “fringe” food. Shortly thereafter in the mid-1980s, Power Bar introduced the first “energy bar,” which was designed for endurance athletes like marathoners and distance cyclists. Power Bar, while popular, was also seen as a niche food intended for elite athletes.…

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]]> https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-need-to-rethink-your-healthy-bar-eating-habit/feed/ 6 Why You Should Hire a Trainer (and How to Pick the Right One) https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-should-hire-a-trainer-and-how-to-pick-the-right-one/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-should-hire-a-trainer-and-how-to-pick-the-right-one/#respond Mon, 12 Mar 2018 09:00:17 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=9976 Every year, millions of Americans embark on a new fitness routine. While they may have different goals, aspirations, and preferences, most share the same dilemmas, namely:

  • Making the commitment
  • Sticking with it

    • With the hectic pace of modern life, getting to the gym is no small task. But as difficult as starting a new regimen may be, sticking with it is arguably the more difficult endeavor.…

    The post Why You Should Hire a Trainer (and How to Pick the Right One) appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Every year, millions of Americans embark on a new fitness routine. While they may have different goals, aspirations, and preferences, most share the same dilemmas, namely:

  • Making the commitment
  • Sticking with it

    • With the hectic pace of modern life, getting to the gym is no small task. But as difficult as starting a new regimen may be, sticking with it is arguably the more difficult endeavor.…

    The post Why You Should Hire a Trainer (and How to Pick the Right One) appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/why-you-should-hire-a-trainer-and-how-to-pick-the-right-one/feed/ 0     5 Ways the Pursuit of Fitness Can Lead You to Happiness https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-the-pursuit-of-fitness-can-lead-you-to-happiness/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-the-pursuit-of-fitness-can-lead-you-to-happiness/#comments Mon, 29 Jan 2018 10:00:46 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=9683 Not long ago someone asked me to define the word “fitness.” My answer read something like this: “Fitness is an external condition exemplified by an outward expression of one’s own individual physicality.” Merriam Webster defines fitness as simply “the quality or state of being fit,” and being synonymous with health, strength, and vigor.

    While we all may define fitness somewhat differently and participate in exercise uniquely, we can likely agree that for many, fitness boils down to three elements — physical function, proficiency of skill, and the aspiration for a “better” physique.…

    The post 5 Ways the Pursuit of Fitness Can Lead You to Happiness appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Not long ago someone asked me to define the word “fitness.” My answer read something like this: “Fitness is an external condition exemplified by an outward expression of one’s own individual physicality.” Merriam Webster defines fitness as simply “the quality or state of being fit,” and being synonymous with health, strength, and vigor.

    While we all may define fitness somewhat differently and participate in exercise uniquely, we can likely agree that for many, fitness boils down to three elements — physical function, proficiency of skill, and the aspiration for a “better” physique.…

    The post 5 Ways the Pursuit of Fitness Can Lead You to Happiness appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-the-pursuit-of-fitness-can-lead-you-to-happiness/feed/ 2     The 7 Rules for Success, Survival, and a Good Workout in a Public Gym https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-7-rules-for-success-survival-and-a-good-workout-in-a-public-gym/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-7-rules-for-success-survival-and-a-good-workout-in-a-public-gym/#respond Tue, 02 Jan 2018 10:00:43 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=9159 I can only imagine that one of the many benefits of being wealthy would be to have a sweet state-of-the-art gym set up in the comforts of my home. At such a gym, I could work out in my underwear, blast my favorite workout music at 10:00pm, grunt and throw my weights around, and leave the space a complete mess if my heart desired.…

    The post The 7 Rules for Success, Survival, and a Good Workout in a Public Gym appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     I can only imagine that one of the many benefits of being wealthy would be to have a sweet state-of-the-art gym set up in the comforts of my home. At such a gym, I could work out in my underwear, blast my favorite workout music at 10:00pm, grunt and throw my weights around, and leave the space a complete mess if my heart desired.…

