You want to feel stronger. You want to move better. You know it would be good to do something for your health, but somehow, it’s still not happening.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not lazy. You’re not unmotivated. You’re just human.
The question isn’t: why haven’t I started yet?
It’s: what’s stopping me from getting fit, really?
Over the years, I’ve worked with thousands of women over 60. Not only that, but witnessing my own mother struggle to maintain a fulfilling life as she got older was what led me, and my co-founder, to create Goodnick. Both of our mothers were far from ‘lazy’ or ‘unmotivated’. There just wasn’t a system in place to meet them where they were.
So today, I want to name three of the most common mindset traps I’ve seen, and how to break free from them.
Trap #1: “It’s too late for me”
This one’s sneaky. It often shows up in the form of a lighthearted joke—“I’m past the age for that!” or “This old body’s not going to change now!” But underneath it is something deeper: the fear that maybe you’ve missed your window.
Let me be clear: it is never too late to stay fit, build strength, improve mobility, or feel better in your body.
Your body is incredibly adaptable, yes, even in your 60s, 70s, and beyond. Studies show that women in their 60s and 70s can gain muscle, improve balance, and reduce pain with the right kind of exercise.
Yes, progress might look different than it did at 30, but it’s still possible. And in many cases, it feels even more meaningful.
What changes first isn’t your muscles, it’s your mindset. The moment you shift from too late to why not now? is the moment everything starts to open up.
Trap #2: “I need to do more / push harder / get it perfect”
This one comes from the all-or-nothing mentality so many of us have picked up over the years. We think that unless we’re going to the gym three times a week, tracking our steps, or doing ‘proper workouts,’ it’s not worth it.
But what truly matters is the small actions, done consistently. That’s what creates lasting change.
At Goodnick, we’ve seen huge results from women doing just four 20-minute sessions a week. No jumping. No weights (unless you want them). No fancy gear. And not a gym in sight!
All you need to do is start with one small thing. Whether that’s two minutes of movement in the morning, or a stretch while the kettle boils. That’s where real momentum begins.
Trap #3: “I’ve tried before, and nothing stuck”
This is one I hear all the time. Maybe you tried yoga for a few weeks. Maybe you joined a gym and stopped going. Maybe you even saw results, but then life got busy, and it all slipped away.
That experience can leave you feeling like fitness just ‘isn’t for you.’
But here’s the reframe: those past attempts weren’t failures. They were feedback. They told you what didn’t work and now you can choose something different.
Maybe the plan wasn’t right for your body and your age. Maybe it was too intense, too fast. Maybe it wasn’t flexible enough to fit around your life. That doesn’t mean you failed. It means the system failed you.
You don’t need more willpower. You need a different approach that’s built for you!
“My mental attitude and my mental health is so much better, because you just feel more in control when you do what you say you’re going to do, and you physically feel better as well.”—Serena, 70, Goodnick Member
What’s Stopping You From Getting Fit?
If you’ve asked yourself that question lately, don’t answer with guilt.
Instead, ask:
- What would it feel like to move without pain?
- What if it could be simple, not overwhelming?
- What if you stopped starting over — and started building something that lasts?
Ready to begin (or begin again)?
Join our 9-week Age Smarter™ programme for women over 60: