If You Want to Feel Elite, You Have to Live With Intention

I say this often in the studio:

“If you want to feel elite, you have to live elite.”

Every time I say it, I see a few member side-eye me, like ‘huh?’ 🤔

Because the word elite sounds exclusive.
It sounds expensive.
It sounds like something meant for other people.

So let me clear something up right away.

When I say elite, I’m not talking about professional athletes, six-figure earners, or people with endless free time.

I’m simply talking about how you choose to live. Living with intention for better energy, better health, better aging!

Elite Is Not a Status. It’s a Standard.

It’s not about the car you drive or how much money is in the bank.
It is about what you do consistently. Your boring daily habits.

People who feel strong, coordinated, energized, and capable do not live accidentally. They live with intention.

They understand something most people try to avoid:

Your daily inputs determine your long-term output.

That is it. That is the whole game.

Doing the Same Things Keeps Producing the Same Results

As I’m writing this, I’m trying to articulate words that will actually sink in, but I realize – you already know this! Deep down, you already know that if you keep working long hours, and not making time for your workouts – if you keep getting take-out whenever you fail to plan for the week’s dinners… nothing changes if nothing changes. People in this chronic ‘rut’ want:

• More energy
• Less pain
• A body that feels functional again
• Confidence moving through daily life

But they still:

• Scroll for hours every night
• Eat mostly processed convenience foods
• Neglect good sleep habits
• Skip hydration
• Avoid working out because it feels uncomfortable

And then they wonder why nothing changes.

The truth, whether we like it or not, is simple:

If you want to FEEL better, you have to DO better.

What High-Performing People Actually Have in Common

I listen to tons of podcasts of high-performance people – either financially or physically (usually both) – and they all share these common principles:

• They protect their energy
• If their friends/family don’t support their goals, they create healthy boundaries
• They do not numb themselves endlessly with distractions or vices
• They fuel their bodies with real food because HOW THEY WANT TO FEEL during the day matters more to them than that quick dopamine hit from junkfood
• They prioritize sleep because feeling energized the next day matters
• They hydrate because optimal output requires proper input
• They work hard and recharge intentionally

These aren’t perfect humans – that doesn’t exist. They have the same crazy schedule, the same financial pressures, the same number of kids you do. The difference is, they prioritize wanting to feel better/stronger/leaner MORE than staying the same.

Elite living means choosing habits that give energy back instead of stealing it ⚡

Athletes Do Not Train Randomly, and Neither Should You

I’ve been helping out a bit during our 55 and older class (It’s on Mon/Wed/Fri from 10:15am-11am) The ladies in this class are wonderfully fun, sassy, welcoming. And oh boy, they’ll let you know if they don’t like a particular exercise we’re doing! 😅 We love these girls! This past week, I was pep-talking them: If you want to feel strong, balanced, and capable, you have to train like someone who is… strong, balanced, and capable. Train like an athlete. How do athletes train?

Athletes:

• Strength train
• Work on mobility
• Practice balance and coordination
• Progress intentionally

Not because they are trying to punish their bodies.

Because they are trying to preserve & improve function.

If you want to age well, this is not optional!

Elite Is a Choice You Make Every Day

Let me say this clearly:

Elite does not mean extreme. In fact, elite is quite boring.
It does not mean perfect.
And it doesn’t mean all-or-nothing.

Elite means:

• Choosing whole foods most of the time (need help getting back on-track? Read about our 1-0n-1 Nutritional coaching, that’s included with every membership here)
• Drinking water because your body needs it
• Going to bed even when Netflix calls
• Showing up to move even when motivation is low
• Taking responsibility for how you feel

Elite means deciding that your future body matters.

The Good News

You don’t need more time, more money or “perfect” circumstances.

You simply need intentional habits practiced consistently.

And that is something anyone can choose 💪

So when I say, “If you want to feel elite, you have to live elite,” what I really mean is this:

Live like someone who respects their body, values their energy, and cares about who they are becoming.

That kind of elite is available to everyone. Everyone.

our 10 Step Framework For Living Elite

1. Decide That Your Energy Matters

Stop treating exhaustion as normal. How you feel throughout the day is feedback! Use that info as data.

2. Eat Like Performance Matters

Choose real, whole foods most of the time. For fuel.

3. Drink Water Before You Feel Run Down

Hydration supports focus, digestion, joints, and energy long before thirst shows up.

4. Strength Train to Stay Capable

Muscle protects your joints, posture, confidence, and independence as you age.

5. Move Even When Motivation Is Low

Consistency beats intensity. Show up imperfectly and keep going.

6. Go to Bed Like It Is Part of Training

Sleep is where recovery, hormone balance, and resilience are built.

7. Reduce Inputs That Drain You

Limit endless scrolling, ultra-processed food, and constant ‘noise’. Protect your bandwidth.

8. Manage Stress Through Action

Movement, breath, and boundaries work better than ignoring it and hoping it passes.

9. Do the Slightly Harder Thing

The option that helps us grow is often the one we tend to avoid. It’s called ‘resistance’. Do it anyway. In the studio, I call it “Embrace the suck.” You know you gotta do it, just get it done.

10. Act Like Your Future Body Is Watching

Every choice you make throughout your day is a vote for the person you are becoming 💪

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Are you ready to surround yourself with people who share your same challenges and your same goals? Join our 21-Day Jumpstart and let us help make you unstoppable.

At our studio, we feel like fitness should be fun, lighthearted, SAFE, and simple. We would love to help you on your path to feeling better and living a more elite lifestyle!

Coach Jenn Bates
Co-Owner, Coastal Fitness
12220 Towne Lake Dr
Fort Myers, FL 33913 (in Gateway)