Break Your Goals Into Manageable Steps

Setting fitness goals makes you much more likely to achieve the fitness results you crave. If you're not working toward a measurable goal when you're working out, why bother? On the other hand, when you stare down your goal on day one, it can feel impossible.

Now, don't get me wrong. When you set a fitness goal, it should be big! But big goals take time. That's why I recommend you break your goals into attainable phases.

Your Ultimate Goal

Before you break your goal down into manageable steps, you'll need to define your end goal first. Don't be afraid to dream big!

Ask yourself: what would I do and who would I be, if no obstacle could stand in my way. Whether you want to run a marathon, lose 100 lbs, build muscle, or just look good naked, you need something big enough to motivate you.

Next, think about how you can measure your success. Remember to write down both tangible and intangible ways to achieve your goal.

Tangible results can be easier to measure. You can easily count miles run, pounds lost and weights lifted.

Just remember, there's more than one way to skin a cat! For runners, measuring speed can be another important benchmark. If you're measuring weight training success, you should look at both the weight you can max, and your endurance at lower weights. For weight loss, remember that losing inches can be just as telling as dropping a few pounds!

Think about how you'll feel having accomplished it. Maybe you'll finally feel proud and accomplished when you cross that finish line. Perhaps the satisfaction of proving you could meet your lifting goals drives you. Does feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin motivate you?

Once you've defined a measurable goal, you're ready to break it down into phases.

The Easy Victory

Want to know a secret? Nothing motivates a person like achieving a goal. But you'll get that same feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction whether you've completed something huge or something small.

Set a small primary goal that you know you can accomplish, if.

If...

• You invest a little time. A week or two is perfect.
• You put forth a small amount of effort.
• You spend just a bit of money. 

Whatever it is, you should feel confident that you can reach this. Maybe it's just losing that first five pounds. Or just setting aside time to run or lift twice in the next week to get into routine and start moving toward your final goal.

The Stretch

After you've accomplished your first small victory, commit to just a bit more. You've proven you can work towards it, now counter your doubts and overcome those obstacles.

Think to yourself: I CAN accomplish this goal, but.

But...

• It may take some extended training time.
• Reaching the goal may take sacrifice.
• Achieving this means changing the way I... eat? spend my free time? prioritize my schedule?

Maintenance

After you've accomplished your goal, you'll need to plan to maintain your progress. So many "dieters" think they can simply lose the weight once. But you wouldn't expect to make your bed just once, or brush your teeth once, would you?

Formulate a plan to maintain now. Yes, give yourself some space to celebrate or recover (post race munchies, anyone?). Just make sure that the way you celebrate progress doesn't ruin future progress!