Be S.M.A.R.T about goal setting
Are you a person that makes goals for yourself but can never achieve those that you have set? Maybe you set goals that are outlined in great detail or you have never set goals at all? Without goals, a person can wander through life with no sense of direction. They’re lost. It’s the same way with fitness. If you don’t set achievable goals, or you don’t set goals at all, you’re going to be lost. Finding success in the gym doesn’t just happen; you have to work at it every day. Start taking charge of your fitness journey by setting goals for yourself and staying on track to reach them. In this blog, we will be discussing the S.M.A.R.T way to set goals so you can not only be successful in the gym, but in life as well.
Specific
A goal is a specific target that gives you direction, motivation, and focus towards what you want. Your goals need to reflect this. The goals that you set need to be specific enough that they inspire you to work toward the life that you are trying to achieve. We all know that after a long day at work the last thing you want to do is go to the gym and work out. That’s where these goals will come into play. You want your goals to keep you motivated to go to the gym, even when you may not want to.
Measurable
A goal to “lose weight” is not enough. Your goal needs to include something that you can measure. When deciding your goal need to know how you’re going to track your progress and when you have reached it. An example would be: “I want to lose 10 lbs of fat in 4 months.” This gives you something that you can track and it gives you a deadline to do it in. Measuring your goals helps you determine if you are heading in the right direction and if you need to make any adjustments.
Attainable
Attainable fitness goals relate back to what you are willing and capable of doing to reach your goals. When you establish short-term goals you will ultimately make your long-term goals more realistic and attainable. It’s great to set high goals for yourself, but remember not to make them too extreme. It can get too overwhelming and you are more likely to give up. Likewise, a goal that is too easy can lead to you becoming unmotivated.
Realistic
Set goals that are important to where you are in your life right now. If your goals are realistic and relevant to your life, it will be much easier to achieve. Identify the resources you will need to reach them and make sure to review and revise your goals when it is needed. Don’t set a goal that someone else is pressuring you to reach. It needs to be your idea so that you are more motivated to accomplish your goals. If you aren’t concerned about weight loss or this is not a good time in your life to focus on your goals, choose a goal that will motivate you to achieve what you have set out for yourself.
Timely
For goals that have a measurable end, it is important to set a target date to complete them by. Goals without deadlines lend themselves to being put off until another day. We have all done the “I’ll start working out tomorrow” dance. Then tomorrow never comes and we never end up making that change in our life. With fitness goals, it is also important to have deadlines to keep up momentum and keep us from getting lazy. Having target dates can also get you motivated to start, which is half the battle.
Call Flex today and schedule a one on one appointment with our personal trainer Amanda. She will be able to answer any question you may have regarding personal training. Don’t miss the holiday specials we are offering through the month of March! Call (800) 930-8803 and ask for Amanda!
