Motivation is one of the main elements of success in any exercise routine and having a clear fitness goal is also an important part of that success. A clear fitness goal will give you direction and remind you exactly what you are reaching for fitness wise. If your goals are not clear, it's easy to get sidetracked and turn in directions that you did not originally plan on.
More: 3 Ways to Find Your Fitness Motivation
Here are some things you should remember when choosing and deciding on a fitness goal:
Realistic
Your goal should be realistic. Do not plan to participate in a triathlon in a few months if you have been sitting on the couch for most of the previous year. Choose a goal that is attainable. If you are not sure if the goal you have in mind is reachable, talk to a professional trainer at a gym or consult your medical professional.
More: 4 Exercises to Reach Any Fitness Goal
Specific
Your goal should have exact terms. Instead of saying, "I'm going to get in shape before summer," be more specific. You could say, "I'm going to be able to run a mile without stopping before July" or "I'm going to lose 3 inches of fat from my belly by June." Once you know exactly what goal you are trying to reach, you should have a plan to reach it. Plan to work out at the gym four days a week or make time to jog with a friend on weekends. Be specific about your goal and determine the route to achieving it.
More: 5 Tips to Reevaluate, Revamp and Revive Your Goals
Concrete
Have a deadline. Give your goal a specific time frame. You can measure your progress and it will help guide you as you continue to workout. If you know that your goal is to run a 5K race in three months, you will be more likely to stick to your training schedule.
Track Progress
Have a visual way of tracking your progress. There are many ways to do this either on paper or by using online tools. You will feel motivated when you can look at a calendar and see that two weeks ago you were running a 12-minute mile, but now you are running it in only 11 minutes.
More: 5 Reasons Why You Should Keep a Fitness Journal?
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