Marc Bahner divides his time between California and Maui. At age 61, he is physically active 7 days a week and loving life. He is famous in Vintage Racing circles for his expert restoration of Formula 1 and CAN-AM cars. In fact, we figured out that he played high school football in Tustin, California with my first cousin and I was present at all those games. It is the twinkle in his eye, his enthusiasm for exercise,  and his optimism in life that captures me. Marc and I spent about an hour exploring what motivates him to keep active, day after day, year after year, and decade after decade. 

Marc told me that, “motivation can be a difficult thing in my personal life. Physical conditioning gives me so much more personal freedom. I am severely stymied if I do not have physical dexterity and strength. With them, I can go on my bike or jump in the canoe and go paddling without dying.” 

Motivation to keep going can be elusive, especially to someone new to exercise. Marc personally supports and mentors individuals who are struggling to get started working out. You can hear him encouraging new- comers or re-starters, “Get through that first 6 weeks. Just suck-it-up and keep going. Trust me on this! Keep going through these weeks and you will have a smile on your face.” 

Bahner’s motivational philosophy as he puts it, “is stamped indelibly on my forehead.” He has broken his back four separate times which resulted in times of pain, solitude, and rehabilitation which “is not a whole lot of fun or what any of us is looking for in life. I am really cognizant of the limitations of physical freedom. Physical conditioning really opens the door to an expansive universe and world. Now you can do and see things. Now you can visit places. Now you can go see the grandkids. If I am inactive for even one week, I can hardly get out of bed. As long as I keep exercising, in relation to these back injuries, I can do anything. I have no fear of doing exercises, I know I will not re-injure my back.. My x-rays look horrible, but I can do everything without limitations, without curtailing any physical activities. I do it all. I can stay out to midnight and feel fine. That is my motive to getting and keeping in shape.” 

As for what he would tell others about finding their motivation to become physically active and strong, Marc would tell them, “like any new endeavor or sport, the first 6 weeks are going to be hell. Get help from someone who can help you get on back on track. It can be a workout buddy or a personal trainer. After your body gets used to it, you need it and it feels so good. But it is not going to be fun for the first 4-8 weeks. That is why I won’t quit. I do not want to go through that really hard phase again. I don’t want to go back to it being extremely hard to even get out of bed. This is my rule that guides me in life.” 

Marc strongly believes that a heavy person who exercises is a hundred times better off than a thin person who diets and does not exercise. “A healthy body weight is easier on the body but not as important as the physical exercise. All of us need to do things and Hawaii offers us endless sports and outdoor activities, but all of them require some level of physical conditioning. My advice to everyone is, go into the controlled environment of the gym, get into shape, go out and enjoy our islands. Life and everything you see will be 100% more beautiful.” 

The latest research and constant reading also motivates Marc. “The latest technology in the last 10 years has brought massive information in weight training and supplements. The old axiom of older people having to lose muscles has been proven categorically wrong. They have proven you can build muscle at any age, but you have to use it or lose it. Especially after the age of 50. At 61, I am feeling great. I would encourage everyone to do something every day. Weight train 5 times a week and be active outside the other two days. You can come back from an injury, or in my case, several injuries. Every day you don’t do something it makes it harder to do. Live life to the fullest. The door is open, just walk through it.” 

When Marc is on Maui, you can find him on most any given day on the workout floor of Upcountry Fitness in Haiku. If you need some encouragement to get started exercising or to keep going, come find him. You will gravitate to his story telling and bright laughter. You will find a man with clarity about what is good in life and what makes life worth living. You will find him an inspiration to be more physically active. I know I do.