Jul 92 min read

Breaking the Cycle: How to Finally Achieve Your Fitness Goals This Year

Updated: Aug 2

It's over halfway through the year, and you might be thinking, "Is it too late to start my fitness journey?"

Absolutely not!

Many people set ambitious goals in January, only to lose steam by February. Starting now can give you the perfect opportunity to break the cycle and achieve lasting results.

Here's why fitness goals often fail and how you can do things differently this year to finally stick to your goals.

Why Fitness Goals Fail

Most people overestimate what they can handle and adopt an “all or nothing” mindset. For example, starting the year with:

5 gym sessions per week
No alcohol
No chocolate
No carbs
No bread

But by month 2, you might find yourself eating and drinking more than before and skipping the gym. This cycle can be broken with the right approach.

How to Set Yourself Up for Success

1. Be Realistic

Set achievable targets. Make one change at a time and stick to it for two weeks before introducing another. Instead of overwhelming yourself, you’ll create up to 12 new habits by the end of the year, which is more effective than trying everything at once and failing after 2 weeks.

2. Add, Don’t Just Subtract

Instead of focusing on what you need to cut out, think about what you can add to your life. For example:

Drink more water.
Swap processed snacks for fruit adding in quality nutrition
Add more vegetables to your meals.
Include protein in each meal.

3. Get Support

Don’t go it alone. Seek support from friends, family, a personal trainer, or a support group. Accountability can be crucial for long-term success.

4. Pick Activities You Enjoy

Ignore the hype about the “best” exercise. There’s no best if you don’t enjoy it and quit. Choose activities you like, that fit into your life 3-4 times a week, and that you can stick with. At JW Fitness we focus on strength training and whilst I both love and believe in strength training I don’t expect everybody to get the same feeling from it. You have to give new things ago and over time you will work out a perfect schedule for yourself.

5. Understand Your “Why”

Know why you want to achieve your goal. If your goal isn’t important or you don’t understand why you’re pursuing it, you’re likely to give up. Reflect on your motivations and ensure you’re willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes. If you’re not, you may need to adjust your goals to avoid ongoing frustration.