Working in front of a computer comes with a silent trap: it gradually anchors you to your chair. I came from a lifestyle of hiking the steep hills of Álvaro Obregón, but moving to Iztapalapa, combined with the pandemic and fatherhood, locked me inside my car and office.
Like any true nerd—and following the spirit of Athos in The Three Musketeers (who used to say that advice is asked for either not to be followed or to have someone else to blame)—it was tough for me to trick my brain into getting active. However, I found the perfect vehicle to reclaim my health through James Clear’s Atomic Habits and my own addiction to video games.
Here is my training roadmap based on a micro-rewards system.
1. Pokémon GO: Rediscovering Santa María Aztahuacán
The first step was simply getting out on the street. Pokémon GO was the perfect hook. For months, I walked the streets of my new neighborhood, catching Pokémon amidst local alebrijes and historical landmarks.
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The Impact: Suddenly, I wasn’t just “exercising” anymore; I was completing missions. The strategic routes around the Aztahuacán kiosks became my urban gym. Walking was no longer a chore; it became an act of exploration. Check out the site I made about this town in Mexico City, i guarantee you’ll want to visit it.
2. Fitness Boxing 3: Shadowboxing in the Living Room
When I wanted to ramp up the intensity, the Nintendo Switch and its Joy-Cons provided the ultimate solution. As someone who used to practice boxing (a shoutout to Miguel from the Logan Boxing Team in Coyoacán), this game allowed me to rebuild that muscle memory.
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The Advantage: The rhythm system is flawless. Shadowboxing with motion sensors allows you to polish your technique without paying a monthly gym fee, capitalising on every drop of dopamine the game throws at you for every perfectly timed punch.
3. Knockout Home Fitness: The Muay Thai Challenge
Looking for variety, I stumbled upon this game. I’ll be honest: graphically, it is inferior, and its mechanics are not as crisp as Fitness Boxing. However, it hit the nail on the head with something I desperately lacked: kicks.
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The Challenge: Introducing movements from Muay Thai, Karate, and Kung Fu was a shock to my system. The Muay Thai transitions felt foreign and difficult at first, but repetition—that blessed muscle memory—worked its magic. Today, it is my main tool to break a serious sweat and refine techniques that were once entirely unfamiliar to me. And now i can kick!
“Make it Attractive”
Yes, willpower matters, but strengthening it relies heavily on environment design. I have managed to build a steady routine of 45 minutes, 5 days a week—not because I “have to,” but because my brain receives the exact dopamine hit it needs to be happy while my body grows stronger.
