FRLN86: The Ultimate Gym, Saving Secrets, Deepen Relationships

Right now I’m Twin Lakes, Colorado…

And I’m traveling across the western U.S. with my ride-or-die Carly, and we’re having so much fun that I can’t wait to share what’s been on my mind this week.

Here’s what’s inside today:

• How to use nature as the ultimate gym (so fitness feels like play, not punishment).

• The simplest money-saving secret for road trips (that keeps you healthy too).

• How to deepen your closest relationships on the road (without your phone).

Let’s get started…

FIT — The Ultimate Gym

Last week in Buena Vista, Colorado, I played 3 hours and 45 minutes of pickleball.

And it was awesome… so awesome…

That’s when it hit me…

Nature is the ultimate gym.

On this trip, I’ve hiked Zion trails, run through forests, pedaled up single-track, bombed down the Rocky Mountains, paddled-boarded across Twin Lakes, and swam in alpine water.

Everywhere I look, the world itself invites me to move.

The sun fuels my energy. The scenery fuels my soul. The trails, water, and open air give me endless ways to push my body into feel good extremes.

And I started thinking…

I think many people struggle with fitness because they’re not inspired. It’s not a lack of discipline, or a lack of willpower. I think the major problem is, for most people, fitness isn’t fun.

But nature fixes that.

Moving through nature reconnects you to your body’s natural source of strength and inspiration. You’re not just moving so you can work out or look fit. You’re playing, exploring, adventuring, and discovering what you’re truly made of.

Even my strength training changed on this trip.

I’ve brought kettlebells, batons, and a weighted vest so I can train outside, under the open sky.

There’s something primal and divine about sweating in the sun, lungs full of clean mountain air, body and spirit aligned with the natural world. And if you’ve felt stuck or bored with your workouts lately, here’s my challenge to you:

Take your training outdoors so you can see what you’re made of.

Even if it’s just a walk, a quick bodyweight session, or a jog around the park — let nature be your gym. You’ll feel faster, stronger, freer, and more alive.

RICH — A $30 Cooler Can Save You Thousands

Before we hit the road, Carly’s friend gave her a simple piece of advice:

“Get a cooler!”

Best tip ever.

We pack it with ice, drinks, groceries, and snacks. That single cooler saves us from the expense of having to eat out 3x a day.

Instead of hitting restaurants for every meal, we make sandwiches, salads, and protein-packed snacks from the cooler.

The result?

• We save hundreds of dollars each week.

• We eat healthier, which keeps our energy high.

• We only eat out when it looks too good to pass up — (which makes those meals way more intentional and way more enjoyable too).

But here’s the deal…

Carly and I are multi-millionaires. We don’t have to save the extra money. But we do, because we know that those small savings can become huge compounding investments.

Whether that’s through the stock market or through investing in our own businesses.

Every dollar we don’t waste eating out is a dollar we can invest back into creating our Fit Rich Life.

And that’s the bigger principle here:

Building wealth isn’t about deprivation, it’s about priorities.

Whether it’s a cooler on a road trip or automating your investments, small systems keep your money working for you.

Next time you travel, pack a cooler. It might be the simplest financial secret that pays off compounding dividends in your health, wealth, and happiness.

Plus there’s nothing like having a stash of your favorite ice-cold beverages traveling along with you on the road.

LIFE — Road Trips For Deeper Relationships

Here’s the unexpected gift of this road trip:

Carly and I are growing closer every single mile.

She brought a card deck called Let’s Get Closer (by Intelligent Change). It’s filled with deep questions designed for couples, ranging from lighthearted secrets to profound philosophical insights.

There’s 3 levels in the deck — close, closer, and closest.

Over hours of driving through mountain passes, deserts, and canyons, we’ve worked through most of the deck.

And the result is that these conversations have taken us deeper than I could have imagined into each other’s hearts. Because, it’s given us questions to ask and topics to talk about we might have not thought of otherwise.

So here’s what I’ve realized:

• Airplanes get you there faster — but road trips give you time to explore one another.

• Hours in the car can either be wasted — or they can be invested in your relationship.

• A road trip isn’t just about reaching a destination — it’s about creating intimacy along the way.

We’ve laughed harder, dreamed bigger, and shared more vulnerably in these long stretches of road than we ever could have during the course of “normal” daily life.

If you want to strengthen your relationship, take a road trip.

And pack questions, not just snacks.

The miles you travel will take you deeper together.

ACTION — My Gift To You

Pick one (or two) and implement:

• Take your next workout outside — let nature inspire you.

• Commit to making more of your meals at home — or even on the road.

• Grab a question deck and start using it with your partner — so you can strengthen your closest relationship.

These small, intentional wins will compound into your ever growing Fit Rich Life.

To your health, wealth, and happiness,

— Justin David Carl