Setting a goal is very important when it come to getting things done in an efficient and timely manner, and the same rule of thumb applies to getting fit and maintaining a healthy body shape. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, fitness should be part of everybody’s daily and weekly regimen. However, when you set goals for fitness, you can better monitor your progress and make changes to your workout routine to help your body perform at its best.
Importance of Setting Fitness Goals
Setting a fitness goal primarily helps focus your mind and efforts into doing things that are necessary to do the kind of exercises that your body needs. Even setting small goals can help you kick-start your fitness plan effectively. If you have not gone to the gym in a long while and are finding it difficult to resume your workout plan, then setting simple goals such as going for a walk daily, or cycling three to five times per week will put you on your way to getting back into shape.
Your Goals should be Realistic
No matter what type of goal you are setting, it is very important to remain in the realm of reality, and it particularly applies to setting fitness goals. If you have never run more than one kilometre at a time in your life, it is probably not a smart idea to set a goal a goal to run in the 8-kilometer race in the next couple of weeks. Setting an unachievable target will ultimately lead to giving up on your goal, which can destroy your momentum and motivation, making you more likely to give up the fitness program altogether.
Set Measurable Goals
Besides setting realistic goals, it is important that your goals should be measurable, so that you can strive toward the goal in a reasonable amount of time, and track your progress as well. For example, if you have been out of shape for a while now, you can set a goal to lose 5 pounds in the next 4 weeks, or if you are an athlete and have not participated in a competition due to some injury then you can set a goal to be able to run a 5km race using 4 to 6 weeks training.
While you may be excited to get back to the gym and get into shape, overexerting your body can cause injuries, which can sideline you and keep you from meeting the goals in time. It is highly recommended to consult your trainer or doctor before starting any sort of new fitness or exercise program. Both your trainer and doctor can help you set a realistic, measurable fitness goal that your body can easily achieve.