Hi, I’m Zara — fitness junkie, wellness nerd, and the voice behind FitByZara.com. This site is all about smart fitness and science-backed wellness tips for real women who want to feel their best.
We’ve all been there.
You swear this time will be different. You buy the matching set. Download the fitness app. Maybe even make a cute calendar in Canva.
And then… crickets.
Life happens. You miss a few workouts. Motivation nosedives. Suddenly, it’s been two weeks and your dumbbells are gathering dust in the corner like gym-themed home decor.
So if you’re tired of the cycle — of starting and stopping and starting again — this post is your reset button. No shame. Just a real, sustainable plan to finally make fitness stick.
Let’s do this.
💡 First, Why We Quit (Spoiler: It’s Not Because You’re Lazy)
Let’s drop the guilt trip: most of us don’t fall off because we’re lazy. We quit because:
- We try to do too much too fast
- We don’t see results instantly
- We pick workouts we hate
- We treat exercise like punishment
- We never build a real habit around it
And when life gets busy, it’s the first thing to go.
👉 Real success comes from making fitness a default, not a dramatic overhaul.
🧠 Step 1: Rewire How You Think About “Working Out”
Instead of “I need to lose weight” or “I should work out more,” try this:
- “I move my body to feel powerful.”
- “I exercise to clear my head.”
- “Working out is how I respect my body, not punish it.”
This mindset shift is subtle but huge.
Still think it’s woo-woo? Even Stanford researchers say that how you think about exercise affects your actual health outcomes. Wild.
🔁 Step 2: Start Tiny — Like, Embarrassingly Tiny
Forget the 1-hour YouTube workouts and 6-day splits.
Your goal for week one? 5 minutes a day.
That’s it. Walk around the block. Do 10 squats and 5 push-ups. Stretch in bed. Just do something. You’re not proving anything — you’re rewiring your identity.
👉 Read this breakdown of the Two-Minute Rule by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. It’s gold.
🔁 Step 3: Stack It With a Habit You Already Have
Want to remember to actually move your body? Don’t rely on motivation — attach it to something you already do:
- After I brush my teeth, I’ll stretch for 5 minutes
- After my morning coffee, I’ll walk for 10 minutes
- After work, I’ll play music and do 15 minutes of bodyweight moves
This is called habit stacking, and it’s a game changer. Learn more in this expert article on habit formation.
📅 Step 4: Make It Frictionless
You’re more likely to follow through when your workout setup is stupidly simple.
- Sleep in your workout clothes
- Leave your mat and weights out
- Save a playlist or YouTube tab with your go-to workout
- Use quick, equipment-free apps like FitOn or Nike Training Club
Less thinking = less resistance = more doing.
🧘♀️ Step 5: Make It Enjoyable or Don’t Do It
Seriously. If you hate burpees, stop doing them.
There are endless ways to move your body that don’t feel like torture:
- Dance in your kitchen
- Go rollerblading like it’s 2004
- Do yoga in your pajamas
- Try Rebounding (mini trampoline cardio — so fun)
- Walk while catching up on trashy podcasts
You don’t have to suffer to get fit. You just have to move. And maybe sweat a little.
Need inspo? Check out this list of low-impact but effective workouts from SELF Magazine.
💥 Step 6: Track the Wins That Actually Matter
Stop only focusing on the scale. Instead, track things like:
- 🔹 How often you show up
- 🔹 How your mood feels after a workout
- 🔹 How many reps you can now do
- 🔹 Whether you feel stronger, clearer, more you
These are the real results. The ones that lead to long-term change — and yes, eventually physical transformation too.
📈 Step 7: Create a “Bare Minimum” Workout Menu
Life gets crazy. You’ll miss days. That’s normal.
But if you have a backup plan, you’re more likely to stay consistent. Try building your own “bare minimum menu” of go-to moves.
Examples:
- 10 squats, 10 push-ups, 10 glute bridges
- 1 song dance party
- 5-minute walk outside
- 2-minute plank while your coffee brews
If you can do that — even on your worst days — you’re building resilience, not just fitness.
🎯 Step 8: Pick a Sexy Short-Term Goal
Forget “lose 30 lbs.” Pick something that actually excites you.
- “Feel good in my bikini by July”
- “Crush 20 pushups without dying”
- “Wear that crop top on my birthday”
- “Run up the stairs without dying” (a fave)
Short-term goals with visual or emotional appeal will light a fire under you way more than vague health stuff.
🛠 Bonus: Zara’s Favorite Fitness Tools That Help You Stay Consistent
- 🔗 My go-to ankle weights for glute days
- 🔗 This foldable yoga mat that fits under the bed
- 🔗 FitOn App – free workouts, celeb trainers, minimal fluff
- 🔗 Spotify Playlist: Bad B*tch Workout – because music is everything
Final Words from Zara
You’re not “bad at fitness.” You’ve just been sold the wrong approach.
Fitness isn’t about hustle. It’s about showing up for your body like it deserves to be taken care of.
Start tiny. Keep showing up. Forgive yourself when you miss a day. Then come back the next day — not out of guilt, but because this is who you are now.
Strong. Consistent. Confident. And actually enjoying the process.
You’ve got this 💪
— Zara
