As humans our nature is always to improve on what we do today. Finding new ways of doing things more efficiently and generally making lifer easier for ourselves. This never ending search for perfection is one of our greatest strengths, but it is also a huge weakness too.

When it comes to our health and fitness we tend to go through peaks and troughs of being healthy and less healthy. We have cycles of hard core dieting, intense workout programs and taking a break for a while from both. (Usually because our perfect plan is far too tough to stick with).

I absolutely love being fit and healthy, I like eating well and the energy that gives me. I love going to the gym and lifting weights. With friends its even better. However I recently became very aware of how limiting my routine was and that whatever style of training you pursue you pay a price.

By Hitting the weights hard I have improved my strength and physique, but at the cost of mobility and becoming less flexible. If I was not lifting weights I felt like I was off plan, losing all the hard earned muscle I had built and getting weaker. I wanted to be shredded (sub 6% body fat), but wanted to be very strong at the same time (they do not come hand in hand). My current routine was not allowing this to happen as it was to regimented towards one goal. The trouble is that to excel at something requires single minded focus on one goal and a strict regime that needs to be followed to the letter.

My goal of being shredded, strong (being able to squat 200kg), super flexible (much looser hips and spinal mobility) and able to move the way my body is designed to (Ido Portal is a super example of that - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Wr7HsylE0), having a healthy social life with the odd beer here and there.

As you can imagine all of these goals counteract each other to a certain degree and the perfection of all of them is close to unobtainable.

At this point I had realized that exercise had stop becoming fun! There was too much structure, too much restriction and my "why?" was simply not strong enough to keep me going. I simply was getting bored of hitting the gym on a sunny day, lifting weights, getting a little stronger, but getting tighter, less mobile and having some serious DOMS the days after. What was it for again? Why am I doing this? This is healthy right? I am teaching this to my clients so It must be the way to do things... I had come to the point where I had forgotten what it was like to have fun!

To cut a long story short, I completely relaxed myself and started to try to new things and do things that I enjoy! The goal is simple to be healthy by moving and having fun.

I practice 10 minutes of yoga every couple of mornings
I go for 30 minute walks in Hyde Park if the weather is nice
I do very quick 45 minute weight lifting sessions 3x a week instead of 6x
I allow myself a beer or two during the week if I feel like switching off
I play dodge-ball with friends once a week in a league to get that competitive release
I play 6 a side football for a run a around once a week
I eat pretty well during the week, but will have the odd desert if eating out with friends

As a result of embracing the imperfections of what I want versus what is fun and sustainable I have found a fantastic balance that allows me to have fun and actually enjoying "moving".

I no longer feel off plan if I do not go to the gym, eat a meal that is not the perfect macro nutrient balance, or run as I feel like I am losing muscle. I can actually relax and am i better shape now than I was when I was on a stricter weight training routine. More importantly I am having fun!

I am very blessed to be able to work with some amazing people from all sorts of back grounds. That have some amazing lives and that as important as health and fitness is, there is far more to life than bench press and chicken and broccoli. :-)

Yours in Health

Patrick Fallis