Imagine standing before you a 150-year-old oak tree. It’s massive, majestic, and full of life. Birds nest in its branches, insects find their homes in its bark, and its roots hold the soil together, nourishing the surrounding plants. The tree offers shade, shelter, and food and even serves as a landmark for the ecosystem around it. It is a pillar of life.

Now picture this…you’re holding an axe. You swing it, cutting into the trunk. With each strike, the tree’s lifeline weakens. The birds scatter, the insects lose their shelter, the shade disappears, and the surrounding ecosystem begins to crumble. You’re not just chopping down a tree – you’re destroying an entire system that relies on its presence, even harming the planet in some small but irreversible way.

If you were there watching someone do this, wouldn’t you shout? “Stop! Don’t do this!” That visceral anger, that desperate plea to protect something so vital – why doesn’t that same energy show up when it comes to your body?

Your body is your oak tree. It’s the home for your energy, your mind, and your spirit. It supports everything you do, just like the tree supports its ecosystem. Yet, every time you neglect it – through poor eating, lack of movement, or ignoring its needs – you’re swinging that axe. Slowly cutting down the one thing that keeps your life thriving.

I know what it’s like to have something in life that feels unshakeable. For me, that something has been the barbell. From the age of 13 to today, at 47, the barbell has been my rock. It’s always been there – steady, reliable, and consistent. Through hardship, pain, good times, and celebrations, it’s never wavered.

The barbell has been more than a companion; it’s been a teacher. It’s taught me discipline, perseverance, and resilience. It has strengthened not just my body but my mind. No matter how chaotic life has been, I’ve always known I could turn to it. It’s helped me build my foundation – my oak tree.

If you’d fight to save that oak tree, then fight just as fiercely for yourself. Fight for a quality of life that honours the gift of your body. Treat it with respect. Nourish it, move it, protect it. Because without it, everything else begins to fall apart.

The best time to start training was when you were younger and full of energy. But the next best time? Right now. Go for a walk, go for a jog, head to the gym, do some yoga, or dive into the ocean for a swim. Just start.

If you’re stuck and not sure what to do, I’ve got you covered. I’ve created a 20-minute workout you can do at home – no equipment needed. Just DM me, and I’ll send it to you absolutely free.

I’m on a mission to help as many people as I can – and today, that mission is you.

Dino xx