What are some fitness goals for 2026?

I'd like to lose this spare tire so that I can start running again. Maybe get into swimming. Discovering a good stretching regimen would be ideal too

12/29/2025 5:44:21 PM

Bought membership of Y for myself and my wife on Christmas Day. Joining fee waived. We both Need to work hard in the new year losing weight now. Have a physical exam due in June.

12/29/2025 6:07:23 PM

I'd like to gain muscle mass and be stronger, overall.

12/31/2025 10:38:21 AM

More Cardio (VO2 Max), more stretching/mobility, continue strength gains (saw a lot of gains this year).

Cut carbs, I've eating more dirty this year than the last 3 years so % body fat is up more than i like.

need a new primary care doc. how can i find a Yoke doctor that is healthy and not fat?

12/31/2025 11:01:39 AM

I want to increase my VO2 max too, problem is for whatever reason, my apple watch hardly ever tracks it? 2 days in July, 3 days may, 3 in April, 2 in march. No idea why, I log all my workouts.

12/31/2025 1:56:05 PM

My wife just moved her vo2 max from 38 to 46 in 6 months using the Runna app. Her training has been pretty hard core. I just switched to a program with more running similar to what she is doing. Was squatting 330 for reps and benching 240 for reps but my vo2 max still sucked even though I was running 2x a week. Trying to do 3x now with intervals, easy run and a long run.

Think the alcohol fucks me up on progress for aerobic stuff too.

[Edited on January 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Reason : A]

1/1/2026 10:59:31 AM

Are y'all going into a lab to measure your VO2 or are there some smart watches / equipment that can approximate it?

1/1/2026 11:59:32 AM

Apple watch has had the ability to approximate since at least 2018, thats the first year it is recorded for me

1/1/2026 12:10:12 PM

Yeah Garmin Fenix for me.

1/1/2026 1:06:19 PM

Krispy Kreme Challenge

1/1/2026 10:40:41 PM

oh, looks like my Samsung watch measures it as well

Quote :

"To measure, walk at a steady pace of at least 2.5 miles per hour for 10 minutes with a good GPS signal."

1/1/2026 10:57:21 PM

I read something on reddit or chatgpt that said the exercise has to have a heart rate that is at least 30% higher than resting...thats only thing I can think of, and thats a stretch. Kind of annoying. When it did record it, it would say i was low(around 30), i chalked it up to being a former smoker

1/1/2026 11:05:45 PM

I generally trust measurements from watches, but realize they are never going to be as accurate as using equipment specifically designed for measuring certain things. Like I think it measures my heartrate pretty well, but not as good as a strap that is only designed to monitor heartrate.

1/1/2026 11:08:02 PM

Apple watch is like dead on for hr. At least when i check with built in treadmill reader. +/- 1 bpm

1/1/2026 11:23:54 PM

Saw a video comparing heart rate on a bunch of watches to a dedicated band. The main differences were around how big changes were detected. Like interval training where the heart rate is jumping from 130 to 180 and back. IIRC garmin has a little differences and Apple Watch didn’t.

1/2/2026 5:08:05 AM

Wegovy pill available starting today. Game changer. We gonna be a society of skinny ppl

1/5/2026 10:24:26 AM

My goal this year is to lose 35 lbs. I can’t afford any GLP-1’s, especially now that my insurance dropped coverage completely, so this will be all walking/jogging/running and portion control.

1/5/2026 10:46:29 AM

^ Have you tried Raleigh weight losing center? I heard of them through radio. Thinking about contacting them. My goal is 20 lbs.

1/5/2026 11:04:32 AM

Any of you bros gonna go train with Unc at Diamond Gym?

1/12/2026 10:24:45 PM

Anyone do full body workouts? I've always done push/pull/legs. I believe the thought process is with full body you can target areas 3x per week vs 2x with push/pull

I tried today. Wanted to do 10 exercises but after 9(27 sets) i was done. Did 2 exercises chest, 1 tri, 2 bicep, 2 back, 2 leg. 3 sets each Normally do 6-7 exercises per p/p/l leg day. Pic from someone more knowledgeable about lifting than me

Just curious about how to know which exercises are best, what to do about areas maybe missed by this kind of workout, etc

[Edited on January 13, 2026 at 4:33 PM. Reason : Add another comment]

1/13/2026 4:31:44 PM

I usually go 3 days a week. Upper one day, lower one day, and my full body days are usually focused on conditioning.

