I’ve gotten several messages from readers lately that have my Spidey-senses tingling.
Here are a few examples:
“I’ve been working out 3x/week for 16-weeks. It’s going well and I’m seeing changes, but I’m not sure if my progress is good enough or what I’m missing.”
“I’m worried my goals aren’t specific enough. I feel a bit lost and there’s so much out there to consider. I’m not sure if I’ve got it all right.”
It echoes a question I’ve talked about before: What does “enough” fitness actually look like?
It’s normal to ask these questions. We all crave reassurance that what we are doing actually matters.
And if you’re looking for a place to start or recalibrate, the Nerd Fitness Starter Guide has some great frameworks to point you in the right direction.
But what if our fears are being preyed upon by a fitness industry obsessed with optimization – fixating on details and over-exaggerating their importance? And as Magic: the Gathering nerd, I get it. I love geeking out on the details and fine-tuning the system.
But if we focus too much on “perfect,” we can lose sight of how impactful the foundational stuff really is. And how freaking AWESOME it is that you are already working on those pieces. Don’t get me wrong. My message isn’t “Don’t worry about it! Just do the basics.”
For so many of the people I talk to, it’s this: You’re already doing great.
If you want to make some adjustments, awesome, but make sure you also celebrate the foundation you’re building. Fitness shouldn’t be one more thing to feel bad about.
Most of us are already juggling so much: work, home, imperfect schedules, and limited time and energy.
The more people I talk to, the more I realize what most folks need isn’t more information – it’s reassurance and clarity: That they’re on the right track. That they’re doing enough. That they are enough.
And often, that clarity comes from understanding what you can let go of, not what else you need to add.
If you’re strength training a couple of times a week, taking short movement breaks during your day, or getting a few hours of general activity each week – you’re already doing so much good.
Everything else? Details.
And sure, it can be fun to get lost in the details, but not at the expense of celebrating what you’ve already built.
Every rep. Every walk break. Every small win.
It all counts.
-Matt
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