How Perfectionism Is Sabotaging Your Workout Routine (And What to Do About It)

When "All or Nothing" Leaves You With Nothing

You start the week strong—meal prepped, workouts planned, all the best intentions. But by Wednesday? You’re burned out, behind, and feeling like a failure. So you do what so many Christian women do: give up completely until Monday comes around again.

Friend, that’s not laziness. That’s perfectionism in disguise.

In this article, I sat down with Christian food freedom coach Brittany Braswell to talk about how perfectionism creeps into our workouts, body image, and faith life—and what we can do to finally step out of that pressure and into peace.

1. Perfectionism Sneaks in Through Control

Brittany shared, “Perfectionism really sets this impossible standard that causes us to rely on our own strength.”

When you feel like you can’t miss a day, can’t mess up your macros, or can’t skip a rep—that’s not commitment. That’s control.

And control isn’t the same as consistency. One leads to burnout. The other leads to growth.

Instead of rigid rules, try this:

• Follow a simple workout routine for beginners with 2–3 strength workouts a week
• Use a macros calculator as a guide, not a measure of worth
• Track health habits like sleep and hydration, not just workouts and weight

2. It’s Not Grace vs. Goals. It’s Grace With Goals.

Too often, we think the only alternative to perfectionism is apathy.

Shaela shared, “That release and thinking I’m surrendering often turns into apathy instead. Like, 'forget it. I’m giving myself grace' — but we never move forward.”

But God’s grace isn’t passive. It’s empowering.

That means you can:

• Set health goals without idolizing your body
• Follow a macros meal plan with flexibility
• Choose simple workouts and rest when needed

Because perfectionism says, “Do more or you’re not enough.” But the gospel says, “You are already enough in Christ.”

3. Your Workouts Reflect What You Believe

We often treat fitness like a moral scorecard. Brittany said, “Peace is the gift we talk about. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and yet our striving moves us further away from that.”

How do you know perfectionism is creeping in?

• You feel guilty for missing a workout
• You obsess over your weight or calorie count
• You believe your body has to look a certain way before it’s lovable

Instead, ask: Is this bringing me closer to peace? Or further away?

God doesn’t call you to hustle for your worth. He calls you to walk in freedom.

4. Make Movement a Ministry, Not a Measure

When workouts become a way to prove our worth, we’re worshipping performance over the Prince of Peace.

Instead, consider:

• What if your body image was shaped by truth, not Instagram?
• What if fitness motivation came from stewardship, not shame?
• What if a workout for women was less about getting toned and more about getting grounded?

As Brittany said, “When we see our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, we recognize they deserve care—but not worship.”

5. Practical Ways to Break the Perfectionism Cycle

If you’re tired of the "start strong, burn out, repeat" cycle, try these grace-filled shifts:

• Audit your goals: Are they flexible? Can you adapt if life gets crazy?
• Limit comparison: Follow women who live out faith and fitness, not just aesthetics
• Seek accountability: Find someone who can call out the lies when you can't see them

One of our favorite quotes from Brittany was: “Feelings can be indicators, not dictators.”

Your goal is progress, not perfection. Your goal is freedom, not control.

Let Peace Be the Pace

If you’ve been feeling puffy, burnt out, or stuck in the "all or nothing" loop, it might not be a motivation issue. It might be a mindset one.

And the good news? You can renew your mind. You can shift your habits. You can train in a way that honors your faith, fuels your body, and frees your mind.

So the next time you feel behind, remember: you’re not failing. You’re being invited to go forward with peace.

You don’t have to be perfect to keep going. You just have to keep going with grace.