As we reach the final month of 2025, many of us are starting to think about goals and resolutions for the year ahead. As an experienced trainer and dietitian of 20+ years, I’d love to share the best practices to set you up for success at lifelong fitness and health. Here are my top 10 fitness tips for 2026!
- Set Realistic Goals
It is important to start with setting small, attainable goals in order to avoid fatigue, injury and burnout. Write down your goals and give yourself a timeline to achieving them. Telling a family member or friend will also increase adherence. - Schedule Your Workouts
Schedule yourself into your planner just as you would a doctor appointment or work meeting. Treat each workout as an unbreakable appointment with yourself. - Lift Heavy Weights!
Challenge yourself in the gym and push your muscles to the point of fatigue (with good form of course!). When your muscles get stronger there is a positive domino effect. Your bone density increases, your metabolism is boosted and your body composition improves.
- Hydrate All Day
There are so many reasons to hydrate! Drinking enough water can help prevent headaches, delay fatigue in workouts, lubricate joints, improve the appearance of your skin and even aid in weight loss. Aim to drink ½ your body weight in ounces each day. - Find a Fitness Buddy
Having somebody to meet at the gym or for a workout will GREATLY increase your chances of showing up. You could also join a class or run club or hire a personal trainer. To be completely honest, this tip is the most important for most people. Working out together is so much more fun!
- Ensure Proper Recovery
This tip will become more and more important with each decade that passes- trust me! The body needs a little TLC to continue to perform its best. Besides the obvious importance of sleep, other important ways to speed up the recovery process include icing, stretching and massage. I DARE you to go to a yoga class, try the Theragun, and take an ice bath in 2026! - Eat Like an Athlete
The #1 rule of sports nutrition is to eat within 30-60 minutes after a workout in order to maximize your gains from the hard effort. Remember to include carbohydrates (30-60+ grams), protein (10-35 grams) and fluids in the post-workout meal. Pro tip: A smoothie or chocolate milk is the perfect recovery option since it includes everything mentioned above. - Top Reasons to Cross Train
We all gravitate towards the sport or activity that we love the most. That is human nature. However, I want to highlight the benefits of mixing it up a bit. Cross training is important in order to prevent and rehabilitate injuries. It can also be fun and stimulating to try a new sport such as swimming, biking, or skiing. For lifelong runners, cross training may be the key to helping you stay in your sport longer. - Get Outside
Combining fitness with getting outside only heightens the benefits of your workouts. Exposure to natural light and fresh air can do wonders for your mental health. The vitamin D from the sun can also help boost immunity. - Consistency Is Key
I like to finish with this final piece of advice because it’s the one that matters most. With diet and exercise the most important thing is consistency. It brings us back to the beginning of the article, set small goals that are sustainable, and then build on healthy habits so you can continue to do this for the rest of your long, healthy life J
