One of my biggest mistakes when in the gym was using my workouts as a way of punishing myself for what I ate. When I was "bad" I'd feel shame and then try to make up for it by hitting the gym & crushing my body with intense circuit training and HIIT workouts. It started to warp the way I saw working out. This vicious cycle of shame and punishment would go on for years. Then I met Mike. Mike was a 60 year old veteran at the gym who was in better shape than most guys in their 30's. After a long session of punishing myself in the gym I stopped by and had a chat. I asked him what was his motivation for working out. He said, "Dan, I have friends who can't see anymore. I know people who don't have arms or legs. I workout because I'm grateful for what my body can do." ⁣ Shit. Here I was trying to make up for those ketchup potato chips while Mike was coming from a different realm. I don't say this often but that conversation changed my life. Sometimes we just need a different perspective to transform the way we see things. Now I don't punish myself or feel shame for my weak moments. I go to the gym and do the work for the sake of doing the work. I go because I'm celebrating what my body can do. It's time to stop punishing yourself with workouts. It's time to start being grateful for your body. Trust me when I say that the energy is much different here.

17 workout mistakes I made in my 20's that I'm avoiding in my 40's: