Get smart to achieve your goals
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Nutrition Team
It sounds like it should be a simple matter. But more and more people begin a health and fitness programme without having any measurable goals in mind. Failing to plan your goals before beginning, is a lot like diving into the sea when you can't swim.
Your goals should be established first, then you’ll have a better idea of how to achieve them. If your goal is weight loss, not only do you need to define that, but more importantly, write it down. How much weight do you want to lose? How quickly do you hope to lose the weight? Do remember that a safe and healthy rate of weight loss is 1-2 lbs per week.
If your goal is to improve your fitness, again write it down and plan how you are going to measure your progress to achieve those goals.
Are Your Goals S.M.A.R.T.?
A S.M.A.R.T. goal is one that is: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. Whatever your plan, it must pass all five parts of the S.M.A.R.T. goal test. "I want to lose 20 pounds." Is that specific? Yes. Is it measurable? Yes. Is it attainable? Yes. Is it realistic? Yes. Is it timely? No. You didn’t determine the time period that you expect to lose the weight during. If you said, in one month, then yes, it would be timely, but now it fails the realistic test.
Get real
The goal must also be objective rather than subjective. Think of an objective goal as a stake in the sand. You need to reach a specific point and that point is measurable. You’ll know it when you get there.
If you said, "My goal is to get in shape and lose some weight", this is a subjective goal. So, how do you know if you ever achieved this goal? You don’t. If today you can do 10 squats and you weigh 12st, and after a month, you can do 10 squats and 10 lunges and you weigh 11st, you could say you achieved your goal. Did you? You are apparently stronger, and you are a little lighter. That’s what you asked for, isn’t it?
But if your goal was to "increase my strength by 75 percent, be able to walk three miles without being winded coming up that long hill near home and drop 2st in four months," that is a S.M.A.R.T. and objective goal.
Now, let's break it down and set smaller goals. What are your targets for the first 30 days, 2 months, etc.? With goals, you're more likely to stick to your programme. You’ll find that you’re now making health and fitness part of your newly-defined lifestyle.
Set realistic goals. Set the small steps so you can measure your progress, and you will achieve your goals.