5 Common Mistakes Holding You Back From Your Goals

So you're trying a new diet and hitting the gym as much as possible, pushing yourself to your limits, and trying every new workout you can find. But you aren't getting the results you expected.

The road to getting fit and achieving your goals is long, no matter who you are or where you're starting from. You’re bound to hit a point where you’re ready to give up because it seems like nothing is working. Trust us; you’re not the only one!

It's likely you've made one or more of these mistakes that you didn't realize were holding you back.

“Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” — Dwayne Johnson.

Here are 5 of the most common mistakes that could be holding you back from your goals

Doing too little or too much too soon

One of the most common mistakes is doing too much too soon. Overtraining, or pushing your body past its limits before you're ready, can leave you drained and at risk of injury. It's okay to feel tired after a challenging workout, but you shouldn't feel exhausted, burned out or in pain after every workout. When you start with overtraining, you’re more likely to give up on your goals out of pure exhaustion. Starting small and making steady progress over time is better than going all out for a month and quitting. The key to long-term success is to be patient.

There's also such a thing as doing too little. The goal is to do enough in the gym to trigger positive adaptations in your body. You have to lift enough weights or run/cycle fast enough to challenge yourself. A little challenge is how you know you're doing something good for your body. If you don't challenge yourself, you won't improve.

Being inconsistent

Consistency is key in fitness, and working out consistently one week and going MIA the next is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. It's essential to make sure you're consistent if you want great results and don't give up. Not only does more consistent training bring you better results, but it also helps build endurance, reduce muscle-based injuries, and improve your technique and performance. Plus, going too long without working out makes it harder to get back into it. It all comes down to the Law of Consistency.

Your exercise goal is unrealistic

There's nothing wrong with setting high goals for yourself. Fitness goals can be a great motivator, but they can also be why you throw in the towel before you even make any progress. To keep you going, focus on smaller, attainable goals instead of big ones right from the start. Work your way up from your current fitness level. If you want to run a 10k marathon, you can't jump right into it. You have to train and likely start with smaller races. Set yourself up for success, not failure!

Not listening to your body

If you work out every day without taking a break, your body won't have time to recover properly. The level of fitness you have will obviously affect how fast you recover. Generally, for beginners, it's recommended to start with around three days a week. And don't forget to plan those rest days between your workouts.

Ultimately, it's about listening to your body and respecting your needs. All the research and recommendations are ultimately just guidelines to help you get started. But if you need a few extra days of recovery between workouts, give yourself that time! Letting your body get the rest it needs will help you work harder and longer.

Letting fear take control

Some of the best athletes fear letting themselves or others down. The secret? Don’t aim for perfect. Literally, nobody is perfect. If you’ve missed a workout, lost a race, or didn’t make it as far as you wanted, that’s okay! Instead of beating yourself up over it, take small steps to get yourself back on track. Beating yourself up won’t bring you any closer to your goals.

Fear is probably the biggest thing holding you back. If you want to reach your full potential, you have to overcome your fears. It's all about keeping your eyes on the prize and pushing through those obstacles. DREAM. DEFY. DELIVER.

“Worrying gets you nowhere. If you turn up worrying about how you’re going to perform, you’ve already lost. Train hard, turn up, run your best, and the rest will take care of itself.” — Usain Bolt