How to Actually Achieve Your Fitness Goals

A life without goals can evoke a feeling of longing, of wanting something more, or feeling rather lost in the day-to-day. However, a life with goals can help carve out a path when we’re feeling directionless, help promote a sense of purpose, and eventually bring about feelings of accomplishment. Many of us have goals in mind, hopes and dreams that we wish to someday make a reality. The problem seems to be sticking to goals we set. Why is it so easy to set them, and yet so hard bringing them to fruition? The reasons could vary. Yet, what many forget to keep in mind along the way is why the goal was set in the first place.

Goals are usually set because there is something in our lives we would like to improve. These goals could range from buying your first home, to quitting unhealthy snacking habits, or improving your health and fitness in the gym. The latter is a goal that most of us make at the start of every new year, but how many of us actually stick to it? Below are eight ways to help you start to stick to your goals, so you can accomplish them and reach your full potential.

1. Determine what the core of your goal is.

A halfway thought-out goal will lead to halfway results. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, break it down even further. Why do you want to lose weight? (Use this to keep you feeling fueled and motivated even on difficult/lazy days.) How much weight do you want to lose? Is there a specific area you would like to work on? How will you achieve this? By breaking down your goal, you’re essentially coming up with a plan to help you eventually reach your objective.

2. Baby steps are better than no steps at all.

This cannot be stressed enough. If fact, it’s so important, that it’s worth reading again: baby steps are better than no steps at all. Keeping this in mind may help you on the days where your goal seems too far out of reach. Think of it this way (to keep the same theme running, we will stick to the weight loss goal for continuity, but it applies to all goals), a 20-minute run on the treadmill is better than no run at all. Why? Because you still did something towards eventually hitting your end goal. You were proactive. You did something, and it wasn’t giving up.

3. Share your goal with others.

Having others to help hold you accountable may seem scary, but it gets the job done. Share your goals with others so that when you need help sticking to your goal(s), they are there to offer support and encouragement. It may also guilt you (in a good way) into not wanting to let your supporters down.

4. Determine a time-frame. Stick to it.

Set a date. Choose a date where you could realistically hit your goal. Having a time-frame to work with not only helps you see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak, but can help you stick to your goal. In school, there were deadlines, and the same goes for work – so why not set personal deadlines to make sure the work (goal) gets done (hit). If you think about it that way, it actually makes a lot of sense.

5. Be realistic with your goals to avoid disappointment and setbacks.

If your goal is to lose 100 pounds, don’t set yourself up for failure by saying that you want it to happen within the next 3 months. Think about what you can realistically do, and set baby goals along the way. Wanting to lose 100 pounds over the next year and a half seems more reasonable. Going into a goal with a healthy, and realistic mindset, will help you avoid disappointment and setbacks.

6. Stay committed to your goals self.

Yes, staying committed to your goals, and to those holding you accountable for achieving those goals, is important. However, the most important person is you. Stay committed to yourself. Remember why you started the journey in the first place. Think about why you set the goal. What did you hope to get from this change? Stay committed to yourself because 1.) you deserve it and 2.) the reward at the end will far outweigh whatever the struggle is getting there.

7. Be proud of small accomplishments along the way.

Don’t forget to celebrate the little milestones along the way. Not only is it healthy, but it keeps you from burning out. The small accomplishments are getting you that much closer to your end result.

8. Refuse to accept failure.

So, you stumbled a bit. You hit a bump in the road. Your goal is taking longer than you had imagined. A roadblock was put in your way. That’s OK. Brush the dust off, hop back on the wagon, and keep pushing on, because you deserve to know what it feels like to reach what you set out to accomplish. Refuse to accept failure, and you will never lose.

Let us help hold you accountable! Send us your Commit to Fit goals, and join our CSC community. Connect with others working towards their own health, fitness and wellness goals. We’re a family of goal-getters who refuse to let each other give up. That’s the City Sports Club Lifestyle.