Shore Fit
By Bonnie Dodd-Miller
Sometimes the hardest part of achieving your goals is being realistic. I truly believe this is one of the main reasons why New Year’s resolutions fail miserably. Everyone wants to set the bar high, and there’s nothing wrong with that in the sense that you should want to strive to become the best you that you can be. However, it takes time. You have to be consistent, long term.
Unfortunately, it’s not a quick process. Look at the reality that we live in. Everything is instant gratification these days. You want something, you order it and you either get it immediately or it’s there the very next day.
Fitness never worked like that and never will. Setting realistic goals in a time sensitive manner is the best approach to goal setting.
My first recommendation is to be specific. This may sound like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many clients I meet who have a goal of “getting fit,” or “getting in shape.” At the end of the day, statements like that mean absolutely nothing.
Setting a proper goal means first determining what the final product should be. People usually train to either build muscle, lose weight or burn fat. This can be achieved, but you need to hone in on one. The other two may follow suit and just be an added bonus.
So we’ve established that we would like to build muscle. I picked this one because it’s my current goal. The next question is, “how much?”
It’s important that your goal has a numerical component to it. Like if it’s weight loss, then how much weight do you want to lose? This will make it easier to track your progress and hold yourself accountable.
A goal of adding 10 pounds of muscle is a good example of applying this concept. If your goal isn’t measurable, you’ll hardly be able to make and follow a program to attack it.
A goal has to be attainable as well and based on your body’s physiological boundaries. Any program promising a 20-pound weight loss in two weeks is not telling the truth.
It has to be sustainable and done the right way. Quick fixes do not work long term. On a similar note, not only do your goals need to be attainable, they also need to be realistic for your body’s physiology and your lifestyle.
The results you see will depend highly on your discipline in life. I listen to a podcast regularly and one of their favorite quotes is, “How you do something is how you do everything.”
That really resonated with me. Think about it. If I don’t brush my teeth before bed, what will happen? I’ll get cavities. If I don’t do my laundry, then I’ll never have clean clothes.
Same goes with fitness goals. If I don’t put in the work, then I won’t be able to reach my goals. You must do the necessary steps for the results that you want to achieve.
Timing is important too. It’s invaluable to realize that a goal should have a deadline. The deadline also needs to be appropriate for the goal.
If your goal is to train hard for the next three months, and your desired goal is weight loss, then set a goal that suits that time frame such as 12 to 15 pounds. Your goals will be reached if you realize that at the end of the day, consistency is the key.
What you see as far as results depends on what you put into it. This involves making the necessary lifestyle changes to improve your physique or health, a reality.
Take the time, figure out exactly what you want and write it out. Make it visible. Place it on your mirror in the bathroom or on your front door as you’re exiting as a strong reminder of what you’re working towards.
Bonnie Miller is certified fitness instructor at the Ocean City Aquatic and Fitness Center and Atilis Gym in Galloway. She is a mom of three and resides Somers Point.
