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We all set certain goals for ourselves at the beginning of the year that we are certain we’ll achieve. These New Year’s Resolutions are almost always goals that for some reason or another we lose sight of. You know the same old resolution, “I want to start losing weight, eat right, and exercise.” So you join the gym, you buy your new running shoes and workout clothes. You throw out all the junk food in the house and make a pact that you’ll never go into another fast food drive through again! Does this sound familiar? For the first few weeks it’s hard to give up your fast food fix and you may even slip and give in to a craving a few times, but you’re still committed. You’re going to the gym seven days a week, two hours a day, and eating celery sticks and water…after all that’s what it takes to achieve this goal of losing a hundred pounds by February, right? But for some reason or another, three months into the year you’ve stopped working out. You’re frustrated, starving, and even thinking about working out makes you sick. You wonder how these crazy people do it…these fitness fanatics. Do they really exercise everyday and never give in to chocolate, pizza, or candy?
When it comes to eating healthy and exercising, our excuses are many…not enough time, not enough energy, or we’re too busy. Or maybe you have made the commitment to a healthy lifestyle, but just aren’t seeing the results that you want. This New Year when you make your resolutions I want you to remember The SMART Goal Setting Principle. By following the SMART Principle you reduce your chances of setting goals that you won’t be able to obtain.
So what is the SMART Principle? It is goal setting tips to help you stay focused. If you want to be successful you must get “smart” about your goals.
Principle One: Be Specific. This refers to setting a goal that you know exactly what you are striving towards. For example, instead of saying I want to “get in shape”, set a specific goal like, I want to lose 20 pounds in four months or I want to run a 5K in 25 minutes. This way you are Specific and can make a plan.
Principle Two: Your goal should be Measurable. This is important because you will know exactly when you have achieved your goal and this will give you a feeling of success. For example, if your goal is weight loss you can get an assessment from a personal trainer in which they will Measure you in numerous ways to show your progress.
Principle Three: Your goal should be Attainable. This principle is very important. Most people expect results quickly. If you can’t attain a goal you’re probably going to get frustrated and burn out. It would be better to set a short term and a long term goal. For example, set a long term goal to lose a total of 60 pounds, but set a short term goal of losing 20 pounds every four months and continue on with that until you reach your ultimate goal.
Principle Four: Next is to be Realistic. You need to keep in mind that your goal should be something that you honestly believe you can achieve. This is where a personal trainer would be very useful. A trainer is able to help you understand where your fitness level is now, and what would be Realistic for you to attain. For example, if you are new to exercising and you set a goal to run a 5K in 15 minutes, chances are you will not succeed. Having a personal trainer will give you an advantage of knowing what your body is able to accomplish.
Principle Five: Set a Time Line. This will insure that you are on track and not getting lazy. When your goal date gets closer and closer it will keep you motivated to maintain your intensity and dedication. For example, find a 5K race that you’d like to run. Once you have the date of the race you can organize a plan to achieve your goal by the day of the race.
Let the New Year of 2007 be the year that you set a SMART Goal and not just a resolution. Remember your goal should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and on a Time Line. This will be the year you make that dream of losing weight or running a race a reality.
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