Fitness Journey

7 years ago, I stepped into the gym with one clear goal: improve by just 1% each day, steadily and sustainably. It wasn't about perfection—it was about consistency and continual growth. For the past 2-3 years, i maintained the "perfect record" - no missed workouts. I've grown up immersed in many sports, however these past few years i really started making health and fitness the #1 priority. Week after week, averaging five to six carefully planned workouts, I combined jump rope, weightlifting, calisthenics, endurance runs, sprints, cycling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, surfing, Pilates, yoga, calisthenics, and strategic rest days. Every session, every rep, every mile offered valuable lessons in discipline, adaptability, and perseverance.

Recently, I've felt a shift in my fitness priorities. I'm transitioning towards more weightlifting, calisthenics, and intentional stretching, with occasional long-distance runs for endurance. This evolution reflects my deepening understanding of what my body needs and how best to optimize my strength, flexibility, and overall wellness for this current phase of my life.

As I now look forward to continuing my journey in a new environment, as i travel to Bali, the strategic adjustments I've made to my routine highlight lessons I've learned along the way:

Core Lessons from My Fitness Journey

1. Discipline Is a Daily Decision:
Discipline isn’t about perfection—it’s about making consistent choices. Each workout, each stretch session, or rest day has been a deliberate step forward, reinforcing my ability to stay committed to my goals, even when motivation dips.

2. Growth Through Adversity:
Every challenge—from plateaued lifts and minor injuries to fatigue from endurance training—became an opportunity for learning and adaptation. This mindset transformed setbacks into stepping stones for continuous improvement. 

3. Consistency Over Perfection:
Rather than pushing relentlessly at maximum intensity, I found that steady, consistent effort yielded greater long-term progress. Balancing intense workouts with intentional rest has allowed my body to recover, adapt, and grow stronger. 

4. Mindful Movement and Recovery:
Integrating mindfulness practices such as breathwork, mobility exercises, and focused stretching elevated my physical training into holistic personal development, reducing injury risk and enhancing overall performance.

Strategic Shifts in My Fitness Approach

As my understanding deepened, my routine evolved to prioritize more focused strength-building and mobility:

• Increased Weightlifting: Emphasizing compound movements—deadlifts, squats, bench presses—to maximize strength gains and efficiency. Strength is a base requirement for many advanced techniques.
• Dedicated Calisthenics: Incorporating bodyweight exercises like handstands, pull-ups, dips, and push-ups for functional strength, adaptability, and injury prevention. Control, balance, and stability are highly underrated.
• Enhanced Flexibility & Mobility: Regular stretching and mobility sessions now complement my strength training, improving recovery, posture, and functional movement. Great way to activate the flow state and to increase the overall energy.
• Strategic Cardio: Maintaining cardiovascular fitness through occasional endurance runs, strategically balancing cardiovascular health with strength-focused goals. HIIT and endurance help shape the cardiovascular and respiratory system to increase VO2max, and optimize the metabolism.

Looking Ahead

My fitness journey continues to evolve, driven by curiosity, adaptability, and disciplined consistency. Whether in familiar surroundings or new environments, the lessons I've learned remain central to my progress. Each day offers a fresh opportunity to become stronger, more flexible, and more resilient—improving just 1% each day and shaping a future built upon steady, mindful growth.