    The post The 7 Rules for Success, Survival, and a Good Workout in a Public Gym appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-7-rules-for-success-survival-and-a-good-workout-in-a-public-gym/feed/ 0     It’s the Food: Why We Gain Weight https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/its-the-food-why-we-gain-weight/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/its-the-food-why-we-gain-weight/#respond Tue, 14 Nov 2017 10:00:37 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=8810 Physics states that if you move more, you burn more calories, and if you burn more calories, you lose unwanted pounds. This seems logical enough, and most of us have heard this so many times through the mainstream media that it almost seems like gospel. Based on such logic, and to reverse the trends of inactivity and expanding waistlines, people have been joining fitness facilities in droves for the better part of twenty years.…

    The post It’s the Food: Why We Gain Weight appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Physics states that if you move more, you burn more calories, and if you burn more calories, you lose unwanted pounds. This seems logical enough, and most of us have heard this so many times through the mainstream media that it almost seems like gospel. Based on such logic, and to reverse the trends of inactivity and expanding waistlines, people have been joining fitness facilities in droves for the better part of twenty years.…

    The post It’s the Food: Why We Gain Weight appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/its-the-food-why-we-gain-weight/feed/ 0     How to Create an Exercise Plan You Actually Enjoy https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-create-an-exercise-plan-you-actually-enjoy/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-create-an-exercise-plan-you-actually-enjoy/#comments Tue, 10 Oct 2017 09:00:20 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=8591 If you’re like me, odds are you have at least one type of exercise you love and at least one type you hate. And, if you’re like me, I’m betting you tend to choose to do the exercise you love far more often than the one you can’t stand.

    It’s long been my assertion that to find true success in fitness, you need to find a way to move your body that moves you.…

    The post How to Create an Exercise Plan You Actually Enjoy appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     If you’re like me, odds are you have at least one type of exercise you love and at least one type you hate. And, if you’re like me, I’m betting you tend to choose to do the exercise you love far more often than the one you can’t stand.

    It’s long been my assertion that to find true success in fitness, you need to find a way to move your body that moves you.…

    The post How to Create an Exercise Plan You Actually Enjoy appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-create-an-exercise-plan-you-actually-enjoy/feed/ 3     Don’t Stop When You Reach Your Goal: 4 Tips for a Healthy Life https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/dont-stop-when-you-reach-your-goal-4-tips-for-healthy-life/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/dont-stop-when-you-reach-your-goal-4-tips-for-healthy-life/#comments Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:00:06 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=8369 If you’ve ever glanced at the fitness and beauty magazines in the check-out line at your local supermarket, you may have noticed a stark similarity in the headlines – Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days, Get Fit for Fall, and Find Those Toned Abs You’re Looking For. The majority of content reads like a how-to manual with the emphasis on some sort of achievable short-term destination.…

    The post Don’t Stop When You Reach Your Goal: 4 Tips for a Healthy Life appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     If you’ve ever glanced at the fitness and beauty magazines in the check-out line at your local supermarket, you may have noticed a stark similarity in the headlines – Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days, Get Fit for Fall, and Find Those Toned Abs You’re Looking For. The majority of content reads like a how-to manual with the emphasis on some sort of achievable short-term destination.…

    The post Don’t Stop When You Reach Your Goal: 4 Tips for a Healthy Life appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/dont-stop-when-you-reach-your-goal-4-tips-for-healthy-life/feed/ 1     5 Ways to Make Sure Your Gym Is Not Scamming You https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-to-make-sure-your-gym-is-not-scamming-you/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-to-make-sure-your-gym-is-not-scamming-you/#respond Tue, 18 Jul 2017 09:00:50 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=8048 Perhaps the only places you go with regularity that are charged with the sole purpose of addressing your well being are your church and the gym. In theory, a church is a temple of wellness offering community-based unity in thought and faith. And theoretically, a gym is a wellness temple of a different sorts — tasked with promoting a culture of holistic health and fitness.…

    The post 5 Ways to Make Sure Your Gym Is Not Scamming You appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Perhaps the only places you go with regularity that are charged with the sole purpose of addressing your well being are your church and the gym. In theory, a church is a temple of wellness offering community-based unity in thought and faith. And theoretically, a gym is a wellness temple of a different sorts — tasked with promoting a culture of holistic health and fitness.…

