Have you ever noticed there seems to be more people running or walking in your neighborhood in the beginning of the year? This is probably because every January many people make New Year’s resolutions, often about their eating and exercise habits. Although I do this too, I am a fan of something even better. I like to call it ‘making small, ACHIEVABLE goals’. Let me elaborate. In January I could say, “I want to lose 20 lbs this year”. If that is what you’re thinking, then you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. Every time you go on the scale, you’ll remember that you have TWENTY pounds to go! This can get very frustrating and discouraging.
Here is what I suggest that has worked for me. If your goal is to lose weight, divide your goal (for example 20 lbs) by four. Losing five pounds is a small, achievable goal, something you can definitely do! Losing 5 lbs four times will be reaching your goal, without the constant reminder of the larger more scary thought of trying to lose 20. Just think, seeing three pounds lost out of your 5 lb goal will make you feel really good! Seeing 3 lbs lost on the scale when you are constantly thinking about the 17 left you have to lose, may not make you feel as good. Once you reach your goal of losing 5 lbs, you will feel much more confident in yourself and have a greater sense of accomplishment. This in turn will help you in setting your goal to lose another 5lbs, and so on till you get to your healthy goal weight. A suggestion I have when you are using weight as your measurement, remember to stay in a healthy weight range for you. Your doctor can help you decide this. You can also look at a BMI chart by clicking here. While making fitness goals, keep in mind that everyone has a different type of body. What is most important is that you are getting out there exercising, eating healthy, and feeling good!
Another great goal would be to exercise four days a week for 45 minutes. This is something you could probably achieve the first week. However, keeping it up might take some getting used to and possibly adjustments to your schedule. What I have done when I have not been working out consistently is to make a smaller, achievable goal of getting in 3 days of exercise a week, even if it is just for 30 minutes. Then a few weeks later I work it up to 45 minutes or more. From there it is easier to add another day to the week to get my 4 days in. It really helps to ease into a new routine when you make small, achievable goals.
These are just a couple of common fitness goals to give you an idea when you are making your own small, achievable goals. I know from personal experience that you will be more likely to accomplish your goals if divide it into smaller, achievable goals.
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