Exercise and Fitness must always be goal-oriented. However, many people aren’t always successful at meeting their goals because of a lack of criteria when establishing them. The #1 fitness/exercise goal is always to lose weight, especially around New Years’. Forbes magazine did a survey and estimated that about only 8% of people are able to accomplish their New Year’s Resolutions. The question remains, why do so many people fail? The answer to these questions is simple. Many people fail to make their goals tangible or don’t add substance to their goals. Well if you want to lose 20 pounds, here is the way to accomplish just that.
SMART goals give substance and help us achieve both our long and short-term goals. When setting a goal it is essential to follow these criteria to give yourself a greater chance of accomplishing your general goal.
S – Specific: When setting a specific goal who must first answer the WHY questions (Who is involved, what do you want to accomplish and when do you want to accomplish it by). For example, if your general goal is to increase your fitness level, then a specific goal would say, join a health club or work with a personal trainer/health coach, 3 days a week.
M – Measurable: Making your goals measurable allows individuals to successfully track their individual progress along the goals setting journey. To make your goals measurable you need to ask yourself the questions, how much, how many or how will I know that I accomplished my goal. By making goals measurable, it will enable you to stay focus on the task and give you a sense of achievement when you have put in the effort to reach your goal.
A – Attainable: A health coach can work with clients in helping them make sure their goals are attainable. By conducting a pre-health assessment, a health coach can create an individualized plan that includes single-step criteria that will help in making them come true. A health coach will also give you the ability and skills to discipline yourself in achieving your goals. Listing your goals will also help you prioritize them will also creating a timeframe that will allow you to carry out those steps.
R – Realistic: For a goal to be realistic it must represent an objective in which you are willing and able to work. It’s ultimately up to the individual as to how high they want their goal to be. High goals must come with high motivation levels as well as hard work and dedication. However, they often come with some bumps in the road and a few setbacks from time to time. But they also will provide you with a sense of self-accomplishment and great pride when you have worked in accomplishing them.
T – Timely/Tangible: A goal must be grounded with a timeframe. If a goal fails to have a timeframe then there is no sense of urgency and motivation levels are usually lowered. If you want to lose 10 pounds, someday doesn’t work. Anchoring it with a timeframe such as July 1st, subconsciously gives you the motivation to start working towards achieving your goal. The T can also stand for tangible which means you can experience it with one of your 5 senses. When your goal is tangible you have a better chance of making it specific, measurable, and attainable.
When writing SMART goals it is important to consult a specialist for guiding assistance. A health coach willing to give you the necessary tools and provide you with the framework for success. By including all of the necessary components of your SMART goal you will lessen the likelihood of not accomplishing your goal. You will be able to break down your goal into different components and set forth on a journey of success.
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For those seeking help or further guidance in achieving their SMART Exercise and Fitness goals, please contact Brian Donaldson at briand@xceptionalyou.com or contact our Intake Department at 201.488.6678! Look at www.xceptionalyou.com for more information.
Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals. (n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2017, from http://topachievement.com/smart.html
(n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2017, from http://www.yourcoach.be/en/coaching-tools/smart-goal-setting.php
