Hey, Ikaw Ba ‘To? Feeling a Little Lost?
I’ve been getting a lot of DMs lately that get my coach senses tingling. Marami sa inyo ang medyo confused, and I totally get it:
“Coach, I’ve been working out 3 times a week for 4 months na. May changes naman, pero I’m not sure if my progress is good enough. Parang may kulang?”
“I feel so lost with my goals. Ang daming information online, hindi ko na alam if tama ba ‘tong ginagawa ko.”
Relate, ‘no? It’s a super common feeling. We all want to know that the effort we’re putting in is actually making a difference. Starting your fitness journey here in the Philippines can feel like navigating EDSA on a payday Friday (as of this writing haha!) — traffic of information everywhere! You see all these #FitnessGoals on Instagram, and you can’t help but wonder if you’re falling behind.
But what if I told you to take a deep breath and just… relax? What if I told you that you’re probably doing so much better than you think?
The Pressure to Be “Perfect” is Real
The fitness world loves to scream about “optimization.” It’s all about the perfect workout split, the perfect macro count, the perfect pre-workout meal. It makes you feel like if you’re not doing everything 100% perfectly, you might as well not be doing it at all. Nakaka-pressure, diba?
This obsession with perfection can make us forget how powerful the basics truly are. It makes us overlook the amazing foundation we’re already building. My message isn’t to just ignore the details. My message is this: You are already doing great.
Most of us are juggling so much—work, family, a social life, and the crazy city traffic. Fitness shouldn’t be one more thing to feel bad about. It should be something that lifts you up, not something that adds to your stress.
Let’s Celebrate the Small Wins, Shall We?
Let’s shift our focus. Instead of worrying about what you’re *not* doing, let’s celebrate what you *are* doing. Every single effort, no matter how small, counts. It all adds up!
Did you choose the stairs today instead of the elevator? That’s a win.
Did you drink an extra glass of water? That’s a win.
Did you manage to squeeze in a 15-minute home workout? That’s a massive win!
Building a healthy lifestyle isn’t about grand, sweeping changes. It’s about these small, consistent efforts. Research from institutions like the American Psychological Association backs this up, showing that small, consistent habits are far more effective for long-term change than trying to do everything at once. We often think we need to be motivated to act, but it’s often the other way around: action creates motivation. So, if you’re struggling with drive, check out my tips on celebrating non-scale victories to keep your spirits high.
So, What Does “Enough” Really Look Like?
So, how much exercise is actually “enough”? You might be surprised. The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. That breaks down to just over 20 minutes a day. That could be a brisk walk, a light jog, or even some vigorous house cleaning! Kering-keri mo ‘yan!
If you’re strength training a couple of times a week, taking short walks during your lunch break, or just being generally active—you are already doing so much good for your body. The rest? Those are just details you can fine-tune later.
Giving Yourself Permission to Let Go
The most powerful thing you can do right now isn’t to add more to your plate. It’s to give yourself permission to let go of the things causing you stress. You can let go of:
- The need to be perfect. Missed a workout? Okay lang ‘yan. Just get back on track tomorrow.
- Comparing your journey to others. Your Chapter 1 will look different from someone else’s Chapter 20. Focus on your own progress.
- The belief that you need to do it all. You don’t need the fanciest gym equipment or the most expensive supplements to get started. You just need you.
The more people I talk to, the more I realize that what most of us need isn’s more information—it’s reassurance. It’s the clarity that you’re on the right path. That you’re doing enough. That you are enough.
Every rep, every walk, every healthy choice. It all counts. You’ve got this.
Ready to Ditch the Confusion for Good?
If you’re tired of second-guessing and want a clear, personalized path forward, that’s what I’m here for. As an online fitness coach, I help Pinoys like you build sustainable habits without the overwhelm. Let’s build a plan that truly fits YOUR life.
