I like to work out in the morning. That way, by the time I’m out of the shower with a coffee in hand, the worst part of my day is over.

My routine consists of this: I run a two-mile loop to the Vltava River, ending at an outdoor calisthenics gym. There I do three sets of pull-ups, three sets of dips, and three sets of leg exercises like air squats or lunges.

As someone who spent the better part of the last 6 years lifting weights at a gym, I love this routine. It’s far from the best muscle-building program, in fact, in that regard it’s probably the least effective regime I’ve adopted.

But it’s healthier in other ways. For one, I don’t waste time or mental energy packing and unpacking my stinky gym bag anymore. For two, I get more time in the sun, fresh air, exposure to nature, and other lovely things we desk-dwellers miss out on. For three, the slower progression of muscle growth from calisthenics seems more sustainable: no extreme soreness, minimal risk of injury, and gradual, deliberate progress.

Fundamentally, I don’t care to look like a bodybuilder. I’ve approached a bodybuilder body fat percentage before, and that lifestyle, especially in regards to food, is just not for me. I like to eat healthy most of the time, but any diet that rules out pizza, lasagna, bread, pasta, ice cream, or beer can fuck right off. I work out so I have the energy to do more, work harder, and climb a mountain or two, while also enjoying some carbohydrates and processed sugars once in a while.

I was obese throughout high school and most of college. I reached 270 lbs the summer before completing my bachelor’s. Then, I had a few family members unexpectedly pass in quick succession. It was the first time I experienced loss. In my confusion and grief, I decided it was time to make a change. I started going to the gym first thing in the morning every day. I lost some 50 pounds in the first 3 months. Within two years my body fat percentage went from something like 35% to 11%. Getting in shape was the single best thing I have ever done for myself.

I started hiking, summiting mountains all around Southern California. I remember thinking, as I reached the peak of Mount San Bernardino, that just a few years prior I wouldn’t have been able to do this. All the incredible views, beautiful nature, feelings of accomplishment, and tired nights spent under the stars with close friends in remote places had essentially been ‘unlocked’ by way of my prioritizing health. What other remote corners of life can hard work unlock for me?