Turning Setbacks Into Success
Hey gym besties,
Every year around this time, I start hearing the same thing from clients and friends:
“I didn’t do as much as I hoped this year.”
“I fell off my workouts over the summer.”
“I still haven’t built the habits I promised myself I would.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not behind. This year has been a roller coaster for me personally, and while some of the downs felt like setbacks, I was recently reminded that I’m exactly where I need to be. Every challenge I’ve encountered this year – from work stress to lack of time for my healthy habits – has taught me a lesson that I plan to reflect on, grow from, and infuse in my mindset as I tackle 2026.
November and December bring a mix of reflection and pressure for many of us. Reflection, because we start looking back at everything we did (and didn’t) accomplish. Pressure, because the new year is right around the corner, and suddenly we’re supposed to be setting big goals again when we’re still trying to get our footing.
So this year, I want us to try this reframe:
Setbacks are not the opposite of success, they’re part of it.
Setbacks teach us what works, what doesn’t, and what really matters.
Let’s get into a few ways you can reframe your setbacks as success that will catapult you into achieving your 2026 goals (and feeling fulfilled in the process).
Redefine What “Progress” Means
Progress doesn’t always look like a new PR or dropping 10 pounds. Sometimes it’s the fact that you came back to your workouts after falling off. Sometimes it’s that you learned how to rest without guilt. Every rep, every reset, and every “I’ll try again tomorrow” counts.
Mini Exercise
Write down three things you did this year that supported your health (no matter how small) and celebrate them as progress.
Reflect Without Judgment
When you reflect on the year, do it like a coach instead of a critic. Instead of bashing yourself, how can you turn learnings into motivation for improvement? Instead of “I didn’t stay consistent,” try “I learned consistency is harder when I don’t have accountability.”
Mini Exercise
Write down your new statements and repeat them to help your brain re-wire.
Use the Next 4–8 Weeks as a Launchpad, Not a Waiting Room
You don’t need to wait until January to start over. In fact, you shouldn’t. The next few weeks are the perfect time to ease back into habits without the “new year, new me” pressure.
Mini Exercise
Start by:
Adding one strength workout per week.
Taking 10 minutes in the morning to stretch or journal.
Cooking one more meal at home each week.
These little shifts compound to build larger momentum before January.
Ask Yourself: What Did My “Setbacks” Teach Me?
I often preach that there’s no “perfect” way to be active or healthy. Maybe you learned that morning workouts aren’t your thing, or that you need more structure to stay consistent, or that your goals weren’t aligned with what you actually enjoy.
Mini Exercise
Every setback holds a clue if you’re willing to look. Based on your reflections from the previous exercise, identify one or two strategies you learned that can be implemented moving forward.
Final Thoughts
I can’t end my Thanksgiving newsletter without expressing the DEEPEST gratitude that I have for every single one of you. What inspires me to keep showing up on my tough days is you all. I appreciate every newsletter read, post shared, workout done. I’ll share more next month, but I’m so incredibly honored that you trust me on your fitness journey and look forward to all the amazing things 2026 has in store for us all!
