In this episode, strength coach RedHa delivers a powerful reality check about why so many people abandon their health goals after just a few weeks. With 15 years of experience coaching clients over 40, he explains that initial motivation is fleeting and that relying on it inevitably leads to failure and excuses.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Motivation is a Trap: High expectations and initial enthusiasm are great for starting out, but motivation is temporary and will never sustain long-term fitness habits.
Excuses Sabotage Success: When people inevitably lose their motivation, they often place the blame on external factors like work, kids, or a lack of time instead of taking personal responsibility for dropping off.
Systems Over Feelings: To succeed, you must build a realistic system that accommodates your lifestyle—such as committing to just three gym sessions a week—and stick to it regardless of how you feel.
The Hard Days Count the Most: Champion mindsets are built by pushing through resistance; the days you are least motivated to train are the days that yield the most significant difference in your long-term results.
Become Your Own Savior: Lasting change requires you to stop waiting for a coach, a partner, or perfect circumstances to keep you accountable and start saving yourself.
BEST MOMENTS
"...what happens, and this is the thing that people don't understand, which is motivation doesn't last."
"All of them excuse 'oh you know what I got kids, wife, family, work...' anything but not themselves. Everything is like it's somebody's else fault."
"Create a system, create something that suits your routine and you can stick with it... you have to be realistic with yourself."
"The day when you are motivated, it's not them days who gonna make different. It's the days where you are not motivated. This is when you gonna the difference gonna happen."
"I'm going to be responsible. I'm not gonna be a victim waiting for someone to save me, I gonna save myself."
HOST BIO
Redha Zertal is a strength coach and fitness educator who specialises in helping men over 40 rebuild their strength, energy, and confidence.
With over a decade of coaching experience, Redha has worked with hundreds of busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and fathers who want to lose fat, build muscle, and improve their health without extreme training programmes or restrictive diets.
As the founder of RZ Fitness in Formby, UK, Redha became known for his practical, results-driven approach to strength training and sustainable fitness for men in midlife.
Through The Fitness Confessional podcast, Redha shares the lessons he has learned from years of coaching men navigating the realities of life after 40 — including stress, demanding careers, family responsibilities, and changing metabolism.
His mission is simple:
To help men build stronger bodies, clearer minds, and healthier lives long into their 40s, 50s, and beyond.
Redha’s coaching philosophy focuses on:
• Strength training for longevity
• Sustainable fat loss and nutrition
• Building muscle after 40
• Improving energy, focus, and resilience
His message is clear: fitness after 40 isn’t about extremes — it’s about consistency and smart training.
LINKS:
Website: https://rzfitness.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RZFitnessFormby
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rzfitness_formby/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rzfitness
