Physical Fitness and Health Goal Setting Tips
Setting financial and academic goals are important, but as important are setting goals that directly relate to your health and physique. In the military, being physically fit and active was a part of the game plan. At PostMilitary.com we want to see you continue your health routine, staying physically fit, healthy and happy.

Step One: Get Your Goals on Paper

The first step in any goal setting process is to identify a solid list of goals that you want to accomplish. You should select both short-term and long-term goals. Select between two and three short-term and long-term goals, and then write them down. Remember, a goal is not a goal until you write it down and set it in stone!

Most importantly, make sure that the goals you set are realistic. Unfortunately, all too often people will shoot for out-of-reach fitness and health goals. Be honest with yourself and do not set a goal that you feel you cannot accomplish. You know what you can handle and what you cannot. Setting unrealistic goals will only kill your momentum and detour you from establishing new goals or from reaching to hit the remaining goals you have in place.

Step Two: Develop Your Plan of Action

You must develop how you are going to reach your goals. Physical fitness and health related goals require intense motivation along with strict focus. When you develop your plan, you will know where you need to focus. Your physical fitness and health related goals will usually involve diet and nutrition, along with weight training or cardio exercises so remember to include them in you plan of action.

You need to articulate a plan for each goal. For example, if your goal is to lose weight while increasing muscle, then you need a plan for weight loss and weight training. A simple plan could involve you ordering a diet book and starting to cook healthier meals each night for dinner, followed by setting up a gym membership and setting time each week to work out with weights. By doing this, you will have set a goal that is achievable almost immediately. This gives you a sense of accomplishment and adds to any momentum that you have already created; it also motivates you and is an incentive to setting and achieving the next goal you have written down.

When working out and striving to better your health and physical fitness, it is important to follow your game plan that you create. Remember that results will not happen over night so stay positive, have patience but stick to your plan, this is a top priority!

Keep Records

Keeping a semi-detailed record of your diet and your workouts will help you to stay on track to hitting your physical fitness and health goals. Keep track of how much time you want to spend doing an activity or weight exercise, followed by what you are eating on a daily basis.

Not everyone is looking at fitness and health to lose weight. Perhaps you are just looking to better your overall health. We tend to focus most on the area of our health in our lives when our health is already failing or less than stellar. If you keep track of your diet and your workout habits, you can stay a step ahead of your own body.

When keeping a record and tracking your progress it is always important to ask yourself, “What is my current exercise goal this month? What gets in my way when starting or continuing a balanced health maintenance program? What is my ideal overall appearance hopes? Would a personal trainer help me develop and reach my goals more effectively, and can I afford one? Of the meals I eat each month, how can I eat healthier, and what can I change in order to eat healthier without getting bored? Is it time for me to go in for a complete physical and when the last one was that I had one?”

By asking yourself these questions, or similar ones, and doing some self-reflecting during the record keeping process you are keeping the momentum going. This adds to your intense focus and what you are striving for each week and month until you hit your overall fitness and health goals.

Tips for Success

  • Get the help of a personal trainer.
  • Get off the bus or subway one stop early and walk the rest of the way to work.
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Put more energy into everyday events like the walk between offices, to the car, errands, housework and yard work.
  • Find a local park, school track, or trail where you can walk, run or cycle that is close to your place of residence.
  • Work out with an exercise video at home. Many varieties are available from your local library or video retailer and they are all effective to one degree or another.
  • Walk your dog. If you do not have a dog, pretend that you have one or two!
  • Be active with your kids, ride bikes, jump rope, toss a baseball, play tag or do jumping jacks with them. Show them how motivated you are and how important staying healthy is to you.
  • If you can afford a personal training, get one for a few months and do not be afraid to ask questions.
  • Drink water, the more the better. Shoot for eight 10-ounce glasses per day.
  • Eat breakfast daily and with your other meals, be aware of portion size.
  • Stick to a diet, use seasoning to spice food rather than fats, choose lean meats over fattier meats.
  • If you slip up on your plan, do not stress, get back on it and do not give up.
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