Before you set another fitness goal this year, there's something you need to rethink.

Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher are here to wish you a happy new year and kick off 2026 with a fresh, grounded perspective on health and exercise. In this episode, they cover five mindset shifts to help you enjoy workouts, focus on real results, and create habits that actually last. If you're ready to let go of what hasn't worked and start 2026 with clarity, confidence, and a healthier relationship with movement, this episode is your invitation to do exactly that. Make 2026 your healthiest year yet!

• Amy shares why New Year's exercise resolutions often feel motivating at first and discouraging by February. Many goals are built around outcomes instead of behaviors. This episode helps you rethink your approach so your plan actually fits real life.
• Shift #1: Process versus outcome. According to Dr. Fisher, goals don't have to be about a number or a finish line. They can be about committing to the actions you repeat each week.
• Amy explains why changing the process is what creates long-term success. Daily habits compound in ways one perfect result never can. People who make progress are the ones who keep doing the basics consistently.
• Shift #2: Exercise as enjoyment, not punishment. Amy shares why enjoying your workouts makes consistency easier. When exercise feels rewarding instead of miserable, you're far more likely to stick with it.
• Shift #3: Fat loss versus weight loss. Dr. Fisher and Amy explain why losing fat and maintaining muscle is the real goal. Strength training supports fat loss while protecting muscle. It's one of the most important investments you can make in your long-term health.
• Dr. Fisher explains why yo-yo dieting backfires. Calorie restriction often leads to muscle loss and a slower metabolism. When normal eating resumes, weight regain becomes almost inevitable.
• Amy shares a powerful reframe if weight loss has been your goal every January. Instead of trying to make yourself smaller, think about rebuilding yourself from the inside out. That shift changes how you approach food, exercise, and patience.
• Shift #4: Quality versus quantity. More workouts or longer sessions don't always mean better results. The right exercises, performed safely and with proper form, often deliver more with less time.
• Amy shares a personal story about feeling stuck and overwhelmed by exercise expectations. She believed change required hours in the gym and deep expertise. Discovering the power of short, high-quality strength sessions was a huge relief.
• Amy explains how learning proper exercise selection and technique changed everything. Once she stopped guessing and started working with a personal trainer, results followed. It finally felt sustainable.
• Dr. Fisher explains Shift #5: Active versus passive exercise. Simply moving through exercises isn't the goal. Being mentally engaged and intentional with each rep is where progress happens.
• Dr. Fisher explains why working with a personal trainer makes all of these shifts easier. A coach helps you stay engaged, cue the right muscles, and train with purpose instead of guesswork. This guidance turns exercise into something you enjoy, not a chore you endure.

Mentioned in This Episode:

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Submit your questions at StrengthChangesEverything.com

This podcast and blog are provided to you for entertainment and informational purposes only. By accessing either, you agree that neither constitute medical advice nor should they be substituted for professional medical advice or care. Use of this podcast or blog to treat any medical condition is strictly prohibited. Consult your physician for any medical condition you may be having. In no event will any podcast or blog hosts, guests, or contributors, Exercise Coach USA, LLC, Gymbot LLC, any subsidiaries or affiliates of same, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents, be responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to you or others due to any podcast or blog content.

Does the order of your exercises actually matter? Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher continue the Series on the Principles of Exercise Design. In this episode, they explain how to structure your exercises for maximum strength and muscle growth. They cover why multi-joint movements deliver the biggest results and how to create a routine that is safe, efficient, and effective for real-world performance. Whether you want to maximize gains, avoid injury, or finally feel confident in your workouts, this episode gives you the insights to build routines that actually work.

• Dr. Fisher starts by explaining why the order of your exercise routines doesn't matter. Whether you pre-exhaust, post-exhaust, or mix joint movements, the long-term benefits stay exactly the same.
• That means you can stop stressing about the "perfect sequence" and finally trust that hard work, not order, is what transforms your body.
• Why do you only see a handful of machines when you walk into an Exercise Coach studio? Because the goal isn't to overwhelm you, it's to give you the safest, most effective movements that actually work.
• Dr. Fisher explains why he loves the Exercise Coach approach. Every workout trims the fat, no wasted time, no risky exercises, no wondering if you're doing something that might hurt you tomorrow. You walk in knowing everything you do is purposely chosen to keep you safe and move you forward.
• Amy shares why the best exercises aren't flashy; they're smart, safe, effective, and efficient.
• How to stop obsessing over the "right" order of exercises. Dr. Fisher makes it clear that the human body adapts beautifully as long as you show up and train with intention. And that frees you from the pressure of perfection so you can focus on consistency instead of overthinking.
• How a personal trainer can help you stop second-guessing every machine and movement. Amy and Dr. Fisher agree that, with expert eyes guiding you, you no longer worry about bad form, wasted effort, or doing something unsafe.
• Why Dr. Fisher personally prefers starting with multi-joint exercises. They're demanding, they ask more of you, and doing them early just feels better. However, research says you'll get the same benefits no matter what you start with.
• Dr. Fisher explains the biggest benefit of multi-joint exercises.
• Learn the application of multi-joint exercises in the real world. Training movements instead of isolated muscles prepares you for lifting groceries, climbing stairs, and staying active as you age.
• How working with a personal trainer simplifies your entire fitness journey. They help you choose the safest exercises, track your progress, and remind you that your body can do more than you think. That support system turns workouts from something you dread into something you finally enjoy.

Mentioned in This Episode:

The Exercise Coach - Get 2 Free Sessions!

Submit your questions at StrengthChangesEverything.com

This podcast and blog are provided to you for entertainment and informational purposes only. By accessing either, you agree that neither constitute medical advice nor should they be substituted for professional medical advice or care. Use of this podcast or blog to treat any medical condition is strictly prohibited. Consult your physician for any medical condition you may be having. In no event will any podcast or blog hosts, guests, or contributors, Exercise Coach USA, LLC, Gymbot LLC, any subsidiaries or affiliates of same, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents, be responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to you or others due to any podcast or blog content.