Let’s be honest: fitness can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like everyone else has it all figured out. If you’ve ever found yourself comparing your messy health journey to a perfectly curated Instagram reel, you’re not alone.
In Episode #144 of The Movement Podcast, Brooke and I (Isaac) open up about the fitness and nutrition mistakes we’ve made and in some cases, still make. From skipping rest days to chasing the next new program, we break down six real-life lessons that might help you avoid the same missteps.
Why You Don’t Need to Be Perfect to Make Progress
The world of fitness is filled with highlight reels: sculpted bodies, perfect macros, high vibes 24/7. But real-life fitness isn’t that clean. It’s missed workouts, poor sleep, rushed meals, low motivation, and (yup) a lot of mistakes.
Here’s the truth: you don’t need to be perfect—you just need to learn.
Mistakes are part of the process. The danger isn’t making them—it’s ignoring them and repeating the same ones over and over again.
Common Fitness Mistakes We’ve Made (And See All the Time)
Whether you’re new to the gym or deep into your training journey, these are some of the most common patterns we’ve experienced ourselves—and often see in others:
- All-or-nothing mindset – thinking you need to do everything perfectly or not at all.
- Shiny object syndrome – jumping to a new program every few weeks without giving the current one a chance to work.
- Starting and stopping – always “restarting” without examining why things fell off in the first place.
- Overtraining or underfueling – ignoring what your body actually needs in pursuit of faster results.
- Copying influencers instead of listening to your body – what works for them may not be right for you.
- Letting one bad day spiral into a bad week (or month) – instead of getting back on track the next day.
The Key Is Reflection, Not Perfection
Some of our biggest breakthroughs haven’t come from the things we nailed—but from the things we completely messed up.
We learned the hard way, and sometimes still need reminders to slow down, tune in, and stick with the basics. And if you’re struggling with the same mistakes over and over, it might be time to stop asking “what’s the perfect plan?” and start asking “what patterns do I need to break?”
Because true progress doesn’t come from avoiding mistakes. It comes from owning them, learning from them, and making changes that actually stick.
🎧 Want to hear the full conversation?
Listen to Episode #144: Fitness & Nutrition Mistakes We Still Make
-Isaac
Owner
MVMT Strength
