20/08/2025
I heard someone describe the difference between fitness and wellness the other day in a way that really hit home for me.
Fitness is about the end goal- it’s being physically “fit” enough to do something, whether that’s lifting a certain about of weight or being able to run a 5k.
Wellness is about the journey- it’s about your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health along the way. There isn’t necessarily a set destination. More just a focus on continuous growth and recalibration.
Neither one is better, they’re just different approaches that are needed at different times.
I spent a lot of years chasing a certain kind of “fitness”- a number on the scale, a body fat percentage, a one-rep max, a clothing size. And that time in my life was SO needed. I cultivated discipline. I learned how to set goals and reach them which built much needed confidence. It’s why I’ve been working in the fitness industry for half a decade now.
But then… 3 years ago I started traveling a lot. I was leaving every 2-3 months for weeks at a time. And while I wouldn’t change one thing about that time in my life, routine and structure started to fall away while I was abroad.
6am workouts became slow mornings watching the sunrise. Perfectly portioned, macro-friendly meals became recommendations for street food and local restaurants. Intense cardio workouts became 20,000 steps of wandering down cobblestone streets. A set daily schedule became restrictive and unrealistic (to me) for limited time in a new city (where many times gyms were extremely hard to find anyway).
During that time there was just a natural shift from numbers to presence. From routine to spontaneity. From fitness to wellness. That was one of the absolute happiest times of my life. And… I’ve started to long for structure again. For more stability and discipline.
And that’s where I am now- learning to live in the balance. Discovering what fitness looks like in a body that hasn’t chased numbers in years. Creating a space where I can set goals without losing flexibility, where discipline and presence can coexist. Finding the magic in that in-between ✨
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