Why I Don't Believe in "One Way" Fitness

Why I Don’t Believe in “One Way to Fitness”

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me there’s only one way to get fit, I’d be writing this from my private island. (Spoiler: I’m not.) The fitness world is full of so-called “rules”—you must lift weights, you must run marathons, you must do burpees until you regret every life choice. But here’s the truth: there is no single path to fitness, and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something.

Let’s be real—if there were one perfect way to get fit, we’d all be following it by now. But humans aren’t robots. We have different bodies, different lifestyles, and different levels of tolerance for suffering through a spin class. What works for one person might be a total disaster for another. My friend Silverio swears handball is his cardio.

The key to fitness isn’t forcing yourself into a workout routine that makes you miserable—it’s finding one that makes you feel good. Some people love high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Others feel personally attacked by burpees and would rather go for a long, peaceful walk. Some people find running therapeutic; others feel like they’re being chased by an invisible bear. And that’s okay!

Fitness isn’t just about what your body can handle; it’s about what your mind can handle, too. If your workout makes you dread life, you’re probably not going to stick with it. And consistency is the real secret sauce to fitness. A workout you enjoy—even if it’s not the “hardest” or most “intense” routine—will do far more for you than one you hate and quit after two weeks.

So, whether you love yoga, lifting, dancing, swimming, hiking, or chasing your dog around the backyard, guess what? You’re doing it right. There’s no single road to fitness—there’s just the one that works for you.

And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise? Just smile, nod, and keep doing your thing. Maybe even challenge them to a handball match—because, as Silverio says, handball is cardio.