I would love to push my 5 lb fluctuation back down about 5 lbs, cause we're over the old average atm.

So many noodles.

1/15/2026 10:23:55 AM

So for the past three weeks, I’ve been walking 3-4 miles per day, swapping some of those miles for short runs via a couch to 5k program via Training Peaks. I used to run a lot more but haven’t for a few years, so hoping this C25k will get me back into the swing of things. I need to ramp up slow to keep my knees from hurting, and if I just do it without a program I’ll go balls to the wall and have to stop.

So far I’ve lost about 10lbs, in conjunction with portion control and limiting my sweets and starches.

1/16/2026 10:09:24 AM

My VO2 is supposedly 38.2 according to a walk I finally measured. Seems low but not sure how much is due to age.

1/17/2026 8:55:21 AM

Just noticed this. Still don't get how it hasn't tracked it. Did 31 outdoor walks in september almost all over 30 min

1/19/2026 1:17:07 AM

^^ Mine is also 38 and I'm regularly running 8 miles, doing 20 total a week. Can barely do a 5k at 31 min currently.

1/19/2026 12:10:03 PM

Who else got Y membership? We may do workout together. I live close to the one in West Cary.

1/23/2026 1:21:49 PM

Anyone do 2 sets instead of 3? I've always done 3 but am reading if first 2 sets are good and 3rd is dog shit, you should have stopped at 2

[Edited on January 24, 2026 at 5:13 AM. Reason : Full body lifting workouts are pretty damn intense]

1/24/2026 5:12:24 AM

Ego lifting can be humbling real quick lol

1/26/2026 2:29:53 AM

^^ i've listened to too many podcast and it is all over the place.

some say 1 really hard good to failure set and move to the next exercise.

Then some say 4, 1st to get the movement right, then 3 hard sets after.

I am doing more ULUL (upper body, lower body) instead of full body work out. that gives me a rest day on my body.

I just heard this week, if you plateau give yourself a week off, and you will recovery and prob be able to gain.

1/28/2026 10:45:25 AM

Had my biggest wake up call in my life today in regards to inhale/exhale during lifting today. Had to forgo 19 sets because of it

1/29/2026 3:42:23 AM

Just completed dry January. VO2 max now 39. Pretty damning on the alcohol. Struggled to move it almost six months.

2/1/2026 11:57:50 PM

I quit drinking in August to lose some weight and the benefits were great and I still go out regularly thanks to NA beer being basically everywhere. I’m down 30lbs - the first 20-25 came off quickly at 1.5-2lbs/week but I’m pretty lean now so it’s much slower now.

Vo2 max went from 45 to 51 in running and cycling. I’ve cycled since Covid and always seemed to get hurt running. Since I quit, I’ve run two half marathons comfortably, went from not being able to swim 25 yards without holding the wall to now swimming over 2 miles non-stop regularly, and can cycle 150+ miles comfortably and ride at least 100 miles a week no matter what. I ride with multiple clubs and it’s been a really positive social outlet.

I’m signed up for multiple triathlons starting in March and two Ironman 70.3 races (June/October) and my first full marathon (May) that I’m on a training plan for and doing well. If I can stay healthy running marathon distance I’ll sign up for a full Ironman (September) right before I turn 40.

2/2/2026 2:05:11 AM

Haven't been able to get hr to 210 or so for a while unfortunately

2/3/2026 6:19:23 AM

That seems like a good thing!

2/3/2026 7:23:24 AM

We all still keeping at it? #StayStrong

2/20/2026 3:00:58 AM

Lost 4lbs already since late December. Now go to Y at least twice a week. I'm making progress!

2/20/2026 12:30:35 PM

Missed the start of this thread, but my goals so far have been:

- Track calories & cut down to 190 lbs or so. Was doing ok, but got thrown off with wife's surgery & subsequent recovery.

- Maintain weight training, but focusing on hitting more reps per set before increasing load, mainly for compound exercises.

- Be more persistent with stretching & foam rolling. YouTube is great for finding a random follow along! I usually do it first thing in the morning, but I need to be more consistent with doing some post workout/run.

- Work on running endurance. Recently I've been trying to increase my cadence to be more efficient with my running & so far it's been great. I feel less "beat up" in my back & knees, but I'm early into the couch to 5k program.

