We are back… 2026 is upon us and whether you like it or not, January has more people making an effort with their health & fitness than at any other time of the year. Here are some things to consider –
At the start of the year it’s important to think ahead properly. Not vague goals, not “that would be nice one day”, but something that genuinely excites you. The kind of outcome that makes you think “wow, imagine if that actually happened”. You don’t need to believe it’s possible yet, belief usually comes later. Simply knowing what would truly excite you within your health and fitness is already a powerful place to start.
Early in January it’s also worth questioning the quiet assumptions you carry around. Most people don’t aim low because they’re lazy, they aim low because they’ve already decided it won’t work. They quietly assume it’s unrealistic because of age, time, stress, genetics, work or past failures. Yet every year people with the same lifestyle and limitations achieve the exact goals others say are impossible. If someone else could do it with the same constraints, the real question becomes, why not you?
Another useful step is to zoom out. When setting January goals we often pull random, wild targets out of nowhere and expect to drop into it immediately in January. When you actually look back over the last 12 months, you can roughly estimate what you did, how often you trained, moved, ran, drank or ate well. Most people realise it doesn’t take that much to beat last year, while you can still set lofty goals, comparing last year to where you want to be this year should mean you are able to sensibly set a strategy. Progress is rarely about massive change, it’s about doing slightly more than before.
It also helps to think beyond actions and outcomes and instead focus on who you want to become. Most people stop at goals like “train twice a week” or “lose some weight”. A stronger question is what type of person you want to be around food, exercise and movement. Someone who enjoys training, someone who feels calm around eating, someone who looks after their body without it feeling like a constant battle. This isn’t about forcing behaviour, it’s about choosing a direction.
What Does This Mean For You
Consider the points raised here as you embark on the New Year. You may find it beneficial to read my book – The Grand Unified Theory of Weight Loss>>, which covers all aspects of getting into shape, including muscle gain, developing fitness, posture, health and energy.
I have also been posting daily on Instagram with thoughts around how to approach your New Year, to see the first week of January’s insights go to my Instagram post here>>.
Photo – I have started the new year off nicely with a 17.5km and a Hyrox run through in a gym in Vauxhall:
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Read My Book – The Grand Unified Theory of Weight Loss – My latest book is available in print, kindle/ebook and audio formats. You can read more about it and see where it is available here>>>
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