4 things I don’t do as a personal trainer

Have you ever wondered what a personal trainer actually does to stay healthy?

Spoiler alert: It probably isn’t what social media tells you.

You don’t need a five-hour morning routine, chicken and broccoli seven days a week, or to live in the gym to be healthy.

Here are four things I don’t do as a personal trainer and gym owner that add to my health and sanity.

🌱 I don’t strength train every day.

Despite what Instagram might have you believe, lifting weights every single day isn’t necessary.

I aim for 2–4 strength sessions each week and mix in walking, mobility work, and a little cardio. Recovery matters just as much as training.

Plus… I work long split shifts. Between coaching, programming, and running the gym, I simply don’t have time or bandwidth to lift 6-7 days a week.

🌱 I don’t have a morning routine longer than the Great Wall of China.

My alarm goes off about 30 minutes before I need to leave.

The routine?

Let the dogs out. Get dressed. Brush my teeth. Pack our food. Out the door.

Could I wake up at 4:00 a.m. to journal, meditate, cold plunge, stretch, read 10 pages of a self-help book, and drink lemon water?

Sure.

Will I?

HELL. NO.

Sleep is healthy too.

🌱 I don’t follow nutrition rules stricter than Miss Trunchbull.

I focus on the basics:
• Eat enough protein.
• Get some veggies in.
• Keep portions reasonable.

And if one of my baker clients brings fresh cookies into the gym…

You better believe I’m having one.

Healthy eating isn’t about avoiding every food you enjoy. It’s about building habits you can actually live with for years.

There is room for nutritious meals and a dang cookie. (Hey Ali, I could use a cookie please… 😉)

🌱 I don’t weigh myself every day.

The scale tells you exactly one thing: your weight.

It doesn’t tell you how strong you’ve become.

It doesn’t tell you how much muscle you’ve built.

It doesn’t tell you that you’re retaining water because you demolished some delicious Chinese food last night.

Weight naturally fluctuates, and I refuse to let a number determine whether I’m having a good day.

Here’s the important part:

None of these habits, or their opposites, are inherently “bad” or “good”.

There are situations where someone might choose to train more often, track weight regularly, or follow a more structured nutrition plan.

But those choices should support your goals—not someone else’s highlight reel.

The healthiest routine isn’t the one that looks the most impressive online.

It’s the one that fits your life.

Because health isn’t just about what you weigh or how often you exercise.

It’s your physical, mental, and social well-being.

If your fitness routine is making you miss family dinners, skip every celebration, or feel guilty for enjoying dessert once in a while… it might be worth asking whether you’re building a healthier life—or just a more stressful one.

Fitness should make your life better.

Not take over your life.