Kyle Kingsbury Podcast #439 Beyond the Gym: Embracing Rucking & Health w/ Kayla Girgen
Jan 4, 2026
In this conversation, Kayla Girgen, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, shares her journey into rucking and fitness. She highlights the mental and physical benefits of rucking, including its role in reducing anxiety and promoting functional strength. Kayla discusses practical tips for getting started, the significance of proper gear, and the advantages of continuous glucose monitors. She emphasizes blood sugar management over calorie counting and offers insights into diet personalization and sleep’s impact on health.
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Military Rucker Inspires Functional Respect
- Kyle Kingsbury recounts seeing a military member run steep Hawaiian trails carrying ~80 lbs and outperform unweighted hikers.
- That experience sparked his respect for carrying load as a functional endurance and strength tool.
From Small-Town RD To Ruck Advocate
- Kayla Girgen describes growing up in a small Minnesota town, shifting from academics to fitness and nutrition after corporate burnout.
- She discovered rucking as a scalable practice that eased anxiety and fit variable daily needs.
Rucking Stacks Multiple Health Wins
- Rucking stacks multiple health benefits: outdoor light, movement, and load-bearing improve nervous system, mood, bone, and muscle health.
- Being outside amplifies mental and physical gains compared with indoor gym-only training.
