What are the five Fs?

Hello, hello, my fantastic listeners, welcome back to the 2% solution, where we're all about making small changes for huge impact. I'm Dai Manuel, your guide on this journey to a more fulfilling, joyful and happy life. Today, we're diving deep into something that's close to my heart the whole life fitness manifestos, 5s philosophy. Now, trust me, this isn't your average fitness talk. We're going beyond the gym and into the realm of holistic well-being. Now you might be thinking what in the world are the 5S? Well, fasten your seat belts because we're about to explore fitness, family, faith, finances and fun, which are the five pillars that can balance and enrich your life in ways you've never imagined. Many years ago, I wrote a book called the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto.

Can you see how fitness is about much more than what you love Be on the physical. Great fitness feeds into all aspects of your life. I've trained many folks who initially get into fitness to lose weight. They are spurred on by little victories as they progress and, of course, it's great to see them light up with their improved results. I hear them say things like I'm down to dress size. Or I don't remember the last time I was able to tie up my own shoes. That's only the beginning. I know my clients are on the right path. When I hear them say, wow, I haven't woken up with this kind of energy for 10 years. Or OMG, when I used to bring in the groceries, my back would hurt. Or I used to get winded just from going upstairs to get my laundry. Now I can do this stuff with ease.

But fitness here, the way I'm referring to it, is about finding activities that keep your body moving and grooving. It's all about feeling alive and energized, not just fit. Remember, a little bit can go a long way. A 2% daily effort can transform your physical health tremendously, and it doesn't happen immediately, but it will happen fairly quickly. Next is family. This isn't just about spending time with your loved ones, though that's super important. It's about quality interactions, whether it's family dinner without phones, a weekend hike, maybe just a good old fashioned board game night. It's about creating memories, connection and strengthening bonds. Moving on to faith now. This can mean different things to different people. It could be spiritually, maybe it's meditation, maybe it's simply spending time in nature.

Fun is an essential part of life. It's about doing things that bring you joy and laughter. Life's too short not to have fun, so make sure you're carving out time for hobbies, adventures or just silly moments. These 5S, this 5F philosophy, if you will, is about creating a balance, fulfilling life. And guess what? You don't have to overhaul your life overnight. It's about those small, consistent 2% changes that lead to massive transformation. I hope you're leaving today's episode feeling somewhat more inspired to look at these aspects of your life a little differently. Remember, it's not about perfection. It's about progress, one step, one day, one, 2% at a time. Thanks for tuning in and keep pushing for that 2% improvement in all areas of your life. Catch you next time on the 2% solution, where small steps lead to big changes.

The principles of CrossFit allow me to take care of my fitness needs quickly so I can devote adequate time for my other Fs, family, finances, faith and fun. In other words, you can accomplish a lot by doing a little training every day. You just need to make sure that little is well designed, attuned to your goals and power packed. I base all of my programs on these principles, which is why a whole life fitness, power 30 workouts can be completed in just 15 minutes. Might be hard to believe that that's all it takes to get fit, but I find that it is ideal, not only because it's effective, but also because it's sustained. Everybody has 15 minutes. I don't care who you are, what you do, what kind of life you live. I can find 15 minutes in your day for a quick workout.

Whole Life Fitness, chapter 1. Fitness is broken. On any given day, the media would have us believe a wide range of crazy claims that a fat reduced diet will make us skinny, that we can sculpt six pack abs in three minutes or less, and that if we don't exercise for more than an hour a day, five days a week, we'll never reach our fitness goals. Above all, we are told that achieving a particular body shape will bring us happiness and fulfillment. My answer to all this Garbage Most people believe in fitness are driven by vanities. Many of us feel pressure to attain a certain body type or to achieve top athletic performance. Much of our framework is built on the preconceived notion that having a lean or muscular body is an indicator, the only indicator, of fitness. But appearances, however cliche this may sound, really are only skin deep.

Fun can be a great motivator to move your body to. For example, in Stockholm, sweden, a public staircase was modified to look and sound like a piano, people played notes as they climbed or descended the staircase. And this experiment more than 60% of participants chose to climb the piano rather than take the escalator, just for the fun of it. And in Moscow, during the Sochi Winter Olympics, commuters were given free rides on the subway if they performed 30 squats. Pretty cool, right? No matter what your personal priorities or goals, the 5S are integral to a richer, happier life. Like the walls of a house, the integrity of the whole structure is compromised if any one of the 5S is weak. Taking care of the 5S is about getting more out of your whole life. With a solid platform of underlined health, the body becomes an instrument through which you can achieve everything else.

As time went on, I kept trying to balance the priorities of my life, striving to attain perfection, but I was constantly disappointed in myself. I was never able to truly balance it all. When I let one part of my life become the shining star, all other aspects of my life would dim in comparison. If I focused on family, my career suffered. When I turned my energies towards my career, in particular when I was building my company, my family felt it, and so did my health. I just never seemed to have enough to make everything work. Do you know that feeling? Like many people, I found happy distraction in activities that didn't propel me forward in life Pub nights, boys trips, nights out with my colleagues and long days on the golf course. I kept telling myself that tomorrow would be the day to reset and get everything in order. Tomorrow is the day to start my new habits.

That choice to say no more, enough is enough, let's do this, helped me shape myself into who I am today. The story and then some is shared in my book, the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto. My why, which I share often, is all about connection. I am enthralled with connecting with people, whether it is my family, my friends, or my tribe. This drive for connection to others underscores my very being. It is a vital, addictive source of enjoyment in my life. I get a huge kick out of being able to help others become healthier and happier; this gives me my joie de vivre that makes me jump out of bed every morning. The more people I reach, the greater the impact on my online community, as other leaders invariably emerge to carry forward this fitness movement, like ripples on a pond. This is why the Whole Life Fitness Manifesto came to be.