Grow 26% in 2026: A Sustainable Strength Goal for Midlife Women
A sustainable strength goal for midlife women who want growth without burnout.
What if growth didn’t have to come at the expense of your sanity?
What if we could build strength, improve our health, and evolve — even in the busiest seasons of life — without dysregulating our nervous systems?
In 2026, I’m choosing to grow 26%.
Not for somebody else. Not for aesthetics. Not for hustle culture.
For myself. For fun. For longevity.
I’m starting with strength training.
Why 26%?
Honestly? It’s a fun number. It matches the year. Why not?
Because it’s specific. And specific goals create measurable growth.
Twenty-six percent is also playful — it matches the year. But it’s grounded enough to matter. Research consistently shows that progressive overload (gradually increasing weight or resistance) is one of the most effective ways to build muscle and improve metabolic health — especially for women in midlife.
It’s also a tiny wink to my old tech startup days. In my twenties, I walked into work one morning and there were giant signs everywhere with some massive growth goal — “50,000 clients by 2010.” Or maybe it was 10,000. I don’t remember the exact number. I just remember thinking it felt wildly ambitious given that we only had about a thousand clients at the time.
We didn’t hit that exact goal.
But we did build something meaningful. We grew steadily for more than 15 years. We improved the health and the wellness of the world in no small way!
Maybe the number wasn’t the point.
Maybe the act of setting it — and moving toward it together — was.
Why should tech companies have all the fun?
Twenty-six percent feels specific enough to be real. In my experience, when I bring focused attention to something measurable — whether in business, budgeting, or fitness — I can improve it by 20% or more over time.
So 26% it is.
And yes — my math brain appreciates that it’s quantifiable.
Growth doesn’t have to be extreme. It just has to be intentional.
My 26% Strength Goal
I try to set monthly mini goals as well…
Recently, I went to the gym to test my baseline strength on compound movements that use multiple muscle groups. I tested a few standard machines and settled on two to track this year:
Leg press
Lat pulldown
My leg press weight was 130 pounds — a weight I can lift for 3 sets of 10 reps with solid form.
If I grow that by 26%, my goal becomes 165 pounds by the end of the year. (Quick math tip: multiply your current number by 1.26.)
It’s not dramatic. But it requires consistency, showing up, paying attention, and patience.
And those are the habits I want to reinforce in this season of life.
Why Strength Training in Perimenopause?
Not excited about that hard loop
I’m in perimenopause — a time when estrogen shifts can impact muscle mass, metabolism, bone density, and energy levels.
Strength training in midlife supports:
Muscle retention and growth
Metabolic resilience
Bone density
Blood sugar regulation
Confidence and functional longevity
Building muscle right now feels like building insurance.
Strength feels like stability.
Strength is metabolic resilience.
Strength is nervous system regulation in motion.
Strength is self-trust.
Strength is confidence without comparison.
Right now, strength feels like a great, achievable investment to make in myself.
What I’m Tracking
I use google keep to track my workout in a simple way.
This year I’ll be tracking:
Leg press weight
Lat pulldown weight
Pushups
Sleep quality
Energy levels
Mood
Not to obsess. But to observe.
Data doesn’t have to be harsh. It can be compassionate.
We grow what we measure — gently.
What This Is Not
This is not a body transformation challenge.
This is not before-and-after culture.
This is not rigidity disguised as wellness.
This is practice.
This is sustainable growth.
This is strength for longevity.
This is creative movement with intention.
Invitation
If you want to grow 26% in 2026 — pick one metric.
Strength. Walking minutes. Consistency. Mobility. Energy. Creativity. Sleep.
Track it.
Tend it.
Adjust with kindness.
Share it if you want.
We grow what we measure.
Let’s grow slowly. Let’s grow strong.
-Roxy