10/08/2026
I have been exercising for 10+ years, coaching people for 4 years. Here are things I wish I knew when I started:
1. Quality over intensity
A major misconception is if you workout as hard as you can, you'll get fitter or lose more weight quicker. But that mindset is a fast track to crashing and burning, and is generally not sustainable. Exercise to an intensity you can maintain and recover from.
2. What your body can do > what it looks like
Focusing on performance (strength, balance, agility, speed, stability, etc.) is not only more gratifying, but gives a deeper meaning to what you're working for. How you look is temporary and fleeting; how your body functions will foreshadow your life quality as you age.
3. Do not become a slave to fitness
Yes, health and exercise is important. But so are connections and memories. It's okay, and encouraged, to go out to drink with friends or enjoy cake at a party, every once in a while. The trick is to make these occasions, not a weekly routine.
4. The progress you make will be majorly determined by what you give up, not what you add.
Too often we get asked what to add: another supplement, workout, or productivity hack. When in truth, removing obstacles (less processed foods, less screen time, less alcohol) will reveal time and energy for better habits.
5. It's okay to be hungry - but do not skip meals.
Losing weight means cutting calories, which means you will be hungry. And being hungry is part of the process - figuring out ways to manage hunger (eating nutritiously dense foods, fiber, protein) is the key to making the weight loss journey sustainable.
But too often, people take that concept and run with it. They cut meals; after all, we just want to eat less, right?
Skipping meals will inevitably lead to binge eating.
6. There is no perfect way to exercise.
There are many areas we want to cover when looking at an exercise plan: strength train, cardiovascular health, mobility, and flexibility. There are so many ways to check these off every week - find what modalities work for you.
