🏆 Why “Maintenance Mode” Still Moves You Forward

PLUS: Some Weeks Are About Momentum—Not Max Effort

AuthorAuthor

Michael Pender & Ryan Engel
June 06, 2025

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TODAY’S LEVEL UP:

  • Coach’s Corner: Why “Maintenance Mode” Still Moves You Forward

  • Mindset Shift: Some weeks are about momentum, not max effort

  • Question from Our Readers: What should I do when life gets in the way of training?

  • Fit Trivia: Which 90s video game character built like a tank made push-ups and chin-ups part of his actual gameplay animations?

Why “Maintenance Mode” Still Moves You Forward

Not every week is about crushing PRs or meal prepping like a machine. And that’s okay.

Here’s what most men over 40 need to remember:

  • Maintenance is progress. Holding your results during a tough week is still a win.

  • You’re reinforcing habits that make bouncing back easier.

  • You’re staying in the game, even if you’re not sprinting forward.

The goal is long-term transformation, not 7 perfect days. Don’t underestimate the power of showing up, even at 70%.

FROM RYAN’S DESK

Raise the bar on what you accept from yourself. Average effort gets average results. High standards demand discipline, sacrifice, and precision. Set yours high—and refuse to drop them for anyone or anything.

Mindset Shift:

Some Weeks Are About Momentum—Not Max Effort

Life gets messy. Work piles up. Family needs more of you. You feel off.

But if you…

  • Hit your workouts at 60%

  • Stay within your nutrition 80%

  • Show up when it’s hard

…you’re still building discipline. And that’s what actually changes your body long-term.

Question from Our Readers:

“What should I do when life gets in the way of training?”

– Jared, 50, from Tulsa

It happens to everyone, Jared.

Here's your playbook:

  1. Scale, don’t skip. Can’t train for an hour? Do 20 minutes.

  2. Walk more. Even a 10-minute walk between meetings adds up.

  3. Control what you eat. You may not train, but your fork still works.

Perfection isn’t the standard—resilience is.

Fit Trivia: Which 90s video game character built like a tank made push-ups, sit-ups, and chin-ups part of his actual gameplay animations?

Answer: Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid! While hiding in boxes and sneaking through enemy lines, Snake also dropped down for bodyweight workouts. Players could actually control him doing push-ups and chin-ups during downtime—a true stealth-mode fitness icon of the 90s.

Ryan Engel, Intl. Fat Loss Coach

Ryan is a leading fitness coach and one of the most known professionals in the space.

He specializes in Body Recomposition and visual body aesthetics and has reached millions worldwide with his powerful messaging. He brings a unique, non-nonsense, yet sophisticated approach to body change.

EXCLUSIVE DEALS FOR OUR READERS

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3M Coaching: Offering Free Consultations for Limited Time Only

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Publisher: Ryan Engel

Editor: Michael Pender

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