From Vague to Clear: Turning ‘Get in Shape’ into a Real Plan
I have sat down with hundreds of people over the years who are starting, restarting, or changing up their fitness journeys, and almost every single time they say something along the lines of, “I want to get in shape.”
Such a common thing to say — but what on earth does it actually mean?
The truth is, for everyone it can mean something different, which I am totally on board with. However, it is still a broad statement with no real specifics to guide us on the journey. Being more specific is a key to success.
What does “getting in shape” actually mean to you?
Why Vague Goals Don’t Work
Vague goals typically fail because they don’t give your brain, your schedule, or your coach anything concrete to work with.
Let’s talk about specifics.
A goal like “get in shape” is vague.
A goal like “walk 8,000 steps 5x a week” is measurable — and by Sunday, you know whether you succeeded or not.
“Tone up” vs. “Do three strength sessions a week”
“Tone up” doesn’t tell us how often to train, what to do, or what to track. It often leads to random workouts with no clear outcome.
“Do three strength sessions a week” gives you and your coach clear structure to progressively overload.
“Feel healthier” vs. “Sleep 7 hours a night and strength train 3x a week”
Feeling healthier is dependent on your mood. It’s not a plan, and it’s easy to forget about on busy days.
Sleeping 7 hours a night and strength training 3x a week turns “healthier” into daily decisions you can actually stick to.
Clear Goals Create Structure
These examples all point to the same thing:
Vague goals fail because they cannot be scheduled, measured, or clearly recognized when you’ve achieved them.
Clear goals can be:
put into your calendar
tracked over time
reviewed during check-ins
That’s how progress becomes visible — and sustainable.
Turn Intentions into Actions
Take a look inward and think about what your goals really are.
Once you do that, turn those ideas into measurable actions:
“Get in shape” → “Train at SHAPE 3x weekly”
“Have more energy” → “Sleep 7 hours and walk after dinner”
“Be consistent” → “Book sessions on the same days every week”
Use Your Coaches and Tools
Talk with any of our coaches about your goals and how our programming fits with them.
Use tools like FIT3D and our Longevity program to guide you along the way.
Check in with your coaches so you can understand what’s happening, adjust as needed, and stay aligned with the process.
Define the Win
If “get in shape” has been your goal for a while, this is your sign to define what that really means for you — and let us help you build a plan around it.
Bring your vague goal in the door:
“stronger”
“more energy”
“less pain”
And leave with 2–3 clear actions you can start this week.
If you’re tired of starting over every few months, let’s sit down, map out a realistic plan, and decide what a win looks like for the next 30 days.
Ready to Turn Clarity into Action?
If this article resonated, Longevity Ignite is an opportunity to take the next step — not by doing more, but by getting clearer.
Longevity Ignite is a half-day experience designed to help you:
define what “getting in shape” actually means for you
understand how your body is moving and adapting right now
use real data to guide smarter training decisions
leave with a clear, realistic plan for the next 30 days and beyond
📅 Sunday, January 25
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 SHAPE Training | 5916 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh
👉 Learn more and reserve your spot
