TIPS FOR SETTING GOALS

Now that Christmas is over and the New Year is quickly approaching, you know that you're going to want to be working off the christmas dinners and set new health and fitness goals to prepare your body for the summer months.  You must make goals to help you achieve the body and lifestyle you are wanting. Along the way you need to stay true to your goals and realize/accept that you will have pitfalls, but these pitfalls are normal, you just need to stay persistent, and you will succeed. 

• Set Realistic Goals  
• set micro goals along the way that will help you get to your long term goals
• micro goals should be small achievable goals that will eventually lead you to achieving your long term goal
• Set Realistic Time Frames 
• set a realistic time frame for short term goals that will help you get to your long term goals
• realistic time frame for a person who has never run before but wants to run a marathon would look like this
• 6 months run 5K, 12months run 10K, 18months run 1st 1/2 marathon, 2 years run 1st Marathon
• you want your time frame to be spread out so that the goals are achievable and will minimize the risk of injury
• Measurable
• make sure that your goals are objective and easily measurable
• this means that you must really dissect your goals to find out how you can measure them
• if you want to be healthier what does this entitle
• lower cholesterol
• lower blood pressure
• increased endurance
• increased strength
• increased flexibility
• bigger biceps
• less body fat
• what are you trying to achieve and how can you measure all the variables
• Journal
• you want to have a journal to record all progress, the peaks and valleys
• if your goal is weight loss, track your water, food, sleep and stress
• if your goal is strength track your weight room achievements and work outs
• your 3 reps max is a good way to see overall improvement in strength gains
• if your goal is running track your progress of runs; time, distance, how you felt
• Accountability
• get a friend involved with you to keep each other on track
• getting a close friend to join you in your journey to better health even if its just to tell them about your progress will help you stay on track 
• find a friend that will encourage and keep you motivated

If you follow the above steps and maintain your three D's (Discipline, Determination, Dedication) you will achieve your goals successfully. Be patient and realize that permanent change takes time and will have its ups and downs.