Why Most Fitness Plans Fail (And What We’d Do Differently)

Welcome to the start of the 2026 Nerd Fitness Challenge!

If you started the year excited and a little correct because you’ve been there before, you’re exactly who this Challenge is for.

In this first short video, I ask you to start from a place you might not expect.

We don’t set out with goals or motivation.

Instead, we look forward to what we usually do he gets in the way

.Key ideas from the video:

• The challenges that knock you off track are often predictable

• Let’s name those pitfalls first, we can plan around them

• This is how we stop repeating the same cycle every January

• It’s rarely a problem of “motivation” or “not caring enough”—fitness plans fail when they don’t account for real-life challenges.

Common examples of traps include:

• An unpredictable work schedule

• The kids (or you) get sick

• I feel guilty for taking time for myself

• Try to change everything immediately and burn

• Frustrated by the lack of progress

Your action step today:

.Download the worksheet and complete Section 1: Traps.

Write down 2-3 things that have thrown you off track in the past – or that make you nervous about starting over.

Don’t think. Simple is better.

Don’t try to “fix” anything – just see the patterns.

– Matt

PS Do you want a coach to guide you through this exact process? See which one would be good for you.