The fitness journey is unique for everyone, and the path you choose should reflect your personal goals, values, lifestyle, and, most importantly, what you enjoy

Whatever you use to spark the embers, the next step is transforming the initial motivation into drive and thus consistency, which was covered in the last article. To recap, the key to achieving your fitness goals involves taking a realistic, enjoyable, flexible approach that resonates with your innate interests rather than a drastic overhaul. Align your reasons to train with your purpose in life, become gradually more independent, and take incremental steps towards mastering what you’re doing.

With the stakes being so high physically, mentally, and emotionally to get this right, it’s important that the mindset which you approach exercise works in favour of and not against the possibility of a positive outcome. The ‘swimming upstream’ approach, which many people adopt going into a new exercise regime, is at odds with what is proven to work best, in reality… So, here’s a rough outline of what this entails, and what most people should avoid:

Avoid diving into intense exercise immediately

Don’t ignore the gradual approach and jump straight into high-intensity workout routines from the start, regardless of your current fitness level or lifestyle.

Avoid prioritising discipline over enjoyment

Don’t focus solely on discipline and willpower to push through workouts, disregarding whether you actually enjoy the activities you’re doing.

Avoid setting rigid, high-stakes goals

Instead set realistic, achievable goals, and don’t aim for ambitious targets that require drastic changes in a short timeframe as this will just set the stage for disappointment if not met.

Avoid overhauling your lifestyle overnight

Don’t completely change your diet, sleep schedule and daily routines immediately to align with an idealised fitness regimen, without considering the sustainability or impact on your wellbeing.

Avoid ignoring personal preferences and interests

Don’t choose your workout based solely on what is perceived to yield the quickest results, rather than what aligns with your interests, curiosity, or enjoyment.

Don’t completely change your diet, sleep schedule and daily routines immediately to align with an idealised fitness regimen, without considering the sustainability or impact on your wellbeing

Avoid setting a fixed routine regardless of life’s demands

Don’t try to maintain a strict workout schedule without allowing for flexibility, regardless of how it fits with your other responsibilities or how it affects your enjoyment.

Absolutely avoid comparing your progress to others constantly

Never measure your success by comparing your achievements and progress directly with others, rather than focusing on personal growth and improvement.

Please avoid neglecting mental health benefits

Try not to focus exclusively on physical outcomes like weight loss or muscle gain – remember the mental health benefits and the holistic wellbeing that comes with regular, enjoyable physical activity.

Swimming upstream prioritises immediate, often unrealistic results over long-term health, enjoyment and sustainability. Be realistic and make the benefits of exercise become self-apparent.

Swim downstream

Swimming downstream with an imperfect, flexible, and enjoyable plan eventually leads to making progressively more ‘intense’ training feel fun, at which point your original goals (results, progress, or outcomes) simply become both a product and part of this virtuous cycle.

There will also be challenges, and this won’t be easy, but going with the flow is the most effective way to achieve your fitness goals. “The obstacle is the way” is still an inescapable part of this, but discomfort is traded for growth and resilience.

As we look ahead, remember that the fitness journey is unique for everyone, and the path you choose should reflect your personal goals, values, lifestyle, and, most importantly, what you enjoy.

In the next column, based on the latest research and real data from Hench, we’ll explore the minimum effective dose needed to achieve your goals to look, feel, or perform better, and why less can sometimes be more.

Here’s to finding your momentum in the fitness journey, making each rep or step count, and turning challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience. The road may not always be easy, but by utilising an approach that emphasises mind over matter, we can take steps to become stronger for life.