| Goals are the first thing you always hear about when | | | | that doesn't make you take action. It would be good |
| it comes to getting in shape. What are your goals? | | | | for you to always get 8 hrs of sleep but that doesn't |
| The answer is typically very vague and is the start of | | | | make you leave the party early to go home and make |
| what ultimately leads to frustration and failure in your | | | | sure you get all the sleep you need. A better reason |
| efforts to get fit and healthy. In a society where single | | | | for wanting to lose weight would be "because my son |
| mindedness, commitment and clarity are rare you must | | | | daughter said to me I want you to stay healthy so you |
| buck the trend if you are to be successful in attaining | | | | can be around for me until I am an adult," this will |
| true health and fitness. | | | | assuredly elicit emotion from any parent and would be |
| You will function best if you focus on one thing at a | | | | a driving force to keep you going when things get |
| time. This is especially true when it comes to health | | | | difficult. The reason anyone needs a powerful "why" |
| and fitness. Yes, you probably have several things you | | | | for any fitness goal is to keep you going when you |
| would like to achieve, but trying to accomplish them all | | | | don't want to do what you need to do because it's |
| at once is a sure recipe for failure. | | | | hard, you are tired or things are becoming boring. After |
| When beginning a new fitness routine you must decide | | | | the reason is established then the goal must be made |
| what you really want to accomplish the most. Then | | | | specific, objective and measurable. In this case you |
| you have to decide why you want to accomplish it. | | | | decide you want to lose 20 lbs of body fat, this makes |
| Next, you must clarify your goal by making it objective | | | | the "losing weight" goal objective and measurable. |
| and measurable. Finally, you must do a reality check | | | | Then comes the time to decide how much time and |
| and decide how much time and energy you are willing | | | | energy you are willing and able to put into losing 20 lbs |
| to put into accomplishing it and establish a time table | | | | of body fat. In this case you determine you are willing |
| for completion. | | | | to spend 1 hr per day 5 days per week doing |
| This process is best illustrated by an example using | | | | whatever exercise is required and you are willing to |
| one of the most common situations out there. You | | | | change your eating habits in whatever way is needed. |
| say, "I want to get in shape, feel better, and lose | | | | Based on this, a timetable of 6 months is established to |
| weight." Ok, so that's three goals, none of which | | | | accomplish the goal. Finally you do a reality check and |
| provide much clarity. Before doing anything else you | | | | realize that you work 60 hrs a week and have 3 kids |
| must decide which of the three are most important. | | | | and thus can only do half the amount of exercise you |
| You decide losing weight is the most important of the | | | | were willing to do and are only willing to change some |
| three. Great! Then comes one of the most important | | | | of your eating habits. Thus, based on the reality check |
| but most difficult questions you must answer. Why do | | | | you decide that your time table for accomplishing your |
| you want to lose weight? You have to dig deep on | | | | goal must change from 6 months to 12 months. |
| this one, because if you don't get this one right your | | | | The scenario above is very typical of many people |
| likelihood of success will be far less. In other words, | | | | who have very hectic, stressful lifestyles. Thus the |
| you must have and identify a strong internal driving | | | | fact must be reiterated that if you want to be |
| force for wanting to lose weight. Until this is done you | | | | successful in attaining health and fitness goals you |
| cannot move forward in the process. This may require | | | | must focus on just one goal at a time. A goal that is |
| a significant amount of thought and soul searching, | | | | approached with appropriate expectations based on |
| from which much payoff will result. A common reason | | | | your individual life circumstances and the realization |
| given here would be, "because it would be good for | | | | that adjustments to the goal and plan may be needed |
| me to lose weight", this is not an adequate reason | | | | as situations change will enable you to achieve the |
| because it is most likely not going to elicit much passion | | | | positive, sustainable results you as an individual want. |
| or emotion. A lot of things would be good for you, but | | | | |