For 11 years, I was all in with CrossFit. My goal? Lose weight and work out so hard that my body became a calorie-burning machine. And for a while, it worked. But over time, I realized something critical: how much you move matters—but moving intensely just once a day isn’t enough.
I used to push myself so hard in the gym that I couldn’t move for the rest of the day. I’d be too exhausted to cook dinner, run errands, or even get off the couch. Over time, I noticed that working out at such a high intensity in my mid- to late 50s wasn’t just unhelpful—it was actually counterproductive to my goal of getting in the best shape of my life.
Here’s why: When we work out, we stress our bodies, and that stress triggers the release of cortisol, our body’s primary stress hormone. Guess where cortisol loves to hang out? In your belly. So while I thought I was doing my body a favor, I was actually working against myself.
On top of that, those intense workouts made me ravenous. I’d end up overeating to recover from the stress I’d put my body through—again, sabotaging my own progress.
What finally clicked for me was understanding how exercise affects the body and how to work with my system instead of against it.
Now, I focus on incorporating movement throughout my day rather than relying solely on a single, exhausting workout. For example:
• When my son has a 45-minute orthodontist appointment, I walk laps outside instead of waiting in the car.
• While watching TV, I make it a point to get up and walk around or do 10 squats every 30 minutes.
Not everyone has the time—or energy—to spend an hour at the gym every day, and that’s okay. The key is finding ways to weave movement into your everyday life, whether it’s at the office, at home, or while running errands.
This approach has helped me feel better mentally and physically, all while working in harmony with my body—not against it. Small, intentional movements add up, and they make a big difference in how you look, feel, and live.
The Encouraged Life 