Rep by Rep: The Reality You’re Creating

I was recently watching a TV series called Dark Matter. It’s sci-fi, and if you think too hard about the mechanics, it’ll make your head spin—but at its core, the premise is surprisingly grounded.

Jason Dessen, a physicist and devoted family man, is abducted and thrust into an alternate reality—one where he never married and instead pursued scientific greatness. As he battles through parallel worlds to reclaim his true life, he must outwit his alternate self who wants to steal it. It’s a gripping exploration of identity, choice, and the roads not taken.

What struck me most was this: his alternate self—the version who chose ambition over family—regretted that decision. So he built a way to experience the other side of the choice. That got me thinking about the nature of decision-making and what it creates.

Does every choice split reality? Maybe not in a literal sci-fi sense, but in a very real way, each decision sends ripples through our lives. Choosing to focus on your health—or not—creates a version of you that shapes everything that follows. It’s like standing at a fork in the road, knowing each path leads to a different you.

As a personal trainer, I advocate for health and fitness because at its core, it unlocks possibility. On a basic level, fitness cultivates energy, discipline, confidence, mental clarity, self-respect, momentum, progress, resilience, identity, and purpose. These aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the tools we need to endure the journey and succeed. And they’re not guaranteed. They must be earned, built, and reinforced through action.

We’ve all had the thought: I want to lose weight or I’d love to be healthier. But what happens next? Do you act, or do you brush it off? And more importantly—do you ever ask yourself why?

Every time I make a decision, I try to reflect: Why did I act—or not act? What version of myself am I feeding with that choice?

Going after the life you want requires more than desire. It demands energy, discipline, confidence, mental clarity, self-respect, momentum, resilience, and a deep connection to your identity and purpose. Fitness is one of the few places where you can cultivate all of that, daily.

So no, we may not live in a sci-fi world where every decision splits reality—but in a very real way, our choices shape who we become. Fitness is one of the most powerful tools we have to influence that trajectory. It builds the traits we need to face life head-on: energy, discipline, confidence, clarity, resilience, and purpose.

The version of you that thrives isn’t created by accident. It’s built—rep by rep, choice by choice.

What version of you are you building today?