Working out, sweating, on vacation

By Michael Mantell, Ph.D 

TECATE, Mexico — It’s been said, “No man needs a vacation as much as the one who just had one.”  Not in my case. I’m away right now, as an invited speaker on how to extend longevity, at the world famous, top-rated, destination fitness and integrative wellness spa, Rancho La Puerta, where a vacation is truly an opportunity to just, well, do nothing but soak up serenity, tranquility and advance your health.

Waking up each morning on the cutting edge of a fitness vacation in a relaxing, calming villa, surrounded by luxurious mountains, palm trees, manicured lawns and brilliant blue skies is the right way to start any day.  But when it’s a vacation with non-stop mind-body fitness classes and experiences, it’s pure heaven.

So if it was supposed to be a vacation in an award-winning, stunning setting, what in the world was I doing spending a couple of hours every morning on a disciplined, intense and sweaty workout in one of the gyms?  I thought a vacation, according to one humorist, “is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.” Do nothing? Me? When there are a great gyms, pools and hikes? That’d be a large bowl of no way!

I’m the Director of Behavioral Sciences at the world-renowned health destination in San Diego, the prizewinning Premier Fitness Camp, located at the Omni La Costa. For a week at a time, often more, folks from all over the world come to focus on improving their health, managing their weight, creating better eating habits and getting into the best shape physically and emotionally they’ve ever been in … under the watchful eyes of nationally esteemed fitness trainers, life coaches, physicians and nutritionists.

Thinking, eating, moving—the legs of the tripod I’ve developed, “ThEaMo”–form the base of this program. And what’s the real foundation to the success of this, and every, health camp vacation? “The link is what you think.” Belief that you can become healthier, increase your longevity, and take the steps, literally, to add quality to your life, is the central ingredient.

If you’ve been reading me in San Diego Jewish World and know anything about me, it’s that I am a true believer in Plato’s comment, “Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.”  Frankly, I tell my coaching clients in person or on Skype that if they are unwilling to engage in physical fitness, or get on a path leading to sweat for 30 minutes five times a week or so, they are not going to see the results they want from any coaching. The mind is the body. If the mind isn’t working well, the legs are in trouble.

If you want to change your physical, emotional and mental well-being, you just have to move.  I believe you can either live a stationary life, continuing on a static path, or get healthy. You simply cannot do both.

Along with me on this trip, is not only my wife, Paula, who is an ACE certified personal trainer, but we were fortunate to have the world’s finest six doctors accompany us on our stay, insuring the healthiest, most relaxing experience possible: Dr. Sunshine, Dr. Water, Dr. Rest, Dr. Air, Dr. Exercise and Dr. Diet. Without them, we might just still need a vacation after our vacation.  Living a longer, healthier life filled with more enjoyment, pleasure and well-being is what these doctors are all about. And they delivered.

I teach my coaching clients that their health is largely in their hands. Voltaire said it best, “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” It is certainly not just the absence of disease. To create the kind of well-being that allows us to return from a vacation rested and not in need of another vacation, we need to be sure we savor, play and enjoy every moment we have—wherever we are.

I was once asked to spend time as a public spokesperson for the Government of Bermuda’s Department of Tourism’s ad campaign selling Bermuda as a “stress-free vacation spot.” Undoubtedly, one of the best gigs I ever had. Visiting Bermuda with the red carpet rolled out for us, developing creative ways to help east-coasters focus on the relaxing potential that the pink sands and green waters of Bermuda held out for them, was a dream job.

While Bermuda, Rancho La Puerta, Premier Fitness Camp and so many other world-class resorts and health destination vacation spots hold the potential for vacations that can promote well-being and healthy living, it is ultimately your decisions and actions that create longer healthier lives, not the place.

Here are five thoughts to help you make the best decisions you can for an unforgettable, healthy vacation:

1. Life is full of setbacks. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks.
2. Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself.
3. Successful people replace the words wish, should and try with “I will”.
4. The conscious brain can only hold one thought at a time. Choose a positive thought.
5. A daily hit of athletic-induced endorphins gives you the power to make better decisions,  be at peace with yourself, and offset stress.

These are the signs of a great vacation and true well-being. Not just being fortunate enough to enjoy a beautiful place, but to create the kind of “time-out” that nourishes, advances, promotes and increases your well-being.

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Dr Michael Mantell, based in San Diego, provides coaching to business leaders, athletes, individuals and families to reach breakthrough levels of success and significance in their professional and personal lives. Mantell may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com