In order to arrive at a destination, you need to know where you’re going. That’s true whether you’re taking an actual trip or talking about fitness goals. If you plan to drive from New York City and start at 8 a.m., planning to arrive in Lakeland, Florida at 9 a.m., you need to re-evaluate your goals, because they aren’t realistic. The same is true when it comes to fitness goals. If you have a goal of winning a ten mile marathon next week but haven’t done any type of physical activity in years or want to lose 60 pounds in two weeks, you need to rethink your goals. They simply aren’t realistic.
In order to plan any journey, you have to know the starting point.
The same is true of fitness. Besides knowing your ultimate goal, you have to know where you’re at right now and whether your goal is healthy. Most people know how much they weigh, but for the person who runs a race, most of the time that person has no idea how far he or she can run. It’s important for them to do that, so they can set goals to improve their performance. Whether trying to lose weight or run a marathon, the goal should be a healthy one. If you’re 5’10” and weigh 115 pounds, but want to lose 20 pounds, it’s an unhealthy goal that needs to be reconsidered.
It took a while to develop a problem, so you won’t see a change overnight.
Whether you’re overweight, out-of-shape or both, it took a while to get that way, so it won’t be solved in a few days or a few weeks. It will take far longer to get to the final goal you seek. It’s one reason we focus on helping people break down big goals into smaller goals that can be achieved more quickly. If you want to lose 60 pounds, start by losing two to three pounds a week and celebrate every success. Before you know it, 5 to 6 months have passed and you’ll have reached your goal.
Track your progress.
Winners keep score. If you don’t track your goal, how will you know if you’ve achieved it? How will you know when you’re not on the right track? Everyone has a different reason for losing weight. Some want to do it to be healthier, get their blood pressure lower or improve their blood glucose levels. Others want to look better and wear a smaller size. Some people simply want to feel more energetic. While weighing yourself once a week is a good indicator, have a second indicator that fits with your goals. Track your blood pressure, take measurements or note how much you get done every day and if your energy is higher. Write down the results so you can look back and see the progress.
- If weight loss is a goal, don’t weigh yourself daily, but once a week at the same time each day. Your weight fluctuates, based on many things, including water retention and weighing more frequently can be discouraging.
- Goal setting provides a road map to success, as long as those goals are realistic. They also need to have a time set to achieve those goals or you’ll always be aiming at “tomorrow.”
- If weight loss is a goal, you’ll benefit from both exercise and eating a healthy diet. You can’t out-exercise an unhealthy diet and exercise helps weight loss occur faster. They work hand in hand to help you reach your fitness goal.
- Unrealistic goals are motivation killers. If you’re constantly failing, you eventually quit trying. Setting goals too low can also be just as bad.
For more information, contact us today at Habitat Health & Fitness