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Health & Fitness

Stick to your Fitness Plan: Set Goals

Looking to get back in shape, but not sure where to start? Sit down and set goals of what you want to accomplish and good things are sure to follow.

Reaching your fitness goals does not happen overnight.  

Getting in shape and becoming a more healthy person will require a high level of energy and some sacrifice. Most of all, it will require dedication.

Why put yourself through all of that without even knowing what you are striving to be? I used to aimlessly wander through the gym doing the usual workouts and exercises day in and day out without any real direction. It was only when I stepped back and defined what I wanted out of my fitness routine that I started to realize my desired results.

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What I have found works best for me is to set a long-term goal of between three and six months from now with smaller milestones along the way. The reason for this is simple. If you have tried setting goals and failed, it was probably for one of two reasons. 

Either you set an unrealistic goal over a short period of time (lose 10 pounds this week before a trip to the beach) or you set an achievable goal, but it was so forward looking that it was easy for you to lose interest when the results didn't come right away (lose 20 pounds before your best friend's wedding next year). 

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With that in mind, here are some tips for setting reachable goals:

  • Set an overall goal that is attainable based on your current fitness level: Don't strive for too much too soon. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds over the next three months. Well, if the best you have ever done is 2 pounds in one month then there is nothing wrong with adjusting your goal accordingly. As another example: if you haven't been to the gym in six months, set your goal at 10 gym days this month instead of 15.
  • Define milestones / checkpoints on the path to your goal: This will give you something short term to work toward, and keep you motivated. You will now have a few chances to measure yourself instead of just pushing for one larger goal. The more you achieve, the more motivated you will be to continue. In the example of losing 10 pounds in 3 months, you might say I want to lose 4 pounds in August, 3 pounds in September and 3 pounds in October.
  • Track against your milestones (not your overall goal): If you set up your milestones correctly they should lead you to your goal. So in the weight loss example let's say you lose the 4 pounds in August. Don't think of the next steps as having 6 more poundsto go. Just stick to the September goal of 3 pounds and stay focused on that number. Before you know it, you will be at your end goal.
  • Reassess your plan after each milestone: Whether you meet the milestone or not, take some time to analyze your plan going forward. This will be key in the case where you do not reach your milestone. Quickly looking back at what you did right and what you did wrong over the last month can lead to positive changes in your program for the next month and get you back on track.

Whether you are already a routine gym-goer, or just thinking about making it part of your routine, I encourage you to step back and define where you want to be in the next few months. From there, establish a plan and begin to execute it on your way to the new you. 

For more tips on sticking to your fitness plan, please check out my daily blog here: http://distinctfitness.blogspot.com/

Thanks. Have a Great Week!

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