New Year, New Goals! This time of year always brings in that fresh energy to get better, do better, feel better in all aspects of your life. So what better time than NOW to establish your S.M.A.R.T. goals for 2023!
Creating S.M.A.R.T. goals is a method to help identify what exactly it is you want to achieve, the plan to get there, and how to keep yourself on target to succeed. It’s a method to create goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Specific. Follow these guidelines when establishing your health and fitness goals for this year:
S – Be specific. The goal should be clear and precise. For example, instead of “I want to lose weight,” be specific in how much you want to lose.
M – The goal should be easily measurable. How will you know you achieved the goal? Which is the correct assessment or tool of measure to track and how will you track progress? If you’re looking to lose body fat, will you measure based upon scale weight or circumference measurements with body tape? Will you record stats of your workouts or seek out training plans to get you to your goal?
A – The goal should be realistic enough for you to achieve, yet challenging enough to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. For example, “I want to lose 50 pounds in 3 months” is an unrealistic and unhealthy goal. Typical and sustainable weight loss is 1-2 lbs per week. This is the safest and most effective way to lose the weight you want to lose, which is body fat. I want to lose 15 pounds in 3 months is a much more realistic yet challenging goal, as it’s just above a pound a week in weight loss.
R – WHY is this goal important to you? This is an important question to ask. Why does this particular goal matter to you? The goal you set for yourself should be important to your life and overall aspirations. For example, I want to lose 10 pounds because I want to look and feel my best for my wedding. I want to lose 10 pounds because I don’t want to be exhausted anymore when I play with my kids.
T – There must be a start and end date to your goal. The goal should include a deadline to help you stay on track and keep the outcome of your goal a priority. This also helps keep your goals realistic.
Put it all together and your S.M.A.R.T. goal should look something like this:
I want to lose 25 pounds in 6 months by tracking my nutrition habits and following a workout program that includes 2 days of strength training and 5 days of walking. This goal is important to me because I want to look my best for my wedding.
Need help creating your S.M.A.R.T. goal or need someone to help you stay accountable? Are you in need of an exercise or nutrition program to help you achieve your fitness and wellness goals? Click below and let’s get STARTED!
