Have you set your goals for 2016??

Goals can be put to action whenever you choose, but what better time is there than now to start goal-setting?

I set goals all year long but the first month of 2016 is the perfect excuse to start fresh and get your gears into motion.....

You all know how important goal-setting is to me so i thought i would put together these helpful tips to help you write down your goals if you haven't already!!

KNOW YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS

Think about the future and what you want to accomplish. Perhaps you want to lose 20 kgs over the next 12 months. Write it down. Hold yourself responsible and accountable for reaching that goal. Putting it down on paper is like creating a covenant you have to stick to. Put that paper on a refrigerator or mirror—anywhere you look on a daily basis. This is a constant reminder of the pact you made with yourself to reach your goal.

SET SHORT-TERM GOALS

While writing long-term goals is a great start, achieving them requires detailing a number of steps to help get you there. After all, losing 20 kgs doesn't just happen because you write it down. Using that example, create monthly goals, or even weekly goals. For instance, you can reasonably lose .5 to 1 kg per week in a healthy way. (Yes, you can lose weight faster, but 0.5-1 kg per week is considered healthy for most people.) Then, write it down. You can then create a monthly weight-loss goal of 2-4 kgs.

MAKE YOUR GOALS MEASUREABLE

How do you think you can ensure you're on the right path if you have no way of measuring the results? It's easy with weight because you can simply jump on the scale. But the point here is that your goals must be measureable. Doing weekly or monthly weigh-ins ensures you stay on track with your short-term—and ultimately your long-term—goals.Keep yourself accountable by utilising these measureable goals to see how you are progressing. If you see you aren't on track to meet a short-term goal, then you know you'll need to make some adjustments to get back on track. It can be something as simple as taking a peek at your diet and making some minor changes, or maybe adding a little bit more cardio to your regimen to burn more calories. Believe me too it's not all about the scales so make sure you measure yourself in other ways also- eg Girth measure, vo2 max test- Body fat % test.

MAKE YOUR GOALS ATTAINABLE

Unrealistic goals set the stage for failure. You'll quickly get frustrated, and ultimately you'll derail from your long-term goal. Setting an aggressive long-term goal can be counterproductive; you'll have a better chance of success of actually reaching your target goal if you give yourself the time you need. You're not going to get there overnight, no matter how badly you want something. It takes patience and persistence, and that has to be your approach. I'm always here to help you at any stage!! This is my passion in life and i love helping people reach those goals!!

FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SPECIFIC PLANS

Next you'll need to create an action plan for your short-term goals. The plan should fit your schedule and allow you to work out a certain amount of days a week for a given period of time. Be specific about your training plans, detailing how many days and how much time you can commit to. In terms of your nutrition, Feel free to come see me on tips and meal plans for fat loss, or consult a nutritionist to help. Personal training and classes are also a great way to ensure you stay on track. By recording your calories and macros each day, you'll know if you're on track or not. We also have the 8 week challenge starting in Feburary at the Gym so what a great way to get on track and power through these goals !!

FIND INTRINSIC MOTIVATION

Based on the criteria listed so far, some goals are more likely to be achieved than others. A big player in this is called intrinsic motivation. That is, is your long-term goal something you really want, or is it for someone else?

It turns out that if you're working toward a goal for any other reason than yourself, you're far less likely to succeed. It's that simple. Oftentimes you'll fall short because you don't have that fire in the belly. Don't set goals if your personal interests and heart aren't into it.

REWARD YOURSELF AND HAVE FUN

The process is a journey, and quite possibly a long one. If you drudge through every day miserable because you hate what you have to do and you see no light at the end of the tunnel, you're far less likely to ultimately succeed. Find activities you enjoy, and that will help you reach your short- and long-term goals. If you despise running but enjoy playing basketball, then by all means use basketball as a source of cardio. If you can't stand the thought of broccoli in your diet but want to eat it because you know it's healthy, substitute it with a healthy option you do enjoy, such as green beans (or whatever healthy food you prefer). The point here is to have fun during this process. Everyone hits those same plateaus and forks in the road where they have to overcome obstacles. You might feel as if you'll never surpass some of those challenges—but you can. Stick with it, stay consistent, and keep pushing onward. It's also a great idea to reward yourself for achieving goals. This can be as simple as buying a new workout shirt or a pair of shoes. Enjoying the process of reaching your goals and looking back on what you have accomplished is one of the best feelings you can ever experience.The time and effort you put into something you personally wanted to accomplish and the feeling you get when you achieve it is something no one can ever take away from you. So stand proud and know you did something for yourself to better your life. Make it happen, and never lose sight of your goals.If it is struggle street for you and goal setting seems all overwhelming feel free to come see me and we can do it together and set you on the right track!! :)

Thank you for your ongoing support !!

xx

Aimz :)