Inquisitive.me

I really don’t like it when people say I’m “lucky” with my body—like, “You’re so lucky” or “I wish I could be as thin as you.” I used to shrug it off and say it’s just good genetics. But that made it sound like they couldn’t do anything about their own body—and that’s not true.

As a physio, I don’t say that anymore. Sure, maybe I have good genetics, and maybe I got lucky with parents who encouraged me to play outside. But I also know that I’ve been moving my body and eating well my whole life—except for a few years in my early 20s, when I stayed home, played video games all day, and lived on microwave meals. We all go through those rough patches.

I grew up active—climbing trees, doing gymnastics, running around, exploring what my body could do. I learned to stop eating when I wasn’t hungry. Do I have a sweet tooth? Absolutely. I love all kinds of sweets. But I’m too stubborn to let them control me. That stubbornness probably kept me from ever starting smoking too—I just don’t want to be a prisoner in my own body.

Since my mid-20s, I’ve been running three times a week. Now in my 30s, I make sure to go for a walk every day, plus the running and I also include strength training and mobility workouts a few times a week to stay strong and flexible.

I cook most of my meals from fresh ingredients, making sure I get the nutrients I need. If I overeat for a couple of days, I balance it out the next days. If I indulge in candy or chips, I follow it up with plenty of veggies and fruits the other days.

I rarely drink soda, and I’ve been cutting down on alcohol for about five years—an occasional glass of wine or beer is fine, but most days it’s just water.

So no, it’s not luck. It’s consistent effort. Healthy habits don’t appear out of nowhere. They take willpower, stubbornness, trial and error—and yes, sometimes failure. And that’s okay. You don’t have to be perfect all day, every day.

Failing one day doesn’t erase all your progress. If you’ve built 28 days of good habits and then skipped a workout or indulged in some candy on day 29, it’s still 28 days of achievement. Don’t let your inner critic tell you otherwise.

Think about it this way: if you get a flat tire, you don’t go around slashing the other three. If you break a glass, you don’t smash every other one in your cupboard. If you spill coffee on your shirt, you don’t dump it on all the others.

So why give up on your fitness or diet journey just because you miss one workout or mess up one meal? Long-term health isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, again and again, even when life gets messy.

Is my body perfectly lean? No, absolutely not. Do I think about it all day long? Nope. Fit people don’t need six-packs. We also enjoy a piece of pie or some candy. But we train to enjoy life, not just to look good—that’s just a bonus.

It’s not about luck, perfection, or punishing yourself, it’s time to see how small, consistent habits can actually change your body and mindset.

🧪 Let’s Experiment

---

Start small and stay consistent.

I know you’ve heard this a lot, but that’s because it works. The key is picking something simple you can actually stick with, instead of trying to overhaul everything at once. I didn’t start running, strength training, and mobility work all at once. I began with one simple habit.

🎯 Try This:

Pick one simple habit and start there. For me, it was cooking one warm meal from scratch each day. I was a student, so I technically had the time—but it was still a small, manageable step.

Your habit might look different—drinking more water, taking a 20-minute walk, or adding extra veggies to your meals. Stick with it for a couple of weeks, then slowly build from there.

🧠 Final Thought:

Progress doesn’t have to be perfect, just consistent. Little steps today lead to stronger, healthier habits—and a body that actually serves you.

---

Keep it simple, stay curious, and keep learning—you’ve got this.

Take care,

Carina 🦊