When people talk about getting fit, it often sounds like you need to train for a marathon, wake up at 5 a.m. every day, or give up everything you love to eat. But let’s take a step back. Do you really have to climb mountains—literally or metaphorically—to get fit?
No. You just need to be smart about it.
The Myth of “No Pain, No Gain”
Fitness isn’t about punishing yourself. It’s about creating a lifestyle you actually enjoy and want to stick with. Because let’s face it: if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t keep doing it.
You don’t need to spend hours in the gym or follow strict, joyless diets. You need movement you like and food that fuels you and makes you feel good—mentally and physically.
Movement You Like = Movement You’ll Keep Doing
The best workout is the one you’ll actually do. If you hate running, don’t run. Try dancing, swimming, cycling, walking, hiking, or even just short strength sessions at home. Maybe spinning lights you up in autumn or Pilates helps you feel grounded. It doesn’t have to be intense—it just has to be consistent.
Ask yourself: What do I enjoy? What fits into my life right now?
That’s your fitness path.
Eat Smart, Not Strict
The same goes for food. You don’t need to follow a rigid diet to be healthy. What you need are food habits that feel sustainable and satisfying. If your meals feel like punishment, your motivation will eventually break down.
Choose foods you like, and make small, smart upgrades—more veggies, more whole foods, more foods without a content declaration. Keep the things you enjoy (yes, that includes chocolate or bread) in a way that works for you. Deprivation leads to burnout. Make the less beneficial things you eat a reward instead of an everyday snack or treat. Enjoyment leads to long-term change.
It’s About Building a Life, Not Escaping It
Fitness isn’t a mountain you climb and then come back down from. It’s part of how you live your life every day. Small choices, repeated often, beat extreme efforts every time.
So no—you don’t have to climb mountains to get fit. You just have to start walking. At your own pace. In your own direction.
