Quit Quitting: Why Adapting is the Real Win

Ditch Perfectionism, Embrace Flexibility, and Build Habits That Stick

Let’s be honest: we’ve all been there. You set a big, shiny new goal—start lifting weights, wake up at 5 a.m., eat fewer Oreos—and then, life happens. Before you know it, you’re tempted to throw in the towel and declare your efforts a failure. But what if quitting isn’t the only option?

On a recent episode of The FitSister Podcast, we broke down a simple mindset shift that is a game changer: stop quitting and start adapting. When things don’t go as planned, it’s not a sign to quit—it’s a chance to reframe, adjust, and keep moving forward.

Reframe the Challenge

In nutrition coaching, I see this all the time. Clients work hard to build habits, but even their best efforts don’t always pan out. The key isn’t to beat yourself up—it’s to step back, assess, and adapt. Reframe this “failure” as a valuable learning opportunity.

On the podcast, Nat and I talked a lot about the limitations of weather—specifically January in Michigan, where she has lived her whole life. Winter in the Midwest can totally derail you from your goals. I know, I’ve been there—and my solution was to move across the country. I quit winter entirely.

But rarely is completely removing yourself from the adverse situation a possibility. Challenges like these—whether it’s winter or something else—are constant. So, what do you do?

Nat has been trying to will herself into being a morning person for a long time. The dark, cold (subzero) mornings have made it abundantly clear that she won’t be rejoining the 5 a.m. Orange Theory crew this season. It can be hard to let go of an identity you’ve put on a pedestal for so long. “Those 5 a.m. warriors seem so hardcore! Don’t I want to be hardcore too?” one might think.

So, when you finally decide to give it up, does it mean you’re weak? A quitter?

No. Absolutely not. It means you’re someone who’s decided to think for themselves and ditch a behavior that’s causing more stress than it’s worth. There are plenty of other ways to be healthy—so it’s time to start looking for one.

The crazy thing is, once Nat let go of the idea of being in the 5 a.m. workout club and explored some of her other goals, she discovered something completely worth waking up for. Now under the dark cloak of a frigid Michigan morning, you can find Nat nestled into a cozy corner of her couch with a hot cup of coffee, working on her creative goals.

“I have this little space. I've basically built a fort in the living room on this one couch, and I get it all set up the night before so it's super cozy. I make my coffee, sit on the couch alone, and work on the creative projects that are my ‘big dream creative projects.’ I take one single step forward on the creative project every morning. It's been so refreshing to have time where I just get to be alone and think about things that are not part of my daily grind. It feels like I've awakened something, and I don't even know what the thing is, but I know it's a good move.”

She didn’t quit trying to find a healthy early morning routine—she let go of her rigid definition of fitness and identified a new habit that actually feels good. Instead of quitting on being a morning person, the challenge of winter forced her to adapt. In the process, she discovered a routine that supports both her physical health and her creative goals.

This kind of adaptability is especially important in midlife, when priorities, energy, and even our bodies shift in ways that can feel frustrating. Maybe the routines that worked in your 30s don’t work anymore, and that’s okay.

What matters is finding what fits your life now—and giving yourself permission to evolve.

Pause and Reflect

What are some areas of your life that you’ve been forcing? What goal are you trying to serve? Is there a way to reframe your thinking and adapt to the situation?

Here’s the good news: adapting doesn’t mean giving up. It means you’re building resilience, respecting the work you’ve put in, and setting yourself up for long-term success.

Why Adaptation Beats Quitting Every Time

1. It Honors Your Effort

Adjusting your plan doesn’t erase the hard work you’ve already done. It helps you keep building on it in a way that works for your life now.

2. It Builds Resilience

Falling off track isn’t failure—it’s an opportunity to learn and grow. Adapting teaches you how to bounce back, reframe setbacks, and keep moving forward.

3. It Shifts Your Mindset

Instead of seeing setbacks as proof that you’ve failed, you see them as opportunities to refine your approach. Progress isn’t linear, and that’s okay.

How to Start Adapting

1. Get Clear on Your “Why”

Why does this goal matter to you? If it’s about impressing others, it’s unlikely to stick. But if it’s tied to your values—like being strong enough to hike with your kids or having energy for your creative projects—you’ll be more motivated to adapt when things get tough.

2. Be Flexible

Don’t be afraid to adjust your goals or try a different strategy. Sometimes it’s as simple as moving a workout to a better time, swapping your routine for something fresh, or focusing on a different area of your health.

3. Forgive Yourself

Slip-ups are part of the process. You’re not failing—you’re learning. The only way to truly fail is to stop trying.

At the end of the day, quitting is final. Adapting keeps you in the game. It’s not about crushing the latest health trend—it’s about figuring out who you want to be and taking steps toward becoming that person, one small adjustment at a time.

This is exactly the kind of mindset shift I help my clients make every day. If you’re ready to ditch rigid rules and create habits that work for your life, let’s chat. Together, we’ll focus on your goals, your lifestyle, and what works for you—because midlife isn’t about going back to who you were. It’s about thriving as the person you are now.

Check out The FitSister Coaching Programs here.