The Most Inspiring Conversation I Didn’t Expect to Have in Reno

“We don’t stop moving because we grow old. We grow old because we stop moving.” — Unknown

So, I was planning to wrap up the Health-Wellness Spectrum conversation this month with a big recap on the Five Factors of Health… and then something magical happened in a Reno casino hotel gym over Thanksgiving that completely hijacked this newsletter—in the best possible way.

Picture this: I’m grunting my way through a CrossFit-style workout in the corner of a very traditional hotel gym. Everyone else is on the stair stepper or doing bicep curls, and there I am dropping heavy dumbbell deadlifts and kicking up into handstand pushups against the wall… carefully, of course, so I don’t scuff the wallpaper and get kicked out of Reno. 😅

After I finish, this very fit, fiery older woman marches straight up to me and immediately starts chatting—asking what I’m training for, talking about movement like it’s her religion, basically preaching to the choir.

Naturally, I ask her about her life, and in five minutes I’m standing there thinking:
“This woman is an absolute badass… and holy crap, she is dropping some TRUTH BOMBS.”

Her energy. Her wisdom. Her no-nonsense attitude toward life and health.
Lightbulb moment after lightbulb moment.

So instead of a recap, I’m sharing the gold nuggets I got from this unexpected Reno angel. I hope they spark something in you, give you a needed kick in the pants, or at the very least entertain you.

Here we go. 💥

Never Stop Moving

In the five minutes I talked with Lori, this powerhouse of a 74-year-old woman said one phrase at least five times: “Never stop moving.”
Don’t stop because you’re older.
Don’t stop because you’re tired.
Don’t stop because you got sick.
Just. Don’t. Stop.
A little extreme for us younger bucks, sure—but to her, it wasn’t a cute saying. It was lived truth. She sees what happens when people stop. She told me she still works full-time as an attorney because staying sharp and keeping up with the 30-year-olds in her office keeps her mentally and physically alive.

 Her words instantly reminded me of something Ben Bergeron said on the Chasing Excellence podcast:
“You don’t go to the nursing home because you’re sick. You go because you lose the ability to function on your own.”
Falling. Moving. Caring for yourself. This is strength training for life.

But here’s the thing—you don’t have to be 75 for this to matter. Every year you do less—less movement, less challenge, less growth—your baseline slips. And the lower your baseline gets, the harder it is to bounce back when life hits you.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was so grateful my baseline was high. That year took a huge toll on my body and I dropped down a notch… but because I started high, I had somewhere to land.
If my baseline had been low? Getting back to healthy would’ve felt impossible.

**So let me ask you**:
Where’s your baseline today?
Where will it be tomorrow?
Where could it be a year from now if you decide—like Lori—to never stop moving?

It Takes Time

Lori shared an analogy I loved:
If you want to become a race car driver, you don’t start in a Ferrari.
You start small, build skills, and work your way up—slowly.
We live in a world of quick fixes: six-week shreds, magic programs, and six-pack promises. (Side note: I’ve been doing fitness for 13 years and still don’t have abs… though that might be more of a nutrition problem than a training problem, but that’s a conversation for another day. 😉)

If you’re just getting started—or even if you’ve been dabbling for a bit—please remember: progress takes time. Like… real time. Longer than any of us want it to.

And it’s not just overall fitness. Seasonal activities take time to come back to, too. As winter creeps in (hopefully soon!), don’t be shocked if your first day back snowshoeing, ski touring, or even downhill skiing feels a little rough. Sometimes it feels magical and sometimes it feels like your lungs have never worked a day in their life. This is normal. Your body needs time to readjust.
If you want a smoother transition, a lot of gyms offer “get in shape for ski season” or “bike prep” classes—super fun and super helpful.

And let’s talk about breaks. Long ones.
Whether you’re coming back from surgery, pregnancy, cancer (grrrrr), or simply a stretch of life where fitness fell off the plate… you won’t return as the same person who left. You have to rebuild. Slowly. With patience.
And sometimes? You may never get back to exactly where you were before—and that’s okay. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re entering a new era of you, one we’ll talk about more below.

Fitness Is Not an End Goal

Like I mentioned above, it takes time to get where you’re going… but here’s the real kicker: there is no final destination.
Yes, you’ll hit PRs.
Yes, you’ll crush a race you trained for.
Yes, you’ll have seasons where you feel strong, athletic, dialed in.
But if you truly want to win at fitness—and honestly, at life—you have to learn to love the journey and the process. Because fitness isn’t a 12-week finish line. It’s a lifelong habit, something you show up for daily (or close to daily), with no “end” in sight. And that’s a beautiful thing.

I once heard a wild statistic: quitting smoking makes a person 41% healthier. Makes sense, right? Now here’s the crazy part—supposedly, per a podcast I trust, you get that same 41% increase in health by improving your VO₂ max one level.
— They gave a dramatic example; if you went from running a 7:00-minute mile to a 6:30 mile, you’d gain the equivalent health jump of a smoker quitting. 🤯
Now… I don’t know the exact science behind the numbers (don’t come at me exercise physiologists), but the message landed hard:
Getting even a little fitter has a massive impact.
So don’t chase giant leaps—chase 1% better. Day after day.

