Setting Fitness Goals

Proper goal setting plays a vital role in your fitness journey and, when done well, can help you reach milestones and accomplishments you may once have thought were not possible. Goals provide a sense of direction and motivation while we exercise and remind us daily why we should continue our hard work. For this month’s newsletter, we sourced our expert staff and put together a few helpful tips to be mindful of when setting goals. 

1. First, it is important for your goals to be clearly defined and realistic. Whether your goals are increased strength, cardiovascular endurance or weight loss, be sure to ask yourself if the goals are realistically attainable. Also be sure your exercise plans are specifically designed to target your fitness goals.   
   
2. When setting a plan to reach your goal, a great strategy is to break it down into smaller, manageable steps. A broad goal of “losing 30 pounds by the end of the year” can be daunting and overwhelming, but if that goal is broken down to losing one pound per week, it feels much more manageable and not nearly as far away.
   
3. Remember that consistency is key to achieving your fitness goals. Create a schedule to establish a routine and stay on track. Be sure that the times and days you mapped out to exercise are the most likely for you to show up without interruption or significant time constraints.
   
4. Lastly, don’t be discouraged if you do not reach your goals in your desired time frame. Remember that although you might not be there just yet, efforts to invest in your health should always be considered a success. Use these moments to look back on your process and determine what might be holding you back so you can plan better for the future and avoid potential hurdles.