FITHOUSE

What I do when I don’t feel like training—from Kristen Perillo

Last week, someone asked me how I get myself to train on the days when I don't feel like it.

She figured that even as a trainer, I probably have days when I don't want to work out.

And she was right.

There are absolutely days when I'm tired. Days when I'd rather stay on the couch than do heavy deadlifts. Days when the idea of a bunch of Bulgarian split squats sounds terrible.

But training is part of who I am. It's been part of my life for so long that not training feels stranger than training.

So I told her the truth.

On those days, I don't wait until I feel motivated.

I get myself together, I show up, and I train anyway.

And do you know how many times I've regretted going to the gym when I didn't feel like it?

Zero.

Not once.

What eventually happens when you build a consistent training routine is that you stop negotiating with yourself every day. You stop waking up and asking, "Do I feel motivated enough to work out today?"

The decision has already been made.

It's just what you do.

That's one of the reasons systems are so powerful. The more often people skip workouts because they don't feel like going, the easier it becomes to skip the next one. Then the next one. Then eventually they find themselves starting over again.

But when training has a place in your schedule, when people are expecting you to show up, and when it's woven into the rhythm of your life, something changes.

You stop relying on motivation.

And that's usually when consistency gets a whole lot easier.

We're a local gym in Kenmore, NY, and we've helped hundreds of clients from Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, and beyond build the bodies and the health they've always wanted in a community that feels like home.

DM us the word STRATEGY for more info, or visit myfithouse.com.

Too many people think fitness success comes down to motivation.

If that were true, most people would already have the results they want.

The problem is that motivation comes and goes. Some days you're excited to work out. Other days you're tired, stressed, busy, or simply not in the mood.

That's normal.

The people who succeed long-term usually aren't the people with the most motivation. They're the people with the best systems.

They have a scheduled training time. They have coaches who notice when they're missing. They have a plan instead of making decisions on the fly. They have people around them who make showing up easier instead of harder.

When motivation disappears, the system is what keeps moving them forward.

That's one of the biggest reasons people are often successful in a structured training environment after years of struggling on their own. It's not because they suddenly became more disciplined. It's because they stopped relying on motivation and started relying on a system.

We can help you build your system.

We're a local gym in Kenmore, NY, and we've helped hundreds of clients from Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, and beyond build the bodies and the health they've always wanted in a community that feels like home.

DM us the word STRATEGY for more info, or visit myfithouse.com.

Weight loss ≠ Fat loss
Let’s talk about why.

Losing weight can mean:
– Losing fat
– Losing water
– Losing muscle
– Losing energy

⚠️ Not all weight loss is good.

Fat loss is different.

Fat loss = keeping your muscle and strength…

…while reducing only body fat.

✅ This is what actually changes your shape.

Muscle makes fat loss easier.
Muscle burns calories—even at rest.
More muscle = higher metabolism.
You get to eat more AND feel and look better.

Cardio alone won’t build muscle.
Treadmills don’t change your body.
Muscle and strength training does.
To lose fat and keep it off, you need muscle.

Ready to build muscle?

We help real people build real muscle—no experience needed.

We’re a local gym in Kenmore, NY, and we’ve helped hundreds of clients from Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, and beyond build the bodies and the health they’ve always wanted in a community that feels like home.

DM us the word STRATEGY for more info, or visit myfithouse.com.

We can't get enough of Chris's trainer origin story:

"Life as a human skeleton was rough. I got bullied at school. The only thing smaller than my arms was my self-confidence.

And talking to girls? Forget it.If I even thought about it, I’d get so anxious I’d almost throw up in my mouth a little.

Yeah—gross.

So I mostly kept to myself.

Then one day I saw professional wrestling on TV.

These guys were huge. Strong. Larger than life. And I decided right then: I wanted to become a professional wrestler.

Everyone laughed.

At the time I was more likely to get blown away by a strong gust of wind than end up on television lifting someone over my head.

But one person didn’t laugh — my dad.

He didn’t necessarily want his son to become a professional wrestler, but he did want his son to feel stronger and more confident.

So he introduced me to weightlifting.

And I’ve been hooked ever since."

Years later, that same skinny kid now helps other people build strength, confidence, and a body that actually feels capable.

Because strength training isn’t just about muscle.

Sometimes it’s about becoming the person you needed when you were younger.

Chris still brings that same determination to the gym every day—now he just uses it to help other people build strength and confidence too.

If strength training has changed your life in any way, drop a 💪 below.

Fit House is a local gym serving Kenmore, Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, and all of Western New York, helping adults lose fat, build muscle, and get stronger through structured strength training and expert coaching.

DM us the word STRATEGY or visit myfithouse.com to get started.

If you're waiting to feel confident before you start, here’s the truth:

Confidence comes after action.

Real talk? You won’t feel ready.

But you don’t need to. We’ve got you.

🌟

We’re a local gym in Kenmore, NY, and we’ve helped hundreds of clients from Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, and beyond build the bodies and the health they’ve always wanted in a community that feels like home.

DM us the word STRATEGY for more info, or visit myfithouse.com.

Remembering and honoring today—and we hope you had a peaceful day with your family and loved ones.

⭐️

We’re a local gym in Kenmore, NY, and we’ve helped hundreds of clients from Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, and beyond build the bodies and the health they’ve always wanted in a community that feels like home.

DM us the word STRATEGY for more info, or visit myfithouse.com.

One of the easiest ways to make an exercise less effective is to rush through it.

When people move too quickly, momentum starts helping more than the muscles do. The body finds shortcuts through the hardest parts of the movement instead of controlling them.

That is one reason tempo matters so much in strength training.

Slowing a movement down forces the muscles to stay involved longer. It exposes weak positions. It improves control. It also changes how much tension the muscles experience, which is one of the major drivers of strength and muscle development.

And interestingly, it often makes relatively moderate weights feel much harder than heavier weights performed carelessly.

Good training is not just about moving weight.

It is about controlling force through a range of motion intentionally.

We’re a local gym in Kenmore, NY, and we’ve helped hundreds of clients from Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, and beyond build the bodies and the health they’ve always wanted in a community that feels like home.

DM us the word STRATEGY for more info, or visit myfithouse.com.