Set A Fitness Goal That Guarantees Success!

Why Do I Need To Set A Fitness Goal?

Why is it important to set a fitness goal? Goal setting gives you focus and motivation. It gives you the energy and determination you need to accoplish more than you thought possible.

How To Stay Motivated

Consider what you want to accomplish through fitness walking. Do you want to lose 10 or 50 pounds? Do you want to walk 5 miles a day? As you consider this, think about the deeper meaning behind what you want to accomplis. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, ask yourself why you want to lose weight. Is it to fit into those jeans that have been in your closet for years? It is to have more energy for your family?

Did you determine the deeper meaning? Good, let’s call that your motivator. It can be tempting to skip a few nights or weeks of walking, but when you think about your motivator, it helps to get you back on track. For example, if your life gets too busy and you’re just too tired to walk, it can be easy to skip a night or two or three. But if you remember that today’s walk will give you more energy to play with your kids (or whatever your motivator is), you’ll find that it is harder to skip that walk.

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind...Never!

Now that you have defined your fitness goal and the motivator behind it, write it down. Yes, write it down! There is something very powerful about writing down your goal. It formalizes it and makes it more difficult to just wave away in your mind.

Next, keep that written goal in a place where you can see it. That’s right; post it near your night table or on your bathroom mirror. Put it in a place where you will see it every day. Next, attach a picture that represents your fitness goal so you can see that every day as well.

For example, we are planning a cruise in a few months and I really want to lose 5 pounds because I know I’ll spend a lot of time in a bathing suit and I don’t want to feel self-conscious. So, I cut out a picture of a cruise ship and a great looking bikini body from a magazine. I don’t know if I’ll be wearing a bikini on my cruise, but that picture keeps me motivated to continue walking! I have these pictures along with my fitness goal posted on my pantry door to help keep me from those late night, high calorie snacks.

Perhaps you have something more tangible, like those jeans you’ve been trying to fit back into for years? Dig those out of the closet and put them in a place where you’ll see them every day.

Setting a fitness goal, writing it down and looking at it every day will give you the desire and motivation you need to accomplish whatever you set your mind to.

SMART Goals

A good fitness goal is one that you can achieve, it is SMART. SMART is an acronym that will help you clarify your goal. Why is this important? Because it is hard to stick to a goal that doesn’t seem possible. If you don’t feel that you can meet it, you are likely to give up. Let’s assume your goal is to lose 10 pounds. How can we make that SMART?

Specific. Is your goal specific? You won’t be able to accomplish a goal that is too vague. For example, “lose some weight” or “walk a lot” are not specific goals. GOAL: I will lose 10 pounds.

Measurable. Can your goal be measured or defined? Walking a lot cannot be measured. What is a lot? That depends on whom you ask. Can we measure losing 10 pounds? You bet. Take your current weight when you set your goal and subtract 10 pounds. GOAL: I will lose 10 pounds and reduce my weight from 150 pound to 140 pounds.

Attainable. Can you achieve this goal? Is it something you have can control over? You may not be able to lose 10 pounds if you have a surgery coming up next week that will keep you off your feet for the next 6 weeks. Let’s assume that you do not have any upcoming surgeries and it is reasonable to think that you can lose 10 pounds. GOAL: I will lose 10 pounds and reduce my weight from 150 pound to 140 pounds.

Realistic? Is this a goal that you can and want to accomplish? It is okay to set a goal that is difficult and will challenge you. However, you do not want to set a goal that you cannot achieve. Let’s assume that losing 10 pounds is something you feel that you can accomplish. GOAL: I will lose 10 pounds and reduce my weight from 150 pound to 140 pounds.

Timely. A goal should have a time frame. By when do you want to lose 10 pounds? If you don’t set a time limit, you’ll never get around to losing the 10 pounds because there won’t be a sense of urgency. GOAL: I will lose 10 pounds and reduce my weight from 150 pound to 140 pounds in 16 weeks.

There! Now you have a fitness goal that is specific and realistic. This is a goal that will keep you motivated as you track your progress. Don’t forget to post it where you can see it every day.

There is one more thing to do. Celebrate! Do something special when you accomplish your goal. You deserve it. Then, set another goal!