When it comes to setting fitness goals, everyone has different priorities depending on exactly what they want to achieve. Having a sense of direction makes it much easier to target your workouts so you are confident that you are moving in the right direction. Some people want to just generally stay active, whereas others choose to make fitness a way of life.
If you have yet to define your fitness goals, and are finding it difficult to get that added boost of motivation, you should start off with the big picture before starting to narrow down your focus. Here are a few of the most important big picture fitness goals to set you off down the right path.
Think About the Long Run
Some people tend to workout in short bursts, putting all their energy into achieving their fitness goals as quickly as possible. You are much more likely to achieve success if you keep up your motivation for a sustained period of time. Getting into health habits that stay with you for the long-run will help you to live a generally healthier lifestyle. Though your specific goals may vary, your long-term fitness should always be a sustained effort.
Improve Your Flexibility and Balance
Flexibility and balance are two things that tend to deteriorate with age. If you lose flexibility, then you are much more likely to suffer from joint injuries and muscle tears. A loss of balance can lead to all kinds of bumps and scrapes, and even broken bones. While flexibility and balance are often not at the top of people’s workout list, they can both play a big role in you achieving your wider fitness goals. Though it is harder to measure if you are improving, there are plenty of exercises that you can do.
Stay on a Healthy Nutrition Plan
Though exercise is one piece of the fitness puzzle, you will find it much more difficult to achieve what you want without getting on a healthy nutrition plan. There are plenty of people who can offer advice on this, and recommended personal trainers can certainly help you adapt your diet to achieve your fitness goals. In general, getting more fruit and vegetables in your diet, as well as protein and complex carbohydrates is pretty standard advice for everyone.
Keep Track of Your Vital Statistics
A lot of people don’t keep a close eye on their vital statistics such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and resting heart rate. Though it is difficult to monitor all of these on a consistent basis, these vital statistics become more and more important as you get older. Even if you just check these from time to time, you will be in a better position to keep track of your overall health and wellbeing.
Move Out of Your Comfort Zone
If you just continue doing the same workout day after day, it is much more likely that you will lose focus and motivation. Many people avoid moving outside of their comfort zone whenever they can, which means that they may miss out on some workouts that could make a big difference to their fitness. If you accomplish something that is not within your area of expertise, it will feel like even more of a sense of achievement. Trying out a new sport or activity with a friend may well make it easier for you to take that first step.
Set a Time-Limit on Specific Goals
We have already talked about the importance of the long-run, but if you are setting short-term goals, then it is important that you put a time-limit on them so they don’t end up dragging out. Before you set this limit, make sure it is actually achievable, so that it is a challenge without being impossible. Throughout your fitness life, you should continue setting yourself these goals. The rush that you get when you actually achieve one is fantastic, and will motivate you to go on to bigger and better things. Remember, if your goal involves a significant body change, it is important that you set yourself a series of subgoals to move you along the way.
Setting yourself fitness goals like the six listed above will help to give you a stronger mindset when it comes to exercise. Remember, one of the main barriers that stands in the way of you achieving your targets is your own mindset. Maintaining motivation is absolutely essential on your road to a healthier and happier life.