An Ode to the Almost Fit People- The Misfits.

I want to dedicate this one to the almost fit people.

The people in the middle.

Or the people with the outline of a six-pack but still have a bit of fluff.

The people who care.

The people who try.

The people who know what a macro is but occasionally choose not to look.

The people who own a food scale but don’t bring it to a restaurant.

The people who meal prep on Sunday and still end up eating chips and salsa on an occasional Friday.

The people who can tell you the protein content of Greek yogurt but still sneak a few bites of dessert here and there.

My people.

Recently, I was turned down for a coaching position.

As disappointing as that was, it sparked a bigger question.

Am I doing enough?

And if I’m not, why not?

At first, my brain went where many of ours do.

I started examining my body.

My results.

My consistency.

My discipline.

Could I be leaner?

Absolutely.

Could I tighten things up?

Of course.

Could I skip the drinks some weekends?

Probably.

Could I pass on dessert?

Sometimes. But, I usually make a healthy option.

Could I stop eating the extra 1/2 spoon of peanut butter in my protein shake when I’m starving after a workout?

Maybe.

Then I started asking a different question.

At what cost?

Because every result has a price tag attached to it.

The fitness industry loves showing us the result.

The abs.

The definition.

The muscle.

The transformation.

What it doesn’t always show is the lifestyle that created it.

The second grocery list for non participating family members.

The meal prep containers taking over the refrigerator.

The spouse who may or may not be on board with the pricing of better quality foods.

The social events.

The vacations.

The food sensitivities.

The autoimmune issues.

The hormone fluctuations.

The hours spent planning, preparing, tracking, measuring, adjusting, and thinking about food.

There are details.

So, so, so many details.

And while some people are willing to make fitness the center of their lives, many of us are trying to fit fitness into a life that is already full.

We have families.

Friends.

Jobs.

Dogs.

Yards.

Books to write.

Businesses to run.

People to love.

We are trying to build healthier bodies while still participating in our own lives.

And I think that’s worth celebrating.

Because the almost fit people are still showing up.

We’re lifting weights.

We’re walking.

We’re reading labels.

We’re learning.

We’re adapting.

We’re trying.

We’re just not willing to sacrifice everything else we value in the process.

That doesn’t make us lazy.

It doesn’t make us failures.

It doesn’t even make us less disciplined.

It simply means we are balancing multiple priorities.

And yes, sometimes we have to be honest about our excuses.

Sometimes the thing standing between us and a goal is a choice we’re unwilling to make.

But sometimes the thing standing between us and a goal is a life we’ve intentionally built.

A spouse who doesn’t eat like we do.

Friends who gather around food.

A birthday celebration.

A family vacation.

A body navigating autoimmune disease, menopause, food sensitivities, or other challenges that don’t fit neatly into a fitness equation.

Those aren’t excuses.

They’re factors.

And factors matter.

The older I get, the more I realize that everyone’s priorities are valid.

Some people want six-pack abs.

Some people want longevity.

Some people want strength.

Some people want balance.

Most of us want a little bit of all of it.The trick is figuring out what matters most to us and being honest about the tradeoffs.

Because wanting someone’s body is one thing.

Wanting their lifestyle is another.

And maybe that’s the question we should be asking.

Not:

“Why don’t I look like her?”

But:

“Do I want to live like her?”

Maybe the answer is yes.

Maybe it’s no.

Because it takes an extreme level of dedication.

Maybe it’s yes, but only to a point.

For me, I want to be strong.

I want to be healthy.

I want to continue improving.

I want to see what my body can do.

But I also want brunch with my friends.

Family vacations.

A glass of wine now and then.

A husband who still gets to enjoy his chicken parmesan.

A life that feels full.

So here’s to the almost fit people.

The people somewhere in the 'middle'.

The people still trying.

The people still learning.

The people still showing up.

The people who may never be the leanest person in the room but refuse to stop moving forward.

I see you.

Be proud for sticking with it!

And I’m right there with you.

*I would also like to shout out to the ladies who have made it to the point of under 20% body fat. That takes so much hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, in every facet of your life. Be proud!