Popular fitness goals include weight loss, improved health, stress reduction, increased strength, general fitness and flexibility. For instance, if you go to the club to improve your health but leave it at that, how can you be sure you’re on track? Set concrete criteria such as: “In one month, I want to jog at 4 mph for three minutes without getting out of breath” or “I want to go to the club after work three days a week so I am more relaxed and less stressed when I get home -- leading to fewer arguments with my family.”
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It’s easy for people to slip. It’s easy for people to lose sight of what they want. However, smart fitness goals will help keep you on track and bolster your health and confidence.
Measuring and seeing progress immediately also provides a feeling of reward and reinforcement. Having key numbers increase or decrease is important for your mindset, especially if you think you still look the same. A pattern may emerge, and you’ll notice that certain workouts or certain days benefit you more. This also lets you adjust your workout and to assess your strengths and weaknesses to find better ways to meet your goals. When you set your goals, make sure to include a method for measuring your progress.
Lastly, be sure to write down your goals. If you keep them only in your mind, you’re more likely to forget them or to let them go. Committing them to paper (or to a computer screen) makes them real and tangible. You’ll be able to clarify and fine-tune what you need, and make adjustments. Ensure you have realistic goals at least for the short term (long-term goals may be too overwhelming and defeat the purpose), and a metric for measuring progress.