Maintaining Fitness Is Always Easier Than Chasing It
We've all heard the clichés: "Fitness is a lifelong journey," or "embrace the grind." We romanticize the struggle, the sweat, and the constant hustle. And while there's an element of truth to that—fitness is indeed lifelong—I believe this mindset often misses a crucial point.
It keeps us thinking of fitness as a long-term goal.
There's a significant difference between chasing fitness and maintaining it. When you're chasing, you're constantly in a state of catch-up. You’re working hard just to get to a place you want to be. When you’re maintaining, you’re already there, and you're simply living in a way that keeps you there.
Think about it this way:
Chasing your goals often means :
You're not happy with your body
Your energy levels are low
Your confidence is lacking
You have to be incredibly strict with your training and nutrition just to see progress (A vacation, a weekend of poor sleep, or an injury feels like a major setback that undoes weeks of work)
Maintaining your goals is the opposite:
You feel confident and strong
You have the energy to do the things you love, both in and out of the gym
You can afford to be flexible with your diet and training (A missed workout or a night out with friends doesn't derail you; it's simply a part of a balanced, fulfilling life)
Which one sounds better to you? I'm willing to bet you chose the latter.
So, if everyone agrees that being close to their goals is the ideal state, why do so many people act in a way that keeps them far away?
I see it all the time. People train only a couple of times a week, loosely track their food, and have hobbies that work against their progress—things like excessive drinking, a poor sleep schedule, or a consistently negative mindset.
While you can still make some progress with this approach, you'll likely remain far from where you want to be. You'll stay in the frustrating cycle of chasing your goals, stuck in the grind.
Getting to your goals faster definitely implies taking a more intense approach to your program, which is likely why people avoid it. So I guess the point of this post is that often it’s worth the pain for the reward. Sure, there are times where it’s hard or even impossible to take an extreme approach, but that’s where having help creating and adjusting your program comes in.
As a coach, my goal is to get you to the destination as quickly and sustainably as possible. I don't want to keep you in the grind. My job is to help you build the habits that get you results fast so you can start living your life. The longer you remain away from your goals, the less happy and fulfilled you'll be.
The grind is a temporary process to get you there, but the destination is where you truly start to thrive.
If you’re tired of the endless cycle of chasing and are ready to enjoy the benefits of being fit and in shape, let's talk. DM me to get started on a personalized 1:1 training program that will get you to the good part of your fitness journey—the part where you’re just living your life.
