Your Mindset Might Be the Biggest Thing Holding You Back in Fitness

Growing up, I believed I just wasn’t athletic.

I wasn’t the fastest kid in gym class. I didn’t make the sports teams. I was “average,” and I figured that was just how I was built—some people were naturally athletic, and I just wasn’t one of them.

What no one told me back then is that athleticism isn’t fixed. That effort changes everything. That with enough consistency, I could actually get stronger, faster, more coordinated—and yes, more athletic.

I wish I’d known then what I know now: you are never stuck where you are.

Most of us have heard of the concept of a growth mindset—the belief that you can improve with effort and time. But when it comes to fitness, people tend to forget this entirely. I see it all the time:

“I’m just not a pull-up person.”
“I’ve never been good at cardio.”
“I could never do handstands.”

It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you believe you’re bad at something, you stop trying. And if you don’t try, you don’t get better. It’s that simple—and that frustrating.

But here’s the truth: you can get better at anything you put effort into. I’ve seen people go from barely being able to do a single push-up to crushing high-rep workouts with perfect form. I’ve seen “non-athletes” run their first mile, do their first pull-up, get their first handstand.

Not because they were born with some hidden athletic gift—but because they decided to try. And then kept trying.

Here’s the mindset shift that changes everything:

Don’t ask yourself whether you’re “good” at something. Ask yourself whether you’re willing to put in the reps.

It doesn’t matter how slow your progress is or how far you think you are from your goals. What matters is that you believe change is possible—and then take small, consistent steps toward it.

So the next time you catch yourself saying “I’m just not a [fill in the blank] person,” pause. Challenge it. Ask yourself: What if I just haven’t put in the time yet?

You are more capable than you think. Your effort matters. And your mindset might just be the thing that unlocks your next big breakthrough.

Ready to take that next step?

Check out Fitter Faster Stronger—my course built to help you train with purpose, gain confidence, and become the athlete you never thought you could be.