These Are The Fitness Goals WH Editors And Trainers Are Going After In 2026

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It’s no secret that 2025 was an active year. All of a sudden, people got really serious about putting on tons of muscle, crossing finish lines, and signing up for exercise competitions like Hyrox, which is projected to have a whopping 1.3 to 1.5 million participants this season.

As a health and fitness publication we’re thrilled—but we also know that signing up for a marathon doesn’t speak to everyone. And, it doesn’t have to. There are plenty of other, out-of-the-box goals you can set for yourself—no race day necessary.

Personally, I want to get better at pushing myself in the gym. I have a tendency to assume I can’t lift a heavy weight, when in reality, I can. A trainer would hand me a pair of dumbbells and I’d ask for a lighter set because I’ve always thought of myself as weak, particularly when it comes to my upper body.

But, there are benefits to going heavier. Namely, working my muscles close to failure, which is key for building strength—the whole reason most people pick up a weight in the first place. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with experimenting with how heavy I can go and making sure I end each set sufficiently tired. My formerly scrawny arms look totally different, but more importantly, I’m learning to pay attention to how my body feels during an exercise and showing myself that I’m a lot stronger than I thought. Also: I’m having way more fun because my workouts are more engaging and effective.

Basically, a fitness goal can look like anything. It’s all about what matters to you. For a little inspiration, here are what Women’s Health editors and our trusted network of experts are setting their sights on in 2026.

Need some help sticking to a goal? Try the WH+ 4-Step Plan for accomplishing fitness goals.

Goal: Schedule Monthly “Movement Memories” With Loved Ones

“In a world where fitness goals often center on numbers, races, or aesthetics, one of the most meaningful goals we can set is to move intentionally with the people we love. I call these ‘movement memories’ where you commit once a month to a walk, stretch session, or any simple movement practice with a friend or family member. I lost my beloved aunt this year and learned firsthand how powerful these small shared moments are. We used to always go on walks through the botanical garden.

“The memories we make through movement become anchors during seasons of grief, transition, or stress. Plus, it gives you something to look forward to! Fitness isn’t just about strengthening the body, it’s about strengthening our connections. Creating movement memories helps us care for our physical health and nurture the relationships that truly sustain us.”

—Nellie Barnett, CPT, founder of NellBells Fitness, a member of the WH/MH Strength In Diversity class of 2023, and author of The Woman’s Guide To Strength Training: Dumbbells

Goal: Hit A Specific Workout Cadence Every Week

“I live in a four-story walkup, and I first got into strength training and cardio simply because I didn’t want to be so out of breath after climbing the stairs. So my goal is to strength train at least three times per week and do aerobic exercise two times per week. So far, it’s been so nice not being winded for the first five minutes after I get home anymore.”

—Katie Mogg, WH beauty editorial assistant

“I got in the habit of strength training during a months-long recovery from a knee surgery, and after physical therapy ended I realized how much of an impact the twice-weekly routine had on my day to day stamina and resilience. Keeping it up on my own is a challenge, but I know now what a huge difference it makes!”

—Laura McLaughlin, WH managing editor

Goal: Do A “Joy Workout” At Least Once Per Week

“Keeping up with your fitness routine year round can be challenging, so my biggest tip for being consistent with your fitness and health habits is to find a routine that makes you happy. Find a workout class that sparks joy and excitement in your routine and commit to doing it once per week (or twice if you’re feeling ambitious!).

“During the winter months, I find it hard to keep up with my consistency of exercise. Just a small goal like this helps set me up for success for the toughest time of the year for me, and it gives me something to look forward to every winter. Remember: staying healthy isn’t about fad diets or exercises, it’s about setting up sustainable goals that work for YOU!”

—Winnie Yu, PT, DPT, CSCS, sports and orthopedic physical therapist at Bespoke Physical Therapy

Goal: Prioritize Mobility

“My goal this year is to focus on mobility and stretching for at least 10 minutes a day. I have generally been bad about jumping straight into workouts without warming up and very rarely cooling down afterwards before I’m out the door in a rush to get home. Ever since I turned 30, I feel like my body is quite literally falling apart, so maybe it’s time to grow up and actually take care of it.”

—Janie Booth, associate video producer at Women’s Health, Men’s Health, and Esquire

Goal: Master The Pushup

“So many women avoid pushups because we were raised on the idea of ‘girl pushups,’ but building toward a real pushup is one of the most empowering fitness goals a woman can set. Pushups strengthen your upper body and core—and accomplishing them is a great confidence booster. I love this goal because you can progress from wall or knee pushups to incline to straight pushups in a few weeks if they are done consistently. It’s also a functional move that carries over into everything you do, from lifting groceries to improving posture.”

—Patricia Greaves, CPT, founder of StrongHer Personal Training and a member of the Strength In Diversity class of 2022

Goal: Master The Pull-Up

“This year, I’m planning to master my first unassisted pull-up. I do circus arts, so being able to do pull-ups for tricks is actually more of the norm in that community. It’s also a great way to push me into focusing on my back and arms instead of doing leg day every time I go to the gym.”

