Fit is Freedom with Kelly Howard

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail - I Promise Not to Suffer! Interview with Gail Storey

On this episode of the Fit is Freedom Podcast, I’m joined by the amazing Gail Storey, award-winning author for her book, I Promise Not to Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail. From running low on supplies to intimacy in the woods, we talk about everything under the sun when it comes to braving the wilderness. Here are just some of the many nuggets of wisdom we discuss…Adventure’s impact on relationshipsImportance of preparing and trainingEmbracing the quietExpressing compassion for yourselfImpact of meditationDeepening Intimacy Hiking the PCT with a PartnerGail Storey has written many publications and books in her career with her most recent, I Promise Not to Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail, having won the National Outdoor Book Award, Foreword IndieFab Book of the Year, Nautilus Silver Award, among others! Her award-winning book takes on the true story of her embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with her husband because she refused to let him go alone–despite the fact that she’d never hiked or camped before. Challenges and RewardsHiking long distances like Gail and her husband, Porter, endured with the PCT was exhilarating, exhausting, and rewarding. It brought many challenges on a day-to-day basis from running out of water to blisters and more, but it also brought a great deal of discovery and the building of a strong relationship.After selling her car, their house, and throwing multiple dinner parties to say “goodbye” to friends and loved ones, Gail found herself on a spring weekend in 2004 heading out on the adventure of a lifetime–hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Gail explains how there’s just something about hiking in the wilderness for days on end, relying on someone else for survival and entertainment, that brings two souls together. The stillness. The unexpected circumstance. The beauty of nature. The lack of escaping one another. From this experience, Gail and Porter formed an unbreakable bond, she wrote an award-winning book, and she learned the importance of physical fitness in the connection of your mind, body, and soul. To this day, at almost 75 years old, she continues to work on her fitness and help her community through environmental activism.

Part 9 of 9: How to Apply Fitness Freedom to Your Future

On this episode of the Fit is Freedom Podcast, we celebrate the final chapter of the Consistency is Key Series.  I present the ultimate roadmap to consistency and fitness freedom, which is filled with all of the tips, tricks, and tidbits I've shared along the way. From the importance of your “why” to finding your kryptonite, this journey to consistency is all about small movements snowballing into big life changes! I'll also highlight and share some of my client's success stories and what each of their journeys has taught me. It's a fun celebration of the end of this amazing series, and you won't want to miss it!

Part 8 of 9: How to Reignite Your Fitness Motivation

In this chapter of our Fitness Consistency is Key Series, I will be sharing my tricks of the trade when it comes to digging in deep and getting you moving again! When our motivation wanes, our fitness consistency can quickly derail. BUT…it doesn’t have to! Just because you’re low on motivation doesn’t mean all of your hard work is destined to disappear. The magic is finding a tactic that brings back your spark, drive, and motivation! Some of my tips include…Finding the RIGHT Accountability PartnerWhy is it that tracking what matters does not include the scale?How putting something in your earbuds can help you get startedAnd much, much more…In your journey to fitness consistency, your motivation will ebb and flow. It’ll go up and down, and it’s important to find some fun and helpful strategies to get you out of your “down” moments and back to your new and renewed, consistent self!

Part 7 of 9: What to do if you fall off the fitness wagon or get sidelined by an injury

In Chapter 7 of our Fitness Consistency is Key Series, we took a look at the top fitness consistency killers. We explored what happens in our day-to-day that is putting a halt to our health and fitness goals. But what happens if there’s an unexpected halt to your goals? Whether it’s an injury, illness, or family emergency, this episode is all about taking in the unexpected and making it work for you!In this episode, I’ll be sharing my personal struggle with an unexpected injury that left me unable to move and wallow. However, after a period of playing the victim, I accepted my situation and used it to transform my business and my life.Join me as we explore ways to prevent and avoid fitness injuries and how to handle them when they do rear their ugly head!

