Benefits of Setting Realistic Fitness Goals

How to set realistic fitness goals?

Who doesn’t want to get into shape? However, it is easier said than done. It requires determination, resolution and a lot of hard work. Once people decide to exercise and start living a healthy life, they might be tempted to dive straight into it. Often, setting fitness goals is overlooked. This is a critical mistake that needs to be avoided.

To get the most out of a fitness regimen, it is essential to start on the right note. And the right note involves setting realistic fitness goals. Setting realistic fitness goals can lead you on the path to a healthier lifestyle.

Here is how you can set exercise goals that are likely to be realized.

The art of setting SMART goals

When it comes to set exercise goals, many organizations ask people to set SMART goals. This is an acronym used by the American Council on Exercise. Here is what it means:

• Specific: Ensure that the goal is clear. Rather than saying you wish to lose weight, say, “I want to lose 20 kg”.
• Measurable: The goal must be quantifiable so that its success or progress can be measured. Don’t just say you want to lose weight, instead tell the timeline within which you want to achieve it.
• Attainable: It is essential for the goal to be realistic. You can’t expect yourself to do 100 lifts and exercise for six hours during the initial days. Know your limitations.
• Relevant: The goal you set must be pertinent to your objective. For instance, if your aim is to improve your stamina, your goal shouldn’t be focusing on bulking or cutting regimens.
• Time-bound: Give yourself a deadline so that you are motivated to follow the fitness routine.

Pay heed to Personal Factors

There is no such thing as the universally best fitness routine. After all, no two people are the same. People have different personal factors that play a role in setting exercise goals. For instance, let’s say someone hasn’t exercised, even for a second, during his/her life. This person’s goal is likely to be starkly different from someone who has been quite athletic throughout their life.

To set exercise goals, it is vital first to consider personal factors and your lifestyle. Can you prepare the proposed diet and stick to it? Will your financial condition or lifestyle act as an impediment in doing so? Do you have the required equipment at your disposal? When do you wake up or sleep? What is your self-care routine? Do you have time to take part in a long-term rigorous workout regimen?

These factors will determine what your goals will be.

Keep making it challenging

While it is essential to take it easy during the initial, your goals should also be dynamic enough to be altered as your strength increases. Once you have mastered the easy exercises, you won’t get any benefit out of them anymore. Now, to stay fit, one must progress to the next stage. Opt for advanced exercises. Let’s say previously you were lifting for ten minutes. Slowly, increase it to 15 minutes. The more you progress, the higher the chance of you achieving long term fitness.

Hire a fitness trainer

Unsure of your ability to set goals for yourself and see them through? You can always hire a fitness trainer to do it all for you. A fitness trainer can come in very handy. There are various reasons why you should consider hiring them to help you accomplish your goals. For starters, fitness trainers make gyms look less intimidating. They can tell you the best way to use different equipment. This not only helps in feeling confident in the gym but also guarantees that you get the most of the gym session. Moreover, fitness trainers increase accountability.

When you have someone looking over the heads monitoring whether the goals are being achieved, there is a higher chance that people will strive to achieve their objectives. Since fitness trainers know the best exercises and workout, they help in getting better results with a shorter and more effective workout than ones people do on their own.

Spend time setting exercise goals. The better the goals are, the higher is the probability that one would remain fit in the long run. Don’t skip or rush this step. Once your goals are set and you start following them, you will see the difference in your health and fitness yourself.

Exercise…Be Healthy….Live Happy