Fitness January 22, 2026 0 Comments

Is Your Fitness Plan Secretly Sabotaging You? How to Spot the Signs Before It’s Too Late

So, here we are — smack dab in the middle of the year, and you might be asking yourself, “Wait, did I really think this would be easier?” Or perhaps, “Wow, I’m actually crushing this!” It’s funny how the beginning of any fitness journey or health challenge can feel like a rollercoaster, right? One moment you’re on a high-speed sprint, and the next, you’re tripping over your own laces. But here’s the kicker: whether you’re riding high or feeling stuck, it’s all part of the process. What if I told you that the secret sauce to real progress isn’t about judging yourself or hitting some mythical ‘success’ mark, but about learning to step back — like a coach — and simply ask, “What’s actually working? What’s tripping me up? And what’s the next smart move?” It’s less about that dreaded checklist and more about becoming your own best strategist. Ready to master this skill and keep your momentum going — whatever that momentum looks like? Let’s dive into the final step: Zooming Out.

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Depending on how the start of the year has gone, you might be feeling one of two things right now.

Either:

“Hey, this is actually going pretty well.”

Or:

“I thought I’d have more momentum than this.”

Both are completely normal. And both are exactly why this step matters.

The fourth and final step: Zooming Out.

This isn’t about judging yourself or deciding whether you “succeeded.”

It’s about learning how to check in with your plan like a coach would.

In the video below, I walk you through how to do exactly that using three simple questions.

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Question 1: What went well?

Jot down the first 1 or 2 things that come to mind.

It might not be surprising, but this is often the hardest step for folks I work with. I think because we are our own worst critics, and it’s easier to point out what’s NOT working than what is.

However, there’s a lot of gold to be mined here, so it’s worth doing!

Question 2: What was a challenge?

This is where you notice things like unexpected roadblocks, or pitfalls that we need a different strategy for.

If consistency was low, that usually means the plan needs to be simpler – not that you need more motivation.

Question 3: What (if anything) to change moving forward?

Knowing the wins and the challenges, we now evaluate what to do next.

In the video I cover some details about how to know if your progress is realistic. That will help give you some guide rails when thinking about next steps.

Sometimes the right answer is: “Nothing. I just need more time.”

Other times, it’s making an adjustment to your workouts, nutrition habits, or overall strategy.

Your action step

Open your worksheet and fill out the Zoom Out section. (Or use Tobbe’s awesome online version!)

Use your answer to “what (if anything) to change” to update your Core Practices.

Then, it’s time to start the cycle over again.

Track each time you complete a Core Practice. Fill up the tracking wheel. Then every 2-6 weeks (or whenever you complete the wheel), Zoom Out and make adjustments.

This is how real progress happens.

When I see a client adopt this strategy, treating each action like it’s own mini experiment, that I KNOW they will make progress.

—

If answering these questions feels harder than you expected, that’s normal.

Zooming Out is a skill. And like any skill, it gets easier with practice and feedback.

That’s why next week I’m hosting a live coaching session where we’ll work through common sticking points from the Challenge together, in real time.

You don’t need to be “stuck” to attend. You don’t need a perfect plan.

It’s just a chance to think this through with support, and see examples from other folks if that would be helpful.

My hope is that you’ll find a spark of inspiration that works for you and feel less alone in the process.

Talk soon,

-Matt