—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Men’s Health associate health and fitness editor

Psst…WH+ has a plan to help you get your first pull-up.

Goal: Deadlift Or Squat Your Bodyweight

“Building strength can feel arbitrary and confusing. How much is enough? How heavy is truly ‘lifting heavy’? By giving yourself a goal of lifting the amount you weigh, not only does it give you a concrete number to reach toward, but it’s also a weight that’s relative to your strength-building capacity!“Being able to lift your own bodyweight is a great marker of strength, gives us a performance goal to work towards and will result in increased strength and muscle!”

—Sarah Warshowsky, CPT, New York City-based strength and kettlebell coach

Goal: Train For The Mile

“One of my favorite goals for the new year is to spend eight weeks training to see how strong—both mentally and physically—you can get when you challenge yourself to run the mile. In those eight weeks, you can focus on less overall mileage and fun short speed work, which is perfect for runners who have unresolved and complicated feelings from the mile in school or who are scared of speed work. You can run three different time trials: one in week one, another in week five, and then a final one (or two!) in week eight.

“Because it’s a shorter distance, you can do it multiple times to really practice getting uncomfortable, pacing, and accurate self-talk. Running hard and fast in the mile requires a strong mental game, so it’s a great way to build top-end speed and strength while working the most important piece of the puzzle: your mental game.

“For most runners, winter is a hard time to train. There’s inclement weather, seasonal depression, and low motivation. An eight-week goal not only gets you to March where there’s a light at the end of the winter tunnel, but the running feels manageable. And, you can really focus on strength work which, let’s be real, most runners pretend they’re allergic to.”

—Kelly Roberts, RRCA-certified run coach and founder of the Badass Lady Gang run community

Goal: Set An Intention For Every Workout

“Deciding what a workout is going to be about is different from the physical purpose of that session (building V02 max, increasing time on my feet, etc.). Setting an intention is about what I want to get out of that workout a la: ‘I want to really get after it today,’ or ‘I’m going to bypass any drama about how I can’t possibly hit my splits in these 10 tough repeats.’

“It doesn’t stop there. Afterward, I’ll note something that went well in this attempt and something I can do better next time.”

—Marty Munson, health director of Men’s Health and Women’s Health

Goal: Use Fitness To Take Up More—Not Less—Space

“There is so much proliferation when it comes to diet culture and the wellness industry that tells women they need to be smaller or shrink themselves in order to have more value. Instead of trying to weigh what you did in high school or college, why not try to deadlift, squat, bench press (insert your lift of choice) what you weighed in high school or college?

“There is nothing that feels better or more empowering than being strong and taking up space. The confidence it breeds as well as the body compositional changes that typically follow when you are on a progressive strength program are eye opening for those who maybe do want to get back to their ‘dream body.’”

—Taylor Beebe, CPT, member of the Strength In Diversity class of 2024, and two-time USA powerlifting national qualifier

Goal: Get Strong Enough To Play Again

“As adults, we forget that fitness used to be play. One of the most powerful goals you can set is to get strong and conditioned enough to move with that same freedom again: sprinting for fun, playing tag with your kids, jumping into a rec league, or even just running to catch that NYC train without feeling wrecked.

“When you train to ‘play,’ you naturally build speed, strength, agility, and confidence without obsessing over numbers. It reconnects you to movement in a joyful, sustainable way and reminds you that feeling athletic is for every age.”

—Gabrielle Savary, CPT, founder of Grow With Gab, a champion bodybuilder, and a member of the Strength In Diversity class of 2024

Goal: Stick To One Goal At A Time

“I wish more people would focus on choosing one goal and committing to doing it really well. Notice where you are now and where you want to go. When you set big lofty goals, they can start to feel like a never-ending checklist: 10K steps, strength training five times per week, stretching everyday, drinking a gallon of water per day.

“Instead, build trust with yourself by creating a ritual. Set one goal that feels attainable right now. One of my goals is to incorporate the StairMaster into my routine as a form of cardio. Instead of starting with the highest intensity or the longest duration on day one, I started with five minutes. Once I had that under my belt, I added more. Progress comes from consistency and that’s a way to successfully follow through on your goals.”

—Jessi Perna-Elias a barre, Pilates, and dance instructor and member of the Strength In Diversity class of 2025

Goal: Follow A Program

“Following a program, either something bought online or something a trainer has specifically written for you, takes all the guesswork out of your fitness journey! You show up to the gym with a plan already, you have a schedule of how many days you will go to the gym to stick to, and repeating the same workouts and exercises over a period of time will ensure you are progressing, getting stronger, and building muscle. It’s the best way to ensure you are getting results, and can actually have the proof to show yourself you are progressing!”

—Sarah Warshowsky, CPT, New York City-based strength and kettlebell coach