Setting Fitness Goals

by Kris Pitcher

"If you don't know where you're going, you might wind up somewhere else. - Yogi Bera"

You know I like Yogiisms because they're just so obvious. It's true, if you are not planning on where you are going, you won't get there - you will get somewhere else.

Setting fitness goals requires knowing where you would like to go. Having a goal provides the direction you need to stay motivated. It's a circular process. Goal, motivation, success, repeat.

People get frustrated because they can't find the motivation. But the motivation comes from having the goal. We've got to set a goal in order to find the motivation. We do ourselves a disservice if we think, "Oh, I'll just feel so excited to get up and do cardio at o-dark-thirty!"

When you don't feel that joy in the morning, you feel like there's something wrong with you. There's nothing wrong with you. You are normal. Completely!

It's your goal that motivates you to do the things necessary to get there...even when you'd rather hit the snooze. You consider your goal, why it's important to you and how you'll get there. And pretty soon, you're in your groove.

It starts by knowing where you're going. It takes some thoughtful consideration really. Would you like to try a mini triathlon? Run a 5K? Or maybe learn how to swim? It's your goal...it's where you are going. Pick a place, it's all up to you!

Having that direction gives us a sense of purpose in our actions. And it gives our actions purpose. Decide where you are going in order to get there. Otherwise, you'll wind up somewhere else.