Fitman, owner of the Fitman Performance & Physique Center in Abington, says quitting destroys more dreams than failure ever will.
“The easiest thing to do in the world is to quit,” the 2022 NGA Mr. Natural Philadelphia champion said. “That’s why so many people do it. What I’m about to say isn’t pretty, but it taught me everything I needed to know.”
Lesson Learned
“I quit once at track practice during my junior year at West Chester University. I had talked a lot of trash leading up to that first practice about how great shape I was in. All that big talk didn’t match the way I performed. I got exposed at that practice, because I was not who I thought I was.”
“I was immature, and in that pathetic moment, I’ve never felt smaller. Imagine being a liar and a quitter at the same time. There are very few things worse than that.” Fitman told us it took him years to settle that score.
“I had to go back and complete that track workout many times,” he said. “In lousy weather, while tired, and even when I wasn’t at 100 percent. There were even times when I made the original workout harder. I had to kill that feeling of shame that stayed with me over the years. When things get rough, you only have two choices: fight or quit. Fighters push through. Quitters fold and go nowhere fast.”
“Most people pick quitting. The moment things get uncomfortable, they collapse. But if you want to succeed in fitness, business, or life, quitting is not an option.”
Success Starts In The Mind
Fitman said he’s watched both sides as a coach. “I’ve seen people push through injuries, setbacks, and slow progress to come back stronger,” he said. “And I’ve seen others quit after one bad month, one missed lift, or one failed plan.”
“The difference isn’t talent. It’s mindset. Fighters keep showing up. Quitters walk away and bury themselves under excuses. When you look in the mirror, the reflection staring back at you is the real reason for your success or your failure.”
“When things aren’t working, you may need to adjust. I’ve done that in natural bodybuilding and in my gym business. But completely quitting when you get knocked down guarantees you’ll fail.”
Why Quitting Doesn’t Work
Fitman said quitting doesn’t just kill goals in the gym: it follows you everywhere.
“Habits follow,” he said. “A quitter in the gym usually quits in athletics, business, competition, and relationships. Hard times are part of the process. Fighting through them builds toughness and character. Quitting reveals who you are.”
He broke down the most common places people tap out:
• Fitness: “Some people expect to look like a fitness model in just one year. Building a phenomenal physique takes years of hard training, nutrition, discipline, and consistency.”
• Competition: “Some athletes get cut from a team or lose a natural bodybuilding show and disappear. Even Michael Jordan got cut in high school. He didn’t quit and that made all the difference.”
• Comparisons: “Many people see someone else progressing faster than them and lose heart. But if you’re inconsistent with training, nutrition, and recovery, you can’t expect real results.”
• Business: “Most business owners expect instant success. If your business doesn’t make great money in year one, welcome to the club, pal. You don’t quit. You adjust, work smarter, and keep grinding.”
The Last Rep
“Whatever your goals are, quitting cannot be an option,” Fitman said. “You only get one shot at this life. You don’t want to sit in a stadium full of regrets because you tapped out when things got tough.”
“Winners embrace the hustle while quitters fake the hustle and never prosper. If you want to build the mindset to never give up, my 21-Day Fit program is the ideal starting point.”
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