Hey there. We hear it all the time. Get out of your comfort zone. Push yourself. Stretch past what feels safe.
And yeah, I get it. There’s value in challenging yourself. However, before you push outside of your comfort zone, you need to get really good at working within it. Not only that, but you need to clearly identify where your comfort zone actually is.
In this post, I’m going to walk you through what that looks like, how it builds long-term consistency, and why your calm, deliberate mental approach is the foundation of your fitness and eating success. This is how you start building from the inside/out.
Know Where You’re Starting From
It might seem simple, but this is often skipped. Before you make changes, you need to know what “normal” is for you.
In fitness, this starts with knowing what type of workouts feel manageable. What’s something you can do without a mental battle? If it feels effortless to walk for five minutes or do some light stretching, that’s a solid starting point. Maybe you usually go to the gym for thirty minutes. Cool. Let’s set your goal at twenty.
You want the goal to be so easy that missing it feels a little silly. That’s the level we’re aiming for. This isn’t about laziness. It’s about building a pattern of showing up and exceeding your goal. That’s where the momentum starts.
And this goes for different types of movement too. Strength training, cardio, flexibility…it’s all going to feel a bit different. Your comfort zone will shift depending on the type of activity, so take that into account.
Apply This to Nutrition Too
Just like with workouts, your comfort zone with eating habits matters. First, look at your normal meal frequency. How many times do you eat on a typical day? Does it change based on the day of the week or your schedule?
Once you know that, you can start introducing goals around hydration and produce.
When it comes to water, find out what’s already doable. For example, I know that if I drink three of my regular bottles, I’m close to hitting 100 ounces. My actual goal is set just under that so I consistently exceed it.
For produce, tie it into your existing meal routine. If you eat three meals a day, can you add one serving of produce to each meal? If that feels like too much, start with one or two servings a day and grow from there.
Most people who’ve been dieting for years actually struggle with produce. Processed and packaged foods are more common. So setting a simple, manageable produce goal is a major foundational habit.
Why This Mental Approach Works
If you’ve been on and off the fitness or weight loss roller coaster for years, chances are your mindset has been shaped by restriction, urgency, and perfectionism. You’re either “on” or “off” the plan. You win when you hit the goal. You fail when you don’t.
But that mental tug of war is exhausting.
Instead, when you build a calm and deliberate approach, you shift from reacting emotionally to acting intentionally. You’re no longer driven by fear of staying the same or anxiety about falling short. You’re showing up because you know what you can do, and you trust yourself to follow through.
This doesn’t mean you won’t have moments of doubt or distraction. You will. But when your foundation is strong, you’ll come back to it more easily.
And here’s the best part… every time you exceed your goal, even if it’s small, your confidence grows. Over time, your comfort zone expands. What was once a challenge becomes your new baseline. That’s real progress.
The Problem With Most Fitness Messaging
So much of the fitness industry is focused on outcomes. You see the “before” and “after” pictures. The transformation stories. The scale numbers.
But those results don’t tell you what was going on behind the scenes. They don’t show the mindset that drove the actions.
And often, those results aren’t sustainable. You might follow a strict plan and get quick results, but if your mental approach hasn’t changed, you’ll end up right back where you started.
We need to focus on how we feel about the process. We need to make room for habits to develop at a pace that matches our life and personality.
When you approach fitness from the inside/out, you’re not just changing your body. You’re changing your relationship with yourself.
Take Your Time, Build Your Foundation
I always ask people… would you trade the next one to three years of slow, consistent progress for decades of peace around food, fitness, and your body?
Most people say yes. But the truth is, the change happens faster than that.
When you focus on building a solid foundation, your mindset starts to shift in a matter of weeks. You feel less frantic. You stop trying to fix everything overnight. You begin to trust your decisions and see that small steps really do add up.
You’ll still have goals. You’ll still track your progress. But you’ll do it from a place of calm confidence, not pressure.
And eventually, when you do set goals that stretch beyond your comfort zone, you’ll be ready. Because now, you have something to fall back on. You’re not guessing or forcing it. You’re choosing it.
The Fitness Industry Won’t Teach You This
There’s a reason this approach isn’t mainstream. It doesn’t sell products fast. It doesn’t make big promises.
But it works.
Most of us were never taught how to build habits from the ground up. We were told to follow the plan. Do the workouts. Stick to the meal prep.
But what about the mindset behind all of that? What about learning to appreciate your body at every stage? What about setting goals that align with your real life?
That’s what I want for you. That’s what the Your Level Fitness Framework is built around.
You deserve to build something that works long-term. Something that fits your life. Something that’s rooted in respect, not restriction.
Ready to Build from the Inside/Out?
Start within your comfort zone. Set goals that feel manageable. Then get used to exceeding them.
This is how you grow. This is how you rewire your relationship with fitness, food, and your body.
And if you want help with that, I’d love to work with you. I have multiple coaching options depending on how much structure or support you need.
👉 Click here to check out the YLF coaching programs and find the one that works best for you.