If You Don't Have a Goal... You're Screwed.

I've had a bit of an epiphany. It's only taken me 30 years working in the fitness industry.

I've watched aerobics become step. Step become pump. Pump become HIIT. HIIT become functional fitness. Functional fitness become HYROX.

I've watched low-fat, low-carb, keto, paleo, intermittent fasting, carnivore... and whatever TikTok is trying to convince us of this week. I've watched fitness fads come and go. But I've finally realised something.

If you don't have a goal... you're screwed.

Not because you won't exercise. Because exercising for exercising's sake gets boring. There's no reward. And humans love rewards.

Our brains are literally wired to avoid pain and seek comfort. That's why the snooze button exists. That's why the couch always looks more appealing than the gym after work. That's why cheese has beaten every diet I've ever considered.

(Seriously... cheese always wins.)

When I look back over my career, I also realise how harsh the fitness industry has been on people. Who remembers weight loss challenges? Every gym had one.

I remember when we introduced Les Mills GRIT. Along with the workouts came the nutrition plan. It was marketed as the complete package. The next big thing. The diet was so strict you couldn't even eat tomatoes.

Tomatoes! Apparently they were from the nightshade family, so they had to go.

Imagine trying to explain that one today. Thankfully, we've come a long way.

We don't demonise fruit and vegetables anymore because of the botanical family they belong to. We don't celebrate starving yourself for six weeks to win a cash prize. And, thankfully, weight loss competitions have largely disappeared.

But here's something that's only just dawned on me...

Why were they so successful? The answer wasn't actually the weight loss. It was the goal. It gave people something measurable, something to chase, something that rewarded consistency.

The number itself almost didn't matter. People would pluck an "I want to lose 8kg" goal out of thin air. Completely random. But suddenly every workout had a purpose. Every healthy meal felt like progress, every decision moved them towards something.

The goal created the motivation.

Fast forward to today, and I think we're in a much healthier place. As coaches, we've become more educated. Members have become more educated. Technology has exploded. People are just as likely to track their sleep score, resting heart rate or heart rate variability as they are their body weight.

Women lift weights because they know it's one of the best things they can do for their health. And if someone comments on their shoulders or arms today, it's far more likely to be... "I want arms like yours." ...than... "You're getting too muscular."

We've finally started celebrating what our bodies can do instead of just what they weigh. Strength. Fitness. Power. Mobility. Endurance. Confidence. All things that actually improve your quality of life.

And here's where my little epiphany landed...

I don't think the next evolution of fitness is another workout. I think it's having something to train for. That's why I find HYROX so fascinating. Not because everyone should become obsessed with racing., but because it gives people a purpose. A measurable challenge. A finish line. You against you. Can you run a little further? Push the sled a little faster? Row a little faster? Recover a little quicker?

That's exciting.

And if competing isn't your thing... Do it with a friend. Suddenly you're not just exercising. You're part of a team. You're sharing the journey. You're celebrating each other's wins. You're accountable to someone other than yourself.

Whether your goal is HYROX, hiking Kokoda, deadlifting your own bodyweight, completing your first push-up, or simply feeling stronger than you did six months ago... Have something to work towards. Because I honestly believe that's the secret. Not motivation. Not discipline. Not the latest diet. A goal. A reason to keep showing up.

So, whether you ever pin on a race bib or not, I encourage you to train like you're preparing for something. Set yourself a measurable goal. Find something that excites you. Discover just how well you can human.

Be strong,

Bex 💋