By Radley West
Every year around this time, there’s a shift.
People start thinking about summer. The weather gets warmer, the layers come off, and suddenly there’s a sense of urgency that wasn’t there a few months ago.
This is when things get interesting.
I’ve watched people try to make up for months of inconsistency in a few short weeks. Workouts get longer. Cardio suddenly becomes very popular. There’s a lot of “I’m going all in” energy.
For about ten days, it works.
Then reality shows up.
Soreness sticks around longer than expected. Schedules get busy. Energy dips. What started as an aggressive plan turns into skipped workouts and frustration.
It’s not a lack of effort. It’s just not a sustainable approach.
The people who actually feel good heading into summer don’t usually do anything extreme. They train consistently. They keep things simple. They don’t panic.
They understand that results come from what you do repeatedly, not what you do in a short burst of motivation.
There’s also a mental shift that happens. Instead of trying to look different as fast as possible, they focus on feeling better: more energy, more strength, more confidence.
Ironically, that’s when the physical changes tend to follow.
If you’re heading into summer feeling behind, the answer isn’t to go harder. It’s to go smarter. Start where you are, stay consistent, and let progress build.
Because summer shows up whether you’re ready or not.
You might as well feel good when it gets here.
Radley West is married to Dr. Andrew West and together they own Anytime Fitness Lake Murray and 33/18 Chiropractic Associates. Radley is a gym owner and personal trainer with more than 20 years of experience helping people achieve non-traditional health goals. She and her team approach fitness by teaching clients to build better habits and create sustainable, feel-good fitness and nutrition routines—no need for intense six-pack aspirations (unless that’s your thing).
