One of the things that I'm learning through making strength training a part of my lifestyle is the importance of setting goals. It's very motivating to know where I want to be in a month, three months, or six months. Plus, setting and reaching my fitness goals is a discipline I can use in every other area of my life. Here are some tips for setting and reaching realistic fitness goals.
1. Set your goals for fitness and not weight loss
There's nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight when you're working hard at the gym! It can be really discouraging though when you've put in work for a month and your weight hasn't budged. Just because you haven't lost weight though doesn't mean that your body isn't changing and isn't better off for working out. So instead of focusing on your weight, focus on what your body can do and what you can do better this month than what you did last month. For example, right now I'm doing thirty minutes of cardio on my own a few times a week, but I think I could push myself more. So my goal for this month is to up my cardio so that next month I can start going to morning spin classes without being wiped out for the whole rest of the day.
2. Make a plan
Once you know what you want to accomplish, set realistic mini goals that will help you get there. Plan things like when you'll workout, how many times you need to workout a week, or what tweaks to make to your workout to meet your goal. Whatever your mini goals are, write them down and check them off as you accomplish them. This will help you visually see your progress toward your goals.
3. Be kind to yourself
Life happens. There's more to life than working out, so if something comes up and you miss a workout then don't beat yourself. Just be sure that the next day you get back at it. Remember, you're not working out because who you are when you don't workout isn't enough. You're working out because you love yourself and your body and want to feel good everyday and live a long, healthy life.
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