    The post 5 Ways to Make Sure Your Gym Is Not Scamming You appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-ways-to-make-sure-your-gym-is-not-scamming-you/feed/ 0     Distracted Exercise: Why It Can Be Bad for You and How to Avoid It https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/distracted-exercise/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/distracted-exercise/#comments Tue, 04 Jul 2017 09:00:45 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=7924 If you want to see something scary, take a look at the drivers around you next time you’re stopped at a traffic light or stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It’s a good bet plenty of those drivers will have their heads down for one simple reason — they are looking at their phones.

    Indeed, distracted driving is a serious problem. Some have even called texting and driving the new drinking and driving.…

    The post Distracted Exercise: Why It Can Be Bad for You and How to Avoid It appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     If you want to see something scary, take a look at the drivers around you next time you’re stopped at a traffic light or stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It’s a good bet plenty of those drivers will have their heads down for one simple reason — they are looking at their phones.

    Indeed, distracted driving is a serious problem.…

    The post Distracted Exercise: Why It Can Be Bad for You and How to Avoid It appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/distracted-exercise/feed/ 2     How to Turn Your Injury Into an Opportunity in 6 Steps https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-turn-your-injury-into-an-opportunity-in-6-steps/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-turn-your-injury-into-an-opportunity-in-6-steps/#respond Tue, 06 Jun 2017 09:00:58 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=7774 I wasn’t a great athlete growing up. Being a scrawny kid with so-so hand-eye coordination wasn’t a great combination for sports performance. By high school, most of my athletic endeavors were already finished.

    But while I wasn’t blessed with prominent athletic genes, my stubborn will power was a good fit for success in other ways of movement like general fitness and martial arts.…

    The post How to Turn Your Injury Into an Opportunity in 6 Steps appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     I wasn’t a great athlete growing up. Being a scrawny kid with so-so hand-eye coordination wasn’t a great combination for sports performance. By high school, most of my athletic endeavors were already finished.

    But while I wasn’t blessed with prominent athletic genes, my stubborn will power was a good fit for success in other ways of movement like general fitness and martial arts.…

    The post How to Turn Your Injury Into an Opportunity in 6 Steps appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-turn-your-injury-into-an-opportunity-in-6-steps/feed/ 0     6 Questions That Will Set You Up for Fitness Success https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/6-questions-that-will-set-you-up-for-fitness-success/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/6-questions-that-will-set-you-up-for-fitness-success/#respond Mon, 01 May 2017 09:00:11 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=7495 Benjamin Franklin famously said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” The statement resonates with many of us because we get that preparation is the first step in starting anything. In beginning a new chapter in fitness, this is most certainly the case.

    But how to prepare is a different story. After all, you can have the best coach and a membership at the best gym in town, but it’s up to you to execute a training plan and get your reps in.…

    The post 6 Questions That Will Set You Up for Fitness Success appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Benjamin Franklin famously said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” The statement resonates with many of us because we get that preparation is the first step in starting anything. In beginning a new chapter in fitness, this is most certainly the case.

    But how to prepare is a different story. After all, you can have the best coach and a membership at the best gym in town, but it’s up to you to execute a training plan and get your reps in.…

    The post 6 Questions That Will Set You Up for Fitness Success appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/6-questions-that-will-set-you-up-for-fitness-success/feed/ 0     The Body Image Struggle Is Real https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/body-image-struggle-is-real/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/body-image-struggle-is-real/#comments Tue, 04 Apr 2017 09:00:10 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=7287 I was once measured at 3.8% bodyfat in a Bod Pod. The test administrator told me he had only taken one other measurement that was lower than mine — and that person was a professional athlete.

    But I wasn’t a professional athlete, just a regular Joe, fitness junkie, and martial artist. I wasn’t a competitive boxer cutting weight for a fight and I wasn’t even trying to be a certain percentage of body fat.…

    The post The Body Image Struggle Is Real appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     I was once measured at 3.8% bodyfat in a Bod Pod. The test administrator told me he had only taken one other measurement that was lower than mine — and that person was a professional athlete.

