“This will be my year!”

“This will be the year that I do X, Y, and Z.”

“This year will be different.”

Do any of these phrases sound familiar?  They might, because the New Year is a time when many people set out to do things that they feel will make them better in some way.

And that’s okay.  We all want to be the best that we can be.  For some it’s about financial goals; for others it's about leadership and career goals; for many it's about fitness and nutrition goals.

Whatever the goal, the New Year seems to be the perfect time to begin working toward achieving our goals. It offers the opportunity for a new beginning, a time to start fresh!  And who doesn’t like fresh starts?

So, let’s talk about goal setting.  Since I am a nutrition coach and personal trainer, I’ll focus on steps that will help you move closer to achieving your fitness and nutrition goals.  Take note because these recommendations are guaranteed to move you closer to your fitness and nutrition goals.

Ready?  

Okay, here are my top 5 recommendations for achieving your fitness and nutrition goals.

1. Know your “why.”  

It is important to really understand why you want this goal.  So, dig deep and ask yourself “why”?  And then take that answer and ask yourself “why” again.  And take that answer and ask yourself “why” again.  Do this 5 times or more to get at the core of your “why.”

For example, if your goal is to “eat better.”  Your question would be, “Why do I want to eat better?”  You might answer, “Because I want to feel healthier.” Then you would ask yourself, “Why do I want to feel healthier?”  Perhaps you respond with, “Because feeling healthier would make me feel better about myself.”  Then, “Why do I want or need to feel better about myself?”  Continue this line of questioning 5 times or more.

Got it?  Let’s move on.

2. Narrow the focus of your goal and develop a plan.

You’ve heard of SMART goals before.  

Well, the next step you must take is to make sure your goal is SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound.

Now, the example from above, “to eat healthier,” is not SMART.  However, it doesn’t take away from the fact that you want to eat healthier, but you need to narrow your focus so that you know what eating healthier looks like and what it means to you.

For example, a SMART goal for wanting to eat healthier might be something like this:

• Specific: I am going to start eating a vegetable and/or fruit with each meal.

• Measurable: I will track the vegetables and fruits I eat with my meals on my calendar.

• Achievable: I grocery shop each week and will purchase fresh and frozen veggies and fruits for the week.

• Relevant: I want to feel better about myself and eat more nutrient dense foods.

• Time-Bound: I will hit my goal 80% of the time during the next 3 months.

This is only an example.  You will need to create your own SMART fitness and nutrition goal.  

The purpose of writing a SMART goal is to help create a plan and make your goal more attainable so that you achieve success.

Okay.  Two down, three more to go.

3. Get and stay informed.

• Read up on fitness and nutrition.  Find some reputable sources of information that will help you learn more about how to reach your goal.  These sources can be online or print materials.

• Join online fitness communities where you can communicate with and learn from like-minded people who also have fitness and nutrition goals.

• Hire a personal trainer or an online coach to provide you with information and guidance to support your fitness goals.

See?  These are helpful, right?  Let’s keep going.

4. Get started.

This may seem obvious but getting started can be challenging for many.

Once you know your “why,” set your goal, and gather information, you then have to start.  You have to take action.  Action creates change and change is what you are seeking.  Action will move you closer to your goal.

Start where you are.  Don’t compare your starting point to anyone else’s starting point.

After you start, use that momentum to keep going.  Remember Newton’s First Law of Motion?  Focus on the part that talks about “...an object in motion tends to stay in motion…”  Keep going.  Don’t let anything stop you and get you off track.

Alright!  Ready for the last one?

5. Focus on consistency and progress over an extended period of time rather than focusing on daily perfection.

No one is perfect.  Your fitness journey does not require perfection, but it does require consistency.  When you consistently stick to your plan, you will see progress.  Do not allow one missed workout, too many calories on one day, or not enough vegetables for one dinner deter you from staying the course.

Remember recommendation #4 from above?  Keep going.  Don’t stop.

Aim for 80% consistency to move toward achieving your goal.

And there you have it.  My top 5 recommendations for achieving your fitness and nutrition goals.

Let’s just list them one more time: 

1. Know your “why.”  

2. Narrow the focus of your goal and develop a plan.

3. Get and stay informed.

4. Get started.

5. Focus on progress and consistency over an extended period of time rather than focusing on daily perfection.

So, did you take note?  Because these recommendations will definitely move you closer to your fitness and nutrition goals.  Follow them and…

2022 will be your year! 

2022 will be the year that you do X, Y, and Z.

2022 will be different.

Thanks for reading and if you want to learn more about fitness and nutrition, be sure to check out my other blogs at Blogs by Fitness With Traci.

Interested in online fitness and nutrition coaching and want to learn more?  Visit Online Coaching at Fitness With Traci.

Questions?  Reach out any time.  I’d love to help.