This year, it didn’t take me long to scrap the idea of a resolution in favor of just setting fitness goals that make sense to me for the long term. We’re already a month into the new year and, according to statistics, the vast majority of people who had made resolutions have already failed.
Why Resolutions Fail
It’s awful to think about. I’m not going to gloat about the fact that I’m still working on setting my fitness goals properly and am keeping them up, while other people I know have given up entirely. That’s not what this is about. Instead, I want to use this time to talk about the difference some perspective can make.
Resolving to do something and setting fitness goals may not sound very different, but they really are. Remember, one is just a promise to yourself. The other involves creating a plan not based on a starting date, but on establishing a target and forming a plan to get yourself there. That may not sound very different but – at least to me – it has made all the difference in the world.
Why Setting Fitness Goals Works
Setting fitness goals works because it’s actually only the first step in a broader process. It begins the strategy creation process by providing you with a place to aim. Moreover, the goal isn’t just “weight loss” or “better fitness” as can be the case with resolutions – at least, that’s how my resolutions always sounded.
Instead, setting fitness goals properly comes with specifics. In fact, what I’ve done this year is create many targets instead of one big one. If I say that I’m going to be able to run a marathon by the end of the year, the odds are I won’t get there. But if I say that I will train to be able to run a marathon by the end of the year and set goals for the halfway point as well as smaller monthly and even weekly goals, that changes everything.
I can’t slack off on myself if I have to be able to reach this week’s target. There isn’t time to make it up again. I find it far more motivational and realistic this way. Sure, there will be times when I can’t stick to everything precisely. Life happens. But as long as I stay on track the vast majority of the time, I’ll continue to progress throughout the year in the way I want so that, by the end, I’ll reach that big goal. When I’m really tired, I take these LipoNitro diet pills for energy and it helps me push through.
So far, so good. I’m feeling very proud of myself. My goals are challenging without being overwhelming. I’m sticking to it, and I’m finding myself enjoying it and even looking forward to it at times.