Home›Newsletter›Issue 3
The Missing Piece Isn’t What You Think
By Jianna Bustamante, DPTWhole Health Weekly

Happy Friday and Happy Newsletter Day!
This week felt like a good reminder that not everything we need is physical.
Sometimes what is missing has nothing to do with sets, reps, or rehab plans.
Weekly perspective
The Missing Piece Isn’t What You Think
Most people think they need more discipline.
They think they need to wake up earlier, train harder, eat cleaner, and stay more consistent.
And while those things matter, they are not usually the real problem.
What we are seeing more and more is something simpler. People are spending their lives moving between two places. Work and home. That is it.
No outlet. No environment where they feel like themselves. No place where they are known.
That absence adds up.
It shows up as low motivation. It shows up as inconsistency. It shows up as people feeling stuck even when they are doing a lot of the right things.
This is where the idea of a third space comes in.
A third space is anywhere you go that is not work and not home, where you feel connected, engaged, and like you belong. It could be a gym. It could be a class. It could be a weekly group. It does not really matter what it is, as long as it pulls you in.
The people who tend to make the most progress long term are not always the most disciplined.
They are the ones who have an environment that makes showing up easier.
If everything in your life depends on willpower, it is only a matter of time before it breaks down.
If your environment supports you, things start to feel different.
You show up more consistently. You push a little harder. You stay in it longer.
And that is usually the difference.
Exercise of the week
Side Plank Hip Abduction
Who it is for
Anyone dealing with hip instability, knee pain, or looking to build better lateral core and glute strength
Why it matters
A lot of people are strong front to back but weak side to side. This exercise builds the lateral chain that helps stabilize your pelvis and control movement during walking, running, and lifting
Coaching cues
Keep your body in a straight line and do not let your hips roll back
Lift the top leg slowly and stay controlled the entire time
Common mistake
Letting the hips sag or rotating backward instead of staying stacked
Healthy tip of the week
Tip: Make Showing Up Easier
Most people try to rely on motivation to stay consistent.
That usually works for a few days, maybe a few weeks, and then life gets in the way.
A better approach is to remove as much friction as possible.
Pick a consistent time. Lay your clothes out ahead of time. Choose a place that is easy to get to.
The less thinking required, the more likely you are to follow through.
Consistency is rarely about wanting it more. It is about making it easier to do.
This week in the clinic
Home Renovations!
Make sure to ask Courtney about her latest home renovation! As the summer nears, Courtney decided she needs a patio in her backyard to attempt to get as tan as Jianna 😏
It is that time of year where lots of our clients are getting their lawns and gardens ready for the summer. We have people planting flowers, building greenhouses and getting their blueberry bushes ready!
Make sure that if you harvest some vegetables you bring some in for Peter and if you make some desserts with your fruits you bring some in for Gary!
Jianna mentioned this week's Different Life podcast episode. Want to hear it?
Free every Friday
Get Whole Health Weekly
One short, useful email every Friday morning. Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.