I’ve been thinking a lot about how much of my fitness journey has been about addition — add more mobility work, more recovery tools, more supplements, more effort.

But lately, I’m realizing that progress has just as much to do with subtraction.

I used to cold plunge every day.I used to warm up for 30 minutes before training.I used to eat “perfectly” — no wheat, no ice cream, only cherries for dessert.I used to believe more control meant better results.

It worked… until it didn’t.

Somewhere along the way, I noticed I wasn’t chasing performance anymore — I was chasing perfection.And perfection quietly kills consistency.

Now, I’m learning to trust what my body already knows.I still use cold plunges — just not every day.I still warm up — but not for half an hour.And I still eat to fuel performance — but joy fits on the plate, too.

The lesson I keep coming back to is this:

That rhythm — of work, rest, joy, and challenge — is what keeps us in the game.

I guess this is what growth looks like:Not doing less… just doing what matters most.

— Jason

👉 If you’re learning the same lessons — that “smart” beats “extreme” — Bolder Athlete was built for you. Get 3 Weeks Free.Join Bolder Athlete

P.S. What’s something you’ve stopped doing that made you better — in training, nutrition, or life? Hit reply and tell me. I read every response.

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