Along with summer barbecues and hotter temperatures comes cheeseburgers on the grill and ice cream cones. Staying in shape and eating healthy can be a struggle and our summer shorts and bathing suits make us feel on display. But toning up and looking our best doesn’t have to be time-consuming or overwhelming. Done right, it can be fun and effective. This four-week series will give you tips on how best to stay in shape, feel your best, and create a workout that works for you. PLUS, you can grab my FREE weekly printable for a sample workout targeting common problem areas. (And, just in case you didn’t know, I’m not a doctor so you may want to check with yours before undertaking any strenuous exercise. Just a thought.) Catch up with Week 1 and let’s get started…
Last week, we were talking about getting into shape and how to get started. Now that you have tied on those sneakers and broken a sweat, it is time to start thinking about goals. Even though changing your lifestyle to include exercise should be a long term endeavor, it is important to have goals to meet along the way.
Your goals do not always have to be a challenge. Sometimes they can just be something you want to meet and maintain. Anyone who has ever taken physical activity to an unhealthy extreme can tell you that you can get too much of a good thing. Losing weight that harms or limits you, toning muscles for strength, or improving your overall health are all worthy goals. But trying to force your God-given body into a Barbie-inspired shape is destructive, both physically and mentally.
Society and the media are tough on women, especially as we age. Don’t make goals that reflect their influence. Instead, make ones that lead to a better quality of life. It is okay to want to look your best, as long as it aligns with being your best. Sometimes praying about this helps bring what is important into perspective.
When you make your goals, make sure they are SMART.
- Specific- Goals that are specific are more likely to get accomplished. Do not say that you are going to lose weight, decide on how much. Do not say you want to be stronger, figure out how strong you want to be.
- Measurable- You need to be able to measure your progress, or how will you know if you have reached your goal? You want to lose 10 pounds. You want to be able to button your pre-baby jeans.
- Attainable- I will never be as fit as a twenty-something fitness model. That would be unattainable. But I can get back to my pre-baby weight. I can have a flat tummy. I can run a mile without stopping. Pick a goal that you can reach. Otherwise, what’s the point?
- Realistic- Make your goals realistic. If you cannot devote six hours a day to the gym, plus the cost of a personal trainer and chef to the cause, do not expect to come out looking like a Hollywood celebrity. Do not ask yourself to healthily lose 20 pounds for a wedding in four weeks. You set yourself up for failure, disappointment, and worse, harm.
- Time-based- Any goal that does not have a time frame runs the risk of being a victim of procrastination. You’ll start tomorrow, next week, next month… until you forget about it altogether. Pick an end date to reach your goal. It does not mean that you have to quit working out. You just have to reach your target and maintain. So pick a date, or an event, as your finish line.
Setting goals is a great way to solidify the progress you are making with your new workout routine. Keep going and meet the challenge that you set for yourself. You know what it is, when it is, and that you can do it…so go get it! Check out this FREE WORKOUT if you are looking to target your tush!
What goals did you set? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Next week: Keeping Motivated, plus a FREE printable for those tough-to-tone legs!
Leave a Reply