08/26/2026
Twenty years ago, I measured a workout by what I saw in the mirror. But as I've gotten older, I've started to prioritize things that will help me enjoy the quality of my day to day life.
For the last year, I've been doing workouts with Nicky McKerlie, the owner of Elementary Health Coaching, from the privacy and comfort of my living room. For me, it's not really that going to a gym is intimidating. I just know myself well enough to admit that the chances of me actually getting in the car and actually going to the gym was low.
So, if I wanted to make small changes towards a healthier lifestyle, that needed to start at home.
So every Tuesday and Thursday, technology lets Nicky stream right into my living room to guide me through a workout at home.
We don't lift heavy weights, but that doesn't mean it's easy!
Nicky's training plan focuses on what REALLY makes the biggest difference as you get older: body weight resistance and functional movements.
It's only been a year, but I can already see big wins in my everyday life, things I didn’t even realize were an annoyance until now:
• I can put on socks while standing on one foot again
• Getting up off the floor is no longer an Olympic achievement
• I can get up the stairs without needing handrails and I'm not out of breath
• My posture is improving and small aches and pains are gone
• I’m sleeping better
• I've noticed I carry or lift more things without a break
• Even driving in the car is easier, my core is stronger, so I don’t flop around as much
I'm certainly not "old," but I can already tell that my body is getting stronger, more flexible, and more stable than it was when I started. Which honestly makes me really excited about aging.
My new goal is to age well.
You can't stop the clock, but you can make sure that you have more years being able to do the things you enjoy with the people you love the most.
Twenty years from now, I want to be able to take the trips and plan the adventures without being limited by my mobility.
And with Nicky pushing me every week? That's a very realistic goal now :)
Life is short, and I plan to make the most of it.
- Jamie
