How to set realistic fitness goals

Making any lifestyle change can be challenging. Many people discover that having a goal gives them something to work towards, motivates them to stay on track and provides a measure of how well they are doing.

Setting healthy and realistic goals is a major distinguishing factor for those who lead a healthy and active life. Goal setting gives a specific and measurable objective to work with. When people say they want to become healthier or lose weight, it is safe to say they have a fantastic intention. However, a tangible target needs to be reached and this leaves us with the question: how?
We all have different fitness goals, ranging from generally trying to stay active to viewing fitness as a lifestyle. Nearly everyone would like to be as healthy as possible. It is common to hear people say: ‘I want to shed some weight’ but very few of them set realistic goals. How realistic are the fitness goals you set for yourself?
Omamuyowei Roy, an engineer, says he doesn’t need to set fitness goals for himself because of the nature of job he does.“With the type of job I do every day, it keeps me fit. I have to climb storey buildings countless times and that is enough exercise for me. The only habit I cultivated in addition to keeping fit, is taking a lot of water because if you work at a site you will understand the sun better and you’ll know the effect it can have on you. Other things I do to keep fit include eating lots of fruits, but I don’t jog or visit the gym because my job is enough to keep me fit.”
Chuks Okereugo, a gym instructor, noted that it is important to set realistic fitness goals, like doing some exercises for at least 30 minutes every day. This will not only help one stay fit but also help one remain strong and healthy.
“Many people think that exercise is for only fat people but that notion is totally wrong. Some people, who visit my gym on a weekly basis, look very trim and fit. For example, there was a couple who came for the first time to register. After registering, I looked at their ages and what I saw shocked me. This is because they didn’t look their age,” he narrated.
“Out of curiosity, I asked the woman if they had been exercising and she replied in the affirmative, stating that she had been doing so for 10 years. She went further to explain that because they did so regularly, it kept them away from the hospital and now, they both find time to visit the gym when they are less busy,” Okereugo added.
“This brings me back to what I said earlier. When people set realistic fitness goals, they’d be able to achieve it with constant efforts. That was what the couple did and you need to see how fit they looked,” he concluded.
Timothy Christie, a business woman in her early twenties, said she had no realistic fitness goals. “I don’t have time for it to start with,” she said, adding that she is glad that Mother Nature has blessed her with a slim figure. “I have realised that it is not just for the sake of looking good that one needs to be fit. It also helps us to be healthy. Fat people are prone to falling ill easily due to the excess amount of fat and calories in their bodies,” Christie stressed.
Linda Kaban in her article titled: ‘How to Set Realistic Fitness Goals,’ posted on livestrong.com states that: “Fitness goals can overwhelm you or inspire you. If your eagerness overrides your common sense and you don’t have a plan, you could exhaust yourself before you begin to see any results; and that could be a serious detriment to you wanting to continue.”
She adds that: “Whether your goals are to have more energy, become physically and mentally stronger, or to lose weight, you have to set your goals down. Make fitness goals based on your personality, lifestyle and current level of fitness. Above all, be adaptable.”