Buzz
Many people assume gamers are the polar opposite of the fit, athletic individuals they strive to become, often attributing this to the stereotype that video games promote a sedentary lifestyle. However, there are numerous fitness enthusiasts who are also gamers, and they often draw connections between their fitness journeys and the RPGs they enjoy.
At first glance, this topic might seem as contradictory as "what smoking can teach you about healthy living," so let's clear up some misconceptions. Video games themselves don't cause weight gain. While excessive gaming might reduce time available for physical activity, the real culprit behind the obesity epidemic is excessive calorie intake, not a lack of exercise.
Everyone Begins at the Starting Line
In the classic game Chrono Trigger, there's a hidden feature that lets you face the final boss, Lavos, within the first few minutes of gameplay. After Lavos swiftly defeats your party, you chuckle at the absurdity of challenging such a powerful foe at level one, then continue playing as intended.
Sadly, many individuals don’t approach fitness with this mindset. They dive headfirst into intense CrossFit sessions or exhausting early morning runs, only to find themselves unable to maintain such a demanding routine.
Similar to progressing in a video game, fitness is a skill that begins at the beginner level. You advance by mastering fundamentals like understanding calories, crafting a meal plan, tracking macros, and performing basic exercises. Only after these foundations are solid can you tackle more advanced challenges.
You Must Choose a Single Path
In RPGs such as Everquest, you usually select one class for your character. For instance, you can’t simultaneously be a Warrior, Wizard, Monk, Magician, and Necromancer. While hybrids like the Shadow Knight—a blend of Necromancer and Warrior—exist, they come with the trade-off of not fully mastering either class.
Beginners often aim to excel at everything. They want to run marathons, shed weight, and build strength simultaneously. Ever wonder why you rarely see a bodybuilder who also competes in marathons? (I can think of only one.) It’s because juggling both is incredibly challenging and often leads to failure.
Choose one fitness "class" that aligns with your current objectives. If your goal is weight loss, concentrate on a combination of diet and strength training. If you aim to run a marathon, consider starting with a program like Couch to 5k. Avoid trying to tackle everything at once. Once you’ve selected your "class," focus on the essentials until you improve. The advantage here is that, unlike in many video games, you can switch your fitness focus later without losing significant progress.
Utilize Real-Life Save Points
Save points are a fantastic feature, and they exist in real life too. To illustrate, here’s an example from a previous article referencing Final Fantasy II:
Zeromus was the 1992 Nintendo version of a honey badger. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t defeat him. I attempted hundreds, if not thousands, of times, but he remained unbeatable.
Every time I faced him, the same sequence of events repeated over and over.
I’d prepare my party for combat, deploy the same sequence of spells and attacks, and, like clockwork, Zeromus would counter with his predictable moves, defeating my team as inevitably as the climactic twists in a season of Game of Thrones.
Similar to the Chrono Trigger scenario, though less extreme, the issue was straightforward: my party wasn’t strong enough to withstand the final boss encounter.
Returning to fitness, imagine you’re struggling to shed those final ten pounds. You repeatedly fall off track, binge eat, and revert to a previous weight.
However, you don’t start from scratch. You’ve still achieved progress. While it’s tempting to quit, remember you’re resuming from your last save point. When setbacks occur, measure your progress against your starting point and practice self-compassion. This is your real-life "save point."
Before attempting the final challenge again, take time to level up. In the "last ten pounds" scenario, you might need to take a diet break, build more muscle, or temporarily increase your calorie intake before trying again. The worst response is to ragequit, a common but counterproductive reaction.
You Don’t Criticize Your Character
At the start of a game, you accept the main character you’re given and play with the cards you’re dealt. For instance, you might not love that the protagonist of Final Fantasy VII swings a massive sword with hands resembling hooves, but you play the game regardless.
Now, compare this to real life. How often have you felt stuck in your fitness journey because you judged yourself—maybe you dislike your weight, your body shape, or feel cursed with a slow metabolism? These thoughts often become excuses rather than motivators.
Instead, treat yourself like the main character in a game. Avoid self-judgment. While I’d usually suggest "forgiving yourself," in this case, there’s nothing to forgive because you can’t control your starting traits. What you can control is your commitment to finishing the game.
Images by Illustratiostock, Daniel Ferenčak, Rolo Tomassi, Fabio Santana, Javier Domínguez Ferreiro, bobrocks79, and Jeremy G.
