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 FITNESS FITNESS 

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HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING

Mountain View News Saturday, July 19, 2025

Lori A. Harris

WEIRD WORKOUTS.... 

PLEASE STOP!

Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

TRANSFORM YOUR STRUGGLES INTO 
STRENGTH: The Fourth Grade Lesson That 
Changed Everything

See people walking backwards around the park lately? Or lifting 
one leg like back a donkey while stepping on a stair climber at the 
gym? Maybe you've noticed someone on the treadmill wearing a 
weighted vest, walking uphill like a robot with their arms pinned 
to their sides.

These strange fitness moves are popping up all over social media—
and a lot of people are trying them without understanding what 
they’re doing, or why. Here are a few you may see:

The Backwards Walking Craze

Let’s start with walking backwards. You’ve probably seen videos 
of people slowly strolling backward on a treadmill or down the 
street. Some even claim it helps memory or “opens up brain pathways.” 
Sounds magical, right?

Well, kind of. Walking backwards can be helpful for people recovering 
from injuries or improving balance. Physical therapists 
sometimes use it for specific issues. But for the average person just 
trying to stay in shape, walking backwards doesn’t offer anything 
better than walking forward, except a higher chance of tripping 
over your own dog or bumping into a tree.

People like it because it feels different. But different doesn't mean better. If your goal is heart health, leg 
strength, or just moving your body, forward walking is still your best bet. 

Silent Treadmill Walking: The "Hot Girl Walk"

Another odd one: the "silent treadmill walk." This involves walking uphill on a treadmill, often at a 12% 
incline and 3 mph, while wearing a weighted vest—and keeping arms completely still at your sides.

It’s called the “hot girl walk,” or sometimes “rizz walking.” You’re supposed to look mysterious, intense, 
and completely emotionless. No arm swing. No talking. No expression.

Here’s the problem: it goes against everything we know about how the body is designed to move. Swinging 
your arms helps balance and rhythm. Wearing a weighted vest can be great if you’re walking naturally. 
But pinning your arms down to look cool? That’s not exercise. That’s just poor posture with a side of 
attention-seeking.

The One-Leg Stair Climber Kick

Now my fave. The person who lifts one leg behind them while climbing the stair machine. Step, kick. 
Step, kick. Every time I see it, I can’t help but wonder what they think they are accomplishing.

The idea is that it targets the glutes better. It doesn’t. It just throws off your balance, weakens your form, 
and turns a great cardio machine into a circus act. If you really want to strengthen your glutes, try squats, 
lunges, or bridges. 

Cable Machine Rainbow Legs

Have you ever seen someone strapped into a cable machine, swinging their leg in a giant rainbow motion? 
Usually, they’re barely holding on to the side, concentrating like they’re defusing a bomb.

These “rainbow kicks” are supposed to shape your outer glutes or thighs. But they don’t do much of 
anything except make you look like you're kicking a bug that won’t die. They're flashy for videos, but 
if your goal is strength or muscle tone, stick to moves that let you control the motion and actually load 
your muscles.

Ankle Weight Leg Flails

Yes, ankle weights can have a place in a workout but not if you’re flailing your legs around like you're 
fighting off invisible bees.

People believe they’ll burn more fat or “tone faster” with weights on their ankles. In truth, it just puts 
pressure on your joints in the wrong way. It can cause knee and hip pain and doesn’t help you build 
muscle in any meaningful way. Want stronger legs? Use real resistance. 

Why These Trends Take Off

First, they look different. Different feels exciting. They also look hard. People think harder must mean 
better results. Most importantly, they’re all over social media. If someone with six-pack abs is doing it, 
people assume it must work.

But the human body hasn’t changed. Muscles still need proper resistance. Hearts still need steady cardio. 
Balance still requires… well, balance. Fitness doesn’t need to look weird to be effective. It needs to be 
done consistently, using good form.

What Actually Works?

If your goal is to be healthy, feel strong, and avoid injury, here’s what you really need:

Walk (forward!). With purpose, arms swinging, maybe uphill.

Strength train. Use weights, resistance bands, or even your own body. No swinging or flinging needed.

Stick to basics. The boring stuff works. That's why it's still around.

