Goal setting...make it work better for you..

Published: Thu, 06/25/15

Hi

I used to say this to all my clients as part of my new client consultations:

'What are you goals?'

The answers were more or less the same..lose weight, tone up, add muscle. All totally valid of course, yet I would often see people beating themselves up if they missed a target..even though they had made huge progress towards it and good results in many other aspects of their life.

Sometimes missing a goal would see people start to give up and this broke my heart so we now take a long time working at reframing goals.

I still set goals with clients, however now I've learnt to make sure we have worked together to ensure the 'goals' we are discussing are realistic, achievable and will create the right habits and behaviours.... working towards changes for life.

Effective goals are there to infiltrate our life with healthier habits gradually....and this takes time.

It is often about our perception and framing of a goal which is the difference between success and failure.

A goal to lose 10kg prior to a holiday or a wedding is of course a natural part of life, however what happens when the wedding or holiday has passed?

Can we carry on with the nutrition and exercise plan we used to get there (as often it is extreme and all encompassing), or will it fizzle out and we go back (or further back!) to where we were?

Should we maybe change 'goal' to 'waypoints ' on a health journey to a 'destination'?

Shouldn't the destination be becoming a thriving 80/90/100 yr old with an active life...and enough energy to charge about after those little people in our lives?

The holidays/ reunions/ weddings etc should be 'waypoints' that we hit along the way with sustainable healthy living and an unmovable focus on the long game. If we miss these when life happens it's less of a dead end when the longer term destination is always at the forefront.

Putting a time limit to get somewhere is important and of course and it works...however we need to have a view on the far off destination.

This allows for ups, downs, detours and curveballs...I love this pic:
Image
Some pointers:
  • align your final destination with your path as best you can
  • be really realistic and be really flexible
  • follow one path and stick to it, jumping from goal to goal hinders progress
  • real success with health is being STRONG in mind, body and spirit.
  • unachievable goals work against you. I will never be that cover model with 3% body fat unless I prioritise this goal over my family and friends...I can tell you now, this will never happen!
  • extreme fat loss and muscle gain calls for extreme measures...if this is what you want, great, however be conscious that is directly related to the effort you put in. You need space for a rich life too!
  • Bear in mind that some of the leanest looking bodybuilders and models 1) rarely walk around 365 days a year looking like that and 2) don't want to either :-D
  • you have years to get to where you want to be...be kind to yourself
  • changes take time so NEVER believe quick fat loss programs etc, without taking in all the facts first

Any health journey should find you looking, feeling and performing better and better with every day that passes...anything that doesn't is not worth pursuing.


Stay on track,

J

    James Chandler
    Personal Trainer
    07870 262741
    www.eatwellandworkout.com
    For past emails: 
    ​
    'To inspire, educate and support our clients on their journey to better health'