Transcript: We're All Gonna Die Anyway: Why Mortality Should Motivate Your Fitness
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Ashley opens by acknowledging recent personal losses and existential questions that have been weighing on her, connecting those thoughts to a reflection on how six months ago she was merely surviving — not living — because of how out of shape she was.
What's up, you guys? Famous Astro Grant here. Welcome to More Movement, Please, the podcast where I hope to inspire you to move your body more. Today, I want to talk about something a little bit depressing, and that is that we are all going to die. Oh, what a way to open a podcast, right? But I guess the thing is, mortality has been on my mind lately because I've suffered some losses, and I've just been... Having like those existential crises lately where what are we doing on the planet? What's our what's our point of being here? What's our purpose? Blah, blah, blah. And it's been heavy on my mind that just six months ago, I wasn't really living.
I was surviving. And it's because I was so out of shape. It was because I was so physically unfit. It was because I. I was not enjoying the quality of life that. I am now because of the fact that I had let myself get so out of shape. So my big message today is that if we're going to die anyway, shouldn't we do everything that we can to be as healthy as possible while we're still here? Shouldn't we do everything that we can to take care of ourselves so that someone else doesn't have to pick up the slack? So we don't have to be a burden on others. I feel like if I had kept going on the path I was on, I would have had a heart attack in just a matter of years.
I mean, even my doctor called me a ticking time bomb. And recently I had to go to the doctor for something. And she said that for the first time in as long as I can remember, she said my blood pressure was normal. That's big for me. I remember so clearly how painful everything was six months ago. And don't get me wrong, I'm in pain right now, but that's because I'm the moron that took five classes yesterday. So of course I'm going to be in a little bit of pain today. But the pain I'm feeling right now is so much better than the pain I was feeling six months ago. It feels so much better to be in pain from exercising. than it did from just standing up. When I tell you that getting up from my chair was painful, walking from my chair to the bed or the bathroom or the kitchen or whatever, when I tell you that was painful, that is not an overstatement.
Ashley shares that her doctor once called her a ticking time bomb, and contrasts that with a recent visit where her blood pressure was normal for the first time in years.
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Ashley describes how six months ago she was in significant pain just standing up, walking to the bathroom, or lifting a Brita pitcher — and contrasts that with the soreness she feels now from taking five exercise classes in one day.
That is not an exaggeration. I really was having significant pain just existing. I don't want that anymore. And I don't want that for you. So with the years I have left in my life, I want to make my body as fit as possible so that I can handle the years I have left in my life. So I can feel strong and confident that I'm not going to end up having a heart attack or having high blood pressure and needing medication so that I can feel. confident knowing that I'm okay I can lift groceries without help that I can lift even the picture of of the Brita picture of water without help I mean it was even getting that bad guys like I I was having so much trouble lifting anything I was having so much trouble like walking it was ridiculous it was absolutely ridiculous and I just, I guess that's why I'm so passionate about sharing this. If we're going to die anyway, let's live our lives as best as we can and get more life in our lives. So if
you're listening to this and you haven't started moving, start. If you're listening to this and you're thinking about moving, start. If you're listening to this and you already move, great. Keep going. Keep doing it. Add in more movement. More movement, please. Because the more we move our bodies, the more that we are enhancing our bodies. We're strengthening our bodies. We're taking care of our bodies. I want that for you.
Ashley makes her core case: since death is inevitable, she wants to make her body as fit as possible for the years she has left, and urges listeners — whether they haven't started moving yet or already do — to add more movement to their lives.
I want that for all of us. Onwards and upwards, my friends. Have you worked out today?