the path to a better me

me:

There are no food rules, ESPECIALLY when you're just feeding yourself.

The internet (and specifically TikTok, Pinterest, etc) has become obsessed with beautifully plated meals that follow certain conventions. It's all bullshit.

Identify your personal, individual goals, then choose the food, the exercise, the activewear, or the products that will help you get where you want to be. They probably will not be social media-worthy. Good. Prioritize yourself over the imaginary observer.

Yes, your smoothie, salad, or sweatpants can be fun, colorful, or pleasant, but this should be for your own enjoyment and motivation. (And it's just not as important as substance. Exercise and nutrition will do more for your long-term mental wellness than having pretty things.)

What if instead, a gym was a place of play, with exercise focused on enjoyment, adventure, and entertainment. It could even be like a D&D campaign:

You’re not running on a treadmill to get hot or whatever - you’re running down a beaten woodsy path to get word to the king that invaders have landed on your shoreline.

The rowing machine isn’t a monotonous repetitive exercise to get muscles. It’s a serious endeavor where you row with your companions to steer your Greek trireme or Viking warship into battle.

You’re not lifting weights - those are packs you must carry in your adventure across remote, hostile countryside

This isn’t an exercise routine. It’s today’s adventure campaign, with several different activities required - scaling a mountain, fleeing a dragon, etc

…and so on.

Because exercise is healthy, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a boring adult obligation. Why force yourself to exercise the same way you force yourself to file your taxes, when you could instead engage in an hour or so of play?