Setting SMART Fitness Goals

We’ve all had those days where we visit the gym, lift a few weights, spend a few minutes on the treadmill, and then go home. Sure, you went to the gym, but did you really accomplish anything? Part of exercising is having achievable goals that keep you focused. Join Determined Fitness as we outline how to set SMART fitness goals.

Why Set SMART Goals?

SMART is a handy acronym that helps you set clear and achievable goals. By setting goals that have all these elements, you’ll find that you stay on track and have a clearer sense of what your priorities are. To develop your own SMART goals, make sure they include these five aspects:

Specifics

So many times, our personal trainers have worked with individuals who have arbitrary goals like “get beach bod ready.” Having specific goals makes them easier to attain. If you want to lose weight, set a goal like losing 20 pounds by the end of the year. The reason we set specific goals is that they are measurable. 

Measurable

Measurable goals have a quantifiable or tangible component to them. For instance, if your specific goal is to do 100 pushups, your measurements can be to do 20 by the end of the month, 40 the next, and so on. You should have a concrete way of measuring your progress.

Attainable

We all love setting “shoot for the stars” type goals, but those aren’t always the easiest to achieve. Instead, set goals that you can consistently reach. Going for some major goal that would result in a dramatic change in lifestyle is often impossible, and can leave you feeling discouraged and unwilling to continue exercising.

Relevant

What’s your reason for setting this goal? Asking the “why” behind your exercise goals can help give you more context to your work, and lend you some extra motivation. “I want to get fit” isn’t terribly relevant, but “I want to get fit for my wedding in six months” is much more relevant. A relevant goal gives you something to aspire to.

Timely

Look, goals are only useful if you actually achieve them. One of the ways you can help keep yourself on track is to create a timeline. Your timeline should also take into account how much time you can prioritize for exercise. For instance, if you want to get 5k ready in two months, you might need to dedicate more time to your exercises. However, if you can’t take away time from other parts of your life, like your career or family, you may have to extend that timeline from two months to four.

Exercise Harder and SMARTer

Ready to start setting exercise goals but not sure where to begin? Then it’s time to meet with the personal trainers of Determined Fitness in Poughkeepsie. With a variety of personal training pricing structures and a flexible scheduling system, our personal trainers can help you design an exercise program that can help build a better you. Visit our gym in Poughkeepsie today and ask about our pricing structures to get started.