Fitness has been a buzzword for decades. Thanks to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s muscles. Jane Fonda’s videos. Richard Simmons’ aerobics. Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Let’s Get Physical’. Bruce Lee’s martial arts. The Rock’s everything. Gwyneth Paltrow’s…something.

Each celebrity who puts their stamp on the fitness world inevitably changes what it means to be “healthy”. For good, or for bad.

Aerobics. Weight training. HIIT. Tabata. Gluten-free. Sugar-free. Paleo. Keto. Intermittent fasting. Bullet coffee. Skinny tea. 21-day fixes. The revolving door of hashtags and fads surrounding health and wellness muddy the waters and make it impossible to find the starting line.

We’re going to simplify it for you.

To be the healthiest version of yourself, keep it simple. Yep, simple. Especially if you’re just starting out.

It’s so easy to get caught up in what you think you should be doing that often you end up either doing A) nothing or B) the temporary thing.

Our bodies are machines. Much like cars. And like cars, they need constant maintenance in order to run right. Bodies and vehicles need: fuel, movement and tune ups.

That, right there, is the Sandbox Trifecta.

Let’s get into a bit more detail.

The Sandbox Trifecta

Nutrition

If you put something other than gas in your car, would you expect it to run? Even if it did run, would you expect it to run well?

So, why then, do we expect that by filling our bodies with processed foods and drinks they should run smoothly?

When clients first come to us, our initial advice is:

Fuel yourself and choose the right type of fuel.

Eat real food. Emphasize colourful fruits and veggies, complex carbs, healthy fats and lean protein sources. Eat until you’re 80% full and stop. Treat yourself.

Getting started is that simple.

Fitness/Movement

During the pandemic, most of us weren’t going very far. Some of us stopped using at least one household car altogether. When you try to start a car that’s been sitting in your driveway for nearly a year, what happens?

Nothing.

The car won’t start.

Cars must be driven—or at least started—every so often in order to run optimally.

Why?

Because motion is lotion (so they say).

If you don’t start your engine often enough the gears and mechanisms within the engine will seize up and then you’re looking at shelling out a few hundred (if not thousand) dollars for repairs.

So, when clients come to us, our initial advice is:

Start your engine.

Be proactive. Move often. Lift progressively heavier. Play as much as possible.

Getting started is that simple.

Therapy

Do you wait until something is wrong with your car before taking it to the mechanic?

Nope.

Every so many kilometres you take it in and have the oil changed, the tires rotated and a host of other things checked and managed.

So, why wait until you’re in pain then to see a massage therapist, chiropractor or fascial stretch specialist?

If you take care of your vehicle and ensure that it is properly maintained over time, you save yourself more time and money in the long run. Waiting until something is wrong because you didn’t follow a maintenance schedule will cost you more long-term.

Finally, when clients come to us, our initial advice is:

Go in for tune ups.

Regularly, if possible.

Making sure everything is working smoothly will prevent setbacks in the long run.

Setbacks will cost you in time, money and motivation.

Additional Thoughts

As we get to know our clients and they begin mastering the basics, we can fine tune our advice and approach to their specific needs.

After all, not all vehicles are the same. While the mechanics of a vehicle remain relatively the same, you will still find that professionals specialize on different makes.

The needs of a Chevy are different than those of a Tesla and both differ from those of a Harley.

For most clients, keeping things simple and consistent is more than enough to help you live happy, healthy lives.

For clients with more specific goals (like bodybuilders, powerlifters, athletes, etc.), we move into more complicated nutrition and fitness protocols. These are often the influencers you see on Social Media. Their needs are more advanced than those of the general population.

Don’t let what works for them and their vastly different goals muddy the water for you.

Jump in and keep it simple.

Still not sure where to start? Reach out to us. We can help.