Fitness Goals – How To Make Your Fitness Goals Stick

Now that I’m back on the weight loss wagon, I must look within to develop the strength and stamina needed to achieve my fitness goals.  Except . . . well . . . what exactly are my goals?   Sure I would love to have a body like Jennifer Anniston’s, only that is not a realistic goal.  I’ve birthed two children, and I don’t have the money for a personal cook, or a high-end fitness trainer.

Let’s see, I want to lose ten pounds. .  . Okay, then what?  There are many women ten pounds lighter than I am who don’t have one-tenth of the strength and endurance I have now.  Do you see where I’m going with this?  One of the most difficult and ignored parts of beginning a fitness regime is taking the time to define our fitness goals.

Attaining our fitness goals isn’t often a priority in our lives filled with work, kids, bills, and spouses. The biggest challenge for many of us is taking the time to think through our goals and plans.  Yet this is the first step in designing a systematic plan that will lead to success. To better set your goals, you might want to follow these steps:

Make An Action Plan

Setting Fitness Goals Leads To Success!

Setting Fitness Goals Leads To Success!

Our goals make a picture of where we want to be in a given time.  But to get there, you need a step-by-step action plan.  This plan must act as a roadmap directing you to your new destination.  A specific, proactive plan will hone your efforts, and push you through the inevitable speed bumps.

Set Long and Short-Term Goals

Rather than becoming overwhelmed with one or two long-term goals, set short-term goals as well.  One accomplishment may be to workout four times in one week.  Another could be to run for 30 minutes straight.  You can give your self-small rewards like bubble bath or seeing a new movie.

Write Them Down

Make these goals your personal contract.  Write them in a private notebook or in your computer so that they become like a personal contract.  If you like, you can post your goals in strategic areas such as your bedroom, office, or better yet, on your refrigerator.

Realistic

Make sure your goals are challenging AND realistic. Studies have shown that people, who set difficult goals for themselves, accomplish more and feel better.  However, setting unattainable could leave you injured, frustrated, and disgusted with the whole fitness process.

Measurable

Establish goals that you can easily measure. “I want to lose weight” or “I want to build muscle” are not specific objectives.  Rather, use “I want to lose 10 pounds in two months” or “I want to decrease my body fat by five percent.”  The more specific your goals, the easier they are to achieve.

Monitored

Complete a diet and workout journal daily and religiously.  They are one of the best tools for attaining your goals.  Sometimes, subtle food changes can occur from one day to the next that are only visible by reading a journal at the end of one or two weeks.

Positive

Do not use goals to berate yourself; instead they must be positive. Identify goals that will bring out your good attributes.  For example, “I’m a morning person so I will begin my workouts at 7:00 am.  That’s certainly better than “I will no longer eat like a pig.”

As for me, I’ve written several long and short-term goals in three areas: nutrition, strength, and endurance.  One of my end goal is to run a half-marathon this summer.  What are your goals?