Questions To Ask When Setting Fitness Goals

'Tis the season of New Year's resolutions and renewed motivation. Many people are setting goals they would like to achieve this year. I have a few myself.

But where do you start?

Here are some questions you cold be asking yourself when setting your fitness goals.

Let’s start with the technicalities of it all.

What is you goal? When do you want to achieve it?

Just writing out your goal can help it become more tangible and real. Setting a timeline for your goals is essential. If you don’t there is a strong possibility that you won't reach them. We tend to use all the time we are given to do something.

What type of training are you going to do?

This is entirely dependent on your goal. If you’re wanting to run a half marathon in the year then cardio it is. There’s also strength training, mobility work, stability and balance, and flexibility. There are also sub-types within those categories.

When and how are you going to workout?

Are you going to follow a training plan. Are you going to workout with buddy or by yourself. Are you going to go to a gym or on a trail. What days are you going to work out. A workout routine is helpful to have, it can create less resistance when your motivation is failing you.

The how of your goals is very important for you achieving your goals, it gives you a definite direction. Now I like to give my clients mindset questions, things they may have not thought about.

I like to have focus on the why.

Why? Why do you want to achieve your goal? Why now?

This is the reason you are going to do this. It can be helpful to remember when your motivation starts to wain.

What obstacles do you expect to face along the way?

Obstacles are going to happen that’s how it goes. No, you can’t prepare for everything but you can prepare for things that you know have set you back in the past. What will you do when you get sick? What will you do when an injury happens.

What habits will help you reach your goals?

Fitness goals are not achieved by solely working out on your given days. It’s important to recognize the behaviors that help you. It’s all about the small steps.

How will you reward yourself for your small wins along the way?

Having small stepping stones along the way to your overall goal is a great way to reward progress and keep your motivation strong. It's important to recognize what type of rewards work best for you. Is it going out and doing something? Is it buying you something that you’ve been wanting? There are a million options and it may feel silly to reward yourself for small things when you haven’t achieved your big goal yet, but you deserve it. I know it’s a cliché but the the journey is just as important as the destination.

I know it can be daunting starting a new fitness routine or just trying to get back into. I hope I can provide some guidance and these questions got you thinking.

Good luck, you got it!

P.S. if you need help don't be afraid to reach out.