    But I wasn’t a professional athlete, just a regular Joe, fitness junkie, and martial artist. I wasn’t a competitive boxer cutting weight for a fight and I wasn’t even trying to be a certain percentage of body fat.…

    The post The Body Image Struggle Is Real appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/body-image-struggle-is-real/feed/ 1     Do These Crunches Make Me Look Skinny? 5 Truths About “Core” Training https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/do-these-crunches-make-me-look-skinny/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/do-these-crunches-make-me-look-skinny/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2016 09:00:47 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=6113 In my sixteen years in fitness, I have been asked one training question more than any other. “What is the best core exercise?” But that inquiry is a smokescreen for the real question people want to ask, which is “How can I have a smaller, leaner, and/or more defined midsection?”

    Of course, many people asking this question already know the answer — they just don’t like it.…

    The post Do These Crunches Make Me Look Skinny? 5 Truths About “Core” Training appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     In my sixteen years in fitness, I have been asked one training question more than any other. “What is the best core exercise?” But that inquiry is a smokescreen for the real question people want to ask, which is “How can I have a smaller, leaner, and/or more defined midsection?”

    Of course, many people asking this question already know the answer — they just don’t like it.…

    The post Do These Crunches Make Me Look Skinny? 5 Truths About “Core” Training appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/do-these-crunches-make-me-look-skinny/feed/ 1     5 Simple Tips That Will Help You Create an Exercise Habit https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-simple-tips-that-will-help-you-create-an-exercise-habit/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-simple-tips-that-will-help-you-create-an-exercise-habit/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2016 09:00:40 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=5761 A recent study concluded that inactivity can be attributed to 5.3 million premature deaths worldwide, which is a similar number to that of smoking. Death is one of the many downsides of not moving while the upsides are too many to count.

    The fact that exercise is good for you is news to no one. The benefits of exercise are so widely touted it’s a wonder why more don’t do it with regularity.…

    The post 5 Simple Tips That Will Help You Create an Exercise Habit appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     A recent study concluded that inactivity can be attributed to 5.3 million premature deaths worldwide, which is a similar number to that of smoking. Death is one of the many downsides of not moving while the upsides are too many to count.

    The fact that exercise is good for you is news to no one. The benefits of exercise are so widely touted it’s a wonder why more don’t do it with regularity.…

    The post 5 Simple Tips That Will Help You Create an Exercise Habit appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/5-simple-tips-that-will-help-you-create-an-exercise-habit/feed/ 2     6 Tips for Staying Healthy During a Divorce https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-stay-healthy-during-a-divorce/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-stay-healthy-during-a-divorce/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2016 09:00:30 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=5643 Divorce. It’s a word right up there with death and taxes when it comes to conjuring up feelings up misery, pain, heartache, and stress. While more than 90% of Americans will marry by the age of fifty, according to the American Psychological Association, at least 40-50% of marriages will end in divorce. As one of those statistics, I can confirm the experience of those who have gone through it — divorce sucks.…

    The post 6 Tips for Staying Healthy During a Divorce appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Divorce. It’s a word right up there with death and taxes when it comes to conjuring up feelings up misery, pain, heartache, and stress. While more than 90% of Americans will marry by the age of fifty, according to the American Psychological Association, at least 40-50% of marriages will end in divorce. As one of those statistics, I can confirm the experience of those who have gone through it — divorce sucks.…

    The post 6 Tips for Staying Healthy During a Divorce appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-stay-healthy-during-a-divorce/feed/ 1     How to Find the Right Gym for You https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-find-the-right-gym-for-you/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-find-the-right-gym-for-you/#respond Fri, 15 Jul 2016 09:00:58 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=5624 Choosing a gym might seem as simple as getting on Google or Yelp and finding a gym that’s easy to drive to. But beyond geography and reviews, there’s more you need to consider when choosing a gym if you want it to be a long-term and successful relationship.

