Setting Goals: S.M.A.R.T

Whether it's for working out, losing weight, your career, school, or your everyday life, setting goals is a crucial part of progression and most of us do it without even realizing it. But, seeing as how this is a fitness blog, let's talk about setting goals for your fitness objectives. These goals are going to help keep you motivated and honest about your workout routines.

First off, you need to think about what it is that you want. Do you want to lose fat weight? All weight including muscle? Bulk up? Get cut? Whatever it is, before you start thinking about goals you need to know exactly what you are shooting for.

Setting S.M.A.R.T Goals:

S.M.A.R.T goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.

Specific: This is pretty straight forward but still important. While we will always want to be healthier, that is to broad. How will you be healthier, or stronger? Example: lose 20 pounds.

Measurable: To me, this is the most important and most often left out of peoples goals. Your goal should not simply be to lose weight, because there is no end to that not objective. In the example, lose 20lbs, there is a set destiation that you can measure along the way.

Achievable: Achievable goals are very important, if you don't set a goal that is within reach, you'll know that you will never get there and thus never truely put in the effort. So instead of saying, I'm going to lose 20lbs in 3 days, say, I'm going to lose 20lbs in two months. 3 day...impossible, 2 months, very doable.

Relevant: This seems obvious, but still important. Whatever your goal is, it needs to be relevant to your overall objective. You want to lose weight? Maybe your goal is that you will workout 4 days a week for the next two months.

Timely: Set an end date to your goal. A date to beat. A point where when you get there you either completed your goal or you did not.

While lots of these seem obvious it's still important to go through each letter of S.M.A.R.T when setting goals to help keep you motivated.