101: Q&A: Fitness Mistakes + If I Were Starting My Fitness Journey Today, I’d Do This Instead
The 5 Things I'd Do Differently If I Started My Fitness Journey Today
Tired of spinning your wheels in the gym? Tara breaks down the 5 game-changing shifts that would've saved her years of burnout and frustration in her fitness journey.
If you could hit the reset button on your entire fitness journey, what would you do differently?
It's a question Tara dives into in this no-BS Q&A episode, and spoiler alert: the answer isn't about working harder or doing more. It's about ditching the stuff that doesn't actually move the needle and focusing on what genuinely works.
After years of trial, error, and plenty of spinning her wheels, she's breaking down exactly what she'd change if she were starting from square one today. No fake motivation speeches. No trendy workout splits. Just five practical shifts that could save you literal years of wasted energy and frustration.
Whether you're just starting out or feeling stuck in your current routine, this is your permission slip to work smarter, not harder.
Stop Chasing Sweat and Soreness (They're Lying to You)
Here's the truth bomb nobody wants to hear: soreness and sweat are terrible measures of a good workout.
We've all been conditioned to believe that if we're not drenched in sweat or hobbling down the stairs the next day, we didn't work hard enough. But that's complete garbage. Soreness is just your body's response to unfamiliar movement or volume, not proof that you're building strength or making progress. And sweat? That's literally just your body's cooling system doing its job.
If Tara could go back, she'd stop using these as benchmarks entirely. Instead, she'd focus on progressive overload, gradually increasing weight, reps, or intensity over time. That's what actually builds muscle and strength. Not how sore you feel on leg day or how many towels you go through at the gym.
The shift here is simple but powerful: measure your workouts by what you're lifting and how you're progressing, not by how destroyed you feel afterward. Track your numbers. Celebrate lifting heavier than last week. That's the real indicator of growth.
Strength Training Would Be Day One, Not an Afterthought
If Tara could rewind the clock, strength training wouldn't be something she "got around to eventually." It would be priority number one from the jump.
Here's why: lifting weights is the single most efficient way to build muscle, boost your metabolism, and create the body composition changes most women are actually after. Cardio has its place, sure, but it's not going to give you the lean, strong physique you're working toward. Strength training does that.
And no, you don't need to spend two hours in the gym or follow some complicated bodybuilding split. Tara emphasizes intentional, focused strength sessions over endless volume. Think: three to four solid sessions per week with a clear plan, progressive overload built in, and exercises that actually challenge you.
The other game-changer? Realizing that strength training isn't just about aesthetics. It's about feeling capable in your body, protecting your bones and joints as you age, and building confidence that bleeds into every other area of your life. If you're still treating weights like a "nice to have," it's time to make them non-negotiable.
Under-Eating Isn't a Flex, It's Sabotage
This one hits hard because so many women (Tara included) spent years thinking that eating less was the key to looking better. Spoiler: it's not. It's actually the thing holding you back.
Under-eating tanks your energy, messes with your hormones, slows your metabolism, and makes it nearly impossible to build muscle. You can't out-train a body that's chronically under-fueled. And yet, diet culture has convinced us that restriction equals discipline and success.
If she could start over, Tara would prioritize eating enough, especially protein, from day one. Protein supports muscle recovery and growth, keeps you full, and helps your body actually use the work you're putting in at the gym. Without it, you're basically spinning your wheels.
The mindset shift here is huge: food isn't the enemy. It's fuel. And if you want to see real progress, you need to stop treating under-eating like a badge of honor and start giving your body what it actually needs to perform and recover.
Walking Is the Most Underrated Recovery Tool
Let's talk about walking. Not as a punishment for eating dessert. Not as "extra credit" to hit some arbitrary step goal. But as a genuine recovery and wellness tool.
Tara admits she used to view walking as just a way to burn extra calories or close her activity rings on her Apple Watch. But now? She sees it as one of the most valuable habits in her routine, especially for recovery.
Walking helps flush out metabolic waste after tough training sessions, reduces stress, supports digestion, and improves overall movement without adding stress to your body. It's low-impact, accessible, and doesn't interfere with your strength training recovery the way more intense cardio can.
If she were starting fresh, Tara would incorporate walking from the beginning, not as a calorie-burning tactic, but as a daily practice for both physical and mental health. Think of it as active recovery that actually supports your goals instead of competing with them.
The Warm-Up You Skip Is Costing You Gains
Here's the thing nobody talks about: skipping your warm-up isn't saving you time. It's costing you performance, increasing your injury risk, and leaving gains on the table.
Tara used to blow right past warm-ups, thinking they were a waste of precious gym time. Now? She swears by them. A proper warm-up primes your nervous system, activates the right muscles, improves your range of motion, and helps you lift heavier and more effectively.
We're not talking about 20 minutes on the treadmill. A solid warm-up can be five to ten minutes of dynamic stretches, activation drills, and lighter sets of your main lifts. The payoff is massive: better performance, fewer injuries, and more productive training sessions.
If you're still walking into the gym and jumping straight into your working sets, you're leaving results on the table. And if Tara could go back and tell herself one thing, it would be to stop skipping the warm-up and start treating it like the non-negotiable it actually is.
You Don't Need More, You Need the Right Things
At the end of the day, the biggest lesson from Tara's fitness journey isn't about doing more. It's about doing the right things consistently.
You don't need seven-day workout splits, endless cardio sessions, or the latest trendy program. You need intentional strength training, adequate nutrition, quality recovery, and sustainable habits you can actually stick with long-term.
The fitness industry thrives on convincing you that you need more: more workouts, more restriction, more hustle. But real progress comes from simplifying, focusing on what works, and ditching the rest.
So if you're in your start-over era or just tired of doing the most and feeling the least, take this as your sign. You don't need to overcomplicate it. You just need to get strategic about where you're putting your energy.
Ready to stop spinning your wheels and start training smarter? If you're done with the BS and ready to build strength in a way that actually sticks, check out Broads coaching for personalized programming and nutrition guidance that meets you where you are.
What's one fitness mistake you'd undo if you could start over? Share your thoughts on Instagram @broads.podcast, Tara and the Broads community want to hear from you.
