Goal setting

Before you dive in and start up any workout program or fitness plan, one thing that you absolutely must make sure that you’re taking the time to do is execute a proper goal setting plan. If you don’t have good goals in place before you begin you’re going to find that your motivation to continue is a great deal lower and that you just don’t have that absolute direction you need for your workout sessions.
Let’s look at a few of the important things to remember as you set some goals.
Specific
The first thing that you must be making sure of when you set your goals is that they are specific. If you’re not being specific enough with your goals, it’s going to be very difficult to know when you have obtained them.
For instance, don’t say that you just want to lose weight – specify just how much weight you want to lose. Whether it’s ten pounds of weight or 2% body fat, be as specific as possible.
Deadline-Oriented
Next, you also must make sure that the goals you set for yourself are deadline oriented as well. If you’re not making sure that you have an end point for when you want to accomplish these goals, there’s a very good chance that procrastination may rear its ugly head.
When a deadline is lurking, that is what will get you out of the house and into the gym.
Realistic
Next, also double check that your goals are realistic. This needs to be realistic from the point of view that you could in fact achieve this and also realistic given the amount of time you have set for yourself.
A goal to drop 20 pounds of body fat in one month would not be a realistic goal to achieve, nor would a goal to be 105 pounds if you currently stand 5’10”.
Make sure the goal is possible to obtain before you start devoting hours towards working on it.
Paired With A Reward
Finally, the last thing that you should know if you are going to set some good goals is that you should have a reward in place for them. Since most of us are highly motivated by some type of reward, when you do have this to look forward to you are going to definitely notice a dramatic improvement in your overall adherence levels.
Ideally you want to avoid food rewards as that will only encourage poor eating behaviours. If you want to have a cheat meal out with a friend once in a while that’s fine, but don’t use food as a reward for good exercise behaviour.
Instead choose something like a spa vacation or a new set of workout clothes. Whatever gets you excited will work perfectly.
So keep these tips in mind as you set your very own goals. If you do, you’ll be sure that they are going to motivate you very well to keep up with your workout and diet plan.