Gunnar Peterson is a Nashville-based personal trainer whose clients include A-list celebrities, all-star athletes and everyday people. With over 30+ years in the fitness industry, Peterson is the former Director of Strength and Endurance for the Los Angeles Lakers and has worked with athletes from the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, USTA, boxing and the NCAA. Midlife Male founder Greg Scheinman met Gunnar at an event in NYC (which he wrote about in Issue #3 here) and arranged to fly to Nashville to workout with him. After training, they discussed moving, aging, exercising, parenting, family, motivation and more in this week’s How I See It.
How I See It with Gunnar Peterson
MLM: You moved to Nashville after decades in Los Angeles. You were in Beverly Hills, known as a top trainer, you had celebrity status, all of it. What prompted that decision after 35 years near Hollywood?
Gunnar Peterson: This move was planned, but not everything went according to the plan. It’s like that Mike Tyson quote, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth.” We had a roadmap of how we wanted to do it, but things didn’t go exactly as expected. There were some crazy things that happened along the way. But ultimately, the move was successful. The first six months were tough because my wife wasn’t happy. And as they say, if mom ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. But she eventually found some friends and a rhythm, and now it’s been phenomenal. Nashville has been great for our kids, both the little ones and the older ones who come in and out of here. It’s a great city, and I have no ill will toward LA—it was just time for a change. LA has changed, things evolve, and overall, it’s been a good move.
MLM: How did you approach the decision to move, especially given the different life stages between you and your wife? A lot of men feel trapped in their lives, especially as they age, and find it hard to make such big moves.
Gunnar Peterson: When we started dating about 11 years ago, I made it clear that I didn’t plan on staying in LA forever. I was comfortable there—I went to basketball games, had connections, and worked non-stop. But I didn’t have the balance I wanted. I had a house in Durham, and my oldest son got accepted to Duke. I thought we’d eventually move there, not to retire, but to downshift. I’m not the type to retire and start fishing—that’s just not me. I’ll always be an early riser, but I planned to change my focus and intensity of work. We considered Durham, but my wife wanted to look around at other places, and we eventually agreed on Nashville. It was a tough move for her because her family and best friend are in LA, but once we settled in, everything fell into place.
MLM: You’ve shown a lot of patience in setting up your facility in Nashville. Has this patience come from being established and knowing what you want?
Gunnar Peterson: This move has really tested my patience. We still have 40-foot containers outside, and the building addition I want isn’t done yet. Hopefully, we’ll break ground in the next six to eight weeks. I’ve had to remind myself not to rush it. I could’ve done things faster, but I prefer to do it right rather than do it over. It’s hard to wait because I’m eager to get the gym up and running and start crushing it, but we’re taking it slow to ensure it’s done properly.
MLM: This seems similar to how you approach training with your clients. They often want to jump in with five sessions a week, but you emphasize starting slow. Why is that?
Gunnar Peterson: You have to pump the brakes if you want it to last. If it’s not sustainable, it’s not successful. Sure, you can schedule five workouts a week, but you’ll likely cancel one or two, and then feel stressed about it. That stress has its own negative effects. It’s better to start slow—maybe two or three workouts—and build from there. Walk before you run, both literally and figuratively.
MLM: What guiding principles do you hold closest to yourself as you’ve been getting older?
Gunnar Peterson: Wait, am I getting older? (Laughs)
MLM: Haha! Well, you mentioned that age doesn’t really matter to you. Can you elaborate on that?
Gunnar Peterson: Age doesn’t matter to me at all. The only difference I’ve noticed is a hamstring injury I got a few months ago. I can’t pop or explode like I used to, but I’m training and rehabbing, and I’ll get it back. Other than that, I don’t feel the age. Sorry to spoil the narrative, but I just don’t feel it. I was talking to my brother recently, and he feels the same—no complaints. He takes great care of himself, eats well, and it’s paying off. I know the effects of aging will come, but I’m not rushing to get there. I don’t feel old, and I don’t think old.
MLM: It sounds like you maintain a youthful mindset. How important is that to you?
Gunnar Peterson: Very important. I’m still the guy who laughs at dumb jokes and makes them too. A client once told me, “Don’t ever lose the immaturity,” and I think that’s key. It’s fun to laugh at the goofy stuff in life. But don’t mistake immaturity for irresponsibility. You can still be a kid at heart as long as you’re taking care of your family, paying your bills, and minding your health. People are attracted to that young spirit, to someone who’s still a kid at heart. Don’t ever lose that.
MLM: Do you think this mindset contributes to your reputation—how you’re perceived and how you perceive yourself?
Gunnar Peterson: Absolutely. Whether you call me old or not, that’s not going to change what I do in a day. Someone might say something about me, but that’s not going to stop me. I have stuff to do. I’m going to get up and get after it, no matter what anyone thinks or says about me. What people say about you behind your back is none of your business. It’s not going to deter me. I have to get my work done, go to my kid’s football game, see my daughter in the hospital—those things are happening, no matter what. How do I stay focused? It’s simple: I don’t give myself any other options. Failure isn’t an option. If all there is in the fridge is eggs and ramen, that’s what we’re having for dinner.
MLM: Do you always maintain that level of discipline?
Gunnar Peterson: Not always, but I try. Moderation is key. There’s a perception that we have to be perfect all the time—never drink, always eat perfectly, train constantly. That’s not the case. Life is about balance. I had a conversation with my eight-year-old the other day about this. He gets in trouble – just the right amount for an eight-year-old boy. I don’t want him to avoid getting in trouble; it’s part of growing up. My job as a parent is to deliver the consequences and put him back in line. When he grows up, he’ll take on that role with his own kids.
MLM: How do you teach your kids about boundaries?
Gunnar Peterson: I tell them they need to know who they are and what their boundaries are. There are things they might get away with, but there are hard lines they shouldn’t cross. For example, I told my son about drugs—some are legal like alcohol, some aren’t. I’ll have a drink, but I won’t do drugs. You have to know where you stand. Maybe it’s harder for an eight-year-old, but it’s important to start learning. As for me, I have guidelines for everything—eating, drinking, sleep. Some days are more flexible than others, but there are always boundaries.
MLM: How does this mindset translate into your work and other areas of life?
Gunnar Peterson: How you do anything is how you do everything. The way I prepare for a client’s workout is the same way I prepare for this podcast, the same way I show up for my family. I want to be the best husband, parent, and person I can be every day. There’s a sign above the door that says, “You got better today.” I want to leave better every day. We’re all aging, but I still strive to improve every single day. Even when progress is small and I eventually lose ground, I can’t live with the mindset of “we’re all going to die anyway, so why bother?” What’s the point in that?
