4 Keys to Reaching Your Goals

If you were a subscriber to my old newsletter, you may have seen this, but it's good to see again...

I wanted to hit on a subject that will help you not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. There are four main things that I believe you need to do to make the chances of reaching a goal much more likely.  If you're having trouble making goals, I'll have a future post more on how to set goals.  Think of a goal you do have and use the four following keys to reach that goal.

1) Make a commitment to your goal. 

After winning 8 golds, Phelps made
the commitment to be back in 2012.

Many times in fitness, this commitment is to make a change in your life. It may be as little as losing 5 pounds, or as big as finishing an Ironman Triathlon. What is more important than just making a commitment to do something is making a commitment to take the steps to get there. In fitness, it will be different for everybody, but most likely it will involve exercise and equally important, proper nutrition.  Are you willing to make the changes to reach your goals?  Also, are you willing to get by the obstacles that will get in your way?  Make sure your goal is something you can commit to.  

2) Be consistent. 

Once you figure out what the steps are to get to your goal, you need be consistent in following those steps. If you follow your exercise program one week but do not eat well, and then eat well the next week, but miss most of your workouts, you will have problems reaching your goal. Here are quick hints to help you be consistent. 

After taking break after '08, Phelps
consistently hit the gym & pool.

Every Sunday, plan out your weekly workouts. Plan what you will do on each day, and your the approximate time that you will perform your activities. You'll be less likely to miss workouts when you have them planned out.  Be realistic when you are setting up your workout times.  If you're not a morning person, don't set up times at 5am.  If you are a person that just can't give in to an invitation to hang out with friends and family after work, don't plan your workouts then.  With that being said, there will be times that you will have to a decision to make; hang out or workout?  If you're serious about your goal, you will have the willpower to tell others you have a prior commitment.  

Also, plan out your meals. You may not do this a week in advance, but at least a day in advance, decide what you will be eating the next day. If it involves making a lunch, make it the night before. You'll be less likely to just throw in things that may be unhealthy just because they're convenient. Also, pay attention to if you have special events coming up that will cause you not to eat the best things (fantasy football draft, wedding shower). Then you can make sure most of your other meals during the week are good so you can enjoy those events a little.

3) Work Hard!!!! 

Not many things of importance or value come without hard work. You may win something in a drawing or the lottery, but how often do you win the powerball? What I'm getting at is that you may come across some success in life without putting in the work, but how often do you reach that goal that you really want without putting in the effort. The same goes for fitness, you need to put in the effort to see results.  

This means that you'll have to work hard physically and mentally.  Physically, you are going to have to put yourself past your comfort level to achieve your results.  Mentally, you are going to have to resist temptations and keep in the proper mindset to stay motivated.  This is not always easy.  

4) Have Fun!!!! 

Not every part of the process may be fun,
but success is more likely when you enjoy
what your are doing.

It is possible to work hard and have fun at the same time. Not all work will be fun and not all fun things will help you reach your goals, but there is a time and a place for each. The best case is if you find fun in your work. If you can find physical activities that are fun for you, you will probably see better results than if you did a program that you did not enjoy. If you work hard often, plan some fun activities to relax. Just make sure that your fun activities do not make you take a step in the wrong direction away from your goals.

Over time, I'll hit more specifically on topics above, but I just wanted to get those four ideas out there. I hope that you can see that the above will help you achieve goals in all areas of your life.