|
|
|
|
 How to Set Health and Fitness Goals
Trying to succeed without a goal is like trying to hit a target that doesn't exist. Goals define your success and steer you toward it. So setting goals is crucial to your success in any endeavor, and fitness is no exception. So, here are some guidelines on how to set health and fitness goals:
Determine long-term goals.
Your long-term goal is often called your dream. It determines the type of nutrition and exercise program you need. Health and fitness goals are often related to health, athletic performance, physical appearance, or some combination thereof. Here are some examples of long-term goals:
Wanting to fit in clothes 2 sizes smaller (physical appearance) Wanting to bench press 300 lbs (136 kg) (athletic performance) Wanting to run a mile (1.6 km) in less than 5 minutes (athletic performance) Wanting to have more energy (health and athletic performance) Your long-term goals provide a direction for your efforts. Set mid-term goals as milestones.
Mid-term goals act as stepping stones from your current state to your goal. They also act as milestones to measure your progress and to make your long-term goals more achievable. For example, losing 12 inches (~30.5 cm) off your waist in a year may seem difficult. But creating mid-term goals of losing 1 inch (2.54 cm) off your waist per month does the same thing but feels less daunting.
Set regular action-based goals.
These are goals to do certain things regularly. Here are examples of regular action-based goals:
The goal to lift weights 4 times per week The goal to avoid junk foods each day You achieve these goals by taking the actions defined in the goals. The objective is to turn the actions in these goals into habits. Use the right measurements for your goals.
You need to measure your progress toward your goals. That way, you will know if your methods are working. So, you measure long-term and mid-term goals by the results of your actions. Also, you measure action-based goals by whether you took the actions you planned.
But measurements only work if you use the right measurements. For example, if you want to fit into smaller clothes, you should use a measuring tape instead of a scale. After all, clothing sizes are in inches or centimeters, not pounds or kilograms. Also, don't measure your speed in a marathon by how much you can bench press. So, your measurements need to be relevant and accurate. Otherwise, they will be meaningless or wrong. Your goals should make you act soon.
A desired outcome is only a goal if you take action to achieve it. Otherwise, it is only a wish. Waiting an excessively long time to take action means your desired outcome is not a goal (at least, not yet). So, if you wait until next year to do something you can do right now, you are not that serious about it. This is why so many New Year's resolutions fail.
Update your goals as you reach them.
When you reach your goal (even your long-term goal), you should see it as a beginning and not an end. This is true even if your goal is to maintain. To not have any goals or purpose is to be in a rut. Life is a journey, not a destination.
Make sure your goals are yours.
This means your goals are not your spouse's, friend's, or anyone else's. It is your body, your mind, your efforts, and not anyone else's. So, live your life on your terms, and don't let others dictate your goals. This is possibly the most important rule about setting goals.
Other articles |
|
| Disclaimer | ©2007 Spartafit.com. All rights reserved. | Contact Us |