Why You Should Set a Clear, Attainable Goal

Setting a clear, and attainable goal can help you get that healthy body you’ve always wanted. Don’t just Push Play and wait to see what happens. Decide what you want your results to be now, then prepare your meals and do your workouts with purpose!


Be ambitious but reasonable
Any goal worth working for requires dedication, effort, and persistence. That said, remember this is a short term goal. Set your sights on something that can be achieved if you work hard for the next 60 days or 90 days. (Keep in mind that a healthy rate for weight loss is about 2 pounds per week).
Be specific
Deciding that you will lose 8 pounds is a more effective goal than just saying that you want to lose weight. As you work to attain it, you’ll have a clear measure of your achievements, and knowing exactly how much farther you have to go will keep you motivated. The best part about having a specific goal is there will be no question when you have achieved it.
A clear goal defines your plan of attack
Knowing exactly what you are trying achieve will help you have laser-like focus. If your goal involves developing certain muscle groups, you can add targeted exercises to your fitness routine. If your goal is to work out every morning before your commute, then a clear plan of action would be to go to bed an hour earlier, and set your alarm an hour earlier. When it’s time to choose between success or hitting the snooze button, you’ll have focus on your side.
Make it count
Make numbers part of your goal to track your progress and keep you accountable. How many times will you Push Play in the next 60 days? Schedule those workouts in your calendar and consider them important meetings that must be kept. Don’t just skip dessert, decide exactly how many calories you’ll eat each day and keep track.
Be positive
Make reaching your goal be about what you will do instead of what you will not do. Thinking about unhealthy habits or foods you should avoid keeps those guilty habits on your mind all the time, and ultimately makes you feel deprived. Focus instead on positive changes that you will make to be healthier and more fit. What healthy foods will you eat? What workouts will you do?
Share your goal
When you’ve determined what you are working for, tell the world! Tell your friends and family, tell us in the comments, share it on social media. You’ll invite support from unlikely places and your enthusiasm may inspire others to join you.
Keep it real
Focusing on a clear, attainable goal gives you a concrete reason push harder in your workouts and stick to healthy food choices. But we’d also like to remind you that your body is ready for the beach right now. All you need is a bathing suit and a body of water, or sprinklers, and you’re good to go. However, we understand that after a succession of holiday feasts and winter hibernation, what many of us need is confidence. Reaching your goal should give you the confidence to strut your stuff.

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When this Managing Editor isn't at the office, she's baking, figuring out the answer to 7-down, and contemplating where to travel to next.

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