Set Goals to Get Fit

The holidays are over and it’s get fit time now. Everyone knows what goes hand-in-hand with the holidays — family, crowded homes, and lots of food. It’s time to health up for spring and summer. 

Christmas being right on the heels of Thanksgiving, shortly after New Year the gyms overcrowd as many say to themselves, “whew, I really overdid it. Time to start burning.” 

But, for many, with hectic schedules including work, children, and responsibility, it can be difficult to get started, build that habit and then maintain it. 

How to begin?

Get specific with your goals.

Make a Plan

Make it clear to yourself what you plan to do but be realistic, not:

“I’m going to lose fifty pounds in a week.”

Realistic means it’s achievable and I’m not saying set low goals, but set ones that make sense and you can reach over time without harming yourself. Moreover, setting realistic and achievable goals equates to avoiding the demotivating disappointment if those are not achieved.

Set Long and Short-Term Goals

• Write down your goals / make a checklist
• Regularly check your goal progress
• Remind yourself where you’re headed
• Develop a goal-achievement strategy
• Use tools to aid your progress

Tools 

I am a longtime Garmin GPS user/customer who tracks their progress using Garmin Connect to keep track of my progress.

As for planning — I also use Map My Run to plot out routes to change my scenery which keeps me less bored when I am out on a walk with my dogs. 

Account for Your Personality

Most of us are not The Rock, John Cena, or Australian Emily Skye (oh how I wish) ~ so it goes back to setting realistic goals and more importantly, tailoring your goals to your interests to help avoid getting bored on your journey.

Get Committed to Get Fit

Stick to your plan in good times and bad. 

Personally, I am torn on whether to exercise when I’m ill, more often than not opting to stay indoors. 

Gather support — from your friends and family, surrounding yourself with enthusiastic personalities eager to support you or maybe invite you along on their own fitness journey.

Join a Club – I got into trucking, and joined local trucking clubs affiliated with GoRuck. Amazingly, I dropped a lot of pounds in a short period of time, just by walking with a weighted backpack. Most of the club gatherings (in San Antonio) usually congregate at The Pearl and head out for 5 to sometimes 12-mile training rucks. The conversations make the time pass quickly.

Boredom while exercising is my nemesis…

Good luck out there and let’s get fit.

~ Carmen