Fitness Coaches Aren’t Perfect — Here’s Me Calling Myself Out

TL;DR

Yes, I’m a fitness coach. Yes, I write programs, post on social, and help clients get stronger, pain-free, and more consistent. But I’m not immune to the same mistakes everyone else makes. Lately, I’ve been slipping — skipping workouts, making unhealthy food choices, and letting my routine slide during a busy season of travel. This post is me publicly calling myself out. It’s not about guilt. It’s about honesty, identity, and getting back to who I really am. I’m not here to play perfect — I’m here to walk the walk, just like I ask my clients to do.

The Honest Truth

Here’s the truth: I try to coach people through long-term, sustainable fitness. I’m not about short-term suffering or extreme restrictions. I believe in finding a rhythm that fits your life — a lifestyle where workouts support the rest of who you are, not overtake it.

There are people out there who eat, sleep, and breathe fitness. Two-a-days, clean meals, tracking every rep and macro, pushing hard every day. And honestly? I think it’s incredible that they have that kind of passion. But most people aren’t built like that. Most people have families, demanding jobs, limited time, and other things they care deeply about — like woodworking, volunteering, hiking with their kids, or just enjoying their evenings with a home-cooked meal.

That’s the person I coach. That’s the person I build programs for. And that’s also the kind of person I try to be. Fitness should enhance your life — not hijack it.

But…

I Haven’t Been Practicing What I Preach

This last season of life — this whirlwind of travel, early flights, late dinners, packed schedules — I haven’t been holding up my end of the bargain. I’ve made more unhealthy choices than I’d like to admit. I’ve skipped too many workouts. I’ve chosen fries over grilled chicken more often than I care to count.

And you know what? It crept up on me. I was aware of it. For the last three weeks, I could feel myself slipping… but I wasn’t ready to face it. I kept brushing it off with little stories I told myself:

• “You’ve been traveling, just sleep in.”

• “Hotel gyms are tough with your schedule, don’t worry about it.”

• “You’ll get back on track after this next trip.”

But those stories became habits. And now, I’m calling myself out.

The Danger of Excuses Disguised as ‘Balance’

This is the part I think a lot of people get stuck on — and I did, too. I believe in sustainable fitness. I preach it. But sustainability doesn’t mean doing nothing. It doesn’t mean treating every poor choice as “balance.” At some point, “balance” becomes a crutch. A way to avoid accountability.

And if I’m being honest with myself… that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been coasting on the idea that I’m “living in balance,” when really I’ve just been making excuses.

There’s a fine line between rest and avoidance. And I crossed it.

It Caught Up to Me

A few nights ago, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I didn’t like what I saw. Not in the “I hate my body” way — but in the “you’re not holding yourself to your own standard” kind of way.

My back pain? Creeping back in.
My gym consistency? Basically nonexistent.
My nutrition? Off the rails.
Aesthetically? I don’t look how I want to — and more importantly, I don’t feel like the strong, pain-free version of myself that I’ve built up over the years.

And here’s the thing… I’m 32 now. I can’t get away with the same crap I could at 20. My body doesn’t bounce back the same way. And I know that. I’ve known it for weeks. I just didn’t want to face it.

The Identity Shift I Need (And My Clients Need Too)

Fitness isn’t just about looking good. It’s about identity. When I’m on track, I feel like the healthiest version of myself. That’s who I see myself as. But right now? I’m not living it.

And that disconnect — between who I am and how I’m acting — that’s the uncomfortable truth. It’s the gap I need to close. And I know I’m not alone.

Most of my clients are working through the same thing. They want to become someone who moves through the world with strength, confidence, and energy. But that takes work. It takes hard conversations. And sometimes, it takes a coach saying, “Hey, you’re slipping.”

So I’m saying it to myself.

What I’d Tell a Client in My Shoes

If a client came to me with this exact story — lots of travel, unhealthy meals, skipped workouts, excuses piling up — I’d be kind. But not nice.

I wouldn’t sugarcoat it. I’d tell them:

“You’re slipping. And you know it. It’s time to stop pretending everything is fine. It’s time to make a plan and follow through. You don’t need to punish yourself. But you do need to act like the person you want to become.”

That’s what I’m telling myself now.

My Plan to Get Back on Track

✅ I’m choosing my next gym session — and putting it on the calendar.
✅ I’m packing protein bars so I don’t cave for M&Ms before flights.
✅ I’m making the gym about lifting and conditioning — not just 30 minutes of stretching. I’ll do my mobility work during a different break in the day.
✅ I’m going to stop pretending that talking about fitness is the same as doing fitness.
✅ And I’m going to plan ahead. Not wing it.

This is my public reset. The declaration that I’m getting back to my identity. No more guilt. No more excuses. Just action.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be honest with yourself.

There’s a difference between balance and avoidance — and sometimes, the kindest thing you can do for yourself is call out your own BS.

That’s what I’m doing here.

If you’ve been slipping too — consider this your sign to stop waiting. Make a plan. Put your next workout on the calendar. Choose your next healthy meal.

Don’t wait for Monday. Don’t wait for the “perfect time.”
Just start. Right now. Because your identity is built one small action at a time.