Fitness Goals for 2026

 Another topic that takes quite a bit of mind share, and I would like to make easier in 2026, as well as make progress. For those of you who are newer, I have two autoimmune diseases, so staying on top of my overall health & wellness is an absolute P0 for me. It's challenging, as lupus has no cure, and is a constant monitoring of many different systems & processes in your body. There are no clear answers, and any time you feel slightly under the weather, it can either be a normal & standard not feeling well, or the beginning of something more serious. 

I'm also at an age (cough) where there is more general maintenance and monitoring. I'm going through menopause & also experiencing just general symptoms & "getting older" type of changes, such as additional struggles maintaining my weight & shifting of where that weigh is on my body.

All that to say that I'm looking for balance & progress in 2026, making sustainable changes for my health for this year & beyond. 

I am looking for new tactics & tweaks to help drop some weight, manage stress, and of course manage my overall health & well being. 

As I mentioned in December, I'm also looking for positive habits I can make on a daily basis, as I tend to do very well with goals like "get in 12,000 steps/day", as I can remind myself at lunch or between meetings to squeeze in a few walks. I struggle with bigger/more nebulous "lose weight" goals. So, working to unpack these a bit. 

Lose 10 lbs:

This will really be about No S (no snacks, seconds or sweets, except on Saturday or Sundays) days, tracking calories & increasing my protein. My goal is to eat well the vast majority of days, to keep calories under control. When I eat lots of fruit & vegetables, I have less "room" for other food & tend to drop weight. So, that's another thing to focus on.

125 days:

I tried to think about what's a reasonable number for the days where I have reached my goals of strength training, meditation & healthy eating. Although, I want to continue tracking my calories every day, as per usual. 

Working out:

I want to continue my 12,000 steps/day goal, as I found that very motivating & also encouraged me to get in more basically activity on a regular basis (e.g. a quick walk between meetings, etc). 

I also really want to try new workouts, including getting back into yoga, perhaps something like a Power Core style workout, or something to help me build more core strength & hopefully reduce back pain. 

I also have lots of hiking planned, and maybe a half marathon in the fall. We shall see about that, based on the tendinitis in my hip. 

Overall health maintenance:

And finally, a few other things I will do to maintain my health.

• Get more massages (these really help)
• See a sports medicine doctor & get some solutions with my hip & back
• Get a mammogram
• Have regular check-ins with my lupus & primary doctors
• Complete all blood work regularly
• See a hematologist about some results

How are you approaching your health & fitness goals in 2026?