I don’t mean exercising to look like a top athlete or a poster boy for Men’s Health.

And, it’s not for the sake of feeling “manlier” than other men around me. It’s not about body shaming or externalizing on Social Media to compensate for bad self esteem.

What I mean is for my own healthy feeling. It is for self esteem in a sense to give my body the care that it needs.

I can’t stand all the nutrient, longevity and fitness hacks you get on Social Media. I think everything can be achieved by a good estimate of what my body needs to maintain a healthy diet and a healthy fitness level.

Of course, my self confidence rises through the successes my smart watch is showing me. But that’s for me and me alone. I feel great after a good run, after a workout or simply after Tai Chi.

It’s exactly that feeling I get under a hot shower after a workout or a 5k run that makes me feel alive. This is the dopamine level rise that rises my mood to carry me through the day. And of course it feels great watching my bloaty stature turning into something more defined when I stand before the mirror, and I can’t tell you haw happy I was to see my feet again.

But that has nothing to do with putting myself above other people. It’s only about the happy feeling to be good to myself and not having a short lived happy spike after a shot or a beer.

Yesterday, I gave myself a treat with some Pizza, chocolate and chips. But you know what? I didn’t have a remorseful morning. Of course the scales are unforgiving the next morning, but I know I can keep it under control. This is what I meant by watching out for the honey pots among the way in an earlier post.

For me, that works. And since I don’t want to externalize my success in the hope someone gives me a like to heave up my self esteem, I have the feeling I can do it in my time, without pressure. And that’s what counts for me: To do it in my time, my pace, without stressing myself out. What matters is consistency with room for error.

Until next time, keep up the faith in yourself and take one step at a time.