How to set realistic fitness goals (and achieve them!). Part 1

Did you set a 2019 New Year’s resolution related to fitness? Did you vow that by summer time you would have a slim figure for the beach? Or maybe that you would finally tone up after having your baby a year ago? Did you decide that 2019 would be the year that you finally got serious about slimming down or bulking up? Or did you wanna achieve the best version of yourself?

This isn’t some personal failure. You are not naturally bad at setting or working towards a goal. What probably happened is that you set an unrealistic goal with good intentions but without a plan, and then the year got rolling and you haven’t been able to make anything happen towards that resolution. Not for lack of ability, though!

The good news is: you can accomplish anything. I am proof of that, and I believe with my whole heart that you have what it takes to achieve your dreams. In this post I’m going to give you a little cheat sheet for how to make a realistic goal. In the next post I’m going to outline how to achieve that goal. 

Tip 1: 

Be specific! The best of intentions die in ambiguity. Be precise in what you want to achieve and you will be more likely to achieve it. 

Instead of: I will be in the best shape of my life by the end of 20/20.

Try: I will lose X percent of my body weight by April, and another X percent by December.

Tip 2: 

Don’t look back! If you’ve had a baby, you may be inclined to set a goal to achieve your pre-pregnancy body. Wrong. Having a baby permanently changes your body. That doesn’t mean you can never have a smoking hot physique, but it does mean that trying to reverse time and erase evidence of your pregnancy isn’t the best use of your effort. Look ahead, to what you’re going to achieve in the future

Instead of: I will get my pre-baby body back!

Try: I will lose the baby weight and fire up my core strength. 

Tip 3: 

Be where you are! If you have never run a single city block in your entire life, setting a goal to run a marathon within the year may not actually be realistic. It’s good to challenge yourself, sure. But if you set a goal that’s too far away from your current capabilities, you may get too discouraged along the way and quit altogether. Set yourself up for success by setting attainable, incremental goals. 

Instead of: I will run a marathon this year!

Try: I will run four days per week, sign up for a 5k in the upcoming spring, and a 10k next summer.

Tip 4: 

Acknowledge your limitations! This may not be a sexy tip, but the truth is if you’re a single mom of three under four with a baby who doesn’t sleep through the night, it’s probably more important for you to get enough sleep than wake up extra early to grind out a workout at 5am. This doesn’t mean you can’t set sexy goals, but it means you need to be extra smart. Be meticulous in how you execute on your goals, because those of you with little kiddos or other hefty responsibilities are extra prone to burn out on your resolutions. Also, it’s even more important for you to dedicate time for yourself so that you can show up for the people who count on you. 

Instead of: I will wake up every morning to exercise before work. 

Try: Each week I will plan five workouts into my schedule. 

Tip 5: 

Focus on the process! It’s fun to have a main goal you’re working towards, but if you hate the process of doing the work, you won’t get very far. If you want to slim down, but you love to have a treat after supper, exnaying sugar forever will only last so long before you binge on a carton of ice cream after dark. Make the process a fun adventure and give yourself grace along the way. 

Instead of: I will not eat baked goods until after I hit my goal weight. 

Try: I will only enjoy treats that I make so I know they are minimally processed. 

It’s not too late to revise your new goals with these tips in mind. Get serious about changing your life and make goals to match. Of course, if you want additional help shoot us a message on Instagram and we can help you get on track with any health goals !