Staying on Track with You Fitness Goals

The most difficult aspect of any fitness routine is sticking with your plan.  After the initial excitement wears off, the fitness routine becomes more work than fun.  Here are some quick tips to help you stay on track with your fitness goals.

Set Specific Goals

Fitness goals need to be specific, realistic, and measurable.  Many times our fitness goals resemble a general statement rather than a specific commitment.  For example, you might say to yourself, “This month I will be more physically active.”  This is a wonderful thought but it does not carry any specific commitment or measurable outcome.  A better way to set your fitness goals is to set specifics that you can achieve and measure.  For example, you might say (and write down), “This month I will walk for 20 minutes at lunch, 4 days each week as indicated by my physical activity journal.”  This goal will provide a simple, measurable outcome that will lead to a commitment to physical activity and the ability to measure success.  This can be a recipe for success!

Reward Yourself

Develop a system of rewards for meeting fitness goals.  Treat yourself to something special for being consistent with your physical activity or start a “Fun Fund” by putting a small sum of money into a personal savings account that you can use for yourself after you accomplish a specific fitness goal.  Get creative and reward yourself for your effort.

Find Support

Social support can provide the motivation and accountability needed to keep us on track with our fitness goals.  Remember, there are many types of support and each of us will require varying degrees of each kind of support.  It is important to seek out someone who is also participating in physical activity and try to schedule time to exercise together.  A physical activity partner will provide both accountability and motivation.

Finding someone who can provide motivational support by keeping you positive about your physical activity can go a long way in keeping you consistent with your exercise.

Remind Yourself

Bring your walking shoes to work and hang them in your office or pack exercise clothes in a gym bag and bring them to work with you.  These little reminders can keep you on track by reminding you that physical activity needs to become a priority in your life. 

Another great way to remind yourself is to hang your physical activity goals on your computer or refrigerator and have a friend send you an occasional e-mail asking if you have met your weekly or monthly exercise goals.

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