Whether you are looking to lose weight, build muscle, fit back into your wedding dress or just gain some more energy to get you through the day, setting goals is one of the most important steps in getting there. Goals give you something to strive for and can be the best kind of motivator. Be careful of setting unrealistic fitness goals; they can detract from your overall mission and even set you back.
Being Healthy
The goal of becoming a healthier person should trump all others. Weight loss, improved muscle tone and increased muscle mass are all the side effects of improved health. Shooting for good health above all else will help to make sure you eat right, do the right kinds of exercise and practice safely. Make improving your health your No. 1 priority.
Taking Small Bites
One of the best ways to get discouraged is to set a ridiculous goal and then fail at reaching it. Accomplishing goals is the best type of motivation, so increase your chances of success by setting small, attainable goals. If you want to lose 100 lbs., break that up into 10-lb. increments. Every time you lose 10 lbs. you will feel refreshed, renewed and motivated, making the next 10 even easier to lose.
Keep a Journal
Journaling is an effective way of documenting your progress along your fitness journey. Write down everything you think, feel and do with regard to meeting your goals. Then, when you reach your goals you can look back on what it took to get you there. Journaling can also increase your accountability; if you have to write it down, you are less likely to stray. There is a lot less fun in eating a cheeseburger and cheating on your diet if you have to write it down later.
Sharing Your Goals
Set yourself up for success by sharing your goals with others. Accept feedback, both positive and negative, and use it to make improvements. Whether you are vocal about your fitness goals or spend time with one person you share your goals with, setting goals and vocalizing them can help make you more likely to be successful. It can also help make sure that your goals are more realistic; it is more difficult to share outlandish dreams and goals with a person than it is to share grounded, realistic ones.
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