From Injury to Insight: Why Fitness Should Support Your Life, Not Control It

It’s been a year since my lower back gave out.

It feels like a lifetime ago.

The first two months were rough. What stands out most from that time is having to hold our team meetings at my house because I could only lie down on the couch. It was a vivid reflection of how powerless I felt. Lying down in front of my staff wasn’t just uncomfortable; it was humbling.

I hated not being in control of my body.
I hated losing 15 pounds of muscle.
I hated being unable to sleep because of the pain.
I hated compensating with food, hustling, and feeling sorry for myself.

This experience has profoundly reshaped my view of health and fitness.

It also brought me closer to my clients and helped me slow down in every area of my life.

I hated it, but I’m grateful for it.

To heal, I had to shift my mindset from “How fast can I perform again?” to “What truly matters to me now?”

At the time, Heather was five months pregnant, and I had planned a trip to New York to ask for her hand. My one and only goal then was to be able to kneel.

That night, I didn’t carry her to bed, but I stood up with enough strength and confidence to turn her on.

With the baby on the way, my next goal was to support Heather and make sure we had everything we needed. That meant a lot of carrying, lifting, and stepping up.

Then, just like that, six months passed.
And life became even more chaotic and fast-paced than I had imagined.

Now, I still have performance-driven fitness goals, but I won’t prioritize them if they interfere with the moments I want to share with my family. That said, I will continue to prioritize my training, just with a different intention.

By approaching health and fitness with more fluidity, I enjoy it more. I’m running my second half-marathon next weekend, despite never having run more than 10K before this year. I spend more time outdoors and train just three hours a week in the gym, freeing up time to focus on my business and my family.

“Performing” is the same challenge no matter where you are on the fitness spectrum. Whether you’re addicted to training or avoid it entirely, your fitness should support your lifestyle and empower you.

It shouldn’t feel like a prison or just another item on your to-do list. At least, not in the long run.