There are many reasons why people fail to achieve their fitness goals. From being too hard on themselves to not setting realistic goals, there are at least 11 top issues.
In this blog, we will discuss each of them one by one.
11 Reasons: Why you don’t achieve your fitness goals?
1. Starting without a clear fitness goal
Without a clear goal, it is very difficult to know how you are doing and if you are on track. For example, let’s say that your goal is to get fitter and healthier by losing some weight.
This is not the right goal to target. You need to be more specific!
Ask yourself how much fitter and how much healthier?
You need to have an idea of where you are starting from in order to judge how far you have come when you reach your destination.
For example, losing weight is a general goal that further needs to be specified in numbers e.g. you are 95kgs and you want to lose weight, so you must have a number in mind e.g. 75kgs.
Also setting a goal gives you a direction so you can create a structure of your workout program.
Check out a short video below on how important is it to set a clear fitness goal:
2. Setting unrealistic time frame to achieve fitness goals
People tend to set a time frame for achieving their fitness goals. However, this approach often results in failure.
You should rather set goals that are achievable and make gradual progress towards achieving them.
It’s better to move a few stones every day rather than targeting to move the whole mountain in a week.
3. Not taking a rest day
Some people are under the impression that they will achieve better results if they don’t take a rest day from workouts at all.
This idea is absolutely not true.
Your body needs a rest day between two days of intense workouts so that it can recover and adapt to new stress levels before starting a new session.
Plus if it involves cardiovascular workout, according to healthline, it should be limited to 5 days a week.
Check out our article on the importance of rest days for weight loss.
Also check out a short video below on The Importance of Rest Days from workout:
4. Overestimating what you can do
You need to take into account your current fitness level, body type, and ability before you start a new workout program. It’s easy to get over-excited and start training too hard, too soon.
This is one of the most common mistakes I see. People start out at a level that’s too high for them and then give up after just a few days.
5. Not warming up
Warming up is very important because it prepares your body for exercise by increasing blood flow to the muscles and loosening them up. This reduces the risk of injury during your workout.
6. Being inflexible
People who are not flexible tend to suffer from joint pain, muscle strain, and poor posture due to improper alignment of their body parts while exercising.
It’s important for them to first work on their flexibility and technique before attempting to do any kind of workout, especially with weights.
7. Skipping the cooldown
Cooling down after a workout is as important as warming up. It helps bring your heart rate back to normal and prevents muscle soreness.
Some people don’t care about cooling down after a workout, and it hampers them in many different ways e.g. muscle soreness or fever.
Check out a short video below on the importance of stretching and cooldown after a workout:
8. Going at it too hard
You may be tempted to push yourself beyond your limits, but this can cause injury and burnout. Remember that your body needs time to recover from strenuous workouts so listen to what it’s telling you and take it easy when necessary.
9. Not using the right form
Using proper form while working out is important. Doing the wrong exercises can cause injury and lead to poor results.
For example, performing squats with a weight bar behind your neck can lead to injury.
This is why it’s important to seek the advice of a professional personal trainer. The trainer will show you how to do each exercise properly and in the safest way possible.
This will help you avoid injuries and see better results.
10. Not using the right weights
Weight training is essential for gaining muscle mass, but you don’t need to lift too heavy for them.
If you are lifting weights that are too heavy, you will probably experience muscle strain and not be able to lift as much weight in the future. Your body won’t be able to recruit enough muscle fibers to create a stronger stimulus for growth.
On the other hand, if you are lifting lighter weights, you won’t gain any muscles.
For example, if you do 15-20 reps with very light weights thinking more reps is better. This won’t help your muscles grow, because the weights are not stimulating them enough.
If you are not sure what’s the right weight for you to lift, check out a short video below:
11. Overdoing it on cardio
Cardio is great for burning calories and keeping your heart healthy, but doing too much cardio can leave you feeling exhausted and worn out.
If you’re spending an hour on the treadmill or elliptical every day, you may be overdoing it.
Instead, shoot for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio (take a brisk walk) three to four times per week.
If you want to add strength training into your routine, do so two to three times per week. Never ever opt for too much cardio activity.
Conclusion:
That’s all in why people fail to achieve their fitness goals.
If you’re not achieving your fitness goals, it may be because you haven’t put in the time to research what works for you. It can also be because of an underlying health condition that hasn’t been diagnosed.
The purpose of this article is to help you realize where you may need improvement and we wish you the best of luck in fixing them.
Remember fitness is important. It will save you medical bills, bring you peace of mind, and set you up for achieving bigger goals in life, so don’t take it lightly, and fix your workouts where they need to be fixed.
