Do you have a health and fitness goal? Is there something you want to achieve that seems too big and overwhelming? You might just give up… right?
NOPE! We don’t give-up, we charge through.. We make a plan and we get to work..
Have you tried in the past to reach a fitness or weight loss goal?
It may have become too difficult to achieve.. You may have thrown in the towel, or you might have said things like “Maybe this is just it,” or “I should just settle for what I have.” Don’t feel defeated, we have all been there..
Setting a goal and not reaching it, or even the fear of not reaching your goal can make you feel miserable. It can make you doubt yourself and really hamper your self-confidence. If this resonates with you and you want to push past some of those barriers, you have come to the right place!
Why we sometimes give up.. We tend to reach for the stars when we set goals for ourselves, we often have big goals and put a lot of pressure on ourselves to achieve those goals. The problem is not that the goal is too big, or that we cant reach our goals because “It just isn’t possible”. More often than not, the problem is that we place unrealistic expectations on when and how to achieve the goals we set for ourselves.
If you have a big goal. FANTASTIC! Its great that you know what you want and can dream big.
Now.. to make that goal achievable, you need to do some prep work. You need to get clear on what the goal is and more importantly why you want it.. Figuring out what motivates you is key. Setting goals and smashing them is a mental game, its about persistence as much as it is about taking action.
What is the Goal ? You need to select a goal that is specific to you. Something FOR you, that you can be proud of once you have achieved it. Its no use jumping on a “health and fitness” craze just because your friend is doing it, or wanting to lose 10kgs because your boyfriend thinks your getting fat. Your goal needs to be simply that.. YOUR goal…
Below is a quick-step guide and show you how to set yourself up for success
Step 1. Identify your goals:
WHAT do you want? Do you have a target in mind? Do you want to lose 10kgs or 15kgs? Do you want to run a marathon? Something almost magical happens when you take a general idea or desire and start defining it more precisely through the goal setting process below.
Step 2. Identify your purpose:
WHY do you want to achieve this goal? What will it bring you? If you know what you’re moving towards and more importantly why, you’ll find ways to make it happen.
So.. what is it that you REALLY want?
Now that you know WHAT the goal is and WHY you want to achieve it (great work by the way!) you can start to think about how to make your goals more precise. Think about the specifics of your goal. If your goal is to ‘lose weight’, how much weight do you want to lose? And how will you know when you’re done? Is it when you’ve lost 2kgs? 5kgs? 40kgs? Without a clear target & timeline, it’s difficult to know when you’ve hit your mark. That’s precisely the reason why it’s crucial to set clear and specific goals.
How specific can you be with your goal? Start thinking about how you can break your goal down into monthly or even weekly targets. Setting specific targets for yourself is an extremely important part of the process. Start making a list simple steps that will get you to the end result (we call these milestones).
Is your goal Measurable? When you can measure a goal, you’ll actually see your progress and know when you achieve it.
Is your goal achievable? If you have a really big goal in mind, you might think ‘no way’. We say “If you can dream it, you can achieve it” Setting achievable goals means looking at your current lifestyle and assessing whether your goal is attainable. If you feel you need to make some lifestyle changes in order to achieve your goal, then put it in your plan and get to work.
Can you realistically achieve your goal? Your goal needs to be realistic. If you say “I want to lose 10kgs” give yourself a realistic amount of time to achieve it. If the goal seems unattainable or too big and overwhelming, we suggest perhaps you modify the goal so it becomes achievable within your current lifestyle.
“If the plan doesn’t work, change the Plan.. Never change the goal”
Do you have a time frame in mind? There are mixed opinions about this one.. We believe you must always set a timeline for your goals. When you break your goals down into smaller, more specific goals (milestones), you can then assign a timeline for each of them. Set yourself up so you can successfully achieve something each month. If you are very specific with your goals, you could be checking things off your list weekly.
Just remember to go easy on yourself.. sometimes life can get in the way of your timeline. It’s ok if you have to revise your timeline here and there, just don’t ever forget about it. Make sure you check in with yourself along the way and do your best to keep on-track.
You have defined your goal.. check! You have your specific achievable milestones written down and your timeline complete… check! You are almost ready to go!
There are just a few last things to think about. You should look at what you are going to need to achieve success? Do you need to become a member of your local gym? Do you need some equipment so you can workout at home? Or do you simply need support from the people closest to you?
It might even pay to make a list of 2 or 3 obstacles that may de-rail your success. If you plan for these obstacles, it makes it easier to overcome them and keep moving forward toward your goal. As the saying goes, proper planning prevents poor performance
Now that you have the tools to set your goals & make a plan, its time to get after it..