Recently, my wife instituted a new “rule” for our daughter.
The rule is, “We always walk on Moorland Road”.
She’s not long turned three, and she’s already a confident little walker. However, we needed a way to build up her stamina without tiring her out.
We live about 200 metres from the end of our road – the perfect walking distance for our little one. Hence, my wife decreed the entire street a buggy-board free zone.
Anyway, this little rule got me thinking.
See, my daughter can manage the walk just fine, but it’s still a little challenge for her. So, I figured it was only right and proper that I set myself a corresponding challenge.
That’s why I now always run on Moorland Road. (So long as I’m properly attired and not with my kids, obviously).
Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s only 200 metres. Hardly a herculean task.
But difficulty isn’t the point. The point is that as I’m asking my daughter to push herself just a little bit, I should also push myself to show leadership and set a good example.
Why am I telling you this?
Two reasons.
The first reason is practical.
Adding a little challenge to your routine here and there is never a bad thing. It gets you comfortable with being uncomfortable and can inspire larger changes that really move the needle.
For example, if you wanted to add a short run to the start and end of your walk, you’d first need to walk somewhere regularly. Walking to and from the gym is an obvious candidate. Live too far from the gym? Fine. Walk to the park, or the shops, or around your estate, etc, etc.
Believe me when I tell you these regular walks will help you lose fat without tiring you out like other forms of cardio.
Moreover, they’re a quick and easy way to share the manifold and wonderful benefits of regular cardiovascular exercise with your family. Honestly, my relationship with Jess has improved by an order of magnitude since we started walking together as a family most days.
The second reason is to underscore the fact that I will never ask you to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself.
Listen: I do what I teach and I teach what I do – to do otherwise would make me a towering hypocrite.
Whether it’s something small like warming up before sessions, or something as all-encompassing as my three dietary principles matters not. If I’m asking you to do it, then you can be damn sure I’m doing the same with only minor differences in the details.
Bottom line: I know my stuff works because I’ve experienced dramatic results first-hand. And as I, like you, want to be lean, strong, and healthy if it didn’t work, I’d do something else.
Forgive the friendly jibe at my competitors, but why, pray tell, do their workouts and diets look nothing like those they prescribe for their clients?
After all, if it’s good enough for their clients, why is it not good enough for them?
Food for thought.
Anyway, if you’re interested in learning more how I can help you, go and read this entertaining letter:
www.philtyreman.co.uk/information
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman