HOW STICKING WITH A PLAN HELPS YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FITNESS GOALS (Part One)

Part one of two

Exercise has been part of my daily routine for most of my life. I consider it a way of life; the “best” part of my life. While serving in the military, I heard all sorts of excuses from my fellow airmen, to justify not completing their Physical Training (PT), such as having too much work, feeling sick, having an injury, and so on. Any other task seemed more interesting than going to the gym and getting ready for the mandatory physical fitness test. The lack of commitment to maintaining a strong body has been a big problem for the military. This is why some organizations provided the member a setup time to exercise. Giving a free hour and a half two times a week was not enough for some, though, and the rate of test failure continued to rise. This confirms that intrinsic motivation is needed for a life change or people will continue in their old ways. To conclude my story,members were discharged, not promoted, unmotivated at work for not being able to follow the mandated physical requirements.

I often ask myself why some people are not motivated to exercise even when they know that it is the key to living a longer and healthier life. For some, it is a lack of structure or routine in which they can accommodate exercise time and me time. If the lack of motivation is due to structure, you will need to write your goals down and consider if they are doable. You may need an objective as a starting point. This is where I think we should all start: finding the time in your schedule to set aside to achieve your goals. Goals mean nothing if you do not consider them achievable.

Goals should have an objective that is SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reliable, and Time-based.

For example, to start an exercise routine you will need to determine what type of exercise to do and how oftento do it. Does it fit my schedule? Do I have a backup plan? Can I rely on my determination/commitment to exercise? How soon will I see/feel the benefits?

Example

Goal or Objective: Lose weight

Specific: How many pounds?

Measurable: 10 pounds in five months

Attainable: Can you exercise on the days established?

Reliable/Relevant: Gym, home, equipment (comfortable clothes, sneakers), support group

Time base: Day and time.

Many people have these goals and set them in their head. When you take time to sit down and write a plan it works like magic! Visualize yourself achieving your goal, now is the time for a life-changing experience!

We have created a section on our website to help you create your fitness goal using the SMART goal measurements. All you need to do is fill out the blanks. I hope that you find this beneficial and that you initiate a new healthier life with these small steps.

In the next article we will talk more about how you can stay focused and in line with your Goals.

Namaste,

Millie