When starting a fitness program, having the right goal is essential to your success. Without a goal in mind, you might find it hard to complete any fitness program. But if you’re looking for guidance to start your new fitness routine, we’ve developed four objectives you should consider that can help you jumpstart your new lifestyle plan.
Why Goals Are Important
When you set goals, you can be as specific or general as you want to be. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds of body fat and maintain lean muscle mass, so you can look leaner for a wedding. Or you might want to start exercising more to increase your general level of activity. It’s never about the context of the goal, it’s about having one.
You’ll find goals coupled to just about any fitness program. Most well-prepared workout programs will result in health and fitness benefits, even if you don’t have a specific goal. These programs are likely based around something health or fitness related. Haphazard fitness programs might mention vague terms such as “weight loss,” but rarely specify what you will actually lose.
When you’re evaluating a new workout plan, take time to read the title and introductory text to become familiar with the goals at hand. If goals aren’t clearly stated, or don’t align with your lifestyle, there is little incentive to complete them. It will also become difficult to measure your progress if the goals are not specific.
It’s important to remember that there are various programs for different goals. You are not limited to only weight loss or muscle building programs. In fact, there are fitness programs designed to increase flexibility, heart health, strength, and endurance.
And that’s not to mention the fact that there are programs that help you target different parts of your body. Like a “Four-Week Lower Body Toning” workout program that might help you build lean muscle and improve definition in your legs.
How Do I Find the Right Workout Program for Me?
Look at these four objectives which will also help you in selecting the right workout program.
- Objective 1: Focus on your primary goal: While some of us might be excellent multitaskers, your brain works best when it focuses on one thing. Stick to the goal you set and put all your effort into meeting that goal.
- Objective 2: Coordinate exercise and diet: The most effective way ensure success of your health and fitness program is to focus on your nutrition as much as your workout program. If you can adjust your caloric intake—which will either help accelerate weight loss at a deficit or stimulate muscle growth at a surplus—your goal will be easier to obtain.
- Objective 3: Tailor your exercise technique: There’s no one catchall method when it comes to training reaching different goals. Training to decrease body fat, to gain muscle mass, or to increase heart health all require different training methods. Exercise intensity and duration also matter. Doing 1000 reps with 5 pounds won’t increase the amount of weight you can lift, while only lifting heavy weight for a few reps at a time will not increase your health heart health. Find a plan that works with your goals so you can see the results you want.
