"How it all began…"

When I first started training, I copied what everyone else was doing. Six days a week, fancy splits, tracking macros like my life depended on it. It worked for a few weeks, until life happened — work got busy, sleep got worse, motivation disappeared. I’d stop, feel guilty, then start again with a new “perfect plan.” Same story every time.

After a few years of doing that, I finally realized the problem wasn’t the plan — it was that I built routines for a version of myself that doesn’t exist. The guy who always has energy, never skips a session, and somehow eats perfectly clean. That guy’s not real. Once I accepted that, things got way easier.

Keeping It Simple

Now I train 4 times a week. That’s my sweet spot. It fits my life, not the other way around. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Push, pull, legs, and one full-body day. Around an hour each session — sometimes less if I’m tired, sometimes more if I’m in a groove.

I stopped chasing the perfect split and just focused on showing up. I don’t track every rep or macro anymore. I just try to move well, eat enough, and sleep decently. It’s not exciting, but it works.

A few small rules that help me stick to it:

• Never miss two workouts in a row.

• If I’m tired, I still show up — just go lighter.

• Walk every day, even if it’s 10 minutes.

• Don’t change the plan unless I’ve done it for at least a month.

That last one’s big. I used to switch programs every few weeks. Now I just stay consistent and let time do the work.

“The best routine isn’t the hardest one — it’s the one you’ll actually do.”

Training That Feels Like Living

Outside the gym, I walk a lot. It’s not about calories — it’s about clearing my head. I get better ideas walking than scrolling. I also try to eat the same way I train: consistent, not perfect. Simple meals, nothing fancy.

The biggest difference now is how I feel about training. It’s not something I “have” to do anymore — it’s part of who I am. And when I miss a day, I don’t spiral, I just pick it up again. No guilt. No drama.

If you’re stuck in the cycle of starting and stopping, maybe you’re doing too much. Try making your plan simpler, not harder. Focus on what you can actually repeat — even when you’re tired, stressed, or busy. That’s where the real progress happens.

It took me years to figure that out. Now, for the first time, I’m not chasing motivation anymore. I’m just showing up — and that’s what’s finally working.