Achieving fitness goals for the average person.

When I think about fitness goals for the average person, I don’t picture barbell squats with 500 pounds, running a marathon every month, or chasing shredded abs and bulging veins.

I think about parents and grandparents being mobile enough to bend down and play with their kids. I think about a parent jumping into a game of basketball with their teenager—without gasping for air or worrying about an injury. I think about going to your annual checkup and hearing your doctor say, “Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.” I think about being strong, fit, happy, and capable as you age.

That’s the kind of fitness I want to highlight here. Social media often makes it seem like fitness is an exclusive club for the hardcore. Go hard or go home! That mindset pushes people away—it either burns them out or makes the whole idea of getting started feel overwhelming.

With my clients, I focus on teaching that fitness isn’t nearly as extreme or complicated as the internet makes it look. Lasting results come from building routines we can stick with and showing up consistently. The same goes for nutrition: finding a way to eat that supports weight loss and long-term health without feeling overly restricted or thinking, “This sucks.”

Start small—and stay small—with your changes.

For some people, diving in full steam works. That’s awesome, and I’ve had a few clients succeed that way. But honestly, for about 85% of the people I’ve worked with over the last 10 years in Crystal river, Gainesville Florida and around the world remotely, going all-in right away would have completely burned them out. Even worse, it often leaves people with a negative mindset toward fitness and wellness as a whole.

That’s why I encourage you to think small. Ask yourself: what’s one small thing you could change this week to move closer to your goals?

Maybe it’s swapping that daily Dunkin’ run for a homemade coffee with zero- or low-calorie sweetener and a high-protein breakfast like Greek yogurt, a protein shake, or an omelet. Maybe it’s committing just 15 minutes a day to movement—a brisk walk, short jog, bodyweight routine, or a few sets with weights.

Every week, add one small, lasting change. Do this consistently and watch how those little steps snowball into huge results as weeks turn into months. This is how fitness works for a lifetime, not just 30 day spurts.

• “I’ve found that small wins, small projects, small differences often make huge differences.” – Rosabeth Moss Kanter

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