Weekly Edge: Why People Don't Achieve Their Fitness Goals

The average “Quitters’ Day” is shocking.

One fitness app, Strava, found that most people give up by the second Friday in January just 14 days into the new year. This is crazy.

Let’s face it. It’s November, and we’re about sixty days away from 2026.

Soon, people will start setting new goals, promising that this time it’ll be different.

That 2026 will be their year.

But we both know most won’t follow through.

According to Google, up to 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions.

Many quit within the first month. Some don’t even make it past mid-February.

Only 8% to 9% actually stick to their goals for the entire year.

That’s wild.

And the reason?

There’s no structure.

No real mindset shift.

No deeper why.

Let’s take the most common goal, losing weight.

Tom wants to lose weight because he wants to “feel healthy.”

He starts eating less, joins a gym, maybe goes for a jog now and then.

After a few weeks, he’s tired.

He skips a session and tells himself he’ll go tomorrow.

You know what happens tomorrow.

The same thing.

Now let’s talk about George.

He’s just been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

He knows that if he doesn’t change, his eight-year-old daughter might have to visit her father in the hospital.

Who do you think will stay consistent?

Exactly. George.

We don’t always need a life-or-death situation to change, but pain often drives action.

Sometimes we have to reach a breaking point before we wake up.

And that’s okay. It’s part of the journey.

When someone tells me they want to lose weight but they’re not willing to train three times per week or track their macros, I know they’re not ready yet.

The pain isn’t big enough.

And you know what? That’s fine.

You have to let them go and say, “It’s okay. When you’re truly ready, you’ll come back.”

I spoke to someone recently who told me he needs to lose 30 kilos.

I asked, “What have you been doing for the past six months?”

He said, “I go to the gym once a week.”

That’s better than nothing — but let’s be honest — once a week won’t deliver big results.

When we don’t take care of ourselves, it often reflects a lack of self-respect.

And behind that, there’s always something deeper.

Another big reason people fail is that their goals are too vague.

There’s a huge difference between saying:

➡️ “I want to lose some weight.”

and

✅ “I need to lose 10 kilos.”

Once you have a clear goal, you can create a plan:

• Lose half a kilo per week

• Eat a specific number of calories per day

• Move a set amount every day

• Work on your mindset daily

And here’s the real secret:

It’s not just about what you do.

It’s about who you become.

Look in the mirror and say:

“I’m a healthy person. I eat clean. I love and respect myself.”

Identity change is where the real transformation begins.

You don’t need to depend on a coach or an app forever.

You need to learn what works for your body and start thinking for yourself.

A coach helps with accountability, form, and mindset.

But you don’t need one seven days a week.

That’s a topic for another time.

If you want to achieve any fitness goal, start with two things:

1. Know why you want it.

2. Create a clear daily plan to get there.

That’s it.

Simple.

But powerful.

Build your foundation right — and everything else follows.

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