SETTING FITNESS GOALS

What is the difference between a goal and a dream? A deadline. Dreams are great to have, but this summer, reframe your exercise dreams into reality by getting goal-oriented. Focus on what you want to accomplish and get specific about how you are going to get there. Here are some steps to get you started on achieving your fitness goals:

Prioritize: We are all inundated with obligations and responsibilities these days, but when you finally decide to put fitness at the top of your list, you will be on your way to achieving the goal of a healthier, more productive life.

Mark your Calendar: Now that you’ve decided to make your health a priority, put it on your daily planner. Plan your workouts just like you plan your meetings, lunch dates and doctors appointments. If you write down an exact time and keep it like you would any other important appointment, you will be more likely to follow through and reach those goals. You give the world 16 hours a day, can you give one of those hours to yourself?

Track Your Results: There is no better motivator than measuring your success and progress. By seeing how much you’ve accomplished, you will be more likely to keep going. There are several apps for your iphone that can assist with this. I
like to write my workouts down on the notepad in my phone. This allows me to look over what I have done over the week, and know if I am slacking off.

Set Realistic Goals: Keep in mind that 30 to 40 minutes of exercise each day is a great start to a healthy way of living. Many people embrace the ‘all or nothing approach’ to exercise and think they need to spend several hours at the gym in order to reach their goals.

Lastly, don’t forget the importance of setting both short-term goals for the days and weeks, and long-term goals for the months and years. It feels good to achieve small successes on the way to your long-term desires.