While everyone else is doing a ‘New Year New You’ program (there are thousands of them), we offer you a different path. One often less taken. We present to you the 12 Week Self Remodel. Each Monday for 12 weeks we’ll post one thing you can change in your life, easily, to help create the life you really want. Each one is a small adjustment to your existing life, small stepping stones to a better you. As such, they take little effort or time to accomplish. Each one will be posted later in the day, intentionally. Your work week may start on Monday, but the Reclaimed week starts on Tuesday. Less competition for your time, and less stress (also something to look forward to on your Monday commute). So, let’s begin.

Week 11 – Get Your Sweat On

You knew it was coming. Yes, you need to exercise. However, you don’t need to go to a gym. Even without COVID-19 and social distancing, complete lock-downs or Shelter in Place, I wouldn’t actually recommend going to a gym. Gyms, like protein powders and the like, are not really meant for the normal person. They’re sold to regular guys, but you don’t need them. You need exercise. If you are fairly sedentary, you have no business using most of the equipment at a gym anyway. The first thing you need to do is just start moving.

We’re going to assume you are at least somewhat active in your daily life. Just the same, if you’re like most men, you’re not active enough. Your ancestors didn’t need gyms, they had to chase their food. Yours is stored in a large box in your kitchen. Even less than a hundred years ago, your ancestors were substantially more active than you are now. You are built to move and lift, not to sit and type.

All that said, you don’t need a bunch of fancy, expensive equipment, or a huge room devoted to hold it all. Besides, we both know most fitness equipment just collects dust or is use to hold other things – most commonly your clothes. You already have a closet.  I teach two martial arts and all my workouts are at home. My home gym is in my garage, which is also my shop for woodworking, car repairs, occasionally car storage, and lawn care equipment. It consists of an old wrestling mat that’s 5’9”x11’4” (175×345 cm), a short barbell I was given when I was a young teenager (with the original weights equaling 17 lbs), and various pieces of equipment like foam roller, hand grip (an old one at that), couple of light dumbbells, and a few other items that come and go. No cycles, I own a regular bicycle. No elliptical or treadmill, I walk or run like people were meant to do.

I am a middle aged man who teaches martial arts primarily to college kids. Few of my students are stronger or more flexible than I am, and very few can keep up with me. I do not go to a gym, only train at home, and that’s my home gym.

During normal times, exercise and movement are important. If you are stuck at home on a COVID-19 lock-down, and especially if you might be sick, exercise is an absolute must. Stay health – get your sweat on.

Let us know how you’re doing on the Self Remodel in the comments below.

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