And while we’re at it—remember this: fitness doesn’t care about your mood.
As the famous line from Dune says:

“What does mood have to do with it?”
You show up whether you’re tired, unmotivated, grumpy, or simply not feeling it.
Motivation is fickle. Discipline builds your life.
(Get your butt in the gym, lace up your shoes, or go for the rainy-day walk anyway… unless you’re actually sick—then rest like a responsible adult.)

Take the Harder Path

Choose the Stairs
Choose to park farther away. Choose the slightly harder option. Lori laughed as she told me, “It cracks me up watching people circle the parking lot for the closest spot… at the gym!” And honestly? She’s right.
These tiny choices compound over time. So start planting those seeds now: skip the elevator, walk the extra steps, load your own groceries, carry the heavy thing.
Choosing hard—especially in the small ways—builds a stronger you….physically AND mentally. 

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Fighting the E-Bike (for Now 😉)

Lori said she has not succumbed to the e-bike and she proudly told me she still rides her 30-pound, 25-year-old Diamondback—and that it’s a workout just loading it into her truck.
 
I personally know the day may come when I welcome an e-bike into my life, and I fully support people who love theirs. E-bikes are amazing for accessibility, inclusivity, and helping people ride farther and longer.

But for me, right now, choosing the non-motorized route keeps me stronger. It forces me to work a little harder, push a little more, and stay honest with my fitness. Someday I’ll probably be cruising around on one too… I just hope it’s when I’m in my 80s. 😉

Taking Aging in Stride

Despite fighting the e-bike life, Lori admitted she’s back on a foam surfboard these days. We both instantly jinxed and said, “At least you’re still out there surfing though!” And truly—that’s the point. Push off the aging process as long as you can, but know that adjustments will come. You’ll go lighter, slower, shorter, or simpler at times, but you’re still out there, moving, trying, showing up. And that is pretty freaking incredible.

As things shift, keep this in mind:

▫️ Reassess your life every few years.
New season? New decade? New baby? Surgery? Illness? Injury?
There’s no shame in creating new PRs for the version of you who exists now. Progress isn’t always linear—it’s cyclical, evolving, and personal.

▫️ Your training needs may change.
Maybe five days a week in the CrossFit gym was right once, but now three feels better. Maybe running 50 miles a week hits different in your 40s and 30s–40 miles is your sweet spot now. The key is to be stubborn enough to stay consistent, but gracious enough to adapt.

• And remember: sometimes the “new you” is actually the better you.
I’ll admit, I still get sad when I can’t squat what I used to, or clean & jerk over 200 lbs. But then I zoom out—I have a much more balanced life now. I hike far, I lift heavy-ish, I outrun my kids (for now), and I keep up with Tony on the bike most of the time. That version of me is strong in ways that matter more than just the numbers.

Giving Up

In the short time I spent talking with Lori, I got the sense she’s not someone who gives up on much of anything. Except, occasionally… on people. Not because she doesn’t love them, but because she’s exhausted from trying to motivate the friends who say they’ll hike with her (despite being scared), she gets so excited, and then—bam—they bail.

She knows they’re nervous. She knows they worry they won’t be able to keep up. But here’s the thing: she doesn’t care. She doesn’t mind going slower. She doesn’t mind taking breaks. She just wants the joy of the company.

And honestly? I feel the exact same way. If I invite you on a hike, it’s because I want you there. I won’t invite you on certain big, gnarly hikes because I know they’re too much (or because I selfishly want to go fast or sometimes alone). But if I do invite you, it’s because I already know your pace, your ability, your vibe—and I still want to spend that time together.

So if you’re one of those people who wants to say yes but worries you’ll “slow someone down,” hear this clearly:

You’re probably right — you probably can’t keep up.
But if someone invited you anyway? That means speed isn’t the point. Connection is. The adventure is secondary to the time together. And they’re totally fine stopping 100 times if it means sharing the trail with you.

Inspiring One Person

Despite her frustrations with friends bailing on hikes, Lori wrapped up our conversation with this simple truth: “If you can motivate or inspire one person, then it’s worth it.” And honestly, that hit me right in the heart.

Because that’s exactly what these Elevate Livin’ Life newsletters are about for me. I pour a lot of time, energy, and thought into them — time I could spend outside with friends, or adventuring, or, let’s be real, cleaning my house. And sometimes I wonder, Does this matter? Is anyone even reading this? Why am I doing this?

But then one of you emails me back…
Or tells me a story…
Or shares it with your family…
Or asks a question that sparks something deeper…

And in that moment I’m reminded — yep, it’s worth every minute if it helps even one of you.

And here’s the part for you: you also have a voice. You are an expert in something. You have lived experiences, hard-earned wisdom, and unique stories that someone out there needs. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Don’t be afraid to share. Don’t be afraid to spark a conversation with a stranger who feels like a kindred spirit.

Just like Lori did with me.
And yes — I did awkwardly ask her for a photo, because I knew I didn’t want to forget her anytime soon.

As always, thank you so much for reading along and being part of this community. I hope you have a fabulous holiday season — full of movement, joy, connection, hopefully skiing?!? and maybe even a few magical encounters with strangers who feel like soul friends.

— Kelli