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

Welcome to the launch of the Nerd Fitness Challenge 2026!

If you start the year excited and a little wary because you’ve been here before, this Challenge is for you.

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

We don’t start with goals or motivation.

Instead, we look forward to what we usually do interferes

​Main ideas from the video:

• The challenges that derail you are often predictable

• We name these pitfalls early, we can plan to work around them

• So we stop repeating the same cycle every January

• It’s rarely a matter of ‘motivation’ or ‘not caring enough’ – fitness plans fail when they don’t take real-life challenges into account

Common examples of pitfalls include:

• Unpredictable work schedule

• The kids (or you) get sick

• Feeling guilty about taking time for yourself

• I’m trying to change everything at once and burning

• Disappointed with the lack of progress

Your action step today:

Download the worksheet and fill it out Section 1: Traps.

Write down 2-3 things that have derailed you in the past – or that make you anxious to start again.

Don’t over think it. Simple is better.

You’re not trying to « fix » anything – just notice the patterns.

– Matt

PS Want a coach to walk you through this exact process? See which one would be right for you.