Coach Scott gave us a little wisdom this week, and honestly, I felt it in my soul.

There’s a quote often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt that says, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I can’t think of a place where that’s more true than in the gym.

You walk in feeling motivated or ready to just work out the day’s frustrations. And then you see someone stronger. Faster. Someone lifting more weight. Someone who looks like they’ve been training for years.

Suddenly, what started as excitement turns into doubt. Some days you hear someone bragging about beating everyone and more doubt starts to creep in, and you might start questioning why you are even there.  

But here’s the truth: you are comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle — or even their peak. You don’t see their early mornings. You don’t see their setbacks. You don’t see the injuries, the discipline, the consistency. You only see the result.

Comparison steals your joy because it shifts your focus. Instead of asking, “Am I improving?” You start asking, “Am I as good as them?” And that question will almost always leave you feeling behind.

But fitness was never meant to be a competition with strangers. It’s a commitment to yourself.

Everyone starts from a different place. Different genetics. Different schedules. Different stress levels. Different histories. Two people can do the exact same workout and get completely different results — and that doesn’t mean one is failing.

Real progress is personal.

It’s adding five more pounds to the bar than last month.
It’s pushing a little harder than you could before.
It’s showing up on a day when you didn’t feel like it.

That’s growth.

Even elite athletes didn’t wake up one day at the top of their game. Their success was built over years of patience, setbacks, and relentless consistency.

So instead of comparing yourself to the person next to you, compete with who you were yesterday.

Because the goal isn’t to look like someone else.
The goal is to become stronger than you used to be.
More disciplined than you used to be.
More confident than you used to be.

Comparison might steal your joy — but progress and consistency give it back.

Run your race. Lift your weights. Build your strength.

And let your only competition be the person you were before you decided to start.

We’ll see you in the gym! Have a great week!

Whitney & Nick