A reader recently wrote in with a challenge that a lot of people face, even if they don’t always say it out loud:
“I want to get in shape, but I don’t know what goals to set. There’s so much out there: CrossFit, marathons, calisthenics, bodybuilding. It feels like I should want to do all of it. And I’m worried I’ll disappoint myself if I pick something and fail.”
If that resonates with you, you’re not alone.
In a world full of fitness influencers, gym ads, and shiny transformations, it’s easy to lose track of what you actually want.
So let’s zoom out and make this simpler.
🧙♂️ 1. Try the Genie Question
Imagine a genie grants you your fitness wishes. But there’s a catch: you wake up tomorrow with no memory of the wish being granted.
What’s the first thing you notice? Paint a picture for me.
Maybe it’s:
- You hop out of bed without aches or stiffness
- You feel more confident in your clothes
- Fitness is a more natural part of your day-to-day routine
- You have more energy for travel, play, or daily life
This helps you think about the outcome you want without getting lost in the methods (like CrossFit or bodybuilding).
Because here’s the truth:
Depending on your goal, there are many methods that lead to the same outcome. The best one? It’s the one you enjoy enough to stick with.
🧠 2. Ask the 5 Whys
If you’re still feeling foggy about your goals, try this:
Ask yourself:
“Why do I want to get in shape?”
Then, whatever your answer is, ask why again. (Repeat up to 5 times.)
By digging deeper, we can often find something that really resonates with us.
It may take us from “I want to get in great shape” to “I want to play with my grandkids on the floor without pain.”
That’s already a great start, because it gives us some more ideas about how to get there.
For example, if you want to be able to play with your grandkids on the floor without pain, you could start by:
- Introducing a daily mobility and flexibility routine
- Practice balance in different fun ways
- Add lower body strength training 2x/week
All of those will help you get in shape, but more importantly, help you get in shape in a way that connects with your deeper why.
⚠️ But… if the 5 Whys stresses you out? Skip it.
We’ve coached a lot of people who get stuck here.
They think:
“My why isn’t deep enough.” “I’d be more motivated if I just had the right why.”
But here’s the thing:
You don’t need a perfect reason. You just need to start.
Yes, it’s helpful to reflect. Yes, aligning your actions with your values is awesome.
But you’ll learn way more about what matters to you by actually doing than you will by overthinking.
So if you’re feeling stuck? Pick a general direction. Take a step. See what happens.
You can always course-correct later.
🧭 3. Course Correcting Isn’t Failure
I think this is another really key part of goal setting:
It’s OK to change your goals once you get started!
Sometimes it’s enough to say:
“I think I want to feel better. I’ll start by taking consistent action in that direction.”
As you move forward, you’ll gain clarity. You’ll figure out what is and isn’t important to you.
Because here’s a little secret: Most of our coaching clients change their goals at least once as they go.
That doesn’t mean they failed. It means they learned. And kept moving forward.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the fitness noise, you’re not broken.
You’re just ready to stop chasing someone else’s goal and start building your own.
And if you want help with that? I’d love to hear where your head’s at.
Just hit reply and let’s talk it out.
– Coach Matt
