It's January, and gyms are packed with people who want to get started but have no idea where to begin. Maybe you haven't exercised in months—or years. Maybe you're scrolling through social media seeing complicated programs and influencers doing things you can't even pronounce.

Here's what usually happens: you either jump into something way too intense and burn out in two weeks, or you get paralyzed by conflicting advice and never start at all.

In this episode, we break down the five foundational principles that actually matter in your first 30 days. Show up consistently—frequency matters more than perfection. Learn basic movement patterns before adding weight. Start lighter than you think you should. Track something simple. And expect discomfort, not pain.

We talk about why most fitness programs fail beginners—they're built for people who already know what they're doing, they're not individualized, and they assume you can keep up with everyone else in the room.

Then we walk through what a smart onboarding program should look like: teaching foundational movements first, individualizing to your current ability, scaling appropriately, and giving you a foundation you can use anywhere—whether you stay at that gym or not.

Finally, we introduce the Catalyst OnRamp program, designed specifically for complete beginners and people ramping back up after time away. Done one-on-one by appointment, OnRamp teaches you how to move safely and effectively before throwing you into group classes.

If you're trying to figure out where to start, this episode gives you the roadmap.