How to Set Short Term & Long Term Fitness & Exercise Goals

by JUAN CARLOS
(CALIFORNIA)

How to Set Short Term and Long Goals in Exercise and Fitness

Setting short term fitness and exercise goals are very important not in themselves as goals, but as a means to get you started on the way to achieve your long term fitness goals.

Short term Exercise and Fitness goals work on the philosophy of how the longest journey begins with the first step. Therefore the short term goals work like the steps that you take on the way, step by step, day by day, until one day, you find yourself in the place you want to be.

Of course on many places along the way, you may look ahead and think you haven’t achieved much and want to give up. However experience has proven over and over again that if you continue, you will reach your goal.
So how does this work in fitness?

Ok, say I want to build my muscles and loose some fat. I hit the gym and find all the guys carrying very heavy duty weights, should I give up, no.

I ask for advice on where to start, and the different weightlifting techniques that should build my strength gradually allowing me to progress.

Then I build a plan of where I expect to be after 3 months, 6 months and after a year. My short term goals are the weekly goals, monthly goals, 3 months and six months. My long term goal, I give myself a year to achieve.

Then I start my program slowly doing all the exercises that I can handle, and then pushing myself slowly to increase the intensity o failure. It is at the point of failure that I know I have reached a limit.

When I arrive at this point, I push myself again and again to go over this level. I evaluate myself regularly each month to see how well I have performed and make new resolutions to keep on if I am on track or to double my efforts.

One thing about goal setting is that sometimes we may not achieve it on schedule, be willing to change strategies, look for what works and keep on. Holding on and getting yourself motivated to do your exercises is what will get you there in the long run.

Hope these tips help you just like they helped me.

CHEERS