Shawn Phillips | Start Strong Monday

Ever look back on yourself a decade and some past… and wonder what the hell were you thinking? From the perspective I have today, when I look back like this I’m humbled by the things I didn’t know. I thought I had so much figured out. I was wrong.

I was having one of these moments recently, so I started a list of things I wish I knew in my 30’s. Here’s my list, The Top-10 Things I Wish I Knew then, (beginning here with the first 4).

If you’ve got any that come up, please share them below.

1. Healthy joints are vital for a strong body:

When you’re living active and strength training daily your joints take a beating. Of course exercising and strength training are vital for joint health, within reason, but even a good things have limits. And eventually life and training wears on your joints. You can’t prevent this but you can make informed decisions.

When I was in my 30’s I didn’t think much about my joints—because they rarely hurt. And when they did, it was mostly irritating. Pain here and there, occasionally it’d get worse, and eventually it would go away.

In my 40’s I’ve come to know, love and respect my joints. Every day I deal with pains and injury, most of which can be tracked back to the decades of training. Not that I would or could trade the training but given the wisdom of today, I would be more respectful and take better care of my joints.

In Summary:

There are simply some lifts I would not do; like overhead shoulder pressing. I’ve also come to know the cost of decades of heavy squatting on the lower back. I would not eliminate squats but I’d be more reasonable about weight. Once your back goes, it’s gone for life.

2. On “the other side” of complexity is more complexity.

I appreciate the quote:

“I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes

If you don’t quite get it, it may be that you’ve not crossed to the far side (pun intended, Mr. Larsen) of complexity.

From you 20’s on, life is a steady incline of complexity. So much so, that by your mid-30’s arrive, things have generally become so complex you’re required to believe this is it–that it can’t possibly get any more insane, right? Life has got to be getting simpler soon.

In Summary:

Life doesn’t get simpler. There. Now you know. I wish I knew it a decade ago too. It’s more complex, confusing and challenging with more sweet, sour and sadistic texture than you can imagine. Get used to it. Stop waiting for simpler. Embrace it all. It’s all part of the glorious journey.

3. Those little “glitches” can grow into deadly relationship “tumors:”

I’ve seen this one more times than I care to admit—and I’ve experienced more than my fair share of the struggles myself—where seemingly little issues up and into your 30’s grow into debilitating, relationship killers.

From my experience, most people in their 20’s assume they have relationships either all figured out or they simply “is who they is.” Come our 30’s hopefully we begin to get that we’re involved and there are just some things we do that aren’t helpful to relationships.

Unfortunately, although awareness is nice but it’s rarely enough. It may be the beginning of change but a lot of work must precede the end. Thus, we mean well. We’re going to get around to breaking down the wall, the resistance to true intimacy, or whatever it is. But we’re busy and we’re getting by now.

Come 40’s these things we could get away with, the seeming minor flaws, amplify in our own behaviors and in the eyes of those who love us, to the point they’re no longer cute, or “a little difficult.” They’ve become intolerable emotional “tumors” to those around us.

In Summary:

Get clear on what’s working, and what’s not in your 30s and take it serious. Do what it takes to be a better you, now. Before the glitches become tumors and the price of failure sky-rockets to become your life.

4. Diet matters, more and more each year:

I’ve always been active and fit—and been mastering my nutrition since my teens. While I certainly have learned how to manage a diet to get photo-shoot lean, for the most part I could eat the way I eat. Largely because I trained, was in shape and eat well any way.

To be honest, I quietly assumed that when I turned 40 it wouldn’t be that big-a-deal. My body would just do what it’s done. Perhaps a little less effectively but no big thing. And for the most part, that’s true.

But like most everyone else I know in their 40’s getting lean and staying lean is harder—yes, that means it gets harder to get hard. Had to say it.

I find my body less tolerant of excess carbs, more likely to be exhausted and stressed by foods the spike insulin. And given that insulin spiking sugar can drive testosterone down by 25%, safe to say it’s about more the calories and carbs.

It’s this significantly increasing importance on quality nutrition over quantity as we grow less young that inspired the creation of Full Strength. Nutrient rich, insulin stabilizing, energy sustaining, Full Strength can turn your body on and your appetite off.

It’s got more total nutrition than many people get in a full day. And Full Strength sustains your energy and freedom from hunger longer than an 800 calorie breakfast for only 300 perfectly integrated, protein dense calories.

In Summary:

This one is both the toughest in some ways, and the easiest. It’s tough to change the way you eat, if you’re not mastering it already. But it’s a hell of lot tougher on your longer if you don’t. How? Elevate your Nutritional Freedom, apply the practices and rituals from Strength for LIFE, where I show you the way.

And the easy way? Get yourself some Full Strength and begin each day with it, for 14 days and then a life time. I say this because for most men, it takes only 14 days of Full Strength, daily, to really feel how great nutrition can feel–and once you feel it, you don’t want to go back to the way things were before.

Next, #5, #6 and #7…

In part-II, numbers 5-6-7, be ready for insights about speed, skin and the four letter word…

Meet The Author, Shawn

Known as "The Fitness Philosopher," for his deep, clear approach to the cutting through the fitness conundrum, Shawn is a 20+ year veteran in the field of Lifestyle Fitness and Peak Performance. Author of several best-selling book, with one of the most photographed physiques in history, Shawn, with his brother, Bill Phillips (Body for LIFE) catapulted EAS sports nutrition into the world leader and Muscle Media magazine and the documentary movie, Body of Work. He created the first computerized training system in PowerBuilding and the popular Variable Split System for Muscle Mass. Now, in his 40's, a husband and father of two young children, Shawn is passionate about helping busy, high-achieving "men in the middle" enjoy vibrant, energized, amazing, Full Strength lives! He has recently created the World’s 1st and only true premium nutrition shake for men, Full Strength — clinically proven to build muscle, burn fat and boost energy. His most recent book, Strength for LIFE is the "how to" guide to a Lifestyle of Fitness Freedom.