Fitness Goals Provide Strong Framework for Healthy Living

Are fitness goals important?

If you say no, we would have to disagree. To set a goal for anything in life that you want to achieve is critical to your success. We always say, “well, my goal is to lose 30 pounds” … is this a goal? Yes, but how do you plan to get there? If you’ve been on the dieting roller-coaster you know life throws you curve balls and what was working in the beginning may no longer be helping you now.

It’s typically easy in the beginning to shed pounds right? Whether you’re just watching what you eat or working out, you’ve got lots of enthusiasm and this is it, this is your time, you’re finally going to hit that bench mark. Only to lose steam, lose sight of that goal and many times quit altogether. You’re left feeling defeated, or worse depressed and more than likely beating yourself up about it which is not good for anyone but especially you.

It truly is imperative to set goals that are more “doable” and don’t seem so overwhelming especially when you hit those walls and find it difficult to keep pushing forward. We have a few suggestions that we have seen help many overcome hurdles that we all encounter.

First, having an overall weight loss goal is great. If writing that number down helps then do it, but then put it away. It’s more critical to have a plan on how you intend to get there. Planning is probably one of the biggest activities we see that make people successful at reaching their goals or not.

Plan your exercise and meals

Figure out what days you will fit in strength training, what days cardio exercise and then plan what you plan to put in your mouth. I would also suggest a quick backup plan. Kids, work, things pop up every day that can jar us off track a bit but they cannot be used as an excuse. Pick a few alternate classes you can attend if something does come up so you don’t miss your exercise. Or a survival sack filled with healthy snacks in case you get somewhere and can’t eat the meal you had planned. It may seem like a lot at first, but doing it helps bring clarity and eventually it just won’t feel right if you don’t do it.

Don’t focus so much on the scale

We know you’ve all heard this a million times, so there must be something to it right? If you’ve been coming to your strength classes 2 times a week, eating well then we know you’ve seen a difference. Clothes fit better, you’re taking on curves you thought were lost forever! INCHES COUNT! 

Try a new activity

Another suggestion besides setting a weight loss goal would be to set a goal that involves trying an activity for the first time that maybe you were too afraid to do or thought you could never do. It doesn’t have to be something crazy like a marathon but what about a 5K whether it’s walking or jogging it doesn’t matter. Just being involved in something and finishing can be more exhilarating that seeing a two pound loss for the week. You need other bench marks to gauge your success … it cannot be all about the weight.

Accomplishing these types of goals, making it through the week as you planned, exercise, getting stronger and more fit feels good! These are the feelings you need to remember and this is what will keep you going when the going gets tough. If you try and let yourself forget about the pounds and just focus on the task at hand, you will reach your goal sooner than you realize and you will also have some fun along the way.

Every day life gets in the way, but life will always happen.

Note: This post original appeared on the blog of www.MyStrongerSelf.com.