4 Reasons Why Waiting Until January To Start Your Fitness Journey Is A Mistake

In the weeks running up to the Christmas and new year period it's tempting to think that we should put our strength, fitness and body composition goals on hold. We feel like come January, we will be able to commit to it 100%, and start afresh with a new focus and energy that comes with a new year. And while this makes some logical sense, I believe it is a HUGE mistake. Here's 4 reasons why waiting until January to start your fitness journey is a mistake based off my 15+ years working in the fitness industry.

1) You're Motivated Now

If you're sat down reading this now it's because you're motivated for change. You're not reading a strength and fitness blog because you're happy with where you are, and you're happy staying the same throughout 2025. You want to be stronger. You want to be leaner. You want to feel more energised. You want to feel more confident and in control. You want to be more disciplined and consistent in your actions. So why wait? All of these outcomes are hugely valuable, hugely rewarding, and potentially life-changing for you. So why would you wait 6 weeks to even get started on working on them? If we're honest with ourselves, when we want something physical, like a new pair of shoes or a new watch, we're unlikely to wait 6 weeks between seeing at, feeling that urge and going out and buying it. Most of us will be lucky if we resist it in the moment, let alone a few days or weeks. But when it comes to significant, meaningful, lasting and life-changing results, we're happy to put it on hold for the foreseeable future. It doesn't make sense. If you want it, go and get it. Check yourself, and if it truly really matters to you, and your sick of having spent the whole of 2024 not getting anywhere with your strength, fitness and body composition, get to work on it now. It'll do a lot more for your happiness and confidence than a new pair of sneakers or a new watch.

2) There's Over 10% of the Year Left

As I write this, there are around 6 weeks left in 2024. It doesn't sound like much, but that's over 10% of the whole year. Are you really happy to write-off 10% of a year just because it's close to a couple of celebrations? Are you really happy to let yourself drift for 10% of a year, losing even more momentum, and not investing or working on yourself? Or do you want a bonus 10% of time to work on the goals you're starting to think of for 2025? Do you want to walk into January 1st with momentum, understanding, and confidence that you are already on the path to your strongest self. Rather than starting 2025 from a dead stop. No momentum, no clarity or clear path forwards, and belief that this year is actually going to be different to any other. Time and progress in fitness don't have a liner relationship. You don't make the same progress in the last 6 months that you do in your first 6 weeks. The first 6 weeks see the biggest changes in actions, behaviours, routines, habits, understanding, decisions, training intensity and training volume. And as a result, you see bigger changes, quicker progress, and build the biggest momentum in this time. That why this 10% of the year matters so much. It could really set the tone for the whole of 2025. For better or for worse.

3) You Need To Work on your Worst Case Scenario The biggest reason most people cite when they say they don't think now is a good time to start their fitness journey is that they're heading into the party season, and that January will be much easier with less drinking, fewer meals out and clearer social calendar. But if you're honest with yourself, you don't need help with your best case scenario. Most people, with a little help from Google or ChatGPT could manage a really productive best case scenario day. You can already get to the gym before work, have a decent workout, eat well for 3 meals, limit yourself to one snack, not give into the booze after work and get yourself to bed on time to make a solid investment in your energy for the next day. Your best case scenario is already probably good enough. You just can't do it consistently enough, and your worst case scenario happens much more often. You're an expert in skipping the gym or half-arsing a workout. You have 3 square meals a day (a box of cornflakes, a Greggs steak bake, and beans on cheese on toast). You nail all your snacks (multiple times throughout the day). You unwind with some "valuable" you time alongside a tinnie and Netflix binge that goes on at least an hour too late. And all of these things become more likely to happen when you're mildly stressed, your day inconvenienced or your calendar socially packed. The Christmas and New Year period is the PERFECT time to work on this. To learn how to work through social events and boozy nights out without crushing your gains and bringing your progress to a halt. To build structure and discipline that helps you prioritise your training sessions amongst a busier than usual schedule. To learn to manage and accommodate your many stresses and responsibilities that come with Christmas deadlines. You don't need help when things are easy. You're an adult, I trust you can do that. You need guidance and coaching for when things are hard, which is why now is a great time to start, and why people who commit now make better and longer lasting results. They stop seeing the challenges and obstacles, and instead see the opportunities and solutions. And they're going to be key to becoming your strongest self in 2025.

4) It's Not As Challenging As You Think I received a message from an Instagram follower last week who said how one of my posts last year had helped her change her mindset about this time of year, and as a result she was feeling a lot better about her weight loss journey through Christmas and the New Year. Because when you think about it, this time of year isn't actually that much more challenging than any other time of year. At the time of writing there are 42 days left in 2024. If you're training 3x per week like I suggest for most everyday athletes, that's only 14 sessions you need to fit in between now and January 1st. Totally doable. Extremely realistic. And if you eat 3 main meals a day, that's 126 meals remaining for the year. Now lets break down the challenges. You've maybe got 1 work Christmas do, and one friends Christmas do. That's 2 meals. You'll maybe have a gym social, and Christmas eve night with friends. That's 2 more. Christmas day with the family, and Boxing Day with the in-laws. That's maybe 2 lunches and dinners so 4 meals. Then a big one New Years eve for another one. That's 9 meals. 7% of your meals between now and the new year. Plus some inevitable snacking and boozing for most which with a bit of guidance and expert coaching you can do on your terms and mostly congruent with your goals if you focus on the average of your actions rather than the details of any one moment. You can manage that and still make progress. It's maybe 10% of what you need to do over the next 6 weeks, 15% if we're being generous. It's not that hard, especially when you approach it with the right mindset, with key moments of proactivity, and with the support and guidance you need to attend all these events and enjoy them on your terms. That's the key part. It's not about not going off plan. It's about going off plan on your terms. And you 100% can do that. If you want that expert guidance and advice to make the most of the remainder of 2024. To get a head-start on your strength and body composition goals for 2025, and to stop making excuses and stop avoiding the work you know you need to do... Check out my 1-1 online coaching service. Ian.