Start Where You Are:
7 Mindset Shifts to Help You Build an Exercise Routine That Actually Sticks
If you’ve ever started an exercise plan with the best intentions and then watched it fizzle out somewhere around week three, you’re not alone. Most women don’t struggle with starting — we struggle with keeping going. That’s exactly why I created the Start Where You Are programme: short, smart workouts designed for real life — not fantasy life. Two workouts a week, twenty minutes each. No burpees, no bootcamp, no pressure. Just movement that feels good, builds strength, and fits around everything else you’ve got going on. Over the six weeks (plus a bonus one for luck), we focus less on “transformation” and more on building habits, confidence and consistency. Here are the seven mindset shifts that’ll keep you moving long after the programme ends.
1
Start Small & Be Realistic
You’re not going to become a whole new person overnight. Forget your plan to work out five or six times a week. Start with two twenty-minute sessions. Consistency grows from achievability, not ambition. You need a plan that fits your life and meets you where you are — one that feels simple, not scary. Tiny steps build massive momentum
2
Ringfence the Time (and Have a Backup Plan)
“I’ll do it when I get a minute.” Spoiler: that minute never arrives. If you don’t plan it, life will fill the space. Put your workouts in your diary like a meeting you can’t cancel. If it’s not scheduled, it’s optional — and we both know what happens to optional. And because life will go wrong sometimes, have a Plan B. If you miss your planned slot, what’s the fallback? Later tonight? Tomorrow morning? Even ten minutes? Cool. Done. This is how real women stay consistent — not by being perfect, but by being prepared.
3
Stop Chasing Perfect — Start Building Consistency
Perfection kills progress. If you’re waiting for the perfect time, energy, or workout, you’ll be waiting forever. Perfect leads to “I haven’t got time today so I won’t try.” Perfect leads to “I missed a session, now it’s ruined.” Perfect leads to “I’ve ruined it, so I may as well give up.” Forget perfect. Choose consistency instead. A messy ten-minute workout still counts. Showing up tired still counts. Stopping halfway through still counts. Because every time you show up — even imperfectly — you’re proving to yourself: “I’m the kind of woman who keeps going.”
4
Remove Friction (Make It Easy to Show Up)
It’s not motivation that stops you working out — it’s friction. Anything that makes it harder to start: not knowing when you’ll do it, hunting for your mat, indecision, chaos, overwhelm. So this week, remove the faff. Set up in advance: schedule your classes, lay out your mat, know which workout you’re doing. Add a tiny bit of accountability: tell a friend, post in the group, tick off a tracker. Make it feel good to follow through: coffee afterwards, gold star on the fridge, smug grin — whatever works. Consistency isn’t about trying harder. It’s about making it easier to begin.
5
Focus on How It Feels, Not How You Look
If your only goal is to change how you look, you’ll lose steam when progress slows. But when you focus on how you feel — stronger, calmer, more energised — that’s what keeps you coming back. Notice the little wins: better sleep, improved posture, fewer aches, a better mood (and maybe less shouting at the kids). At the end of each workout, take ten seconds and ask yourself: “How do I feel right now?” That’s your proof it’s working. You’re not doing this to get smaller — you’re doing this to feel more you.
6
Future You Is the Goal
By Week 6 you’ve proved it: you can show up. Short, smart workouts work. Consistency feels great. This isn’t the end — it’s the start of your new normal. Ask yourself: what does Future Me need? More energy? Stronger bones? Better sleep? A calmer mind? That’s the woman you’re training for. Keep the structure that’s worked — two workouts, maybe add an extra class when you fancy it. Express Barre is the closest to the Start Where You Are format, and there’s a whole back catalogue waiting for you. You’ve built a beautiful habit — don’t throw it out just because the programme is done. The goal isn’t to finish; it’s to become the woman who loves herself enough to move her body.
7
When You Fall Off the Wagon
(Because You Will)
At some point, you’ll miss a workout. Maybe even a week. Life will get in the way — and that’s okay. Falling off the wagon isn’t failure; it’s part of the process. The win isn’t never missing a workout — it’s how quickly you get back to it. Skip the guilt. You haven’t ruined anything. You don’t need to start again from scratch. Just pick up where you left off. Do the next class. Go for a walk. Stretch. Move somehow. Don’t let a bad week become a bad month. You don’t need a restart — you just need a reset. Future You is cheering.
Ready for What’s Next?
You’ve shown yourself what’s possible with just a little structure and self-belief. Keep the momentum going with the regular classes — barre, strength and mobility — all set to music, all designed to fit real life. If you haven’t already, come and try a class [insert link to free class] and feel the difference for yourself. Because the woman you’re becoming? She’s already in there — you’ve just started meeting her.