When it comes to seeing fitness results, it is vital to set yourself goals. I know this sounds really obvious, however proper goal setting is often overlooked. It’s not enough to set yourself a goal and simply will yourself to achieve it. Instead, you need to have specific strategies in place which will ensure you reach your goal.
One powerful goal setting strategy is termed the SMART principal. That is, effective goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. Sophie, the winner of the Titan HIIT 100 challenge attributes her success to effective goal setting. In just 6 weeks, Sophie managed to lose five kilograms and 9.5 % body fat.
The above photo shows her before and after joining the HIIT100 Challenge. The following article uses Sophie’s story to demonstrate how you can utilise the SMART principle to smash your fitness goals.
1. Specific
Any goal you set for yourself needs to detail exactly what you want to achieve. For instance, if your goal is to lose weight, you need to be specific about how much weight you want to lose. This helps you evaluate your progress.
Furthermore, setting specific process goals which together accumulate towards reaching your ultimate goal will facilitate progress. Process goals are task oriented. The challenge enabled Sophie to set specific process goals for herself. For example, Sophie’s ultimate goal was to tone up. To achieve this, the Sophie followed the day by day nutrition and training program. This helped to ensure that her actions aligned with achieving her ultimate goal.
2. Measurable
Your fitness goals should also be measurable. This allows you to assess whether you have achieved what you set out to accomplish. The challenge helped Sophie to set measurable fitness goals for herself. The training regime drove members to complete 100 repetitions of each exercise. Having a measurable goal such as this enabled Sophie to track her progress and push herself to achieve this specific outcome each session.
3. Attainable
While it is important to be ambitious, your fitness goals need to be attainable. When devising your fitness goals, you should take into account factors such as genetics, work and family life. Setting realistic goals for yourself is profoundly more motivating. Sophie enjoyed the nutrition and training program as it pushed her past her comfort zone while also providing a structure that fit into her lifestyle. Having an attainable goal meant that Sophie’s fitness mentality changed from: “I have to do this” to “I want to do this” .
4. Relevant
Your fitness goals should stir great excitement and drive within you. Ensuring that your fitness goals are specific to your aspirations and values ensures that you persevere in the face of any obstacles. Before the challenge, Sophie was not a member at Titan fitness. Sophie was fed up with her lack of training motivation and was eager to make a change. The challenge provide Sophie with the structure and support she needed to ignite this change.
5. Time Bound
Ensuring that your goals have a deadline will create a sense of urgency to achieve it. This will help to keep you motivated and on track. The Titan Fitness challenges range from 4-6 weeks, thereby keeping you accountable until the final weigh in. This timeframe is the right amount of time needed to instil healthy eating and exercise behaviours. Once the challenge has ceased, you are likely to be motivated to continue your improved exercise and eating patterns.
We have a new challenge starting on the 10th of July.
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