Fitness trends come and go, but your joints are with you for life. The next time you see someone doing 
any of the above, take a moment to smile. Then keep doing what actually works. It may not get you likes 
on TikTok—but it’ll get you results in real life.

How one woman's childhood math battles revealed the secret to finding joy 
in life's toughest challenges

Are you exhausted from fighting every obstacle life throws at you? What 
if I told you that your biggest struggles are actually your greatest teachers—
and there's a way to welcome them with joy instead of dread?

I learned this lesson the hard way in fourth grade, sitting at our dining 
room table night after night, tears streaming down my face as math 
concepts seemed impossible to grasp. My dad sat beside me, patient but 
weary. What I didn't understand then was that the real difficulty wasn't Mr. McNutt's assignments; 
my mom was battling severe anxiety and depression, disappearing into hospitals for weeks at a time, 
returning angry and distant. In my nine-year-old mind, it felt like everyone hated me: my mom, my 
teacher, and my exhausted father.

 However, those multiplication tables led to division, then fractions, and ultimately, the 
study of square roots. Each "impossible" concept became the foundation for the next breakthrough. 
Those math problems weren't just exercises, they were building my capacity to handle complexity, 
to push through confusion, to find solutions where none seemed to exist.

The same principle applies to every challenge you're facing right now.

Whether you're dealing with job loss, relationship struggles, health scares, financial stress, or family 
conflicts, these aren't punishments—they're your personal training ground for becoming stronger, 
wiser, and more resilient.

The Truth About Growth That Changes Everything

It's not the easy days that transform us. It's the problems that force us to stretch beyond our comfort 
zones. One phrase I repeat throughout each day has become my lifeline: "Everything works together 
for my good, and in all things be grateful."

 This isn't just positive thinking—it's based on ancient wisdom from St. James the Apostle: "Consider 
it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know 
that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you 
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).

 Think of it like a blacksmith's forge: The intense heat isn't meant to destroy the metal—it purifies 
and shapes it into something stronger and more beautiful than before.

What Would Change If You Welcomed Your Challenges?

I graduated from fourth grade and then some! But I'm still learning not to face every obstacle with 
pure grit and white-knuckled determination. Instead, I'm choosing to look for the lesson and find 
joy in the process.

What about you? What would shift in your life if you could:

• See obstacles as invitations to grow stronger instead of roadblocks?

• Approach difficulties with curiosity rather than fear?

• Find the hidden gift in every challenge—the way a pearl forms around an irritant?

• Trust that your struggles are developing exactly the strength you'll need for what's coming 
next?

Consider the life you're learning to embrace. What would change if you truly believed that everything, 
even the painful parts, is working together for your good?

Don't Face Life's Challenges Alone

After years of applying these principles, I've seen hundreds of community leaders transform their 
relationship with adversity. However, here's what I've learned: this mindset shift is easier when 
you're surrounded by others who are on the same journey.

That's why I'm hosting the Visionary Leader Salon on August 9th, 2025, at the Gathering Spot, 5211 
W. Adams Blvd.

In this intensive workshop, you'll discover:

• 3 proven strategies to transform obstacles into opportunities

• How to find the hidden lessons in your current challenges

• Practical tools to build unshakeable resilience

• A supportive community of fellow leaders committed to growth

Master of Ceremonies Fred Thomas, Comedian and respected Sierra Madre community leader, 
will join me as we explore these life-changing concepts with wisdom, laughter, and real-world 
application.

What past attendees are saying: "I left with a completely different perspective on my business challenges. 
Instead of dreading Monday mornings, I now see them as opportunities to grow stronger." 
— Jan, Santa Monica, CEO

Your Next Step: Choose Growth Over Struggle

Only 30 spots available. This intimate setting ensures personalized attention and deep transformation.

Mountain Views News readers receive 50% off with code MountainView, but this special pricing 
expires July 29th.

The cost of staying stuck is far greater than the investment in your growth. How much longer will 
you let life's challenges defeat you instead of develop you?

Reserve your seat today: Visit loriaharris.com/workshop or call 323-364-6561 with any questions.

Your struggles have been preparing you for something greater. Isn't it time you discovered what 
that is?

Lori A. Harris is an award-winning transformational coach, speaker, author and podcast host. Visit 
her website to learn more.

 
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