The Only Reason I Didn’t Quit My Fitness Journey…
A moment of pause can make all the difference.
One day, while I was taking my progress photos at the gym, I realized my body looked exactly the same as it had a month ago.
I didn’t feel stronger.
I didn’t look better.
I didn’t feel happier.
It made me doubt myself, and wonder why I was putting in all this hard work in the first place.
If I couldn’t justify spending all this time and effort to reach my goals, which could well be spent either sleeping in after work, or maybe even just watching a movie, (which I could always bank on to feel better about myself), what was the point of even going further?
Was I doing it all wrong?
Or was fitness just over-hyped?
You’re not a growth machine
While watching a podcast that weekend, I had a eureka moment.
I had been pushing myself for results, yes, but not really checked in with my mind and body.
To ask them if they were adapting well to my routine.
To ask them if they were getting the time to enjoy the ride.
The answer was no, because:
▪️ I had been rushing through my workouts because I had a million things to do.
▪️ I spent ZERO time for warm-ups, to actually feel the muscles in my body, or keep track of my progress.
▪️ I was literally exercising like choosing the right captchas on my phone.
I was treating working out like it’s a simple, goal-oriented process. Carve out some quality time for yourself, hit the weights when you get to the gym, eat healthy to sustain this journey. Voila, you’re a healthier person now.
Now that I think about it, I see how crude this sort of perception is. But the truth is that most people see it the same way:
Whether it’s fat-loss, building muscle, or really just looking younger than you look in general, we set a super tangible intention for ourselves before we take up fitness as a part of our lifestyle, and just keep up the grind till we get our desired results.
What happens after? Well, that’s for future you to worry about, silly.
How much more appealing would fitness be if we see it as just another healthy thing we do as human beings?
It doesn’t have to be this highlight that defines who you are in this “phase” right now, but just one of your many habits that you’re happy doing and don’t think too much about, with as much time as you can justify giving yourself in your routine.
This was an idea that really resonated with me.
At TNV Method, we understand that managing a healthy lifestyle can be easier said than done when you have a full-time job and kids to tuck in bed. Our Transform programs are specifically designed for you, offering 1:1 personalized coaching from a team of expert Clinical Dietitians, Health Psychologists, and Fitness Coaches. Get plans tailored to your goals and preferences while spending your time enjoying yourself instead of overthinking, and monthly calls to keep you accountable while you’re at it!
To get to this place, I decided to re-center my approach and start taking it slow.
⇢ I started to pause after every rep to breathe and cheer myself for it.
⇢ I researched to learn more about the mind-muscle connection.
⇢ I mastered my form before hitting the gym.
Before I knew it, I actually started to feel motivated to grow in my journey.
Every workout now felt like a mountain for me to climb.
I wanted to level up my goals, get into a state of flow, see my muscles pop, and start hitting new personal records everyday.
Now, I felt like my journey had SOUL.
My biggest lesson was that growth wasn’t just about moving my body, but listening to what it needed and helping it thrive at its own pace.
This, I realized, was the real key to staying committed to my progress for life.
Ask yourself: Are you taking the time you need to slow down and appreciate your growth?
The TNV Method offers tailored fitness coaching that fits your busy lifestyle, combining custom workouts, personalized nutrition plans, and supplement advice. Our program includes mindset coaching through expert videos and psychologist-led sessions. We track your progress meticulously, ensuring sustainable fat-loss and gradual, long-term results. With endless adjustments based on initial assessments, we guide you to a healthier lifestyle seamlessly integrated into your routine.