Part 6 of 9: Fitness Consistency Killers

What happens if there’s an unexpected halt to your fitness goals? Whether it’s an injury, illness, or family emergency, this episode is all about taking in the unexpected and making it work for you!  In part 6 of our Fitness Consistency is Key Series, we took a look at the top fitness consistency killers. We explored what happens in our day-to-day life that is putting a halt to our health and fitness goals. In this episode, I’ll be sharing my personal struggle with an unexpected injury that left me unable to move. However, after a period of playing the victim, I accepted my situation and used it to transform my business and my life.Join me as we explore ways to prevent and avoid fitness injuries and how to handle them when they do rear their ugly head! 

Part 5 of 9: The 4 Fitness Non-negotiables and How to Apply Them

In our 5th installment of the Fitness Consistency is Key Series, I will be sharing the four non-negotiables to find overall health and well-being, and it’s a lot like the table analogy. You’ve got to have an equal balance of all four of these to have a solid and steady fitness foundation! Have you ever been to a restaurant and one leg of the table is slightly shorter than the other? You know, you’re just sitting there and trying to enjoy your dinner, but the table just won’t stop wobbling! Join me as I share why each of the four non-negotiables is equally important and how you can set up a great foundation for a more consistent, healthier, and happier YOU!

Part 4 of 9: Fitness Accountability Secrets

Fitness Accountability is the secret weapon to helping you build your fitness consistency. It gets the ball rolling, gets you motivated, and sets you up for fitness success. So, in this Fitness Consistency is Key Series, it only makes sense that we dedicate a chapter to it! On this episode of the Fit is Freedom Podcast, I’m going to be sharing all about fitness accountability including…WHO your ideal fitness accountability partner should beWHAT you can do to find fitness accountabilityWHEN and WHERE you need it mostWHY it is so importantI’ll also be sharing the most important piece of fitness accountability that is also the most overlooked! 

Part 3 of 9: Is the ”No Time” for Fitness Excuse Holding You Back from What You Desire?

Today on the Fit is Freedom Podcast, I’m asking the big question, “What do you want badly enough that you’ll find the time to make it happen?”, as we’re going to deep dive into our own lives and find ways to save and build time for fitness to prioritize our goals! Whether you’ve been following along, or you’re just joining us now, this 3rd installment in my Consistency is Key Series is sure to get you well on your way towards a more focused and fit lifestyle!  I’ll be sharing and discussing the following…My top 2 universal time wastersThe importance of delegationDumping Excuses TechniquesWe are all so busy. We’ve got families, jobs, commitments, and, well, just life going on! But, if we want to find fitness consistency, we’ve got to find the time to be consistent! If you’re struggling with finding the time to be consistent, then this is the episode for you! 

Part 2 of 9: Lead with Your Fitness ”Why” and Make Life Easy

Welcome to my second installment of the Fitness Consistency is Key series here at the Fit is Freedom Podcast! In this chapter, we’re going to be working together to determine what you want badly enough to make the changes you need to get what you want most out of your fitness.If you want to have a solid foundation for developing a consistent and healthy lifestyle, then grab a pencil and piece of paper or the notes app in your phone and follow along! We’re going to dive deep and find your biggest motivations and your fitness “why”.Once you have an understanding of why you want to be consistent and see change, you’re setting yourself up for success!

Part 1 of 9: Welcome to the Fitness Consistency is Key Series

What is the one factor that can make or break your health and fitness? Some may think it’s the next and newest diet. Or others may think it’s an all-in 8 week bootcamp at the new gym down the road. But, the real factor that can make or break your health and fitness is plain ole consistency.Yep. Nothing sexy or flashy here. Again and again, I am finding and helping clients realize that consistency is what moves us forward in our fitness.So, this episode of the Fit is Freedom Podcast is the first chapter of my Consistency is Key Series, where I’ll be taking you from A-Z and sharing everything you’ll need to make consistency work for you and your life! In this first installment, I’ll be sharing an amazing client of mine named Sherry and the journey she embarked on with me. She experienced a complete mindset shift when it came to her fitness, learning that small changes over time actually add up to bigger success in the long run. I’ll also be sharing the benefits of her mindset shift and why the glitz and glamour we’re used to seeing when it comes to diets and fitness aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.