Read 49 times since Friday, September 02, 2011
Many people want to get in shape, but they struggle with it. It's one thing to wish you were in shape, and another to actually get there.
So what is the difference between those who wish for a fit lifestyle, and those who achieve it? The difference is small yet monumental: setting effective goals.
Goal setting alone isn't enough to get you into shape. You can set a goal to live forever, but you'll never reach it!
That is why effective goal setting is what determines success. But what exactly constitutes effective goal setting?
First up is determining whether or not the goal is realistic and achievable. As mentioned before, you could set a goal to live forever but no matter what you do, that won't happen.
A more realistic goal then would be to live longer. You can do that by being more healthy and active.
Another important requirement of an effective goal is a deadline. Some people have weight loss deadlines; for example, they might set a goal to lose 10 pounds by the end of the month.
However, you must be careful when making your deadlines. These also need to be realistic.
Losing 10 pounds by tomorrow will not happen, even if you don't eat all day and you spend all of your time exercising. A month is a more reasonable timeline.
Another recommended technique for effective goal setting is to use positive language instead of negative. With the weight loss example, instead of losing 10 pounds in a month, you could say that you are going to be ten pounds lighter by the end of the month.
Another great technique to use for goal setting is to word it like it's going to happen for sure, not just maybe. If you word it like it's a fact rather than a hope or wish, envision it in your mind, and believe it will happen, you are more likely to reach it.
If you've ever seen or read "The Secret", then you've heard about the studies supporting this fact. They do a great job of explaining what it takes to set effective goals.
Another important aspect of goal setting is specificity. If you just say "I want to lose weight", then you don't have a way to measure your success.
Which goal sounds better: "I want to lose weight for my wedding", or "I will lose 10 pounds before my wedding in 5 weeks. That means I have to lose 2 pounds each week to reach my goal". It's obvious that the specific goal is the more effective goal.
Two more important aspects of goal setting are motivation and rewards. These two go hand in hand because they are often the same thing.
Regarding the example of losing weight for your wedding, looking great on your wedding day will be both your reward and motivation. However they are two different things, so in some circumstances they may be different.
All in all, goal setting is a very important part of fitness. If you have effective goals set for yourself, then the likelihood of you reaching them is much better. Destry Masterson is a health, fitness and nutrition expert. She has written articles about diet and exercise and recommends http://www.treadmillsensei.com for information about treadmills.
Contact Info:
Destry Masterson - MyOnlineArticleWriting@gmail.com - Twitter: @DestryMasterson
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