We’re 12 days into 2026, and I wanted to put my goals down in writing—not just as a way to clarify them for myself, but also to create a little accountability. These goals are meant to be realistic and achievable, focusing on both long-term progress and the small weekly habits that actually move the needle.

Weekly Goals & Tracking Progress

I’m starting with my weekly goals, because consistency is where real change happens.

First, I want to take weekly progress photos. I’m at a point where my body is changing physically, but I’m not always noticing it day to day. Seeing photos side by side over time will help me recognize progress and stay motivated throughout the year.

Alongside progress photos, I plan to take weekly measurements. I know changes won’t happen every single week, but progress is still progress—even when it’s subtle. On the weeks where I don’t see change, measurements can help show what’s happening beneath the surface.

To support these goals, I want to track my calories and meal plan consistently. I’ve been searching for an app that allows me to track calories, measurements, and progress photos all in one place. I did find one, and so far I’m impressed. I only have one round of photos in it so far, so I can’t fully test the side-by-side feature yet, but it does allow for weekly measurement comparisons—which is exactly what I need. Now the key is staying consistent with daily tracking.

Cutting Caffeine & Prioritizing Sleep

I also made a bit of a snap decision this year: I cut coffee and caffeine completely after yet another bad night of sleep. I successfully made it through seven days with no coffee or caffeine at all—and honestly, I feel better because of it.

The weekend was the hardest part. I used to rely on multiple cups of coffee just to get through busy weekends, often paired with a sugar-free caffeinated soft drink. Water would take a back seat, and all the progress I made during the week would quietly disappear by Monday.

After a full week without caffeine, I feel more like myself again. My energy is better—and it’s coming from better sleep, not caffeine spikes and crashes. That alone feels like a huge win.

Long-Term Body Goals

By the end of 2026, I’d love to see my weight dip below the 200-lb mark and my body fat percentage reach 35%. That said, I’m far less focused on the scale and much more focused on body composition and how I feel in my body.

I know there will be a point where I look the way I want, but the number on the scale may be higher than expected—and that’s okay. I’m building muscle while losing fat, and that changes the equation.

I also know myself well enough to recognize that I’ll eventually hit tracking fatigue and want to take breaks from logging everything. I’m okay with that, as long as I’ve built strong habits. This past weekend was a good example—I didn’t track from Friday to Sunday unless I prepared the food myself. Logging food has always been a challenge for me, but I still made healthy choices throughout the weekend, and that’s a win I’m proud of.

📊 My 2026 Goals at a Glance

Category	Goal	Frequency / Timeline	Why It Matters
Progress Tracking	Take progress photos	Weekly	Helps me see changes I may miss day to day
Measurements	Track body measurements	Weekly	Shows progress beyond the scale
Nutrition	Track calories & meal plan	Daily (with flexibility)	Builds awareness and consistency
Habits	Maintain healthy choices when not tracking	Ongoing	Focuses on sustainability, not perfection
Sleep & Energy	Stay caffeine-free	Daily	Improves sleep quality and natural energy
Hydration	Prioritize water intake	Daily	Supports energy, recovery, and digestion
Body Composition	Reduce body fat to 35%	By end of 2026	Focuses on health, not just weight
Weight (Secondary)	Get below 200 lbs	By end of 2026	A milestone—not the main focus
Mindset	Embrace flexibility & progress over perfection	Ongoing	Prevents burnout and tracking fatigue