The Perfect Plan Doesn’t Exist (Here’s What to Do Instead)

When I first started my fitness journey, I was obsessed with finding the perfect plan.

The perfect workout split.

The perfect diet.

The perfect routine that would finally get me results.

But here’s what I wish I knew back then:

There is no perfect plan.

And chasing that illusion?

It’s exactly what kept me stuck for years.

Why “Optimal” Doesn’t Always Work

I’d find some ultra-strict, “scientifically optimal” plan online — usually designed by someone with a six-pack, no job, and zero kids — and I’d try to follow it perfectly.

And guess what?

The moment I missed a workout…

Or ate something not on the plan…

I’d feel like I failed.

So I’d quit.

Then start over.

Then quit again.

Over and over.

Not because I wasn’t disciplined.

But because I was trying to fit my life into someone else’s routine.

What I Finally Realized

All that “optimal” stuff you see online?

It’s not optimal for you if you can’t actually do it.

Maybe you saw a breakdown of the perfect 5-day split.

But you’ve got a job, a life, hobbies — and realistically, you can train 2, maybe 3 times a week.

So now what?

You feel like you’re doing it wrong.

You feel like you’re not serious enough.

You feel guilty — or worse, like you’re not cut out for this.

But here’s the truth:

There’s a difference between scientific optimal and real-life optimal.

And real-life optimal is the one you can actually stick to.

That shift in mindset changed everything for me.

And it’s the foundation of what I built into Project Reset — a clean, flexible Notion system for training, nutrition, and progress tracking that adapts to your actual life.

Let me show you how it works.

What Actually Works (And Why Project Reset Was Built This Way)

✅ 1. Start With Structure — Not Perfection

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on (and what I see all the time now) is trying to rely on feel.

You either:

  • Wing it entirely — no real plan, just vibes
  • Or follow an “optimal” plan that only works for people with zero schedule conflicts

But here’s the thing:

That kind of plan might work for a week… maybe a month.

But if it’s not realistic for your life, it won’t last.

Structure doesn’t need to be perfect.

It just needs to be doable.

Inside Project Reset, you’ll use a simple weekly planning system that keeps everything in one place:

  • Your workouts
  • Your meals
  • Your habits
  • Your progress markers

It gives you a clear view of the week ahead, and more importantly — it gives you the confidence that you’re doing enough.

That one shift alone? Game-changing.

✅ 2. Nutrition — Know Your Numbers, Then Simplify

There’s no such thing as a perfect diet.

Anyone claiming otherwise is probably just trying to sell you rules instead of teaching you skills.

But if you want to make real changes, you need to understand one thing:

You’ve got to know your numbers — your calories and macros.

Inside Project Reset, you’ll find a built-in Calorie & Macro Calculator that shows you exactly how much to eat based on:

  • Your body
  • Your goals
  • Your lifestyle

You’ll even get per-meal breakdowns so you know what each plate should look like across the day — not just “eat 2,300 calories and figure it out.”

Then, you can plug those numbers into the Meal Planning Template and:

  • Plan your meals for the week
  • Reuse favorites you enjoy
  • Generate a grocery list
  • Stop making last-minute food decisions

And if you don’t want to track macros every day?

No problem.

Use the built-in Palm Portion Guide to estimate your meals visually — no logging required. It’s flexible, accurate enough, and actually enjoyable to use.

✅ 3. Workouts — Built for Real Life, Not Instagram

Let’s clear something up:

You do not need to train six days a week to get results.

What you need is a plan you can actually follow — consistently — without burning out.

Inside Project Reset, you’ll build a training routine around your schedule, whether that’s:

  • 2 days/week
  • 3 days/week
  • 4 focused sessions

Your workouts live inside the Workout Database, where you’ll:

  • Add your exercises
  • Set reps, sets, rest times
  • Leave notes (tempo, RPE, form cues)

Then, when it’s time to train, you’ll open your Training Log and track your lifts in real-time.

See what you did last time.

Beat it this time.

Progress over time.

Want to change up a movement?

Just swap it using the connected Exercise Library — no need to rework the entire plan.

It’s simple. It’s smart. And it’s designed to keep you moving forward — without the stress.

Final Thoughts: Stop Chasing Perfect. Build What Works.

If you’ve been stuck chasing the “perfect” plan…

Or feeling like a failure because you couldn’t follow someone else’s ideal routine…

Here’s your permission to stop.

There is no perfect plan.

But there is a plan that works for you.

That’s what Project Reset is — the system I wish I had when I started.

Built for real life. Built to last.

And now it’s yours.

👉 Check out Project Reset here

Let’s make progress feel simple again.