You ever try a new exercise and feel like a newborn giraffe trying to ice skate?

That was me the first time I attempted a Turkish get-up. I looked like I was auditioning for America’s Funniest Home Videos.

But here’s the thing: You have to be “bad before good.” And this week we’re wrapping up a cycle of training. Whether you’ve been crushing it or limping across the metaphorical finish line like a raccoon in traffic, now is the perfect time to reflect, reset, and recommit.

🌸 Spring Phase 2: Week 8

If you are already a client, go ahead and login here to access your coaching program. I’ve got everything laid out for you—what to do, how to do it, and when to rest. Inside you’ll find the strategy. Now you bring the effort. And after you’ve reviewed it? Update me on your progress. Not just the wins. The struggles too. We’re in this together, remember? 

Let’s talk about four thoughts that’ll help you not just finish this week strong—but build momentum into the next cycle of training and beyond.

1. It’s Never Too Late to Start (or to Improve)

I don’t care if you’re 25 or 65—there’s still time. You’re not expired milk. You're not that old container of hummus in the back of your fridge with a crusty lid. You are a work in progress. A masterpiece under construction. Like a Renaissance painting, but with more protein powder and less nudity.

The truth? You can always improve. Maybe you didn’t stick to your meal plan this week. Maybe you missed a workout because your dog ate your dumbbell. Maybe you just joined the program and you're staring at the app like it’s the cockpit of a 747. That’s okay. Start now.

One of the biggest myths in fitness is that you need to be perfect from day one. Perfection is a fairy tale. Improvement? That’s real. That’s grit. That’s discipline. That’s you choosing the egg whites over the drive-thru breakfast sandwich even though the egg whites taste like they were cooked on a flip-flop.

🎯 ACTION STEP: Choose one small win today. Hit your protein goal. Get in a 20-minute walk. Just say "no" to that office cupcake that will set you into a downward eating spiral. Just one win. Then stack another tomorrow.

2. You Can’t Do It Alone: Success Is a Team Sport

Let me tell you a secret. Even the most independent, do-it-yourself, “I’ll just Google it” types need support.

When I first started coaching, I thought I had to be the lone ranger. Ride solo. Wear the fitness cape and rescue clients one rep at a time. But I quickly learned this: Progress accelerates when you’re not doing it alone. Think about the last time you skipped a workout. If no one’s watching, it’s easy to say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

But if your coach is expecting an update—or if you’ve got a training buddy who’s texting you saying, “Let’s go!”—suddenly you’re lacing up those sneakers like you’re Rocky. Even Rocky needed Mickey. And let’s be honest, if Rocky had Instagram, Mickey would’ve been posting motivational memes with captions like, “Get up, ya bum!”

🎯 ACTION STEP: Check in with your coach. Share your win for the week. Or your struggle. Or that you just realized “split squats” are a cruel joke invented by sadistic Bulgarian fitness trolls.

Accountability works. Support matters. And success always comes faster when you’re surrounded by people who believe in you—sometimes even more than you believe in yourself.

3. Do Good and Do Good Work Every Day

We talk a lot about reps, rest, and recovery. But here’s something that’s just as important: Who you are outside of the gym. Listen, the world doesn’t need another person who can deadlift a Volkswagen but treats people like garbage. Your character is your reputation—and your habits extend far beyond barbells and macros. Doing good isn’t just about community service or donating old gym shorts to the less fortunate (please don’t).

It’s about showing up with integrity. Being kind when no one’s watching. Working hard on your goals while helping others rise too. You want to really feel good? Compliment someone at the gym. Call a friend and ask how they’re doing. Teach your kid/grandkid how to make a Pumpkin Pie smoothie.

🎯 ACTION STEP: Pick one thing today that’s not about you. Help someone. Encourage someone. Be the reason somebody smiles or stays on track.

Fitness is about strength. But true power? That’s kindness combined with consistency.

4. It’s Okay to Be Bad Before Good

You know what’s not okay? Expecting to be great on day one. You ever see someone at the gym doing their first-ever kettlebell swing? Looks like they’re trying to swat a fly with a cannonball. We all start there. I don’t care if you’re a beginner or an elite athlete trying something new.

Every expert was once an awkward, fumbling rookie. You have to give yourself permission to stumble. To feel uncomfortable. To mess up. To look ridiculous while foam rolling in public like you’re doing performance art. That’s the path.

🎯 ACTION STEP: Remind yourself that the first time you do something new, it’s supposed to feel weird. That’s not failure—it’s feedback. Lean into it.

Say it with me: “I will be bad before I’m good. But I will keep going.” Because the only real failure? Is quitting.

Take Action. Do the Work. Earn Your Success.

I know that message might sound like a motivational bumper sticker you'd see on the sportscar of a 60-something guy going through a midlife crisis. But it’s true. You don’t earn success by watching videos or reading age-management longevity blogs (even this one—though I appreciate you making it this far). You earn it by taking consistent action. One rep at a time. One meal at a time. One imperfect step at a time.

Consistency beats intensity every time. I’d rather see you walk 20 minutes every day than run a marathon once and never move again because your knees are now a cautionary tale. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life this week. You just have to keep showing up.

Even on the days you feel tired. Even when your motivation is missing. Even when your gym clothes are still in the dryer and you’re wondering if anyone will notice the pajama pants.

🎯 ACTION STEP: Revisit your “why.” What made you start this journey? Write it down. Put it somewhere visible. Your refrigerator. Your mirror. Your dog’s forehead (okay, maybe not that last one).

You don’t plant a seed and dig it up every day to check if it’s growing. You water it. You care for it. You trust that it’ll bloom. Same goes for your health.

You won’t see results every single day. But the changes are happening. Under the surface. In your discipline. In your mindset. In your actions. Don’t stop now. The best is yet to come. And if you're ever in doubt? Just show up. That’s 90% of success.

Summary:

It’s never too late to begin again or get better. You’re not alone. Success happens faster with support. And above all, do good and give yourself permission to be bad before good. Everyone stumbles in the beginning; champions keep going. Take consistent action, even when motivation is low. Trust the process. Show up. Earn your progress. You’ve got a great team behind you—and your best results are just ahead. 

To your success,

Coach Joe

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women get leaner, stronger, and happier. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to lose weight from home, with the best online longevity personal trainer, or you want to visit the best age-management personal trainer in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.