Step-By-Step Guide To Achieving Your 2015 Fitness Goals
- bradleyhaag
- Jan 12, 2015
- 3 min read
The following is a rough outline of the exact process I use for my clients and myself for achieving goals. How you mold the steps in your life will be up to you, but I encourage you to cycle this guide throughout your year for constant and never ending improvement.
Step 1: Establish Goals
Establishing a clear goal is one of the biggest mistakes I see individuals make. When I ask people what they want as it relates to fitness, I typically get a response like “Well I want to tone up, get stronger, and run a marathon”. While if broken down correctly all these things are possible, but this example is too vague and lacks specificity in many areas. “How much weight do you want to lose? By what day? Can you commit to exercising regularly and making better nutrition choices?” Are all questions I would respond with. My point is, establish a smart goal that is clearly defined and specific. Remember: Vague goals remove the accountability factor making you not feel guilty if you don’t achieve them.
For more information on creating your goals check out this article I wrote.
Step 2: Make a Plan
Planning out how to achieve your goals is the bread and butter of what I do every day, I love it! To make your own plan designed to meet your specific goals you will first need to look at how much time you have each week to commit to exercise. This will determined exactly what you can realistically do each training session. Then you should map out how much time you need to achieve your goal, or better yet work backward from a specific date. For example if you want to compete in a 5k running race sometime in April, plan backwards from April to give yourself a certain number of weeks. Using the example above, say Joe Runner is 12 weeks away from his 5k and can train for 45 minutes four times a week. Once this is established the rest is fairly simple, is just a matter of plugging in the right workouts (that’s where a personal trainer can come in handy) in those 45 minutes time slots.
For more information on planning for your goals check out this article I wrote.
Step 3: Commit to the plan
If you're looking for the “secret” to achieving your goals, commitment is it. If you're eating clean day after day and not missing workouts you CAN’T FAIL. At best you will surpass your goals and at worst you will learn valuable lesson on what didn’t work. Do whatever you have to in order to stay committed to your plan. I will say again, commitment is the “secret” ingredient in the recipe for success.
For more Tips and tricks on staying committed to your goals check out this article I wrote.
Step 4: Meet Objectives
Meeting objectives by certain dates is what seperates the men from the boys. When you're creating your plan, set a certain criteria you must meet in order to achieve your goals. For example if your goal is to lose 30lbs in 6 months, you will need to have lost 15lbs in 3 months. Note there is a disquisition between goals and objectives, goals are the end result of what you're training for, an a objective is a check box you must cross off along on the way.
Step 5: Level Up
The last step of achieving your goals is what I call “leveling up” this is where you have reached your dateline and either have or haven’t met your goals. Take the information you’ve gained along your journey and use it to “level up”. Meaning move forward from what you have learned. Now when you start from step 1 again with new goals you will have invaluable knowledge on what worked and didn’t work for you. For example you may have lost a good amount of weight, but not as much as you wanted. Take a realistically look back on training and ask yourself what you could have done better or differently?
Follow these steps and make 2015 your best year! As always I will be sharing my personal goals and training process on my blog.
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