Working Out for Personal Growth | Sal Distefano

The Darin Olien Show

Do you work out? Do you want to work out but don’t know if it’s right for you or how to get started? Here’s a little secret. Working out isn’t punishment. It’s a powerful tool for personal growth. WELCOME TO THE DARIN OLIEN SHOW Sal Distefano works out. But it’s not to get buff. However you look at it, Sal is a fitness machine. And although he did start working out as an insecure teen in order to look better, it turned into so much more. At the young age of 18, he became a personal trainer. Then, he quickly climbed the ladder to become the general manager of his local gym. It was there that he discovered the sales and marketing aspects of fitness. These skills eventually helped him open his own wellness facility where he continued to master working out and helping others learn how to do so. But an unexpected health crisis sparked Sal to change his perspective on exercise altogether. Instead of doing it for the gains, he began to look at the journey of fitness and the personal growth that comes with that. Now making health a priority over muscle size, Sal helps others see the power of working out on the mind, body and spirit. You guys already know that working out is a mental, emotional and spiritual outlet for me. I try to work out in nature– lifting boulders, sprinting up hills and letting the Earth guide me. So obviously, Sal’s perspective on fitness resonates with me immensely. A lot of people work out to lose weight or to appease an insecurity they have about themselves. And if that's what brings you to the fitness world, that’s totally ok. But Sal stresses the personal growth journey that comes with the commitment to exercise is much more rewarding. In this episode, Sal and I nerd out about fitness. But we also get into the deeper stuff, like the necessary role of pain in your working out journey. We also get into the obesity epidemic in the US, and why we need to change peoples’ perspective on regular exercise. Working out shouldn’t be a quick fix to lose those extra 16 pounds. It should be a lifelong commitment to growing as a person- physically and mentally. BREAKDOWN [00:04:45] Life lessons from working out [00:10:32] The power of Resistance Training [00:18:49] Creating the dual self [00:38:00] Why pain is a necessary part of the journey [00:44:13] Sal’s scare with autoimmune disease [00:52:23] Steps to understanding fitness LINKS Buy Sal’s Book Listen to Sal’s Podcast Follow Sal on Twitter- @mindpumpsal SPONSORS I use The Good by Caldera Lab every night and wake up to smooth, firm skin every morning. This lightweight serum is made from 27 active, wild-harvested plant botanicals and is 100% cruelty-free and vegan. Get 20% off your first purchase with code DARIN. Download Episode Transcript Here I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Darin Olien Show! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here's how: Subscribe, rate or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher Follow my Instagram to keep updated on the podcast, weekly deep dives and other projects that I'm supporting (and the occasional Chaga appreciation post) Sign up for my Weekly Email to keep up with what I’m tuned into. For feedback or suggestions, email my team at [e-mail] Find the list of brands & products that get the big tick of approval from me here. Comment below to join the discussion!