It is only natural and important at the same time to have goals. Without them, we wouldn’t have enough drive and motivation to accomplish anything. That’s why when it comes to fitness, goals are everything. It can be extremely challenging to make the necessary lifestyle changes, but with goals and the dedication to achieve them, making modifications in how we live for greater health and well-being becomes possible.
It can be tough to get up early in the morning to work out but with the commitment to your goals, this becomes a done deal. Overall, your goals help you undergo the tough process of making a change as far as your physical fitness is involved. On the other hand, there are goals that do you more harm than good.
When goals become too far from reality, they’re naturally hard to accomplish and this puts a strain on you physically and mentally. That’s why it is important to understand that even though it’s good to have goals, we also have to recognize that there are goals we can’t just achieve and that’s fine. The bottom line is that there are goals we have to ditch if we want to experience healthy physical and mental changes.
When it comes to setting goals with regards to health and fitness, it is vital to go for the ones that stick, the ones that are achievable. This is because goals are closely linked to behavior modification, wellness, and performance. Goals are most effectual when they are precise, quantifiable, achievable, practical, and time-restricted. They’re also effective when they’re challenging but not too challenging that you’d hurt yourself in the process. Below are three fitness goals you have to let go:
1. Concentrating on an exact number of pounds you have to shed
The scale can trick and discourage you because it doesn’t distinguish fat and lean weight. It doesn’t even tell between being bloated and dehydrated. If you’re not happy with the number you see on the scale because you’ve set specific digits of pounds you want to lose, it can de-motivate you and ruin your momentum. Setting goals that are solely reliant on shedding body weight could result in failure, especially when you weigh yourself often and see the pounds varying with no clear-cut and solid improvement.
Targeting a specific weight is fine as long as you’re not only concentrating on losing body weight. Aside from pounds shed, you should also take note of your body composition, such as your fat percentage and lean mass that constitute your entire body weight. If you’re working out on a regular basis and following proper nutrition, you’ll possibly gain muscle and lose fat at the same time. Thus, the weight scale might not provide you a clear picture of your improvements.
2. Don’t push yourself too hard, especially when you’re not prepared for extremes
Partaking in intense challenges like marathons, triathlons, and obstacle races are seen as outstanding feats. These undertakings push competitors to the edge of their physical and psychological functions and abilities, which is why extreme fitness events like these are only well-suited for those who have months or even years of training.
Simply put, it’s not for everyone, especially someone who’s just starting in his fitness journey. Challenging one’s self is remarkable but not to the point of ignoring your physical and psychological limits. If you’re just getting started, concentrate on the goals that have lesser challenges. Surely, setting a goal to compete in an extreme even in the future is fine. But predicament arises when an individual signs up for a competition without understanding what’s truly at stake with regards to his level of preparedness.
3. Don’t aim for a perfect body
It won’t help if you keep on comparing yourself to fitness models. While you may think it’s some sort of motivation, it’s not if it’s unrealistic and if it makes you feel bad about yourself. Self-pity is not an efficient long-term source of drive and motivation. Every person’s body is different, so they won’t respond similarly to the same diet plans or workout routines. It might motivate you to hit the gym and exercise intensely thinking you have this ideal physique that you want to achieve, but it’s not likely to last. In the end, you may drop out and end up feeling guilty and ashamed.
It’s ideal to find physical activities that can also make you happy. Studies show that those who experience joy during a physical activity face a greater likelihood of being active in the future. Hence, seek out things that’ll get you moving and make you happy at the same time. If you like to dance, join a dance class. When positive emotions are generated by a particular activity, you’ll come back for more.
Final Thoughts
When you’re simultaneously active and happy because the physical activities you indulge in give you a great time, there’s no way that you won’t see any notable improvements. It’s better to develop healthier behavior when it comes to making lifestyle changes when you’re not pressured into accomplishing something that’s not even remotely realistic. Set goals to be healthier, just as long as these goals help you become a better, healthier version of yourself.
