Fitness isn’t everything, but everything is harder if you aren’t fit. 

Some days, fitness isn’t training, though. It’s resting and relaxing and rejuvenating. Some days the work is internal and not external. Don’t let this make you feel ashamed or frustrated. A healthy and sustainable regimen isn’t a merry-go-round. It’s a seesaw.

So, when you’re feeling out of sorts because of poor sleep, nutrition, or some other reason best known to Lord Cthulhu, sometimes it’s better to do a different (easier) workout or take the day off rather than gut it out. 

Similarly, sometimes you should say no to the ice cream and feel proud, and sometimes you should say yes and feel satisfied. There are no universal dietary rights or wrongs, only circumstances and compatibilities. Your judgment counts.

Reject diet and exercise dogmas, too. Fitness advice should be viewed in the same way as suggestions about where to buy groceries or what type of shoes to wear. Even the best pointers have a healthy dose of opinion and preference, so don’t forget to weigh your own intuitions and inclinations.