Every December I sit down and review the goals I set the year before for my Personal Training and Online Fitness Coaching Business.
And I’ll be honest – 2025 wasn’t pretty.
Not because it was a bad year. It was actually a great one.
It wasn’t because I was too ambitious, or tried to do too much…
The problem was simple – I set bad goals.
They sounded good on paper, they were (kind of) data driven, but they weren’t laid out in a way that made them easy to execute.
And I see people make the same mistakes every January, especially with fitness goals.
So, here are the three big mistakes I’m avoiding this year for my goals, and ones you should avoid too.
Mistake #1
Chasing outcomes instead of actions
Wanting to lose 15 pounds is fine. Wanting more energy is fine. But outcomes don’t tell you what to do today. Actions do.
This year, focus on things you can actually execute:
– 3 workouts per week.
– 2 less takeout meals each week.
– 500 more daily steps.
– 1 extra piece of fruit or veggie per day
Be super specific with the action you feel like you can do this week that will help you ultimately get to your goal.
But also be realistic about it – don’t think you’re going to go from doing 0 workouts right now, to going 5x per week. Start with small incremental changes, and build off that momentum.
Outcomes come from actions done consistently.
Mistake #2
Not tracking anything
If you don’t know what you’re doing week to week, you’re guessing. That goes for business, and it definitely goes for fat loss.
You don’t need a fancy spreadsheet. Just basic awareness: How often did you train this week? How many steps did you take? Did your weight trend up or down?
What doesn’t get tracked, doesn’t get changed – As an Online Fitness Coach I can tell you, data tells you (and I) what to adjust to see better results.
Mistake #3
Making the goal bigger than it needs to be
As a Personal Trainer I can tell you – losing 15 pounds sounds overwhelming.
Losing about a little over a pound a month doesn’t, in fact it almost sounds too easy…
Breaking your big goals into smaller, manageable targets is key to your success.
It makes your goals easier to stick to and a lot less intimidating when you look at it. This way you have an easier time tracking your progress, and seeing if you’re on track to reach your goal, or if you might need to pivot what you’re doing.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s to create positive momentum.
Let’s face it though…
If you go into the new year with clear actions, simple tracking, and realistic expectations, you’re already ahead of most people.
That’s the approach I’m taking this year… and the it’s the same one I coach my clients through all the time.
Time to practice what I preach…
If you have a goal you want to achieve but you’re not sure how to execute – shoot me an email at Rich@RKAthletics with the subject line “2026 Goals” and let’s build out a game plan together.
Make 2026 your year – and if you’re looking for a simple way to get started, check out this video I made last year breaking down the easiest way to get in shape or read the 5 Simple Steps To Get Started. The road to hitting your fitness goals is easier than most people think – the key is just to start!
Rich,
RK Athletics
Edmonton Personal Training & Online Fitness Coaching
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