Hey Fit Travel Tribe!

Recently, I recognized a trait of mine that leads directly to stress and overwhelm, and that’s what we discuss in this episode. 

Some say that failure is the best teacher, while others say that other people‘s failures are the best teacher. In either case, we can learn from observing behavior and the results of that behavior. 

Listen for my story about "Jake".

1. Jake went backwards on his commitment. 
2. Jake’s pitfalls caused me to recognize times where I’ve made the same mistake. 
3. His change in language reflected his change in attitude and behavior (the only two things we can control).
4. You may think that Jake still has the opportunity to go on his vacation, but you would be ignoring the compounding effect of his decisions over time. This situation and many others like it are the cause of Jake’s constant cycle of quiet desperation. 

I’m going to ask a simple question: Can you relate?

I (Mike) did. 

Why are we talking about this? Two reasons: 

1. Failing commitments:
   1. Increases stress (too many things at once)
   2. Effects everyone around you
   3. Damages self-esteem
2. Truth dagger: Because most people around you are too insecure to recognize and help you. Most people react out of their own insecurity. “You told me you were going to do this!” “You said!” “You promised!” A secure person comes along side you. “Hey Jake, remember last week when you said you were going on that vacation? It seems like buying that kayak, although your reasons seem noble, wasn’t aligned with your goals. I’m worried about you man. Is everything okay? Did something change?” You can imagine the compounding and completely avoidable pain. 

Solution

Step 1 - Make a list of all commitments and obligations in one area of your life. In this case, we’ll use finances (We encourage you to do this exercise again for time, extracurricular activities, and even family or relationships. You’ll find that many of your responsibilities overlap “hint hint”.)

Step 2 - Add a TIMESTAMP of when you made that commitment. Haha - don’t quit on us here. You can likely see where this is going. Go ahead and reorder (I.e. reprioritize) your list from oldest to newest. 

Step 3 - Whittle down your list of commitments. Those commitments made first should stand, but if this is the first time completing an exercise like this you may not be able to revert on some recent obligations. 

This is your opportunity to restart with a fresh mentality. This is your ONE opportunity to hit the reset button. 

When I consider our life together, there are certain things that are non-negotiable. There’s no emotion involved. Do we contribute to our 401(k)? It’s not even a decision, it automatically comes out of our paycheck. We work out nearly every day. We eat clean, it’s not up for debate. So to complete Step 3, refine your list, commit in your mind that these (and only these) are your obligations until completed, and step forward with behavior consistent with these obligations. At some point what you know to be true must be converted to action, or it means nothing.

Adventure On,
M&M

Hey Fit Travel Tribe!

Jet lag can really put a damper on your future trips. Even worse - it can make you regret traveling! Wouldn't it be nice if there were a couple simple steps you could take to combat feeling tired, lethargic and foggy-minded? 

In this short form episode, we share 3 quick tips to help you beat jet lag the next time you fly!

Adventure On,
Maryssa & Mike

We believe the intersection of Travel & Adventure is a surefire way to get outside your comfort zone and experience new levels of joy and excitement you never knew possible. These

In our new short form episode series, we share 3 stories from our adventures that delivered a lasting experience and compelled our personal growth.

A common theme in each of these stories is: Friction. Some type of abrasive, uncomfortable experience outside of our normal world. COVID-19 and the global pandemic has forced each of us outside of our comfort zones, but we hope the current status quo doesn't last forever. 

What happens when there is no pandemic? What happens when life goes back to the "old normal"? Were you truly happy before? The problem we recognize is that most people are not aware of a lack of fulfillment. They settle for less than what they deserve. 

We believe that you deserve more, and constantly look for ways to inspire you out of your comfort zone and into an incredible life full of exciting opportunity!

Adventure On,
M&M

Hey Fit Travel Tribe!

In this episode, we interview Joe and Allie Paul. You may not know them yet, but let me tell you why we’re sharing their story with you.

Joe and Allie recently uprooted their lives from a small Wisconsin community and moved to sunny Arizona! Although they are looking forward to the change of scenery and temperature, the choice to leave family, friends and the familiar was not so easy. 

Joe and Allie chose to take a step toward their dream lifestyle, faced their fears, and broke out of their comfort zone in the most literal fashion. We applaud them, we support their desire to fulfill their dreams, and hope their story inspires you to break out of the mold and experience more that life has to offer. 

Joe is also the owner of Unaverage Life ([email protected]), where he coaches clients to better health and wellness.

In this episode, we talk about having a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were ups and downs and a roller coaster of emotions. Ultimately, we enjoyed quality family time and a beautiful experience, and have wonderful memories to last for years.

Key Takeaways

“There are only two things you can control: Your actions and attitude.” - John C. Maxwell

Gratitude Studies

Brown, J., & Wong, J. (2017, June 6). How gratitude changes you and your brain. Retrieved from this link. 

Key points from the article: 

• Gratitude is emotionally long-lasting (up to 12 weeks after the study people were still seeing the effects).
• Even if you don’t say it out loud, mental listing of gratitude has the same effects.
• Helps with anxiety, depression, and mental health struggles.
• Helps shift emotion away from envy, resentment, greed.
• It’s a lot harder to be negative when you’re looking for positive things
  • “You can’t be grateful and unhappy at the same time.” Tony Robbins (2016)

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain

Harvard Health Publishing. (n.d.) Giving thanks can make you happier. Retrieved from this link. 

