Hey there. I’ve seen it happen over and over again. People start a new fitness program and immediately begin rearranging their life to fit the demands of that program. At first, it might feel exciting. You’re following the “best” plan, you’re motivated, and you’re ready to commit. Thing is, if the plan doesn’t truly fit your life and your preferences, it’s only a matter of time before the excitement fades and frustration takes its place.
Your active lifestyle should fit into your life, not the other way around. The only person who truly knows whether your fitness routine is something you enjoy and want to stick with is you. If you’re forcing yourself into something just because you think it’s what you “should” do, that mental tug of war will eventually wear you down.
Now, there are exceptions. Some people genuinely enjoy a very regimented and structured plan. If that’s you, that’s great. I want you to do the things you love and will continue doing for the rest of your life. But for most people, it’s better to start with your preferences, then build from there. When you enjoy the process, you’re more likely to keep showing up.
The fitness industry often glamorizes discipline as pushing yourself to do things you don’t want to do every single day. And while there’s value in challenging yourself during workouts or pushing past mental barriers from time to time, your day-to-day plan shouldn’t feel like a constant battle. If you wake up every day dreading your routine, it’s not the right plan for you.
This is where the inside/out approach comes in. By starting with what you naturally gravitate toward, you build a foundation that works with your life, not against it. Once that’s in place, you can layer in challenges or new goals without completely disrupting your rhythm. It becomes less about forcing yourself to stick to a plan and more about building a lifestyle you actually want to maintain.
So ask yourself, are you fitting your fitness into your life, or are you trying to cram your life into a program? If it’s the latter, it might be time to reevaluate. Look at what you enjoy, what fits your schedule, and what makes you want to keep showing up. That’s where your long-term success starts.
If you’re ready to create a fitness plan that works for your life and your goals, join one of the YLF programs. Together, we’ll build something you actually want to do for the rest of your life.