3/19/2026 11:04:26 AM

I paused lifting the past month now. Idk what happened, like held my breath or what, but i was doing db bench and got one of the bigger head aches of my life, and it persisted on and off for like a week.

Now just doing cardio. Rode bike today, nice change of pace from the treadmill

Just started taking the wegovy pill today. Hopefully that helps

3/19/2026 5:35:27 PM

I am still stuck at 39 VO2 Max. Doing my first half marathon Saturday. I am probably not ready for it. Know I can do 11 miles, 13.6 seems like a bitch. My heart rate stays in zone 2 on a long run (10 miles). Before it would be more tempo no matter the pace.

Have not drank alcohol this year. Have enjoyed NA beer more than regular beer (in part thanks to this thread). Don't actually drink regular beer when I do drink. Haven't started tracking my food, but probably need to. My weight progress is slow (but trending the right direction).

4/7/2026 1:26:36 PM

Hey StTex, how is the wegovy pill working out for you? I assume you started on 1.5?

I’m down 14 lbs, but had a few weekends where I had to travel for soccer so I was eating very poorly.

Running about 12 miles a week, walking in between runs, but I feel like I’m getting ready to hit a plateau.

4/13/2026 8:57:31 AM

I've noticed the snacking down, but meal portion sizes are relatively unchanged. For instance I ate a whole red baron pizza for dinner today(like 1600 calories) I also notice staying fuller longer. Just got 4mg pills the other day. Hard to be in a deficit when i can't kick the box wine

I didn't think the "nothing in first 30 minutes of the day" would be as annoying as it has been. Sometimes I just want to drink some water and can't even do that.

Anyways, i'm only down a few pounds in like 25 days. Like several other things in life, I need to get serious about it.

4/14/2026 2:30:01 AM

I’m not on it, but my wife is - I was just curious. She says the desire to snack has vanished, and she is eating lesser portions. One annoying thing she’s noticed though is that if she eats too late in the evening, that full stomach feeling carries her into bed, which keeps her up.

I weigh 182 right now (down from 194) and my target is about 165, so I’m not a good candidate for the cost of the medication, as our insurance doesn’t cover it at all.

4/14/2026 8:11:18 AM

Quote :

"I decided I've got nothing better to do, I'm gonna see if I can see my abs first time ever. Doing a slow cut prob til Thanksgiving, tbd if it "cuts" it and if my abs have enough muscle to be seen even with 0% fat. Doing weight training at same time but know it's hard to builder new muscle while cutting."

After a pause over holidays, down 20 since July. Feeling a little burnt out from reduction but keep on keeping on.

May go to reddit to ask if I have more of "last 5-10 lbs of fat" problem or "lack of ab muscles" problem, although I've been doing a pretty good job of increasing strength over this period.

4/14/2026 10:26:49 AM

This is surely conjecture, but every healthcare person I’ve ever talked to about weight says that for males, that area in front of the abs is the last to go and the hardest to get rid of.

4/14/2026 11:19:54 AM

^^^I tend to eat before bed anyways, which i know they say is bad...but def been a few times i still wake up feeling kinda full and almost wonder if i should wait to take wegovy. I also distinctly remember once eating a huge meal at like 6pm, and still feeling kinda full at midnight

4/14/2026 12:56:27 PM

^^Yea def for me, there and love handles.

Biology and my vanity arent matching up

4/14/2026 1:19:06 PM

2026 started really great, and then.....

Pinch nerve in my back has thrown me off for almost 2 month. had 2 days of crazy muscle spams in my right leg, its still not normal, but feeling has come back and no more crazy pain muscle spams. something happened to my groin too.

happened in the middle of the night, almost went to the ER, but with wife and two kids wasn't sure how that would work, probably the worst pain in my life for 6 hrs (felt like forever).

PT, MRI, dry needling, steroid shot in the back, more PT, now on Peptides, doing much better.

other thing that did was jack my BP & heart rate up for a month. Had to go on BP meds, but Doc things i can come off in a little while. BP jump and heart racing will still happen here and there.

mentally fucked me up for a few weeks, was crushing workouts had start cardio more and had to stop. did lose some weight with stress and not being able to eat much for a week. Also all the Doc appointments and work i haven't had much time to workout.

4/15/2026 10:56:06 AM