Key point from the article:

People who wrote things they were grateful for were happier, had less visits to doctors, and exercised more frequently than those who thought about what agitated them. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier

Actionable Steps to Improve Gratitude

• Write a letter to someone thanking them for what they do in your life. 
• Keep a daily journal. Every evening, write everything great that happens each day.
• Tell people you’re thankful for them! Waiters, coworkers, mailman, etc.
• Give! Can be small, like paying for someone’s coffee, etc. No money? Give your time!
• Participate in meditation or prayer, or find space to be present and feel thankful.
• Replace a negative thought with 3 positives. 
• Slow down and be present. 
• Watch feel good news stories instead of dramatic stories.

When someone has a profound impact on your life, is it easy to explain in words what that person means to you? That is the case of Mark and his wife, Jocelyn Wolters (@woltersworld). Mike met Mark (say that five times fast) several years ago, and little did he know that he was following in the footsteps of a truly impactful figure in the World of Travel.

Some key words that describe the Wolters: Real, Fun, Honest, Authentic

Mark and Jocelyn own Wolters World, recognized as one of the most popular travel vlogs on YouTube. In this episode, we chat with M & J about a variety of topics related to health, wellness and travel (and Mark gives his HONEST perspective). Most importantly, we deliver this conversation to you completely raw, unedited (except for the intro/outro, of course).

Here's a quick description of their YouTube Channel - head over and subscribe!!

"Wolters World Gives Honest 1st Hand Travel Advice to Help Fellow Travelers Get the Most out of Their Travel Experience. We Discuss the Best & Worst parts of traveling so that you can be better prepared for your vacation in a way that helps you know more about the culture & people of the city, country, or region you are going to visit. From The Shocks of Traveling to a new country, to the things you Don't do when you travel, to the Things You Will Love & Hate, to General travel tips for packing, budgeting, planning, safety and more, we try to help all types of travelers. So, Please subscribe & Happy Travels to You Fellow Travelers!"

(PS: They have some awesome Wolters World Travel Gear available for sale on their website.)

Adventure On!
M&M

Enjoy a preview of our new YouTube companion show, followed by...

SEASON 2!!

We've been eager to share Season 2 with you, and so fortunate to finally bring you a new season of The Fit Travel Show!

In this episode, we talk about:
- What happened over the past several months (we get REAL!)
- New developments and happenings within the Fit Travel Tribe
- 4 actionable steps you can take to build and keep a healthy immune system during a global pandemic
- The exercise library available on our YouTube Channel

We want EVERYONE to stay healthy and fit while they're stuck at home during the global pandemic. Now you can purchase your own light weight, packable and travel-able (is that even a word?) home gym equipment! Visit our online shop to see the spread!

Some notes from the show:
4 Actionable Steps to Build and Keep a Healthy Immune System
- Get Adequate Sleep, Consistently 
- Make Your Nutrition Healthier (find one thing you can make better)
- Build a Strong Cardiovascular System
- Keep a Calm Central Nervous System {i.e. stress-free, meditation, prayer, yoga, relaxing activity}

Here's a big question you should answer right now, wherever you're at on your wellness journey: What are you doing to stay active/healthy/fit during the pandemic?

Guess what's next on the show??

Our interview with MARK & JOCELYN WOLTERS! Mark and Jocelyn are heavy-hitters, all-stars, travel industry and YouTube celebrities! In step with this new phase of our platform, Mark and Jocelyn are real, living examples of the principles that Two Fit Travelers stands for: great relationships, conscious about health & wellness, choosing adventure and exploration. We love Mark and Jocelyn, who spent a ton of time pouring into us during our conversation (which was very late at night, after a full day of work and putting kids to bed). 

Stay Tuned, and Adventure On!
Maryssa & Mike

Hey Fit Travel Tribe,

Welcome back to the Fit Travel Show. What an unusual time we're in, with the global impressions of coronavirus (COVID-19) and economic recession. We hope you and yours are staying healthy, remaining industrious and productive, and keeping a positive state-of-mind.

With the onset of stay-at-home commandments and ever-increasing virtual environments, many folks are turning to online fitness coaches and classes. Peloton is certainly leading the charge, and provides a lesson about excellence to all of us. For those of you who choose to invest your resources in more personal coaching and guidance, there are some key questions and answers you should exchange with your new fitness mentor.

In this episode, we dig into Brendon's expertise and uncover vital information to help you pursue the right avenue for your fitness goals.

Adventure On,
M&M

Hey Fit Travel Tribe!

We're back with another interview, and another guest with a wealth of knowledge in health and wellness. Mike (@thestrongcoach) was one of the pioneers of the CrossFit community, and helped expose the benefits of CrossFit by training clients at his gym and also through Barbell Shrugged, a medium he co-founded with a group of fitness friends.

He's since moved on to a more colorful variety of wellness, as he shares in this episode. One thing we appreciate about Mike is his ability to share things in very simple (sometimes surprising) ways, that leaves no confusion about what he's referring to.

Please enjoy the heck out of this episode during your next drive, next visit to the gym, or next bit of downtime. We sure did!

Adventure On,
M&M

Links discussed in show:
Gymnastic Bodies
Paleo FX

Hey Fit Travel Tribe,

In this episode, Gio Roselli shares about his career from WWE Pro Wrestler to Fitness Educator. This conversation was jam-packed with great takeaways, and tools you can use to improve your overall health and wellness.

As we shared the mic with Gio, we couldn't help but recognize his perseverance and the willpower it took to continue pressing forward despite injuries and setbacks. How often are we deterred and slowed down by "life" stuff? As Tommy said recently, so many people live their life within imaginary margins. 

Gio's story is truly inspiring, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Adventure On!
M&M