December 05th, 2016

We spent some time this Thanksgiving looking over old pictures and it reminded us of ththe journey towards health and fitness we have been on for the past 15 years. We feel like we have found the fountain of youth, with clean eating, exercise, and lifestyle changes and want to share it with all who will listen. The reminder was good for us and we hope it is for you also.

​Assuming you have your health, being 40 now is like being 20 but with the wisdom and perspective that allows you to make the most of this time of your life. With that in mind we wanted to share with you ten things we wish we knew at 20 that we want to take advantage of in our next 40 years. They are in no specific order.

1. Our gut is always right - We have been guilty of not listening to that little voice that tells us something is right or wrong and it has cost us dearly. As we get older and wiser our final decision on big issues is always based on what we feel in our gut is right.
2. Good people = Good Times - We are fortunate to be surrounded by a group of great people who look out for one another and truly care about each others well being. You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with and we make sure we spend our time with good people.
3. Food = Medicine - Enough said.
4. It's OK to ask for help - We have been guilty of trying to do everything on our own in the past and the results have been less then stellar. We either end up working much harder for much longer than we needed or we just buried our head in the sand and hoped the problem went away. Asking for help opens doors and reveals solutions that you can't always see on your own.
5. Experiences trump things every time - Luckily neither one of us has ever had a strong desire for material things.  We would much rather pay for an experience and are focused on having more chances for this in the near future.
6. Giving back always returns more than you give - This is true of time and money. There have been several times where we thought we were stretched so thin there was no way we could give, but, when we did; the return on investment was always worth the sacrifice and it was rarely a monetary return.
7. Sleep and movement are critical - So many of life's little annoyances can be fixed with a good nights sleep and a good nights sleep is much easier if you have moved your body during the day.
8. Nature = Therapy - We did not spend enough time outside in our 20's and make it a point to get out side year round several times a week.
9. The law of attraction is real - Also stated as you reap what you sow. We went through a phase of negativity several years back and everything around us seemed to fall apart. Fast forward to us finding Crossfit in 2007 and finally realizing our passion for health and fitness. We began to change our mindset and put out positive energy and positive things started happening. While we cannot say the road has been easy since, it definitely has been enjoyable.
10. Meditation and self-reflection - This would have prevented us from making the same mistakes over and over again. Having a set time to relax your mind and reflect on your life is so important. The hustle and bustle of everyday life can cause undue stress and sap the joy out of daily activities. 

Our journey has been a gradual shift from from an unhealthy lifestyle and food choices to where we are today. We were always active and exercise was always a part of what we did, but adding in the nutritional and lifestyle picece made all the difference in the world.