So, you are also one of those who struggle to stick to a fitness routine?
And when you think about fitness, going/ buying a gym membership comes to mind? You feel it’s time. Because the suit, shirt, jeans, or the kurta you wore six months ago don’t fit the same. Or maybe you just want to feel a little stronger, a little more defined.
So, you start exploring. Touring gyms. Asking about features and benefits. You pick the one that feels right, nice people, beautiful space, and fits your budget. You buy the membership. And you promise yourself: “Starting tomorrow, I’m all in.”
Then, either on day one, day two, or day three, something feels off. You realise you missed a few things. The invisible barriers that make your stomach turn, make you conscious, make you overthink, and leave you feeling out of place.
You think, “Maybe I need a personal trainer.” But after paying the membership fee, that feels out of reach. So you eventually stop showing up.
And now? You don’t feel out of place, but guilty. And you try to cover it up with work, family, travel, “not feeling well”, but deep down, you know…
Maybe your story wasn’t exactly like this. But mine was.
Hi, I am Ishaan, co-founder of Fitin. I have been on this cycle five times and burned through 15 to 20K before I figured things out (and I will tell you how). But before jumping into what to do, it’s worth understanding what’s been getting in the way.
Invisible Barriers That Stop Us
We blame ourselves. We think we’re not disciplined enough.
But maybe, before blaming ourselves, we need to just become aware of the barriers that exist and prepare for them better? Here’s what I wish someone had told me:
1. Gyms Are Not the Most Friendly Places
Especially if you’re heading in early mornings or late evenings, you’ll find the place jam-packed. You struggle for even warm-up space. You wait for your turn on the machines. You don’t know how to operate them. You don’t even know what workout to do. And most people at the gym? They prefer staying in their zone. Earphones in. Eyes down. No one stops to help.
So you feel awkward. Alone.
2. Personal Trainers Are There But Not Really There
At first, you might approach a trainer, and yes, they’ll help you. They’ll guide you for a day or two, maybe even three. But soon, it turns into: “Do 5 mins of this. Then 3 reps on that, and that, and that. Yeah, that’s all.”
They move on to their regular clients. Or try to upsell personal training. And now you’re thinking, “Wait, I need to pay more just to be consistent?” This is getting expensive.
3. You're Spending Time & You’re Not Feeling Good
You’re confused every day you show up. The machines, the flow, the workouts, none of it is intuitive. And it’s eating away your time too. Spending one hour a day isn’t working for you; it’s working against you. You leave feeling more drained than energised.
You start questioning: “Is this supposed to help? Or is this just making me feel worse?”
And oh, did I miss - your body will feel sore. You will be exhausted. And if you’re a woman looking for a female trainer? Well, good luck.
And in all of this, you forget why you started in the first place. And also you’re one, two, maybe five thousand rupees poorer, depending on how much you paid for the month.
So, where to from here?
Becoming aware of the problems is just step one. Now, the real question is, so what the fuck do I do with this awareness? How the fuck should I think about building a fitness routine that sticks and helps me hit my goals?
Maybe a good starting point is just answering a few simple questions:
What does fitness mean to you? Can you relate it to a practical situation?
How much time can you realistically carve out each day without throwing off your schedule?
How much can you invest each month?
Are you doing it for yourself or external validation?
What would a small, short-term win look like for you?
If I had to answer these for myself when I was starting, here’s what I would say:
Fitness, for me, means feeling energetic throughout the day and not getting worked up when I take stairs (be it one, two, or seven floors). I can carve out 45–60 minutes daily. I can invest anywhere between ₹ 2,500 to ₹ 5,000 a month. I want external validation since I feel too skinny, and a small win? Honestly, just showing up four days a week, consistently, through the month.
Now, when you have answers like this for yourself, you can:
A) Go to someone in your circle
Someone you admire physically (come on, we all have that one gym bro or fitness friend). Share these thoughts with them. And they will have enough context to guide and show you the correct path.
B) Or, book a 15-minute call with a qualified fitness trainer (The Fitin Trainer, I mean!)
Free of cost, no pressure, just a space to talk through your goals, refine your thinking, and get clear on what to expect as you begin. [WhatsApp here, and I will block time for you]
Guilt Was Never the Point
With you now being aware of the roadblocks and also clear on what you want for yourself, whether you go for a gym, online strength training like ours, or any other form of fitness...
You will begin from a place of clarity, self-awareness, and most importantly, no guilt.
Because here’s the truth: You never failed at fitness. The system failed you by selling one-size-fits-all solutions. But now you know better. And when you know better, you do better.
So wherever you go from here, even if it’s just a ten-minute walk tomorrow, or showing up four days this month, let that decision come from a place of respect for your journey.
Because you deserve to feel strong, and good, and grounded in your own body. Just you, moving forward, on your own terms.