By February, many New Year health goals have already fallen away for residents, with locals saying cost, stress and everyday life often get in the way of good intentions.
A Gosnells resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said he set a weight-loss goal last year and stayed on track for about two months before struggling to maintain it.
“I started off really well and stayed on track for about two months, but over time it became harder to maintain,” he said.
The rising cost of food, for him, played a major role.
“When you’re at the shops it’s cheaper to grab a sausage roll or hot chips than a healthy salad roll,” he said. “If healthier options were more affordable, I honestly think most families would choose them.”
He said stress also made healthy choices harder to stick to.
“When I was stressed, chocolate was definitely my go-to, not an apple,” he said. “You can really see how that temptation is built in too, with chocolate and lollies right at the checkouts, which makes impulse buying easy.”
Even healthier snack alternatives came at a cost.
“Veggie chips, which I enjoy, are around $6 a pack, while regular chips are about half the price,” he said.
He said despite trying again to be more mindful about food, the experience showed how difficult long-term health goals can be when everyday pressures build up.
“It’s definitely shown me how hard it can be to stick to health goals long-term when cost, stress and everyday life get in the way,” he said.
National research from MyFitnessPal reflects similar patterns, with a survey of more than 1,000 Australians finding that more than three in four people fell off their New Year’s resolutions by the end of January last year. More than half of respondents said they planned to lose weight, while many admitted to repeating the same goals year after year.
Canning resident Erin said her experience had been different because she avoided setting drastic targets in the first place.
“My goals were less about big fitness targets and more about sustainability,” she said. “My goal is to move my body more than the previous year, continue supporting my nervous system, and work on not over-giving.”
She said realistic expectations made the biggest difference.
“There were natural ebbs and flows — energy changes and no two days look the same,” she said. “But overall, I’d say I was very successful in reaching the goals I set, largely because they were realistic.”
Erin said professional support also helped her stay consistent.
“I also work with professionals, like an exercise physiologist and a psychologist, which makes a huge difference,” she said. “Having someone there for accountability has been key for me.”
She said disruptions such as illness, travel or emotional stress were inevitable, but support helped her avoid giving up altogether.
“That personal connection and accountability made all the difference in staying consistent and realistic, rather than falling off altogether,” she said.
For Canning Vale resident Josie Heywood, the focus has been on slowing down rather than pushing for big physical changes.
“Ever since I participated in 20talk, it’s now very important for me to slow down and take a moment for myself here and there,” she said. “Thankfully this is something as easy as a few minutes of quiet and a meditative style of reflection.”
She said choosing a small, manageable goal made it easier to maintain.
“Yes, made goals and keeping to them,” she said. “Picked one that’s small, manageable but still very good for my mental health.”
The MyFitnessPal research found that while many Australians are motivated by wanting to feel healthier and more energised, nearly one-third are considering restrictive diets, something dietitians warn is unlikely to be sustainable.
Locals agreed that while motivation may be strong in January, long-term change often depends on realistic goals, affordable choices and support that fits into everyday life.
As one Gosnells resident puts it, “It’s not that people don’t want to be healthier; it’s that life makes it hard.”
