So what does practical fitness mean?

Before the modern era, practical fitness was the only kind of fitness there was.

Ancient humans didn’t go to the gym or for a run in the park. And they didn’t go to a supermarket or order Deliveroo. They hunted and gathered. That’s how they survived. If they weren’t strong enough or fast enough to catch their prey, they simply didn’t live.

Practical fitness is about doing what you need to do to sustain a long and healthy life, and nothing more. No fad diets, no Instagram workouts. This isn’t about getting shredded, six pack abs or body building. And it isn’t about eating like a caveman.

Practical fitness prepares the body for real-life movements and activities such as walking, pushing, pulling, bending, squatting, lunging and reaching by focusing on the fundamentals. It trains your muscles to work together in support of daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home or at work.

The goal isn’t to lose weight, get stronger or even get fitter. It’s to create the habits that make those things happen automatically.

Progress is not linear and it doesn’t require perfection, it just requires a commitment to repeating the same behaviours, consistently and progressively, over time. Habits are born of consistency. And results are a measure of habits.

Training for practical fitness - building strength, flexibility and mobility, eating the right foods, getting enough sleep and repeating those same behaviours, consistently and progressively, over time - may not be flashy, but it will always produce results.