    Things you need to observe and consider when choosing a gym:

    1. The gym members: Who attends this gym?

    …

    The post How to Find the Right Gym for You appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Choosing a gym might seem as simple as getting on Google or Yelp and finding a gym that’s easy to drive to. But beyond geography and reviews, there’s more you need to consider when choosing a gym if you want it to be a long-term and successful relationship.

    Things you need to observe and consider when choosing a gym:

    1. The gym members: Who attends this gym?
    …

    The post How to Find the Right Gym for You appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-find-the-right-gym-for-you/feed/ 0     What If Getting Older Can Also Make You Healthier? https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/what-if-getting-older-can-also-make-you-healthier/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/what-if-getting-older-can-also-make-you-healthier/#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2016 09:00:11 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=5324 Today we’re talking about everyone’s favorite topic — aging. We’re all getting older, whether we like it or not. It’s not necessarily a good or bad thing. It’s just something we all have to deal with when it comes to our fitness and wellness.

    One thing that can help us immensely when it comes to aging is our perspective. So many cultural influences tell us to “fight” aging and make us feel that looking older is “wrong.”…

    The post What If Getting Older Can Also Make You Healthier? appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Today we’re talking about everyone’s favorite topic — aging. We’re all getting older, whether we like it or not. It’s not necessarily a good or bad thing. It’s just something we all have to deal with when it comes to our fitness and wellness.

    One thing that can help us immensely when it comes to aging is our perspective.…

    The post What If Getting Older Can Also Make You Healthier? appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/what-if-getting-older-can-also-make-you-healthier/feed/ 1     How to Combine Work and Play to Make Life Better https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-combine-work-and-play-to-make-life-better/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-combine-work-and-play-to-make-life-better/#comments Mon, 16 May 2016 09:00:23 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=5141 I’m here to speak with you today about two of the most important and powerful words in the English language — work and play. Striking the right balance between these two things has everything to do with your happiness and success.

    We are introduced to the concepts of play and work at an early age. Typically, we think of play as being fun and work as being an essential.…

    The post How to Combine Work and Play to Make Life Better appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     I’m here to speak with you today about two of the most important and powerful words in the English language — work and play. Striking the right balance between these two things has everything to do with your happiness and success.

    We are introduced to the concepts of play and work at an early age.…

    The post How to Combine Work and Play to Make Life Better appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/how-to-combine-work-and-play-to-make-life-better/feed/ 1     The 1 Simple Practice That Will Extend Your Life https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-1-simple-practice-that-will-extend-your-life/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-1-simple-practice-that-will-extend-your-life/#respond Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:00:30 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=4882 People give a lot of different reasons for wanting to establish an exercise practice. These reasons include losing weight, toning up, because your doctor told you to, or because you want to be a better role model for your kid. Or maybe you want to get better at your chosen sport or prepare for an event like a mud run, marathon, or wedding.…

    The post The 1 Simple Practice That Will Extend Your Life appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     People give a lot of different reasons for wanting to establish an exercise practice. These reasons include losing weight, toning up, because your doctor told you to, or because you want to be a better role model for your kid. Or maybe you want to get better at your chosen sport or prepare for an event like a mud run, marathon, or wedding.…

    The post The 1 Simple Practice That Will Extend Your Life appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-1-simple-practice-that-will-extend-your-life/feed/ 0     The Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Exercise https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-exercise/ https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-exercise/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2016 09:00:28 +0000 https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/?p=4712 Watch this video to learn:

  • Why you shouldn’t exercise.
  • Why you should.
  • How to find the exercise that’s perfect for you.

    • There are many important and valid reasons why you should exercise, but there are also a couple reasons why you shouldn’t exercise.

    Most people don’t actually like to exercise. How many things in life that you don’t like, do you actually do consistently?…

    The post The Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Exercise appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     Why you shouldn’t exercise.
  • Why you should.
  • How to find the exercise that’s perfect for you.

    • There are many important and valid reasons why you should exercise, but there are also a couple reasons why you shouldn’t exercise.

    Most people don’t actually like to exercise. How many things in life that you don’t like, do you actually do consistently?…

    The post The Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Exercise appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.

    ]]>     https://www.wholelifechallenge.com/the-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-exercise/feed/ 1