24/08/2026
WHEN DID YOU START AVOIDING THINGS?
Not because you don't WANT to do them...
Because somewhere along the way your body started making you think twice.
The stairs.
Getting down on the floor.
Carrying something heavy.
Walking instead of driving.
Joining everyone on a long day out.
Even choosing which chair you're going to sit in because some are harder to get out of.
It happens so gradually that we often don't notice it.
We simply adapt.
And eventually we start arranging our lives around what our body will allow us to do.
For me, that's one of the biggest reasons to look after your health as you get older.
Not six-packs.
Not personal bests.
Not trying to look 25 again.
Freedom.
The freedom to say yes.
To walk.
Lift.
Travel.
Play.
Explore.
Get down on the floor and get back up again.
Growing older is inevitable.
Making your life smaller doesn't have to be.
So here's something to think about this Monday:
What have you quietly stopped doing that you'd love to be able to do again?
Maybe that's a much better goal than a number on the scales.
20/08/2026
WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPRESS?
WHEN TRAINING BECOMES A PERFORMANCE...
I saw this on Facebook "Train like someone is watching"There are definitely positives and negatives to the phrase “Train like someone is watching.” It depends on what that thought does to your behaviour.
The positives...
For some people, imagining someone is watching can create a little extra accountability.
You might:
put more effort into the last few reps;
concentrate more on your technique;
stop scrolling on your phone between sets;
challenge yourself rather than taking the easy option;
train with more purpose.
Used occasionally, it can be a useful psychological tool. It’s a bit like having a coach standing beside you, you become more conscious of what you're doing.
Where it can become a problem...
The danger comes when being watched becomes the reason you're performing.
If you're trying to impress someone, you may lift heavier than you should, rush your reps, ignore pain or fatigue, shorten your recovery, or choose exercises because they look impressive rather than because they're right for you.
That's when training can become driven by ego rather than outcome.
And there's another downside:
if your motivation depends on someone watching, what happens when nobody is?
The best training often isn't impressive to look at.
Sometimes it's controlled repetitions with a lighter weight.
Sometimes it's mobility.
Sometimes it's stopping a set two reps earlier.
Sometimes it's deciding that today your body needs recovery rather than another hard session.
I'd slightly change the phrase
Instead of:
“Train like someone is watching.”
I'd encourage:
“Train like your future self is depending on it.”
That changes the objective completely.
You're no longer trying to prove how strong you are today. You're training intelligently so that you're still strong, mobile and capable years from now.
That's a much healthier form of motivation, particularly as we get older.
