Sunday January 1st 2017
“This is the year I’ll finally lose weight” is a pretty common New Year’s resolution, and many fail before they’ve even started. If 2017 is the year you’re (finally) going to get fit, think carefully about your resolution. Vague resolutions rarely work, mainly because they lack focus and therefore have no inherent plan.
To make an effective resolution that you will want to stick to, make your goals SMART – that is Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Rewarding and with a Timeframe. Instead of “I want to lose weight”, try “I want to fit into my favourite blue dress by May, for a friend’s wedding”. See? Make it specific and then not only is there focus, but you will know when you have achieved it (the dress fits). Celebrate then plan for your next goal.
Another way to imagine the importance of SMART goals is if you jumped into a taxi and said to the driver “take me to somewhere near South Queensferry”. You could end up pretty much anywhere!
I ask all new Personal Training clients to write their goals on an initial screening form. By writing it down, not only are they communicating it to someone else (their PT), but they are also reaffirming their intentions. When you have a clear goal, it becomes easier to devise a plan to get there.
It may be that 2017 is the year you want to do your first 5km run, or marathon. Book yourself onto a race online over your festive holidays and then you will have a specific date to aim for. Spend a bit of time over the festive period reflecting on this year, and planning on how 2017 can be even better. And do feel free to drop me a line if you need help achieving your fitness goals.
Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen has been helping her clients achieve their goals for over a decade. She runs a wee fitness studio just off Leith Walk with her pug Coco. She tweets @tracygriffen and is on facebook /griffenfitness. More info at www.getfitandenjoyit.com
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