If you have been around me recently, in one of my classes, seen my Instagram posts, met with me privately for a training session, seen me in the line at the bank, grocery store or anywhere in between, you will know I have been obsessed with this book.
I have been shouting to the rooftops one of the main premises of the book. This is it: Every day your body is doing one of two things. It is either growing or decaying.
I think that’ll preach. It is a bold and strong statement backed by lots of science that you can read about and I won’t go into here. I will do a full review of this book later. I will confess that I am quoting this book before I have even finished reading it! Chris Crowley and Dr. Henry S. Lodge do such a great job telling us what we need to do to stay alive, healthy, but most importantly vibrant, as we age. They are only a little preachy and self-righteous – just kidding. They have a natural way of preaching and story-telling that makes you just want to jump out of bed and hit the gym, or ski slopes or what I’m thinking of lately, a skull(!) without thinking about it and doing it as part of your job to take care of yourself. Every day. Six days a week.
As someone who has always enjoyed exercising and teaches exercise for the love of it (because it’s really hard to make a living out of it!) I understand the importance of daily exercise and movement. However, it’s not all about the exercise. I’ve also said that quite often. These guys do a great job of reminding the reader of the other areas that add so much to our lives to keep us younger. As I was reading last night I couldn’t help but underline parts of one of the sections. The section is called, The Company of Women. Now, if you are a man reading this, you are not excused. While this section is about something that is good for women, it’s just as important that you know how and why so you can support the significant other in this endeavor.
The Company of Women is basically about the benefits and importance of what we typically refer to as a girls trip. I went through a time when girls trip were dry as a bone. With three little ones to corral and then to get to and from and cheer at the endless lists of sporting activities every single weekend of the year, getting away with girlfriends was just too much to ask and too hard for us all to make happen. These trips have begun to form again as my boys have gotten older and I’m not necessary to their survival.
Of course, the authors of this book want these girls trips to be more than sitting in a lounge chair drinking fruity drinks. I love his idea of putting “together a compatible group of women (easier than with men, but not a cinch), come up with a great scheme and go for it. The exercise component . . . is tremendously important, but it’s only part of the magic.” One of his female friends has this to say:
I really believe in these trips. Women get a much-needed “time out.” They can drop their roles – wife, mother, career person, errand runner, whatever – and just be a person who needs an opportunity to talk in the company of other women. There is an interesting dynamic when women get together out of their normal environment and are allowed to just be themselves for a while. They get personal, honest. They laugh at themselves and each other and it’s great.
She describes these trips as a healing luxury. I love that description.
It’s not just this book either. I googled girls trips and came up with at least 12 articles going through the various reasons why these getaways are important! I actually have a couple of trips on the calendar coming up. One trip with college girls and another with my highschool best friends. Just having these weekends written on my calendar gives me a boost. They give me something to look forward to and can give me that pep I might need during a long, exhausting week. I admit the upcoming trips are not exactly any type of fitness, yoga or high activity retreat, but it will still be a great way to relax, be completely honest, comfortable and likely laugh so much it’ll count as aerobic exercise.
This book has made me even more inspired, though, to look into a fun, active trip for my girls next go round!
I really want – strike that – I really think you NEED to read this book! I’ve made it simple for you, too. Just click on the photo above and get it right to your mailbox! If you want one for the man in your life, there is also one for men.
And if you are looking for a boost to your own health journey, someone to cheer you on, keep you accountable, help you get out of your rut and empower you on your own journey to a healthy balanced lifestyle, join our Better & Beyond Program starting February 12!
Enjoy Your Day!
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