For countless people, “physical fitness” tops the list of New Year’s Resolutions every year – but for Scott Bergin, Partner at McCabe & Mack LLP, it is a way of life.
He explains:
My parents, who are 85 and 90, work out nearly everyday and are still in fantastic shape, mentally and physically. My father, in particular, has always set a great example for me. He is a former hockey goalie for Michigan State and played hockey until he was 50 years old. In the 1970’s, he would regularly run on his lunch break from the Poughkeepsie IBM plant to the IBM Country Club. He also regularly worked out at the YMCA and took me along with him.
I have always enjoyed sports. I played baseball, football, racquetball, soccer, ran cross country, threw the shot put and discus, ski and played golf but my passion has always been ice hockey and weight training.
After playing ice hockey in college in my freshman and a portion of my sophomore year, I played in the fraternity leagues. I also played for and captained my law school team. I played men’s league hockey for decades until my early 50’s. I also had the opportunity to play in men’s tournaments in Lake Placid and Montreal. These days I still play an occasional pick-up game, but mostly lift weights and do cardio training and stretch multiple times a week.
I started working out at the YMCA in 1974 and have always been a member of a gym until recently. I have also always had a home gym. During Covid, I augmented my gym by adding a power rack, cable system, more free weights, dumbbells, a Peloton tread and a Peloton bike. Working out helps relieve stress, makes me feel better physically, and sharper mentally, and I like the feeling of a good pump and endorphin rush. With age, I have had to adjust my workouts to include more stretching, less heavy weights and more reps. While I concentrate on different body parts, each time I work out I always stretch and do cardio. Now that I am in my 60’s, it is especially important to stay fit and to weight train. With age, people naturally lose muscle mass, coordination, and balance. Working out helps to reduce the consequences of aging.
In addition, my wife works out and sometimes we work out together. My daughter still competes in road races and was a Division I swimmer at Lehigh University. My son is also a very good athlete and hockey player, who still plays hockey when he can and works out regularly.
I simply cannot imagine not working out on a regular basis. Aside from all the physical and mental benefits, it also helps me to do my job better. Being a litigator and trying cases is physically and mentally demanding. By being in shape I am better able to meet the demands of litigating and trying cases.
My advice to anyone who does not work out is to begin.
It is never too late to join a gym and enjoy the benefits and by incorporating a regular exercise regimen into your life, you will not only live a longer life, but a more active life. The key to getting started is setting reasonable goals, perhaps engaging a trainer and doing exercises or activities that you enjoy.
To learn more about Scott D. Bergin, Partner at McCabe and Mack LLP, visit https://mccm.com/scott-d-bergin/.